Comments on: Kit DesLauriers Skis from Mount Everest Summit – But Doesn’t Get a Complete Descent

By: Jay R. Stanzer

Jay R. Stanzer — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:31:58 +0000

I just wanted to say that I have had the privilege to hear Kit Speak @ The Vail Library.I was impressed by her demeanor and the courage she demonstrated while speaking of her climbing adventures. She is not only an inspiration to women but to men as well. I used to live in Vail From 1993-2000 During the Big expansions on the hills and all the Luxury Home building that took place during that time.
Mountaineers and the lifestyle that they pursue has always intrigued me. I was and always will be inspired by the men and women who pursuit climbing, skiing and exploring the backcountry. I hope to return one day and be able to push myself to such limits. My Goal in Life is to climb and summit Mount Mckinley in Alaska

By: brian harder

brian harder — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:00:27 +0000

There has been lots of discussion about Kit’s descent and most of the finer points are made above. Anyone who has been above 8,000 meters with or without 0′s knows what a bitch it is. Anyone who gets to the top is special. My hat is off to those who pull it off. Strapping on skis and heading down adds a another level of effort and risk to the descent. Again, kudos to those that do.

However, we moutaineers have rules that we make up by consensus as we go. The oxygen versus no oxygen ascents of big peaks are one example and climbers generally make the distinction. Same goes for fixed lines, etc.

In that vain, I think ski alpinsts should carry their skis to the summit and if they don’t, should state as much during the media orgy that follows. Only in Nepal and Tibet, on commercial peaks like Everest can you hire Sherpas to do what is typically felt by most skiers as just part of the deal.

Only until details like this and the amount of skiing versus walking on a given descent are known can the ski community truly weigh in on the merrits of a so-called ski descent.

By: Lou

Lou — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:29:16 +0000

Bill, I’d tend to agree with you now that I know more about the descent. I believe a “ski descent” of a peak can include some maneuvering on foot or a rappel, but descending thousands of vertical feet of terrain on foot is way past being able to call it a ski descent, especially when the entire mountain has been skied at least once, and most of it several times.

What I’ve noticed is that the PR for this uses the wording “skied from the summit.” I hope this wasn’t done as a stunt so Kit could claim to have skied the Seven Summits. If so, that’s a bit much.

By: Bill Stevenson

Bill Stevenson — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 06:18:31 +0000

Dear Lou,

I quote you “DesLauriers had to rappell the step, as well as travel on foot for some distance after the Step. ”

If you read the expedition dispatches on Berg Adventures International it is clear that Kit actually travelled quite some distance on foot, i.e 2,700 vertical feet in crampons down the south-east ridge. This doesnot qualify as a ski descent of Everest.

Bill Stevenson

By: Mike Marolt

Mike Marolt — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:23:31 +0000

Well thanks for clearing that up.

As for the disappointment factor, without the pre-feat hype that can be used to fund expeditions, the disappointment of having to read about other expeditions on Everest news because you don’t have enough funds to go on your own leaves little to ponder.