Chinese authorities have officially granted Nirmal Purja a permit to climb Shishapangma (8,013m) this month. The Tibetan peak is currently closed and is the only remaining obstacle in the Nepali’s quest to summit all 14 8000’ers in seven months.
Writing on social media, Purja said: “With a full of mix emotions I feel very humble, thankful and proud today. Finally, my team and I have got the permit to climb Shishapangma.”
Purja and his team will leave for Tibet almost immediately. “We are a strong team and we are very confident [that we will] complete this mission,” he said.
If Purja manages to summit Shishapangma, he will have knocked off over seven years from the previous best times for the 8,000’ers, set by Kim Chang-ho of Korea in 2013 and Jerzy Kukuczka of Poland in 1987.
His torrid 2019 schedule of 8,000’ers:
- Annapurna – April 23
- Dhaulagiri – May 12
- Kanchenjunga – May 15
- Lhotse – May 22
- Everest – May 22
- Makalu – May 24
- Nanga Parbat – July 03
- Gasherbrum I – July 15
- Gasherbrum II – July 18
- K2 – July 24
- Broad Peak – July 26
- Cho Oyu – September 23
- Manaslu – September 27
