Inside Trango

Clay Farnsley

Jim Morrison’s story in Trango doesn’t start in Pakistan. It starts on Manaslu in 2022, when he watched his partner, Hilaree Nelson, fall more than 1,500 meters to her death while they were skiing from the summit. In the days that followed, he joined helicopter searches in brutal conditions, ultimately helping locate her body and later writing that his loss was “indescribable” and that he was “in Kathmandu with her and her spirit,” focused on her children and the steps ahead. Within the ski and climbing world, Hilaree was already a lodestar, a prolific expedition leader who showed an entire generation how to live fully in the mountains while also being a parent, partner, and mentor. Even in the way people remember her now, the lessons are about staying with grief instead of trying to out-climb it, taking “one step, one run” at a time, and being brave enough to live with unanswered questions.

The North Face Presents: Trango drops us into the long arc of what came next for Jim: the choice to go back into big, consequential terrain without Hilaree, and to do it alongside Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger. Over two years, they and their partners Nick McNutt and Chantel Astorga chased the first ski descent of Great Trango Tower 20,000 feet of granite and ice in the Karakoram, more cathedral than mountain. The film is ostensibly about an audacious line, but underneath it’s about something quieter: how people who’ve seen the worst thing happen still find a way to step back into the arena, and how much that depends on trust.

In the conversations that follow, Lusti and Jim talk about how this project began with an expedition in Baffin with Hilaree, with Christina’s proposal to The North Face, and with Jim asking if they could go look at Trango at a moment when just being in the mountains again felt almost impossible. They describe what it’s like to move through that “granite cathedral” on skis, to sit through storms alone in a tent with nothing but time to think, and to come home to salad, fresh berries, and the strange letdown of what Jim now calls “post‑traumatic stoke disorder.” Taken together, their answers feel less like standard film promo and more like an open file on risk, love, and the kind of partnership that can hold all of that at once.

On Why Trango, and How the Partnership Began

Clay Farnsley: Christina, let’s start with you. What drew you to do this alongside Jim—helping him through this project and taking it on as your own as well?

Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger: Leading up to Trango, I was on an expedition in Baffin with his partner, Hilaree Nelson, plus Emily Harrington and Brette Harrington. That trip created the momentum that sparked the idea of going to Pakistan with Jim, Hilaree, and Brette. When we came back in the summer of 2022, I pitched the idea to The North Face. Then the accident happened, and it took a lot for him to overcome the idea of entering the mountains again. But once you do, it becomes really natural. Supporting him and giving him the invitation, while also having him on our team bringing his expertise and mastery of the mountains leading us, as we helped lead him through the process was really special.

Clay: Jim, from your perspective, what made Christina the right partner for this?

Jim Morrison: Christina pitched this trip to The North Face through our expedition proposal process and had already talked to Hilaree and me about joining her. She came to me in the fall of 2022 at a time when I was in a really tough place with grief after losing Hilaree, and she slowly coaxed me back into the idea of going on another expedition. It was hard to imagine being back in the mountains by myself without her. I got excited enough to say, “Okay, I’ll go but if we go, can we look at Trango Tower?” She was like, “What do you mean? We were going to go somewhere else.” I talked her into spending a few days walking over to this mountain to see if it’d be possible to ski, and through the planning process she started getting as excited as I was. We ended up changing the entire trip and put all our marbles in this basket to go try to ski Trango Tower.

What Trango Represents

Clay: What does Trango represent to you beyond just a ski objective?

Jim: The Trango Towers have always been this iconic thing in my mind, and in alpinism and mountaineering history they signify some of the biggest rock faces in the highest mountains in the world. When I think of Trango, I think of the stories I grew up with these incredible climbers being there, climbing difficult 5.12 and 5.13 at 20,000 feet, and just being blown away that people can do that. At some point I was talking to a friend who’d been on an expedition there about going to Trango, asking him about the route and whether he thought I could climb it. He turned to me and said, “Jim, you could ski it.” That was the moment the idea was really born. Mixing skiing with this world this cathedral of granite felt really special and unique in my mind.

