Team pay touching tribute to loved ones they lost in avalanche as they finish the 14 Peaks challenge they started together – setting two new World Records.
“I know Anna would tell me to go back and finish the mountain we started together, to show the world resilience and determination and to give her and Mingmar a fitting tribute. We are very happy to be able to dedicate these new records to their memory.”
Ground-breaking mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his team celebrate two new world records as they pay a touching tribute to loved ones lost in the 2023 Shishapangma avalanche.
On Oct 4th Nimsdai summited Shishapangma, this means he has now completed all the world’s highest 14 peaks without supplementary oxygen, as well as with it, in record breaking time – giving him two new World Records. (Fastest time to complete the 14 peaks without supplementary oxygen and the fastest time to complete the 14 peaks both with and without supplementary oxygen.
Starting his epic world-record breaking attempt with Kanchenjunga on 7th May, 2022, the Nepalese-born British mountaineer and former UKSF, started the timer on his new 14 Peaks No Oxygen Challenge. Nims stood on the final peak Shishapangma on 4th October 2024, making Nims the fastest person to climb all the 14 Peaks without any supplementary oxygen in 2 years 4 months and 28 days – whilst leading and guiding clients. Previously the record for climbing all 14 without Oxygen was set at 7 years, 10 months and 6 days by South Korean climber Kim Chang-ho. Nims completes both the 14 peaks with and without supplementary oxygen in just 5 years, 5 months and 12 days (23rd April 2019 to 4th October 2024.)
Nims shared the summit with legendary climber, friend and fellow K2 Winter team-mate Mingma G – Mingma G also completed his 14 Peaks challenge without oxygen - and the two celebrated at the summit together, marking a spectacular new achievement for Nepali mountaineers and the Big Mountain community
The team held a special tribute for their loved ones, Anna Gutu and Mingmar Sherpa, who sadly died on October 7th 2023, when avalanches hit Shishapangma as the team climbed together. Four guiding companies were also caught up in the incident and sadly climbers Gina Marie and Tenjen Lama Sherpa were lost. Nims and Elite Exped successfully completed their rescue and repatriation in spring 2024 and Anna and Mingmar were reunited with their families.
Nimsdai and Elite Exped paid tribute to them, with Nimsdai dedicating his new world records to their memory. He said: “I know Anna would have told me to come back and finish the mountain we started together, to show the world resilience and determination and to give her and Mingmar a fitting tribute and legacy – these two new world records are dedicated to them, my family, and my dear mum and dad, who both sadly died after 2019.
“Thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with me since 2019 – I am truly grateful and humbled by your love and support. You are all forever part of these summits and successes.
He added: “My mission has always been to raise the name of the Big Mountain communities, inspire people to believe in themselves and their dreams and to work hard to achieve their new possible.
Nimsdai and Elite Exped are supporting Mingmar’s family in his memory.
