03-12-2021, 19:19
14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible
![[Image: 220px-14_Peaks-_Nothing_Is_Impossible.jpg]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ed/14_Peaks-_Nothing_Is_Impossible.jpg/220px-14_Peaks-_Nothing_Is_Impossible.jpg)
At first I thought this might be a big con – it seems beyond the realm of human capability, taking on the 14 highest peaks in the world and climbing them all in less than 7 months. It’s just crazy! However, when someone of the stature of Reinhold Messner acknowledges the achievement and lends his voice and opinions to the documentary, that’s good enough for me.
Nims Purja is a Nepali who came to climbing in around 2012 if I recall correctly. Prior to that he was first a Gurkha and then the first Gurhka ever to be invited to join the Special Forces in the UK. He comes across as supremely confident, with not a single shred of a self esteem issue, but is somehow not unbearably arrogant.
This film documents his and his team’s climbing of all 14 eight thousanders in record time. All with supplemental oxygen, it must be said, whereas Messner had none at all for his climbs of the same mountains which took him 16 years to complete. I think there was someone else who did it in 7 years – not sure about whether or not that was with or without oxygen.
It’s so weird when you think of all the mountaineers who have literally laboured and made multiple attempts on some of the peaks – how is this speed climbing even possible?? Well – turns out Nims has a unique physiology which allows him to function optimally at high altitude – not something mere mortals are normally geared for. I suppose his Nepalese Sherpa companions must share a similar makeup.
Having read so much about terrifying and harrowing ordeals on various mountains, to then see someone seemingly jogging up them all while barely breaking a sweat is a little odd!! But I expect that is mostly the way the movie was edited. There will be much debate and critique about this whole thing I’m sure – the oxygen vs none scenario, etc. It really does make you think tbh – about what it might be possible to achieve without mental barriers or preconceptions which I guess we put up our very own selves, right in our paths to success, whereas this guy simply has no fear. None. At all. Wouldn’t that be a novel thing? No fear. Can’t imagine how that must feel!
He is also acutely aware of the inherent dangers though, and apparently a meticulous planner. Super sharp – doesn’t miss a trick and holds himself responsible and accountable - Amen. It may appear as though he is gung ho, but that is not so – despite having no fear, he doesn’t have a death wish and is completely realistic about the need for preparation. He has since gone on to summit K2, in January of this year, without oxygen, in winter. Nine Nepalis summited together. Sadly, during the same timeframe, there were also 5 deaths in different teams on that most exacting of mountains. Quite a good interview, I thought - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC2XJRlaiiU
Interesting watch I must say – might see it again and probably pick up on missed bits.
I think this article is fair - https://www.adventure-journal.com/2019/1...a-barrier/
At first I thought this might be a big con – it seems beyond the realm of human capability, taking on the 14 highest peaks in the world and climbing them all in less than 7 months. It’s just crazy! However, when someone of the stature of Reinhold Messner acknowledges the achievement and lends his voice and opinions to the documentary, that’s good enough for me.
Nims Purja is a Nepali who came to climbing in around 2012 if I recall correctly. Prior to that he was first a Gurkha and then the first Gurhka ever to be invited to join the Special Forces in the UK. He comes across as supremely confident, with not a single shred of a self esteem issue, but is somehow not unbearably arrogant.
This film documents his and his team’s climbing of all 14 eight thousanders in record time. All with supplemental oxygen, it must be said, whereas Messner had none at all for his climbs of the same mountains which took him 16 years to complete. I think there was someone else who did it in 7 years – not sure about whether or not that was with or without oxygen.
It’s so weird when you think of all the mountaineers who have literally laboured and made multiple attempts on some of the peaks – how is this speed climbing even possible?? Well – turns out Nims has a unique physiology which allows him to function optimally at high altitude – not something mere mortals are normally geared for. I suppose his Nepalese Sherpa companions must share a similar makeup.
Having read so much about terrifying and harrowing ordeals on various mountains, to then see someone seemingly jogging up them all while barely breaking a sweat is a little odd!! But I expect that is mostly the way the movie was edited. There will be much debate and critique about this whole thing I’m sure – the oxygen vs none scenario, etc. It really does make you think tbh – about what it might be possible to achieve without mental barriers or preconceptions which I guess we put up our very own selves, right in our paths to success, whereas this guy simply has no fear. None. At all. Wouldn’t that be a novel thing? No fear. Can’t imagine how that must feel!
He is also acutely aware of the inherent dangers though, and apparently a meticulous planner. Super sharp – doesn’t miss a trick and holds himself responsible and accountable - Amen. It may appear as though he is gung ho, but that is not so – despite having no fear, he doesn’t have a death wish and is completely realistic about the need for preparation. He has since gone on to summit K2, in January of this year, without oxygen, in winter. Nine Nepalis summited together. Sadly, during the same timeframe, there were also 5 deaths in different teams on that most exacting of mountains. Quite a good interview, I thought - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC2XJRlaiiU
Interesting watch I must say – might see it again and probably pick up on missed bits.
I think this article is fair - https://www.adventure-journal.com/2019/1...a-barrier/
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