Mountaineer on world record mission summits Dhaulagiri

Published On: May 15, 2019 08:42 AM NPT By: Hari Krishna Gautam

Nirmal Purja atop Mt Dhaulagiri on Sunday. Photo: Photo Courtesy: Nirmal Purja

A team of six climbs Kanchenjunga

MYAGDI, May 15: With the goal of creating a new world record, Nirmal Purja has set out on a journey to climb all 14 mountains above 8000 meters, within a time span of just seven months. According to informed sources, Purja succeeded in climbing Mt Dhaulagiri (8167 meters), the seventh highest peak, in Myagdi’s Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-4 from the southern side without supplemental oxygen on Sunday.

Purja, a local of Myagdi and a former British Army personnel said he decided to climb the mountain because of his passion for climbing.

“He is now headed toward mount Kanchenjunga,” said tourism entrepreneur Indra Serchan.

Popularly referred to as the snow leopard by his fellow soldiers in the British Army, Purja initiated his mission by climbing the tenth highest peak, Mount Annapurna (8091 meters) in Myagdi’s Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, Narchyang some time ago.

Purja’s Dhaulagiri expedition was assisted by a team consisting of Mingma David Sherpa, Lakpa Sherpa, Tenzing Sherpa and Ramesh Gurung.

Purja reportedly left his lucrative job with the British Army to pursue his dream which he has named “Project Possible”.

He hopes to raise 750,000 pounds for the project from non-resident Nepalis living in the UK, with support from Yogen Chhetri, former chairperson of the Non Resident Nepali Association of the UK. Purja’s mission has been closely followed by the Nepali population in the UK.

The 14 peaks above 8,000 meters include Mt Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna I, Gasherbrum I, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum II, and Shishapangma. He plans to complete his mission by the end of 2019.

Meanwhile, a team of six Nepalis including Lakpa Sherpa, Dawa Finjo Sherpa, Furwa Sherpa, Ang Dorji Sherpa, Furwa Dorji Sherpa and Mingmar Sherpa summitted Mt Kanchenjunga at 3:15 pm Tuesday, according to the Department of Tourism Management.