KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 3

The Everest Ski Project architected by top American climbers has still been clouded by uncertainty after China delayed in issuing a ski permit to the team, sources have claimed.

The million-dollar project funded by the National Geographic Society and the North Face has already faced challenges after China categorically denied entry into Tibet of two American climbers – Conrad Anker and Jimmy Chin. Conrad is designated as the expedition leader of the Ski team while Jimmy is the production head of the filming project.

"Most of the team members except Conrad and Jimmy have already reached Tibet but they are still in dilemma due to lack of ski permit," sources from the base camp shared. Scattered with uncertainty, some of the team members are still in Tingri while others have reached the base camp, sources shared, a few members of the team have, however, reached the 'Advance Base Camp'. "ABC is set up and the fixing team will soon head for the Hornbein Couloir route to fix the Camp I," sources said, "There is no update from the Chinese authorities till date and they are still lingering to issue a ski permit to the team."

Following the Tibet visa denial, Jimmy Chin is still lobbying with the Tibetan authorities including the General Administration of Sports of China to secure a ski permit, sources said, the team, which was initially granted only with a climbing permit for a normal route of the Everest north side, has now been allowed to climb from the Hornbein Couloir route. "That's why we were able to set up the ABC," sources shared, "Without a ski permit, the project has no meaning."

NatGeo/North Face Ski Project aims to produce a film on ski descent from the top of Everest via Hornbein Couloir this autumn. The Couloir was named after a member of the 1963 US Everest Expedition, Thomas Hornbein. "But, time is running out here and weather is so fragile," sources said, adding that it would also be quite challenging for the fixing team to make it to Camp I as there are deep crevasses along the route."

A team of Sherpa climbers including Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, co-owner of Elite Exped, is in Tibet to provide ground support while a few Chinese members also joined the team as liaison officers in Tibet. Ski mountaineer Jim Morrison and award-winning cinematographer Mark Fisher have already reached the base camp to attempt to scale Everest for the filming project. It's a project reportedly designed by Jim Morrison in memory of his partner Hilaree Nelson. Extreme American ski mountaineer Hilaree had been found dead after attempting to ski down from the summit of Mt Manaslu in 2022. "Jim Morrison has a plan to make a ski descent from the Everest top via Hornbein Couloir route," Sources added.

The Everest Ski Project has locally been managed by Elite Exped, the guiding company owned by celebrated climber – Nirmal 'Nims' Purja. Nims along with other few climbers including record-holding woman climber Dawa Yangzum Sherpa will join the Everest ski filming team after completing their 14 peaks project on Shishapangma, according to sources.