In October 2024, ski mountaineers Christina Lustenberger and Gee Pierrel arrive in New Zealand’s Southern Alps to explore the range and attempt a first ski descent of the East Face of Aoraki / Mt. Cook, the country’s highest peak.
It is a new partnership and the first time they have skied together. In the mountains, Christina and Gee discover a shared passion and a deepening trust that allow them to push beyond what either could achieve alone. They open new ski descents on Mt. Vancouver and Mt. Dixon, building the rhythm, confidence, and connection they will need for their greatest objective: climbing and skiing a technical line on the East Face of Aoraki.
But the mountain does not cooperate. High winds and unskiable ice force them to abandon their first summit attempt.
They wait for a second weather window. When it arrives, they return. The climb and descent demand everything from them — their skill, commitment, and complete trust in one another. Together, they complete a first ski descent on one of New Zealand’s most technical peaks.
They name the line Hunter’s Moon, after the full moon that shines above them on the morning they reach the summit and ski down.
Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger is a Canadian professional ski mountaineer and filmmaker known for her bold, technical approach to some of the world’s most challenging mountains. Based between British Columbia and Chamonix — where she and Gee built a life together — Lusti has become a leading figure in modern ski alpinism, combining exceptional skiing and alpinism with deep mountain knowledge and a thoughtful, meticulous approach to her objectives.
Her career has taken her across the globe. In 2024, Lusti and French ski mountaineer Guillaume “”Gee”” Pierrel made the first ski descent of a new line on Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. They named the route Hunter’s Moon — a descent that would go on to inspire a film, and many more adventures together.
Christina is deeply committed to storytelling and to the mountain communities that have shaped her life. Her work as an athlete, filmmaker, and mountain partner reflects a profound respect for wild landscapes, the experiences found within them, and the people with whom she shares the journey.
She continues to push the boundaries of ski mountaineering while bringing a sense of curiosity, humility, and purpose to her work in the mountains.
Guillaume “Gee” Pierrel was a French ski mountaineer, mountain guide, alpinist, and filmmaker based in Chamonix. He was known for seeking out technically demanding, often previously unskied lines, and for approaching the mountains with equal parts curiosity, humility, and precision.
Among his many achievements, Gee made first ski descents on some of the world’s most formidable peaks. Alongside Christina Lustenberger, he opened visionary lines on Aoraki/Mount Cook in New Zealand, as well as first descents on Mount Robson and Deltaform in the Canadian Rockies — descents that have left their mark on the history of ski mountaineering.
Beyond his accomplishments on skis, Gee was passionate about documenting and sharing the stories, history, and spirit of the mountains. Through filmmaking and his work as a guide, he sought not only to explore difficult places, but to better understand them and the people who came before him.
At the age of 40, Gee died on June 24, 2026, while climbing Kapura Peak in the Karakoram range of Pakistan. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of exploration and adventure, enduring friendships, and a profound love for the mountains.
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