CONQUERING THE PEAK

There are places in this world so high that neither humanity nor life forms are able to survive
and prosper. These massive monuments, which pierce through the heavens, are called the
eight-thousanders and they're certainly not inviting nor easily accessible to humans.

The name eight-thousander refers to the altitude at the peak of these giants, which stand at
eight thousand feet tall, also known as the death zone; for any living being, remaining at
the altitude of eight thousand feet means death due to the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere.
However, with the assistance of oxygen tanks, humanity has eased its way into submitting
near impossible heights. These 14 mountains are located in the South Asian ridge of
mountains, traversing Pakistan and Nepal, are only able to be challenged by the most
experienced mountain climbers.

Countless have died and very few have claimed to have reached the summit of even just one of these giants; so why is it so alluring for mountain climbers? This question is a matter of personal perspective, although, if you clicked on this article, there is a high chance that you are curious about the nature of people seeking the summit of such deadly landscapes. If your curiosity has been peaked, then let us embark on the journey of Nims Dai, the person who holds the record for climbing each and every one of the eight-thousanders in record time.

Ever since mountain climbing became a renowned sport, Nepali people have earned their
keep through the harsh and arduous work of being a sherpa, this entails guiding mountain
climbers through the base camp of a mountain to the summit. Nims Dai was born in 1983 in
Nepal which, at the time, was receiving an influx of mountain climbers sought to claim
the first summit of the highest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest. Early on in his life, Nims
became a soldier of the Nepali army, constantly training in high altitudes while in service.
Nims himself became entranced with mountain climbing, and while being a Nepali, he always honored and respected sherpa's work. After all first summits were claimed by
European or American climbers, Nims sought to bring glory to sherpa culture, as he
always thought they were undervalued in the sport.

Through this conviction, Nims decided to claim the world record for the fastest summit of all
14 peaks which only 3 human beings have claimed to have stood on the 14 highest peaks of the world. All attempts at this incredible feat take decades of progress to complete, but Nims sought to stand at the top of the 14 peaks in under 7 months. Though his goal seemed impossible, Nims decided to take action and complete what is now known as one of the greatest mountain climbing feats of all time. Seeking glory and respect for his culture, in October of 2019, Nims Dai stood on the final peak of his journey on the savage mountain, Shishapangma. Through arduous work and harsh regulations, which almost prevented him from completing his goal, Nims Dai stood at the top of the world, with the Nepali flag on his back held high, he achieved the impossible. Through his journey, Nims Dai has inspired millions, having signed with Netflix for a documentary and a book deal, many more will become inspired by his story. It is of utmost importance to provide recognition to the pillars of our history, such as the Nepali sherpa that came before Nims and stood in the shadow of European climbers, who would not have been able to gain recognition without experienced sherpa on their team.

To conclude the aforementioned statement in regards to the true nature of mountain
climbing, it is necessary to reach natural personal goals. However, in my opinion,
mountain climbing is so beautiful and important due to it being the closest sport to intertwine
with natural human essence. No matter how high or low our goals may become, the only
way to reach them is to walk through them and endure the journey. So, in a sense, something as simple as climbing a mountain can become a meaningful means to conquer one’s self.