{"id":35490,"date":"2019-10-28T22:10:36","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T04:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=35490"},"modified":"2019-11-01T16:24:10","modified_gmt":"2019-11-01T22:24:10","slug":"project-possible-update-success-on-shishapangma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/28\/project-possible-update-success-on-shishapangma\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Possible: SUCCESS on Shishapangma for #14!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Demonstrating incredible determination and physical strength, Nirmal Purja completed his summits of the 14 peaks over 8,000-meters in 189 days. Nirmal Purja posted that he and three teammates made the summit of Shishapangma at 8:58 am hrs local time.<\/p>\n<p>On 9:21 PM, October 28, 2019, he posted on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Nimraldai\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Twitter<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>At 8:58 hrs local time, Nirmal Purja and his team reached the summit of Shisha Pangma. Team Members includes: Mingma David Sherpa, Galjen Sherpa and Gesman Tamang.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>A GPS track was provided as they crested the false summit and photos later showed them on what is believed to be the true summit after crossing the 100-meter\/300-foot, knife-edge ridge or potential the \u201cI\u00f1aki route\u201d, but we need to hear directly from the team.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BremontProjectPossible?src=hash\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-35271\" src=\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Nirmal Purja-Shishapangma-2019-GPS-track-619x480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"619\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Records<\/h2>\n<p>Also notable was Mingma David Sherpa who became the youngest climber to summit all of the 8000ers at 30 years-old. A few pictures are emerging now that the team is back in Kathmandu:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_35272\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-35272\" style=\"width: 613px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Nimraldai\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-35272\" src=\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Nirmal Purja-Shishapangma-2019-team-613x480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"613\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-35272\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mingma David Sherpa , Gesman Tamang, Galjen Sherpa, Lakpa Dendi Sherpa and Halung Dorchi Sherpa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_35273\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-35273\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Nimraldai\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-35273\" src=\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Nirmal Purja-Shishapangma-2019-summit-shoot-640x428.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-35273\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mingma David Sherpa , Gesman Tamang, Galjen Sherpa, Lakpa Dendi Sherpa and Halung Dorchi Sherpa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>They had difficult conditions on the way to the summit as shown in this video between Camps 2 and 3:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 636px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-35490-1\" width=\"636\" height=\"360\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Nirmal%20Purja-2019-Shispangma-storm.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Nirmal%20Purja-2019-Shispangma-storm.mp4\">http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Nirmal%20Purja-2019-Shispangma-storm.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<h2>Critics and Supporters<\/h2>\n<p>As usual with these types of projects, there is criticism and it&#8217;s perhaps useful to examine their viewpoint. The primary points include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use of supplemental oxygen<\/li>\n<li>Using helicopters to fly between peaks<\/li>\n<li>Climbing on the standard routes<\/li>\n<li>Possibly only reaching the fore summits on both Dhaulagiri and Manalsu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, to be accurate, others who have summited all 14 also used planes and helicopters to fly between peaks, including Ed Viesturs, who did just that to link Everest and Broad Peak to leverage his acclimatization. And 22 of the 41 who have bagged all 14 used supplemental oxygen on at least one, if not many, of the 8000ers. As for standard routes, Nirmal Purja certainly did his fair share of breaking trail while fixing the ropes to the summit putting him and his teammates first for the season, including on Dhaulagiri. Finally, demonstrating his humanity, he participated in four rescues during the project.