Preparing for the Ascent
If I say I’m not nervous at all about leading the summit fixing team on K2, then I’m lying.
I have seen the video clips and the images and I’m fully aware of the risks. I also know that some great climbers who I look up to have given up.
My career within the UKSF / SBS has taught me so many things. I’m used to taking risks. On operations it was always a 2 way range. I knew the bullets could hit me at any moment but I pushed forwards mitigating the risks.
I have now completed 9 x 8,000m peaks this season, making countless difficult decisions but always keeping myself and my team safe.
As I said if it was only for my project, I would have climbed Broad Peak and then followed the rest of the climbers on K2 but once again this isn’t only about me. When I rocked up at K2 base camp I found most teams leaving, the remaining climbers only stayed because they thought my team had a chance of fixing ropes to the summit. I have made the decision to hit K2.
Early tomorrow morning, I will make a move to C2 with my team, the next day C4 and then will start fixing from 2200hrs on the 23rd. The summit plan is to stand on top of K2 by 1200hrs at the latest on the 24th.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who’s been following my story and supporting me so far. Without your support, I wouldn’t be here.
- Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja MBE
K2 Summit Report
At 0440hrs GMT 24/07/19, Nims and his team executed the final steps of this plan and stood atop K2.
At 8,611 metres above sea level, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world (only 200m+ behind Everest) and represents a colossal milestone and achievement in Nims’ journey.
On summiting K2 Nims said:
Once again the Project Possible team made the impossible possible, as a result of positive mindset with utmost determination, teamwork and leadership. Thank you for all for your immense support.
Nirmal 'Nims' Purja MBE
Former special forces operator Nirmal Purja MBE, or ‘Nims’ has spent the last 16 years serving in the military, 10 of which were in the discrete and secretive world of the UK’s Special Forces. However, in 2019 he left the military and for the first time can tell the stories of an extraordinary career. Nims is an extraordinary mountaineer who, because of his physiology, training, mindset and sheer humanity, is capable of achieving things beyond even the most experienced climber.
In March 2019 Nims travelled back to the Himalayas to take on the most epic challenge of his life. His aim is to break more than 7 speed world records on mountains above 8,000m; the most challenging being climbing all the 14 x 8,000m peaks in 7 months in order to establish a paradigm shift in the perception of human potential.
