HIC SUNT LEONES

Shishapangma Ski Challenge

On the 5th September 2013 started the first Polish ski expedition - „Shishapangma Ski Challenge 2013”. The goal of the expedition was to reach the summit of the Shishapangma eight-thousander (8013 m) in the shortest possible time and then ski descend from the top. On the first expedition of Hic Sunt Leones project, Andrzej was accompanied by three people. First of them was recognized skier, experienced TOPR mountain rescuer and international IVBV mountain guide - Grzegorz Bargiel, Andrzej’s brother. Second member was a famous camera operator and one of the best Polish climbers (summited both Mount Everest and K2 twice) Dariusz Załuski. He was responsible for film documentation and logistic support. The last member of the expedition, was experienced free rider and photographer from Zakopane, Marcin Klin, who witnessed everyday life of the team with his camera.

Strategic sponsor of the whole Hic Sunt Leones project is an international logistics operator CTL Logistics Group. Expedition had two partners – Red Bull and Totalizator Sportowy. Sony company provided the team with electronic equipment and TTcomm SA with satellite communication devices. Salomon took care of clothing, Atomic of skis. In cooperation with Pajak company, Andrzej designed first Himalayan ski suit. A new model of the suit is planned for every expedition of the Hic Sunt Leones project.

The account of the expedition can be found on my blog

Manaslu Ski Challenge

On August 30th 2014 started a second event of Hic Sunt Leones project – “Manaslu & Cho – Oyu Ski Challenge 2014”. The goal of the expedition is to speed climb and ski down two eight-thousanders: Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world (8156 m) and Cho Oyu (8201 m) the sixth highest mountain. Andrzej will be accompanied by the same people that took part in Shishapangma expedition, first event of the Hic Sunt Leones. The team members are Andrzej’s brother – Grzegorz Bargiel, Darek Załuski, responsible for film documentation and Marcin Kin, who will witness every day’s life of the expedition with his camera.

The strategic sponsor of the expedition is an international logistics operator CTL Logistics Group. Partner of the Hic Sunt Leones project is Totalizator Sportowy. Sony company committed themselves to provide electronic equipment, while TTcomm SA provides the team with satellite communication devices. Salomon will take care of clothing, Atomic of skis and Black Diamond of climbing equipment. Himalayan ski suit was designed thanks to Andrzej’s cooperation with Pajak company and Tomasz Ossoliński, and it will be used while summiting the mountains.

The account of the expedition can be found on my blog

Broad Peak Ski Challenge

On June 28th started  "Broad Peak Ski Challenge 2015", another expedition of Andrzej Bargiel’s pioneering project - Hic Sunt Leones.  This time the aim was to ski from the summit of Broad Peak and Andrzej achieved his goal! He is the first person in the world to make full ski-descent from the top of the Broad Peak! It took him about 3 hours, with one hour break to rest at Camp 3. During the expedition, Andrzej Bargiel was accompanied by Darek Załuski, who in addition to logistical support was also responsible for film documentation. Załuski is one of the best Polish climbers, two-time Mt Everest and K2 summiteer.

Once again, international Comprehensive Logistics Operator CTL Logistics Sp. z. o. o. became the main sponsor of the project. For the third time LOTTO EXTREME had been the partner of the expedition. Ghelamco company, the investor of the Warsaw Spire project, was the supporting partner of Broad Peak Ski Challenge. Ski equipment for the participants was provided by Atomic and technical clothing by Salomon. Andrzej and Darek were supplied with electronic equipment by Sony. During the summit attack Andrzej was wearing specially designed Himalayan ski suit, which had been made by Pajak Company. Sobiesław Zasada Automotive, the largest Mercedes-Benz dealer in Poland, as the automotive partner of the project, delivered Mercedes-Benz GLK. It was used during the training and preparations for the expedition. IMM, Institute of Media Monitoring, was a supporting partner of the Hic Sunt Leones project. 

The account of the expedition can be found on my blog

Snow Leopard

On June 23, 2016 Andrzej Bargiel departured for his next adventure. This time, the aim will not be any of the eight-thousanders. Nevertheless, the goal that the Polish extreme skier set for himself is even more ambitious than the previous ones. "This is definitely the most challenging expedition of my life" – he confirmed.
The aim of the expedition is to conquer five highest peaks of the former Soviet Union, which is a prestigious mountaineering award called “Snow Leopard”. This was also the title name of the expedition. Previously some hundreds of climbers won the trophy but Bargiel wanted to achieve this goal in his own style. By using skis on his way up as well as during the descents, he aimed to break few speed records. The uniqueness of this project was greatly enlarged by the fact that CANAL + DISCOVERY was a strategic partner of the project. As a result of that a documentary series illustrating Andrzej’s struggles with this ambitious and dangerous challenge was created.

The Snow Leopard Award includes five peaks reaching over 7000 meters. The first one, which Andrzej faced was Lenin Peak (7134 m) situated in the Pamir range. Although supposedly it was the easiest of those five peaks, Andrzej spent the most time in its area, passing the monotonous process of acclimatization. After a successful summit, the crew will flew to Tajikistan to challenge the next two peaks on the list: Korzeniewski Peak (7105 m) and the highest peak of the country and Pamir mountains - Communism Peak (7495 m). It is still commonly known under its former Soviet name, although since 1998 its name has been officially changed to Ismoil Somoni Peak.
The fourth in line came Khan Tengri (7010 m) and the last but not least was Pobeda Peak situated on the boarder between Kyrgyzstan and China, the highest peak in the mountains of Tien Shan, which is also considered to be the most dangerous one.

