Photo: by Blake Gordon
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Patagonia’s latest film, Papsura: Peak of Evil, will make its premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Bewvies Cinema Hub in Salt Lake City. The 37-minute documentary follows professional snowboarders Nick Russell and Jerry Mark as they journey from California’s Sierra Nevada to the Indian Himalayas to tackle a 21,100-foot peak known as Papsura.
The mountain, nicknamed the “Peak of Evil,” features a striking line described as both perfect and formidable, challenging even the most experienced ski mountaineers. The film captures the athletes’ years of preparation and their ultimate attempt to snowboard one of the most remote and technical descents in the world.
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The premiere event will begin at 7 p.m. and include opportunities to meet the filmmakers, win snow gear, and learn about the efforts of the local nonprofit Save Our Canyon. Complimentary tickets can be secured by RSVP.
A Closer Look at the Expedition
Russell, a Patagonia ambassador and member of the Protect Our Winters Athlete Alliance, drew inspiration for the expedition from the late Hilaree Nelson, a pioneering ski mountaineer. “The vision for Papsura was inspired directly from Hilaree’s exploits,” Russell said. “It was a years-long dream to acquire the necessary skills to organize and lead an expedition to northern India culminating in the second descent and first snowboard descent of the 21,150-plus-foot peak.”
Mark, who grew up in Telluride, Colorado, and now works as a registered nurse in Verdi, Nevada, described the expedition as the realization of a lifelong dream. “Papsura is the most aesthetically beautiful mountain I have ever seen,” Mark said. “The mountain is remote and technical, and has a special place in the hearts of some of my fondest ski mountaineering idols.”
Filmmaker Morgan Shields and cinematographer Blake Gordon joined the expedition, blending their love of the Himalayas with a passion for storytelling.
Shields, based in Jackson, Wyoming, returned to the region after a 2017 visit and described the experience as transformative, “Tagging along for the Papsura expedition seemed like the perfect opportunity to return to the mountain range that had been on my mind ever since I left.”
Gordon, an FAA-certified drone pilot and member of the Mountain Rescue Aspen drone team, called the project a culmination of years spent refining his skills in both mountaineering and visual storytelling. “There were challenges, but the conditions were a gift and we were able to put in the necessary hard work as a team day in and out to make it happen. Summiting and skiing with Nick and Jerry—all while shooting photos and video and not holding up the team—was one of the more demanding and rewarding days in the mountains I’ve had and the result of a career slowly refining those skills,” Gordon shared.
Film Details and Accessibility
For those unable to attend the screening, Papsura: Peak of Evil will be available online through Patagonia’s website in late January. The film offers a compelling exploration of human endurance, connection to nature, and the pursuit of adventure in one of the world’s most dramatic landscapes.