<\/p>\n<p>On the summit question, this is a real issue in the world of mountaineering, but primarily for those claiming records. Sometimes snow conditions make reaching the true summit suicidal. And then there are honest mistakes. Multiple climbers seeking all 14, have had to return to achieve the tue summit after believing they had reached it previously. That said, knowing this history, surely Nirmal Purja understood the challenge on the most notorious peaks like Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, and even Cho Oyu, so we are left to take his word, GPS tracks, and summit photos as proof.<\/p>\n<p>For me, what was most impressive about his achievement was his ability to recover so quickly. While benefiting from his Nepali genetics and Gurkha training, it was still an amazing feat to achieve back to back summits of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu in just 48 hours! A few days after getting both Gasherbrum I and II, he moved to K2 just as everyone else was ready to abandon it due to avalanche danger. But Nirmal Purja and team went on to fix the ropes to the summit opening the route for other climbers that year, albeit aided by winds that cleaned the obvious avi danger. Then, just 24 hours later, they summited Broad Peak. Finally, there was his ability to raise money, find sponsors, and stay focused throughout the project while dealing with family illness and permit politics.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, Nirmal Purja put the \u201cPossible\u201d in \u201cProject Possible.\u201d I\u2019m impressed with his accomplishments and hope others will see it for a fantastic feat and be inspired to pursue their own Project Possible.<\/p>\n<p>What do you think?<\/p>\n<p>[poll id=&#8221;32&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>Project Possible<\/h2>\n<p>Nirmal Purja\u2019s project was to summit all 14 of the 8000ers in seven months. To achieve his timeline, he needed to summit Shish by November 23. By summiting on October 28th, he summited all 14 in 189 days or 6 months, 6 days. According to his site, <a href=\"https:\/\/projectpossible.co.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Project Possible<\/a> wanted to use the project and associated publicity:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cto provide important opportunities for local Sherpas and guides to forge a career in the mountains and will promote the homeland of the Gurkhas among the 8,000m mountains. The project aims to raise awareness for a number of significant causes, most notably for UK military charities, supporting Nirmal Purja\u2019 colleagues who may have been wounded, injured and\/or who suffer mental health issues. Equally, the support for Nepalese children\u2019s charities and orphanages dedicated to education and wellbeing is of paramount importance, not forgetting raising crucial awareness of climate change and global warming.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>These are the 8000ers Nirmal Purja and various members of his team summited:<\/p>\n<p>1. Annapurna \u2013 April 23<br \/>\n2. Dhaulagiri \u2013 May 12<br \/>\n3. Kanchenjunga \u2013 May 15<br \/>\n4. Lhotse \u2013 May 22<br \/>\n5. Everest \u2013 May 22<br \/>\n6. Makalu \u2013 May 24<br \/>\n7. Nanga Parbat \u2013 July 03<br \/>\n8. Gasherbrum I \u2013 July 15<br \/>\n9. Gasherbrum II \u2013 July 18<br \/>\n10. K2 \u2013 July 24<br \/>\n11. Broad Peak \u2013 July 26<br \/>\n12. Cho Oyu \u2013 September 23<br \/>\n13. Manaslu \u2013 September 27<br \/>\n14. Shishapangma \u2013 October 28<\/p>\n<p>In 2013, Korean climber Kim Chang-ho set the previous record for all 14 in 7 years, 10 months, 6 days. And before Kim, the record was set in 1987 by Polish alpinist Jerzy Kukuczka climbing all 14 in 7 years, 11 months, 14 days.<\/p>\n<p>Nirmal Purja was born in the Dhaulagiri region of Nepal at an altitude of 1,600-metres\/5,250-feet. He joined the Gurkhas in 2003 at age 19 and spent 10 years in the secret world of the UK\u2019s Special Forces. He left the Gurkas in 2019 to begin the project. He founded <a href=\"http:\/\/www.elitehimalayanadventures.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Elite Hiimalya Adventures<\/a> and now will lead guided climbs across the world&#8217;s highest peaks.<\/p>\n<p>Sincere congratulations to Nirmal Purja and the team.<\/p>\n<p>Climb On!<br \/>\nAlan<br \/>\nMemories are Everything<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Demonstrating incredible determination and physical strength, Nirmal Purja completed his summits of the 14 peaks over 8,000-meters in 189 days. Nirmal Purja [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Nirmal Purja and the team completed his summits of the 14 peaks over 8,000-meters in 190 days. 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