What a Moment, what a performance: On 29. October is Nirmal “Nims” Purja on the summit of the 8027-Meter-high Shishapangma, and has implemented its “Project Possible” in record time, successfully. Only six months and six days of the Nepalese has been used, all of the 14 eight-thousanders – the 14 highest mountains in the world to climb. For comparison: The old record was seven years, ten months and six days.
Since then, the 36-Year-old is a celebrated, if not the undisputed extreme mountain climber.
Nirmal Purja, you are a born mountain climber?
I was Born on 2000 meters height in the area of the eight-thousanders Dhaulagiri. But I grew up in Chitwan, the shallowest and warmest corner of Nepal. There you can watch on Safari and elephant walk, but not climb mountains.
How did you come to the mountain climbing?
My first experience on the mountain I had in December 2002. I went with a Guide to the Everest Base Camp Trek, to test how it feels like to be in the mountains. During the Trek, I came up with the idea of Lobuche East (6119 meters) to climb. I convinced my Guide, he showed me how I put on crampons, and then we are risen.
How did it go?
in 2003, I was part of the Gurkhas. These are Nepalese soldiers in the British army and the Indian armed forces. But I wanted more, and me more test. That’s why I changed to the Special Boat Forces – as the first Gurkha ever.
“don’t Let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.”
But your mountain pursued Steiger-career …
by 2017, I succeeded in climbing the Everest, the Lhotse and Makalu within five days. I can even do that in three days. Because I realized that I’m still to far more in the location. I wanted, within 80 days of five eight-thousanders to climb. However, the Special Forces don’t set me free. I quit and had enough time to do my own thing. So the idea was to “Project Possible”: I wanted all of the 14 eight-thousanders in just seven months climb. I wanted to create the impossible.
Have you believed from the beginning to the success of the project?
Like many other climbers, I have not thought it possible that you can see so many mountains in such a short period of time to climb. It is as if I had said, I want to run a Marathon that normally takes two hours, ten minutes. But this is exactly the logic behind my project: don’t Let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Because no one knows you better than yourself.
What was the aim of your project?
I wanted to create a new paradigm of what a human is capable of. So the human potential to explore new. To inspire other people. But what was also important to me: Nepal is a Land of eight-thousanders, the ethnic group of Sherpas ‘ lives. These people have never gotten a real appreciation for what you do in the mountains.
you wanted to prove your home country a service?
My country is of course very proud of me and my Team. We are all from Nepal, from different Parts of the country. But, in principle, the whole world is proud of us. We have gone as a Team to the mountains, and we know of a family welded together. Not only for me, the project was a good one, also my team members have achieved new opportunities. Mingma David Sherpa is now with 30 years of the youngest person who stood on all eight-thousanders.
“if you’re upset about the queue at Everest, you can simply choose a different Route. Or you can go outside the main season.”
What were the biggest challenges?
Everything. I had to take care of me on the side to complete the financing and logistics. At the beginning we had no big sponsors in the back. During the project I worked as the Guide and guests on the eight-thousanders brought. We have opened routes, among other things, on Shishapangma and Annapurna, and two rescue actions carried out. During the descent on Kangchenjunga I made at 8450 meters and bottle of oxygen to the two sick Indians. The power of no one else. Unfortunately, the two died, because nobody else wanted to help. It was very debilitating. On top of that, I had to do it with the policy.
to play on the diplomatic efforts to obtain the climbing permit for Shishapangma in Tibet. The area had been closed due to safety concerns by the Chinese. How have you convinced the authorities?
My project would be just as fail. On the last and lowest of the 14 eight-thousanders. But if your project is bigger than you, then you just grow on you. What has certainly helped is the fact that my biggest fan base lives in China. I didn’t know anything, because I only use Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. But then when I was in China, have supported me and the people so much. You were able to understand my Vision and have admired, as I translate them. So that they could identify.
they were released in may 2019, the now world-famous photograph of the column at the top of Mount Everest, but even a expedition Agency, the tours to the eight-thousanders offers. What you have to say that the high-altitude mountaineering always commercial is?
as Long as you do it in Balance with nature and the people, there is nothing to object. If you’re upset about the queue at Everest, you can simply choose a different Route. Or you can go outside the main season or deviates in other areas. Why are people always so good at it, to look for the culprit in the System? I am a problem solver and not pointing the Finger at others.
“people, other agencies, and climbers, are just jealous of my success. I make things possible that seem impossible.”
During your project, not all were enthusiastic. They criticised, for example, that you are flying the helicopter to the base camp.
Who shall decide, please, as I implement my project? I’ve climbed the mountains in exactly the style, as I have announced before. With a bottle of oxygen, and logistical support. These people just sit at home on the couch and talk negative about what I have achieved. No one could imagine before that this is possible. But I had a Vision and did it. I feel especially close to nature, I respect nature.
Two weeks after your project, you rose to the 6832 Meter high Ama Dablam and hung with your Team in the order of Kuwait, whose national flag. She was 100 meters long and 30 meters high and ten kilometers wide. Critics complained that they area abused the mountains as advertising. What do you say to this allegation?
There was no advertising. We have no McDonald’s flag up there, but on the Kuwaiti people to celebrate their national holiday. We have taken everything back down and no trash on the mountain to leave. Thus, I see no Problem. That was one of the hardest projects that I have implemented ever. And it was outside the imagination of the people, that’s why you have criticized it. The people, other agencies, and climbers, are just jealous of my success. I make things possible that seem impossible.
Created: 03.03.2020, 21:06 PM
