Nimsdai Purja summits Kanchenjunga, launches his historic ‘Hat Trick Challenge’
The elite mountaineer begins his bold mission to climb all 14 of the world’s highest peaks for a third time — and raise over £1 million for his foundation in the process.
Nimsdai's Facebook
Renowned climber Nimsdai Purja has successfully summited Kanchenjunga, officially launching his ambitious ‘Hat Trick Challenge’ — an attempt to become the first person ever to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks three times.
The Kanchenjunga climb marked his 49th 8,000-meter summit, and his 21st without supplemental oxygen. Purja, who was also leading a team of fee paying climbers, summited the peak without using supplemental oxygen
Purja was initially leading a rope-fixing team that had to turn back just short of the summit due to extreme weather, including a whiteout and freezing cold. "It was definitely the right decision for our team – safety is the priority," he shared on Facebook. The team later returned and reached the summit, with final lines fixed by Seven Summit Treks.
But this challenge is more than a personal milestone. It's also a fundraising campaign for the Nimsdai Foundation, which aims to raise £1,138,000 — a figure symbolizing the combined elevation in feet of the 14 peaks climbed three times. The funds will support efforts such as building a Porters' House on the Everest Base Camp trail, providing scholarships in Nepal and Pakistan, and offering healing treks for veterans and disaster survivors.
No stranger to breaking records, Purja gained worldwide fame in 2019 when he climbed all 14 of the world’s highest peaks in just six months and six days. He also led the first successful winter ascent of K2 in 2021. By 2024, he had become the fastest climber to summit all 14 peaks without supplemental oxygen.
“This year, I’m standing on the edge of a dream,” said the former Gurkha and UK Special Forces soldier. “But no mountain is ever truly scaled alone. With continued support, we can make history — and change lives along the way.”
Nimsdai Purja has invited all those interested to donate for the cause to the Nimsdai Foundation and the Hat-Trick project via https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=TRJLBH4Y65HXE
