A Nepalese climber and former British soldier has battled against the elements to smash the world record for climbing the world’s highest 14 mountains. In a bold quest over just six months – or 189 days – Nirmal Purjal, or “Nims,” to his friends, beat the previous best of nearly eight years. He scaled the last of the mountains – all of which have peaks higher than 26,000 feet above sea level – on Tuesday (October 29), when he reached the peak of the 14th highest – Shishapangma in China. Purjal, who served in the elite Royal Marine regiment, started his record attempt in Nepal, taking on Annapurna mountain, the 10th highest in the world. He joins a list of 40 climbers who have climbed the 14 highest peaks, and beats the previous world record – completed back in 2013 by South Korean climber Kim Chang-ho.
