Everest Skiing Movie – Encore Showing in Aspen

19 Responses to “Everest Skiing Movie – Encore Showing in Aspen”

1. ScottP February 26th, 2009 12:02 pm

   Did they really ski Everest on Naxos?

2. Sam February 26th, 2009 12:13 pm

   Naxos aren’t THAT bad.

3. Lou February 26th, 2009 12:25 pm

   Not sure where that shot was taken or who it is, but they probably used the Naxos to ski at least part of the peak. Sam is right, once you’re used to them (later model NX21) they’re not terrible, though they’re obviously not our favorite and the early ones were junk. BTW, I’ve got a new set of 08/09 Naxos I’m testing. They quite beefed. We’ll see how they compare… Kinda bulky and heavy compared to Dynafit, to say the least. I guess the idea is they tour better than a Baron, as I doubt they’re much lighter. Gad, I’ve got to get on the case with this stuff and finish testing those things! Having too much fun on my Dynafits, I guess…

4. ScottP February 26th, 2009 12:56 pm

   I actually primarily use a late model NX01 and am happy with it (granted I’m 140lbs), it just surprises me to see an expedition like this using them since they get so much bad press.

   I am definitely thinking of making the Wildsnow plate mod to increase their stiffness, though.

5. Jernej February 26th, 2009 1:04 pm

   Go to http://www.sportna.tv and click on Davo Karni?ar – Everest 2000 from the right. A documentary (in Slovene though) about the first and only skier to go from the summit to base camp. Everyone else started somewhere lower.

6. Mike Marolt February 26th, 2009 1:28 pm

   Hi Scott P,

   Yes, that is on everest and it is NAXO. We have been on them for about 5 years. Granted the first year they had durability problems, but for the past 4, NAXO has been super tough, works great. Not a single problem for 4 of us that are on them day in and out, on the Ridge of Bell to the Ridge of Everest, ice to powder. NAXO is great! A super tough, high DIN rig.

   Photo is on Cho Oyu

   Thanks Lou!

   Mike

7. Mike Marolt February 26th, 2009 1:45 pm

   Jerni J,

   Your statement is simply not fact. Davo has the only uninturrupted ski of Everest. But I know of 4 other poeple that have skied off the summit. See one of them in this film. Hans Kammerlander climbed to the summit, without oxygen and only one to do so, skied to the steps, down climbed the rock, then skied the north ridge in what at the time was a speed ascent of Everest, in about 24 hours round trip.

   M

8. brian February 26th, 2009 1:50 pm

   Well, we all know Mike is a bad ass, fit, mo-fo. Cause he has to be to carry those things up where the air is rare. But come on, why are any high altitude skiers using anything other than Dynafits??? I think we know enough about them now to dismiss all the strange preconceptions about them that still persist in some quarters of the bc community. I personally would not care if the gear was free, I would and have laid down my own hard cash for the only binders I use when weight, durability and performance matters.

9. Scott February 26th, 2009 2:51 pm

   I don’t think the superiority of Dynafits is so cut and dried. They are lighter (that’s cut and dried), but some other attributes are not quite so superior.

   Entry, exit, ease of lifter adjustemnet, tour to ski switching, and the quality of the brakes are all more difficult or inferior to Fritschi. Plus, until recently, many may have chosen to use a downhill boot for some trips.

   I have both. For many tours, I prefer the Fritschi binding, mainly due to the heel lifters. If I am carrying my skis on a pack, then I prefer the Dynafit.

   You’ve got to weigh the pros and cons, but I don’t see how you can say with 100% certainty that Dynafit is the only way to go since it isn’t superior in every aspect and different people have different priorities.

10. Nick February 26th, 2009 5:48 pm

    ISTR that Pierre Tardivel used a simple, non-releasable, binding when he skied from the south summit of Everest. Would make a lot of sense since an AT binding isn’t required for skinning up and a release probably isn’t a viable option

11. Lou February 26th, 2009 5:57 pm

    Yeah, word in those days was Tardivel was using a modified system that consisted of a wire toe loop and a non-release heel clamp. Toe loop similar to the one on a Petzel binding when in touring mode, heel I recall was basically the type of clamp used with early “Long Thong” bindings, only without the thong (unless he had one from his girlfriend hidden in his pack for good luck).

12. brian February 27th, 2009 12:10 pm

    My first set up was a pair of Fritchis. I used a pair of Naxo’s once for a weekend. Have a pair of old Siverettas for my approach skis. Been on Dynafits ever since. As long as durability is not an issue, I can never justify the weight difference for small conveniences Scott mentions. I’ve been doing most of my powder skiing this season in my F1 Races so the touring mode issue is moot due to the increase in flexibility. I’m either in climb mode or not. Perhaps in big ass boots that a lot of guys are preferring lately, the need to trim the climbing mode is more important. For me, not so much. I don’t use brakes so no issue there. I do miss just stomping into the binding but not enough to give up the other benefit (weight). Obviously, different skiers have different demands and desires. In my world, it’s all about the up. That’s why there is no dispute for me.
    Peace.

13. Jernej February 27th, 2009 2:34 pm

    Mike I stand corrected. Now that you mentioned it I do remember reading about Hans sometime ago. Fact remains that Davo is the only one who went all the way, but rather than split hairs about who did what I wanted to direct some attention to that particular film since it’s essentially about the same thing. Anyone capable of standing, let alone skiing in that thin air deserves huge respect.

    Should you ever screen your film anywhere in this part of Europe I’ll be more than happy to watch.

14. Mark March 2nd, 2009 8:02 am

    Tardivel skied Everest? And when? How’d I miss that? Guess I need to see this film.

15. Lou March 2nd, 2009 8:23 am

    He made a beautiful descent from south summit. Continuous all the way down, but didn’t get Everest from the summit.

16. jonathan March 2nd, 2009 4:52 pm

    saw the movie at the Wheeler last night ~ blown away! excellent. Makes my alpine look like kindergarten.
    Q: what was the mountain western China that you climbed & skied? Do you think it’s doable without your supporting infrastructure & experience?

17. Mike Marolt March 3rd, 2009 8:56 am

    Jonathan,

    The peak was Mustagh Atta. It’s one of the best trips i have ever been on. It’s in the muslum Weager (sp) part of the world, and it’s friendly, and you will stay in Kashgar which is the coolest asian city i have ever been in. Food and culture that is just off the chart. That is the end of the silk highway, so it is user freindly, but unless you see it, hard to explain. Go to Kari Kobler’s site and i’d reccoment him for logistics. And the skiing is endless.Not extreme, but just super.

    Glad you liked the film!

    Thanks Mike

18. Mike Marolt March 3rd, 2009 9:07 am

    as for experience, Mustagh Atta is a peak you will find on almost all of the resumes of Europe’s greatest ski mountaineers but it is the perfect entry level peak for getting into skiing the Himalaya. It does have serious altitude and requires cravass rescue and travel tech, but has zero avy danger. It has a very serious ice fall you will need to negotiate, but it’s not something that will have you under huge cliffs; but you will want to rope up; alaskan type cravasses, huge. Very pretty.

    Go for it.

    m

19. jonathan March 3rd, 2009 3:34 pm

    thanks for you’re response ~ very helpful. I’ll research further.
    Best wishes. Jonathan

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