The Story of the Original Everest Skydive

In 2008, Nigel Gifford OBE organised the first ever Everest Skydive. In doing so, he established the the Shyangboche 'Everest' Dropzone in association with the Nepali government.

By Oct 11th 2008, 25 people jumped the 'Everest' DZ successfully and safely as a result of Nigel's meticulous planning, logistics and expertise.

At the time, Nigel had to arrange for a Pilatus Porter aircraft to fly in from Switzerland for his clients to be able to reach the required altitude for the jump.
First account of the first ever Everest Skydive
In February 2007 I flew to Nepal for a day to see the then Minister of Tourism, Culture and Aviation, Pradeep Gawalai. This was to ask for a permit for TV adventure presenter Bear Grylls and Gilo Caradozo to fly two para motors along the Chukung Valley in front of the Nuptse /Lhotse Wall, part of the Mt Everest Massif to a height ceiling of 30,000ft.

In 2007 permits for Sport Aviation in Nepal had become extremely difficult to secure as a French piloted helicopter had allegedly landed on the Summit of Everest without the correct permissions.

Due to my long-standing relationship with Nepal, a permit was granted to me as an individual. This made me responsible for the actions of the pilots, the team, and the film crew of " GKN Mission Everest”. It was an outstanding success for the team, Nepal and the local people of Solu Khumbu.

While delivering my report to the Secretary of CAAN, it was mentioned that any other air sport adventure activity that I could introduce to Nepal, would be looked upon favourably.

It was now clear that a skydiving programme in Solu Khumbu near to Everest was a possibility if the proper approaches were made and the correct formalities adhere to. I made a full reconnaissance on the ground and from the air from an MI17 helicopter before travelling back to UK to start the detailed

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reconnaissance on the ground and from the air from an MI17 helicopter before travelling back to UK to start the detailed planning and applications.

This was followed in 2008 by another reconnaissance, of which the purpose was to familiarize others, evaluate parachuting equipment in situ, test the proposed O2 system, and see how westerners would adapt and work together in this unusual environment.

Once established on the DZ, we were outnumbered by officials who had come to observe what skydiving was. We realised that undertaking and planning an Everest Skydive was an absolute privilege for all concerned, with enormous trust from all the various government departments, officials, and the people of Namche Bazar and the Dhud Khosi Valley