Nirmal Purja and Gesman Tamang of Bremont Project Possible, and Lakpa Dendi Sherpa and Chhangba Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks stood on the top of K2 at 7:50am, Pakistan time. The four set off from Camp 4 on the Abruzzi Spur route at 10:20pm on July 23 and fixed ropes to the summit after an eight-hour push, reported expedition leader Dawa Sherpa from Base Camp.
Theirs are the first K2 summits this season — and in fact, this year — since winter attempts in January and February failed. For Nirmal Purja, K2 marks his 10th 8000’er in just over three months, as counted from when he stood on the summit of Annapurna on April 23.
Adrian Ballinger and Carla Perez, climbing without O2 and supported by Esteban Mena, Namgye and Pemba Gelje Sherpa, also summited. We can’t yet confirm that they made it all the way without supplementary oxygen. In our latest update, Purja and the opening team have returned to Base Camp, while Ballinger and Perez have descended to Camp 4.
K2 from Base Camp. Photo: Imagine Nepal
In addition, a large number of climbers is currently on their way to Camp 4, aiming for the summit tomorrow, now that the trail has been opened and fixed with ropes.
Stay tuned for further updates as climbers progress toward the summit and Purja and the Sherpas make their way down.
Great work by Nims and team… Good luck to everyone going up… Wish it was that well co ordinated when I was there!
Amazing feat of the project possible team. Now Broad peak and than back to Nepal / Tibet for the last three. Good luck for all of them.
Tibet for Cho Oyu and Shisha Pangma, NEPAL for Manaslu!
This is the feat of the real climbers. All the commercial clowns have left K2. Good riddance. Godspeed to all those who still respect this mighty mountain.
The outfit that supported Nims is the biggest commercial operation on Everest and K2
Amazing job, these guys make it look so easy. Its really starting to look that the Project Possible is possible after all 🙂
Ma ma ma… I originally thought Nims was just doing his own PR and collecting lots of cash to finally come up with an excuse: “K2 stopped us”. I was wrong. Respect, Sir!
Jaya 14×8.000m, ayo Nirmal Purja!
For the record, Lakpa Dendi Sherpa is actually with Elite Himalayan & Project Possible, SST had 2 sherpas on top of K2 – Changba & Lakpa Temba, so 5 people in total fixed the rope to the summit today.
Two guys serious, three smiling…. you know who is in each team;-)
So these guy fixed ropes and opened the route to the summit of Annapurna, performed a lightning speed rescue above 7500m 24hrs after they stood atop of the summit and were at base camp already, were the only team to summit Dhaulagiri this season, summited Kangchenjunga in a single push from base camp and performed rescue on descend, summited Everest, Lhotse & Makalu in 48hrs, opened the route to Nanga Parbat and fixed most of the ropes all the way from base camp (along with other climbers); summited GI & GII and opened the route to the summit of K2… Read more »
Nobody is saying he’s not legit. You’re the only person who’s claiming that people are doubting him. Why don’t you shut up and stop posting a massive essay.
All (except one) with O2. No, he is not legit. Would have been 40 years ago, not anymore.
Congratulations and a safe descent to all!
No O2 ascents count anyway.