It's over: Kristin Harila's 14×8000 record attempt has failed

Norway's Kristin Harila came close to beating Nirmal Purja's record time for climbing all 14 eight-thousanders. Only two peaks were missing. However, since the Chinese authorities refused her permits for Cho Oyu and Shishapangma, her record hunt is over at this point.

Kristin Harila has to bury her dream for the time being of being the fastest person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders in the world. The Norwegian would have had time until November 2nd to list the remaining two 8000m peaks – Cho oyu and Shishapangma – to climb.

Lacking the permits to climb from Chinese territory, her team initially attempted to climb Cho Oyu from Nepal. However, these plans were thwarted by harsh weather conditions. All that remained for Harila was the goodwill of the Chinese authorities, which, however, would not be relented.

"Right now I'm trying to process the past six months, particularly the efforts we have made to get permits for the last two mountains, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma."

Kristin Harila

sequel follows

They left no stone unturned in this process and exhausted all possibilities to get the approval on time, says Kristin Harila. The fact that it didn't work out is something that she finds difficult to deal with.

However, the Norwegian stresses that she will come back and complete her record next year. "I have to find a way to financially support this, but being so close now only makes me more determined to make it happen once and for all."

Good face to the bad game? Kristin Harila after aborting her record attempt. Image: Sandro Gromen Hayes
Good face to the bad game? Kristin Harila after aborting her record attempt. Picture: Sandro Gromen Hayes

The stages of the record attempt

  • Annapurna I, 8091 m, climbed on April 28th
  • Dhaulagiri, 8167 m, climbed May 8th
  • Kanchenjunga, 8586m, climbed May 15th
  • Mount Everest, 8849 m, climbed on May 22nd
  • Lhotse, 8516 m, climbed on May 22nd
  • Makalu, 8463 m, climbed May 27th
  • Nanga Parbat, 8126 m, climbed on July 1st
  • K2, 8611 m., climbed on July 22nd
  • Broad Peak, 8051 m, climbed 28 July
  • Gasherbrum II, 8080 m, climbed on August 8th
  • Gasherbrum I, 8035 m, climbed 11 August
  • Manaslu, 8156 m, climbed 22 September
  • Cho Oyu, 8201 m
  • Shishapangma, 8013 m

That might interest you

Do you like our climbing magazine? When we launched LACRUX, we decided not to introduce a payment barrier. It will stay that way, because we want to provide as many like-minded people with news from the climbing scene.

In order to be more independent of advertising revenue in the future and to provide you with even more and better content, we need your support.

Therefore: Help and support our magazine with a small contribution. Naturally you benefit multiple times. How? You will find out here.

+ + +

Credits: Cover picture Sandro Gromen Hayes

News

Many more foreign people have fatal accidents

Mountain emergency statistics 2023: In the Swiss Alps last year, 3501 people were in distress and 114 people had fatal accidents.

Seb Berthe repeats Trad masterpiece Bon Voyage (9a)

Seb Berthe secures the third ascent of Bon Voyage in Annot, probably the most difficult trad route in the world.

Elias Iagnemma climbs Burden of Dreams (9A)

Elias Iagnemma repeats Burden of Dreams in Lappnor and secures the fourth ascent of the world's first 9A boulder.

16 peaks, 110 km, 11850 m altitude: Benjamin Védrine's K2 preparation is in full swing

Benjamin Védrines completes the circumnavigation of the Serre-Chevalier valley in the heart of the French Alps within two days.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter now and stay up to date.

Many more foreign people have fatal accidents

Mountain emergency statistics 2023: In the Swiss Alps last year, 3501 people were in distress and 114 people had fatal accidents.

Seb Berthe repeats Trad masterpiece Bon Voyage (9a)

Seb Berthe secures the third ascent of Bon Voyage in Annot, probably the most difficult trad route in the world.

Elias Iagnemma climbs Burden of Dreams (9A)

Elias Iagnemma repeats Burden of Dreams in Lappnor and secures the fourth ascent of the world's first 9A boulder.