KATHMANDU: Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja, who is on his mission to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in just seven months, today successfully climbed the world’s 13th highest mountain in the Karakoram range.

According to the base camp officials, the former UK Special Forces member along with Mingma David Sherpa and Galjen Sherpa of the ‘Project Possible’ team stood atop the summit of Gasherbrum – II (8,035 m) this morning. The team is scheduled to descend to the base camp by this evening.

“Purja, who has spent 16 years in the British Army, successfully climbed three peaks – Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), Gasherbrum – I (8,080 m) and Gasherbrum – II in just over two weeks,” the officials said, adding that the 35-year-old climber completed his ninth of 14 mountains above 8,000 m.

Earlier, Purja climbed Nanga Parbat on July 3 and Gasherbrum – I on July 15. Today’s G-II summit marked his ninth eight-thousander in less than three months since he first scaled Mt Annapurna on April 23, an official said.

Mingma David Sherpa, who has already climbed Mt Everest six times, also completed his 12th eight-thousander by scaling three peaks - Nanga Parbat, G-I and G- II - in Pakistan this season. Before heading for the Karakoram range, Sherpa had shared that he would also attempt to climb Broad Peak this season and Mt Sishapangma in the next couple of months to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 m.

During the second phase of Purja’s mission, G-II was the third peak in his list of five mountains while the owner of Elite Himalayan Adventure Pvt Ltd aims to complete at least two more mountains in the next couple of weeks. Purja has a plan to complete the second phase by August 1. “The team will soon head for K2 and Broad Peak.”

The Ex UK Special Forces member has already succeeded in the first phase of his ambition to speed climb the world’s 14 highest mountains in just seven months while he stood atop six mountains including Mt Everest in just over four weeks in the last spring season.

According to Project Possible, his final attempt will begin in September with plans to climb the remaining three peaks – Mt Manaslu, Mt Cho Oyu and Mt Sishapangma - by this November.

SUMMIT SUCCESS:

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