The previous Snow Leopard’s speed record belonged to Denis Urubko and Andrey Molotov and was set back in 1999. The Russians climbed five peaks in 42 days. Andrzej Bargiel planned to complete this task up to 30 days and he did it, the setting the new world record.

As in the previous expeditions, it was not only the goal that mattered. Bargiel claimed that the way to achieve it, the adventure and the whole experience that came along was far more important to him. The filmmakers and the supporting team went to Kyrgyzstan by Mercedes car provided by the expedition partner – Sobiesław Zasada Automotive. The climbing crew including Jakub Poburka, Bargiel’s younger brother – Bartek, and the well-known action sports photographer who was with Bargiel on Shishapangma and Manaslu – Marcin Kin, drove over 5000 km through Russia and Kazakhstan to bring all the necessary gear down to the base camp at Lenin Peak. Among the participants of the project was also a very experienced mountaineer Dariusz Załuski, who supported Andrzej on all of his previous expeditions.
Skiing equipment, as well as technical clothing is once again provided by Atomic and Salomon, while Pajak Sport prepared a special mountain suit that Bargiel used during summit attacks and also equiped the team with set of technical sleeping bags and tents. The list of the project’s partners was complemented IMM – the Institute of Media Monitoring.

K2

On 15th of June 2018, as part of the project - Hic Sunt Leones, Andrzej Bargiel started another expedition under the name - "K2 Ski Challenge". Andrzej decided to return to the Karakorum mountains in Pakistan to finish the project, which he began in the summer of 2017. Andrzej's plan was to ski down from the second highest mountain in the world - K2. Unfortunately, a year ago, dangerous weather conditions prevailing on K2 did not allow him to attempt to reach the summit and he had to postpone the realisation of this dream. However, the reconnaissance he made during that expedition confirmed his conviction that this is possible and this year he managed to achieve the intended goal of skiing directly off the summit.

After a few weeks spent in Karakorum, on Thursday, July 19th, in the late afternoon, Andrzej Bargiel started his way up. On the first day he ascended to Camp 2 where Janusz Gołąb was waiting for him. On the next day the team moved to the Camp 3 located at 7000 m. The following day, Bargiel set off on his own and after a night in the fourth camp at an altitude of 8,000 m, on Sunday, July 22nd, the actual summit push on K2 started successfully. The K2 summit was reached by Andrzej around 11:28 am local time and shortly after he strapped on his skis and started the historic descent.

The ski descent route was prepared in advance and checked for potential difficulties and threats, but still Andrzej encountered some problems. In the higher parts of the mountain there was poor visibility, and Andrzej had to stay in the fourth camp for about an hour and wait for the clear weather. The descent from the summit led through the shoulder to the Cessen's route, from where Andrzej made the passage below the huge seracs that loom above the so-called Messner's traverse, to reach the ridge on the Kukuczka-Piotrowski route few moments later. Andrzej returned to the base camp around 7:30 pm. He fulfilled his great dream, going down in the history of mountaineering! Andrzej would like to dedicate this feat in memory of 100th anniversary of regaining independence by Poland.

The expedition members were Janusz Gołąb, Piotr Pawlus, Marek Ogień and Andrzej’s brother - Bartłomiej Bargiel who had flown his drone to an impressive altitude to film Andrzej standing on the summit and then follow him during this historical descent. Apart from that Bartek used his drone during this expedition to help in rescuing 65-year-old Scotman Rick Allen on Broad Peak.

The main sponsors of this year's expedition were Bank Pekao S.A. and Mercedes-Benz Sobiesław Zasada Automotive. The technical partner of Andrzej Bargiel was Salomon. The expedition suit was once again provided by Pajak and Enel-Sport became a medical partner just as during last year's expedition. The expedition was also supported by the Institute of Media Monitoring. Storytel joined the group of this year's sponsors. The effect of this cooperation is the ATAK2 audiobook, thanks to which we can hear the report from the course of action during the K2 Ski Challenge 2018. Red Bull is Andrzej Bargiel’s partner.

Everest

A little over a year after the spectacular success of his K2 SKI CHALLENGE project, on the 27th of August 2019, Andrzej Bargiel and his team left for Kathmandu to embark on the next part of his original, long-term project, HIC SUNT LEONES. Since 2013, he has been skiing from the highest mountain peaks on Earth. The goal of this year’s expedition, the EVEREST SKI CHALLENGE, is ascent and a ski descent down Mount Everest.

A ski descent down Mt. Everest (elevated 8,848m above sea level) is a real challenge. It is to demonstrate that skiing is possible even on the Roof of the World. The expedition's date was not coincidental: autumn is a period when Everest is relatively free from other expeditions due to snowy weather, providing, in turn, the best conditions for skiing.

Because of extremely tough conditions with the monsoon staying longer, it snowed and rained more often this autumn. The huge serac, around 50 m high and 30 m wide, overhanging 800 m above the Icefall and separated from its primary structure after five weeks in the Everest base camp, he decided to stop the challenge, aware of the risks to the team and myself.

The expedition members: Bartłomiej Bargiel (drone operator), Grzegorz Bargiel (International Mountain Guide, Tatra Mountain Rescue), Jakub Gzela (cinematographer), Marek Ogień photographer), Grzegorz Pajak (cinematographer) , Jakub Poburka (Tatra Mountain Rescue), Piotr Snopczyński (Alpine and Himalayan mountaineer, GOPR mountain rescue)

EVEREST SKI CHALLENGE expedition strategic partner was a Polish nation-wide property developer, Murapol S.A. Andrzej’s sports partner was Red Bull. The expedition partner was Mercedes-Benz Poland. Andrzej’s equipment partner was Salomon. The challenge suit was once again kindly provided by Pajak Sport.