KATHMANDU: An American climber has successfully snowboarded off the summit of a scenic mountain in the Langtang region, becoming the first to snowboard down from the top of the summit through its south face. 

Team leader Nick Russell along with fellow American climbers Adam Fabrikant and Billy Haas launched a successful alpine-style ascent of Dorje Lhakpa peak from its South Face on October 20 when Russell made a successful descent to base camp from the summit, snowboarding off the summit point. Russell snowboarded down the south face, while Fabrikant and Haas skied from the summit to base camp. 

"It has always been a dream of mine to snowboard off the summit of a peak in the Himalaya, let alone a first descent," Russell, who arrived in Kathmandu from the Langtang region after his successful mission, shared.

Photo Courtesy: Nick Russell

Under the logistical support of Shangri-La Nepal Treks, the three alpinists headed for an expedition from Kathmandu on October 3 and reached the base camp of Dorje Lhakpa on October 6. "Spending two weeks on the mountain, the team reached the summit and made a long-time dream true after making a ski descent from the top," Russell said.

During the expedition Leo Hoorn and Blake Gordon worked as a camera team documenting Russell's first ever snowboarding from Camp II. "Dawa Gelje Sherpa, Nuri Sherpa, Kami Sherpa, Dipak, Hom and Narayan Magar supported our expedition from the base camp," Russell said.

"I feel proud to have made the first ever snowboard and ski descent of the Dorje Lhakpa South Face," the California-based climber said. Renowned outdoor brand Patagonia sponsored the expedition, according to Russell.

"To share this experience with a group of close friends has been incredible," Russell said, recounting that the conditions on the face were steep and firm, and just at the limits of being possible to make a complete descent without ropes or down-climbing.

Photo Courtesy: Nick Russell

"This is my second time in Nepal and my 4th expedition to the greater Himalaya," Russell shared. In 2022, he attempted Dhaulagiri, but the trip was sadly cut short after the death of his close friend, Hilaree Nelson, while she was skiing off the summit of Manaslu. "The weather was really difficult that year," he recounted.

"This season we were blessed with amazing weather for most of our expedition that allowed for a successful trip," Russell said. "The Nepalese Himalaya holds endless potential for future snowboarding and skiing," he added.

Jiban Ghimire, Managing Director at Shangri-La Nepal Treks, said that the team was provided with the best logistical support to complete the challenging mission on Dorje Lhakpa. Rising gradually to 6,966m, Dorje Lhakpa, also considered the Pyramid of Langtang Himal, stands as one of the most captivating peaks in the Langtang region. "Their expedition would certainly open opportunities for adventure enthusiasts to this lesser-known Himalayan peak," Ghimire said.