Enviable world record up his sleeve as China grants Shishapangma permit to Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja
KATHMANDU: China’s mountaineering authority today issued a special climbing permit to Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja allowing him to scale Mt Shishapangma, this season.
The former UK’s special forces member Purja, who climbed Mt Manaslu as his 13th eight-thousander last month, is all set to head for Tibet to make his final attempt on Mt Shishapangma in a day or two after China Tibet Mountaineering Association issued a special climbing permit for the 8,027-metre peak in Tibet.
Purja aims to climb Mt Shishapangma by this November to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in just seven months.
“The team ‘Project Possible’ has finally obtained a climbing permit for Mt Shishapangma,” Purja, who has already scaled 13 peaks above 8,000 metres in just over five months, setting multiple world records in the history of mountain climbing, confirmed. “I will leave for Tibet with my team members in a couple of days,” he told THT.
Renowned climber Mingma David Sherpa, Gesman Tamang, Gyalzen Sherpa, Temba Sherpa, Jangbu Sherpa and Mingma Sherpa will also accompany Purja on Mt Shishapangma. Mingma David is also on his bid to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 m by climbing Shishapangma this season.
READ MORE: China to allow Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja to climb Shishapangma
“We are a strong team and we are very confident to complete this mission,” Purja said, thanking all including CTMA, Tibet Mountaineering Association and government agencies among others for their support and timely cooperation. “I would like to thank the government of Nepal for approaching China on my behalf for this project and I would also like to thank the government of China for considering my application and allowing me to climb Shishapangma this year.”
Last month, Purja had made it to the top of Mt Manaslu, the world’s eighth highest peak, completing his 13th eight-thousander in just 158 days.
The former UK’s Special Forces member began his ‘Project Possible’ in April to complete all 14 peaks by November. If he succeeds in scaling Mt Shishapangma, he will conquer all 14 peaks in just six months. “Now, I want to complete it in six months,” Purja said.
The current records for such attempt are seven years, 10 months and six days by Korean climber Kim Chang-ho in 2013 and seven years, 11 months and 14 days by Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka in 1987.
Purja was the first Gurkha to join the elite Special Boat Service and already has multiple world records for speed climbing to his name.
Mountaineering world believes that Purja’s project is one of a kind which will test the human endurance to its limit. Purja has pushed the limits of human potential in mountaineering, according to the expedition operators.
Purja’s Summit Record:
- Mt Manaslu – September 27
- Cho Oyu – September 23
- Broad Peak – July 26
- Mt K2 – July 24
- Gasherbrum II – July 18
- Gasherbrum I – July 15
- Nanga Parbat – July 03
- Mt Makalu – May 24
- Mt Everest – May 22
- Mt Lhotse – May 22
- Mt Kanchenjunga – May 15
- Mt Dhaulagiri – May 12
- Mt Annapurna – April 23
READ MORE: Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja sets world record scaling 13 peaks in five months
