Papsura

Peak of Evil

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2024 / 35 Min

Tucked deep in the Indian Himalaya is a 21,100-foot behemoth called Papsura, the face of which is split by a line so perfect and massive it pushed the skills of even the most renowned ski mountaineers. Papsura: Peak of Evil follows professional snowboarders Nick Russell and Jerry Mark from California’s Sierra Nevada to this remote corner of the world’s greatest mountain range, as they harness years of experience in pursuit of the biggest line of their lives.

The Team

Nick Russell

Entranced by an uphill stride and downhill glide, Nick Russell has dedicated his life to earning his powder turns. Based out of California’s Sierra Nevada, he uses his splitboard to ride remote lines in some of the world’s biggest mountains, constantly pushing the limits of human-powered freeriding.

Jerry Mark

Jerry Mark is a snowboarder raised in the classic ski town of Telluride, Colorado, and has been using a splitboard to explore the backcountry since he was 15 years old. He currently lives in Verdi, Nevada, where he works as a registered nurse in an intensive care unit.

Morgan Shields

Morgan Shields is a filmmaker with a passion for spending time in and telling stories about the outdoors. His love for action sports—and specifically skiing—began many years ago while racing down 300-vertical feet in Minnesota, and he now blends filmmaking and snow sports in Jackson, Wyoming.

Blake Gordon

Blake Gordon is a photographer and cinematographer who focuses on a deep connection to place. This was his third expedition in the Himalaya, and he finds the culture as enriching as the terrain. Blake is also an FAA 107-certified drone pilot and lead pilot for the Mountain Rescue Aspen drone team.

Papsura

Locals in northern India refer to Papsura and its sibling summit, Dharmsura, as the “Peaks of Good and Evil,” and their respective heights are said to reflect which force is most present in the world. It was first skied in 2017 by Hilaree Nelson, Jim Morrison and Chris Figenshau.