Publications
On 29 October 2019, a little before 9am local time, Nirmal Purja reached the summit of Shishapangma, a remote Tibetan peak rising more than 8km above sea level.
It had been a gruelling ascent over rock, snow and ice – an extreme test of physical and psychological endurance – and as he stood at the very top of the mountain, he could see the sun reflecting off far distant ranges while, beneath him, an ocean of thick white cloud obscured the rest of the world from view.
The only sounds were the wind, the occasional crump of snow underfoot and the breathless congratulations shared between Nirmal – or Nims as he’s known – and his small team of fellow Nepalese mountaineers.
