Everest documentary questions risks behind couple’s north face skiing attempt
The documentary *Everest: The Other Side* follows mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson as they attempt to become the first people to ski down Everest’s north face. Its sweeping Imax imagery makes the climb feel immediate, while the film also raises questions about the risks they choose to take and the consequences for their family and potential rescuers.
The film follows the couple’s preparations and practice runs, and includes their reflections on ambition and risk, though it does not fully explain why they chose this particular challenge. It also features Nepalese guides whose long experience contrasts with the western climbers’ access to costly equipment and career choices; the documentary is co-directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi.
In short
- Morrison and Nelson attempt a first ski descent of Everest’s north face.
- The film pairs spectacular mountain footage with questions about risk.
- Nepalese guides’ perspectives add context to the climbers’ ambitions.
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The case for
A first descent of Everest’s north face is an unusually demanding achievement, and pursuing it can reflect a considered commitment to exploration, skill and personal ambition. The couple’s preparation and practice runs suggest they took the challenge seriously, while the documentary’s imagery can help audiences appreciate both the mountain’s scale and the expertise involved.
The case against
The risks of such an attempt extend beyond the climbers themselves: family members may bear the consequences, and rescuers could be put in danger. A critic can reasonably question whether a highly personal ambition justifies those risks, particularly when the film offers limited explanation of why this specific challenge was worth undertaking and highlights the unequal resources available to western climbers and local guides.
Explained simply
Mount Everest lies on the border between Nepal and China, and its north face is on the Chinese side. Skiing down it is a different challenge from reaching the summit: steep terrain, thin air and unpredictable weather can make both climbing and descent dangerous.
Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson are American mountaineers attempting the descent, while Nepalese guides bring their own experience of working on the mountain. The film’s questions about risk also touch on the people affected by such expeditions, including climbers’ families and those who may be called on to help in an emergency.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Everest: The Other Side review – couple’s climb on the mountain’s toughest face comes with tricky moral questions over their lofty ambitions”.