Great Trango Tower Ski Descent

On May 9, 2024, alpinists Christina Lustenberger, Chantel Astorga, and Jim Morrison achieved a remarkable feat by completing the inaugural ski descent of Great Trango Tower, standing tall at 6286 meters in Pakistan’s Trango massif, adjacent to the iconic Nameless Tower, also known as Trango Tower. Carving a serpentine path down the west face of Great Trango, their descent has rightly been hailed as a milestone in contemporary ski mountaineering.

Christina Lustenberger’s journey from World Cup alpine skier to certified ACMG ski guide to prominent figure in big mountain filmmaking and expedition skiing mirrors the rapidity with which she navigates mountain terrain. Hailing from Revelstoke, her repertoire of first descents is formidable, marked by a blend of flair and determination.

This triumph in 2024 followed a previous attempt in 2023, where Lustenberger, Morrison, and Nick McNutt, despite a resolute endeavor the previous April, were compelled to retreat just 500 meters shy of the summit. Reflecting on the experience, Lustenberger remarked, “Sometimes, the decision to turn back feels natural. Though agonizingly close to the summit, this setback fuels my determination for another try.”

Returning this spring with Morrison and joined by Astorga, Lustenberger spent three and a half weeks at basecamp before embarking on their successful descent. Scaling from the snow-capped summit after their fourth night at high camp, Morrison and Lustenberger negotiated two brief abseils, while Astorga opted for three, culminating in their triumphant achievement.

Writing on her Instagram handle, Lustenberger explained “this line is wild like no other, edge of the world kinda shit. To be up there in the flow climbing, and skiing was real life magic. I am proud.”

She posted, “Two wild seasons spent invested in this project. It’s hard to explain the constant obsession of a mountain. This line is wild like no other, edge of the world kinda shit. To be up there in the flow climbing, and skiing was real life magic.”

“We hustled, we waited, we roasted, and we sent.”