First Climb & Fly on Nanga Parbat? The German alpinist David Göttler has climbed his seventh eight-thousander in alpine style – and is there was the first person to descend from an altitude of 7.700 meters by paragliding.
And then it worked: After four failed attempts on Nanga Parbat since 2013 David Gottler finally reached the 8.126-meter-high summit. The German alpinist had previously abandoned attempts in the summers of 2023 and 2024 due to poor conditions – now he succeeded in completing the ascent in a trio.
Successful trio: Göttler, Langenstein & Duperier
Göttler had already been on the climb with Michael Arnold, Boris Langenstein, and Tiphaine Duperier during his last attempt in 2024. This year, the 47-year-old returned with Langenstein and Duperier to the famous Rupal Wall on the south side of Nanga Parbat, the highest cliff face in the world.
This time the conditions were right. After starting at the 3.600-meter-high base camp on June 21, the trio finally reached the 24-meter-high summit of Nanga Parbat on June 8.126. During their ascent in alpine style They used as little equipment as possible and as much as necessary: a 50-meter rope and some pitons and camelots.
We consider our summit to be an alpine-style ascent.
David Gottler
During their ascent via the Schell route on the 4.600-meter-high Rupal cliff, Göttler, Langenstein, and Duperier carried all their own equipment. In addition to external support, they also avoided supplemental oxygen or fixed ropes. Tiphaine Duperier also became the second woman to complete the route, which has only been climbed eight times.
Highest gliding flight on Nanga Parbat
David Göttler had planned something special for the descent: a paragliding back to base camp at 3.600 meters. After the summit, Langenstein and Duperier descended by ski/trek over several days. At 7.700 meters, Göttler said goodbye to his companions and then flew from this altitude for the first time. Nanga Parbat loose.
The flight down was the icing on the cake – a unique experience.
David Gottler
A tribute to tenacity
David Gottler has specialized in particularly easy and fast ascents of eight-thousanders and has already climbed seven of the highest peaks in the world, including Everest.
With an extremely rare ascent of the Schell Route, Göttler is fulfilling a lifelong dream. "I've always wanted to climb an eight-thousander in alpine style and with a small team, off the beaten track," says the 47-year-old.
At the same time, after many failed attempts at Nanga Parbat also a statement about patience and dedication in mountaineering.
Sometimes you have to be patient and invest many years in a dream – in the hope that it might come true.
David Gottler
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Credits cover photo: David Gottler