Ama Dablam
Remembrance Day.

With his military heritage transitioning to a new career in the mountains, it came as no surprise that such a project was born. Nims served a 16-year military career, 6 years as a Ghurka and 10 years with the UK Special Forces (SBS). This naturally meant a life serving in some of the world’s most dangerous warzones. As a result, Nims has experienced first-hand multiple loses of comrades and what it truly means to give your life for the nation. 

As a result, November the 11th (Remembrance day) is always an important event in his calendar, a moment where he can join the rest of the nation in marking their respects. So, in 2018 he hatched an ambitious plan to combine his newfound arena of operation ‘The mountains’, with a meaningful tribute to those who gave their all.

A fitting location

Ama Dablam, a real jewel in the Himalayas capturing the imaginations of Alpine climbers for generations, instantly felt like a fitting location. Situated in the heart of Everest's Khumbu region, it lies directly above Thyangboche Monastery on the well-trodden path to Everest Base Camp. The team would climb via the traditional South West Ridge, renowned as one of the most aesthetic climbing routes in the world. Climbing from camp one negotiating its intricate rock towers, to the infamous and precariously positioned camp two with its outrageous exposure. From here they would ascend towards the upper ice fields eventually leading to the summit, and if blessed with favourable weather they would be rewarded with a breath-taking panorama of the Everest Massif with her neighbouring peaks of Lhotse and Makalu.

Embarking on an ascent with a fixed summit date and time would eliminate the luxury of aligning with an optimum weather window, so with this, a much bigger challenge lay ahead. It would require meticulous planning, management and expedition leadership, but this is where Nims thrives; he set out a plan considering every eventuality, applying his usual process of controlling the controllable, backups for the backups and assembling the best of the best in terms of team. It’s with this well-versed approach he would give himself the best possible chance of success on the day, on the exact day.

Climbing with respect

On the mountain the early phases passed without incident. Summit day was soon upon them, and the clock was ticking ever closer to the unmoveable final objective. Nims and the team worked tirelessly to maintain safety and their promise to broadcast the message, but mother nature had bigger things to say that day. As with many climbs within an Autumn season they had to endure extreme cold weather conditions and continuous wind speeds of 50/60 km/hr for more than 6 hours on the early parts of the ascent. The team held strong and in true Nims style at 11:00hrs they stood upon the summit and prepared for the service.

At 11:00hrs on 11/11 2018 Nims broadcast his very personal ceremony live via social media, with the laying of a commemorative wreath adorned in traditional red poppies accompanied by a simple wooden cross, he gazed out to the vast horizon and beyond and marked the moment with a respectful military salute. Soon afterwards he published a post to thank everyone for their support. In his own words “We absolutely accomplished the ultimate goal of paying tribute to our fallen heroes even in extreme weather conditions, we will salute, and WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”.

Since returning home, Ama Dablam and the project has held a very special place in his heart, a setting and occasion in which to honour our loved ones, a place to reflect with pride on their ultimate sacrifice. He now sets out to make it an annual expedition within his calendar, to maintain this very unique way of paying tribute to our fallen heroes.