Nirmal Purja, known as Nims, is a Nepal-born naturalised British mountaineer who has achieved a feat that many would consider impossible. He set out to climb all 14 peaks in the world that are over 8,000 meters in just seven months. The previous record for such an endeavor was seven years. This incredible journey is chronicled in the new Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible”.
Purja served 16 years in the British Armed Forces, initially in the Brigade of Gurkhas and later in the Special Boat Service, the UK’s equivalent of the Navy SEALs. It wasn’t until 2012 that he attempted his first mountain climb, but he quickly realized his natural talent for it.
“Physically, I believe I have a natural gift. It doesn’t matter how extreme the challenge is, I’m not going to give up. I can climb with no sleep or rest at all,” says Purja. A London clinic that studies performance at high altitudes found that Purja possesses a unique physiology that allows him to access more oxygen at high altitudes, making for better performance both mentally and physically.
The first phase of his challenge, which he dubs “Project Possible,” is tackling the six eight-thousanders in Nepal: Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu. Purja and his team of Nepalese sherpas started with Annapurna, a daunting peak. “For every three climbers that make it to the summit, one dies trying,” says Don Bowie, a high-altitude climber who’s had five unsuccessful attempts in 13 years.
Purja took the iconic shot of hundreds of climbers waiting to make the final push to Everest summit after he’d made the ascent. He was on his way down, and uploaded the image to social media as an explanation of why he might struggle to accomplish the ascent of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu in 48 hours.
Despite the challenges, Purja and his team managed to summit Annapurna in late April, kicking off the challenge. His journey was not without danger. The climbers had to navigate waist-deep snow, and the threat of avalanches was ever-present.
Purja also faced bureaucratic hurdles, as some countries were reluctant to grant him permits to climb their peaks. He had to rely on his contacts and connections to secure the necessary permissions.
Purja’s record-breaking feat has not only set a new benchmark in mountaineering history but also serves as an inspiration to adventurers and mountaineers around the globe. It proves that with dedication and resilience, extraordinary heights can be reached. His achievement showcases the essence of mountaineering unity, transcending borders and cultures to achieve greatness together.
However, the world of mountaineering is not without controversy. Some have expressed doubts over how many climbers have actually completed the challenge of climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters. Despite these controversies, Purja’s accomplishment stands as a testament to human endurance and the power of dreaming big. As Purja says in the opening voiceover of the documentary, “Don’t be afraid to dream big”. His story is a reminder that nothing is impossible when one is determined to achieve their goals.
Relevant articles:
– How Nirmal Purja scaled the world’s tallest peaks in record time
– Interview: Nims Purja, the ‘unknown’ mountaineer who smashed … – grough
– Norwegian woman claims record time for climbing world’s 14 highest peaks
– Nirmal Purja – Wikipedia
– Nirmal Purja: Ex-soldier climbs 14 highest mountains in six months …
– Nims Purja on the success of ’14 Peaks,’ documentary about his epic …