Lusti: You see photos of these things and imagine what they’ll be like, but when you’re there in person there’s this energy really vibrating off the snow and ice and the huge granite walls. To be there in person, to climb and ski this thing, there’s a sense of intimidation but also a spark in you this feeling of, “This is a huge challenge right at our footsteps,” and taking that on is really exciting.

Finding Peace in the Chaos

Clay: Was there a moment or moments on the trip where you were able to find some peace and reflection, even with all the stress and chaos?

Jim: There’s an extraordinary amount of time on these expeditions where you’re just in a tent. I spent a lot of time alone with no real to-dos. We’d have a storm and decide that for the next three days we weren’t leaving base camp. I’d spend some of that time watching Emily in Paris on my iPad or just trying to totally turn my brain off. But I also had a lot of time to think about where I was, to reflect on Hilaree, and to think about what I wanted to manifest out of this expedition and where I wanted to go with my life. It ended up being a transformative period. We got really close and then we failed, and it was really hard to walk away. But we were determined to go back, and I’m glad we went back and pulled it off.

Life After the Summit

Clay: I asked you both this question what was it like coming back after finally overcoming that objective? Now that it’s done, what does settling back in feel like?

Lusti: On the other side of a two-year goal, there’s almost this open space and emptiness, because before going year one, and even coming back unsuccessful after year one there was always this purpose and drive moving us forward. Then suddenly it’s behind you, and you’re asking, “What’s next?” and just sitting with that. It’s a place of reflection, but also a space to really absorb the experience you just lived. Every time I watch Trango, I get really excited to relive that experience.

Jim: Coming back to salad and fresh berries is always spectacular after an expedition like this. Having the comforts of life again and coming back to your community is great. And then there’s what we like to call PTSD post-traumatic stoke disorder. It’s the letdown after achieving such a big goal, and then trying to assimilate back into society and normalcy is always a bit of a challenge. That’s often why, even while you’re on an expedition, you start dreaming up the next goal. Having something to train for and look forward to is a big bonus in my life.

On The Film

Clay: I’m really excited to watch it on the big screen.

Lusti: For sure. Our cinematographer and photographer teams really elevated the whole visual storytelling process with their mastery behind the cameras. Seeing it on the full screen is a real treat.

`Mixing skiing with this world, this cathedral of granite, felt really special and unique in my mind, and I think Leo captured that in a way that does it justice.

The North Face Presents: Trango is about more than just skiing. It’s about what happens when two people refuse to let failure define them. It’s about the kind of partnership that forms when you’re willing to be vulnerable with someone to grieve together, to push together, and to celebrate together on the other side.

“After a two-year attempt, ski mountaineers Christina ‘Lusti’ Lustenberger and Jim Morrison, joined by Nick McNutt and Chantel Astorga, ski the first descent of the Great Trango Glacier. They navigate risk, grapple with grief, and face physical danger as they push the limits of human experience. At 6,000 meters, constant exposure tests their resolve, but it’s the unspoken trust and support within their expedition team that allows them to face the unimaginable together.”

The film is a 45-minute story of what becomes possible when you trust each other that much.

Clay Farnsley

“Hello, I’m Clay Farnsley, a passionate advocate for the great outdoors, and my journey has been shaped by the rugged landscapes I call home. Growing up in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, I spent most of my formative years exploring the rolling hills and dense forests, fostering a deep connection with nature.

Now nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, my love for outdoor adventures has only grown. From hiking, camping, and biking to the thrill of backcountry snowshoeing, I embrace the full spectrum of outdoor pursuits.

My interests extend beyond the trails to encompass everything from evaluating shelters, tents, and sleeping bags to exploring facets like food, nutrition, fitness, and technology. If it aids you in getting outside, having fun, and making the most of your outdoor experiences, then it’s a subject I’m eager to review!

Join me on this journey as we celebrate the beauty of the outdoors and share insights into gear, techniques, and innovations that enhance our connection with nature. Together, let’s explore, learn, and ensure that the joy of outdoor recreation is accessible to all who seek it.”