Mountaineering’s Ultimate Prize Shut Down by Chinese Government
Chinese officials did not grant Kristin Harila the sanctions she would need to climb Shishapangma and Cho Oyu — the last summits standing between her and a seminal speed record.
Kristin Harila’s bid to beat Nims Purja’s speed record on the world’s 14 highest peaks has reached an unexpected stopping point.
The Norwegian mountaineer said via Instagram today that she failed to secure the necessary permits from the Chinese government to gain access to Shishapangma and Cho Oyu. The peaks stood as the last two 8,000m summits she had not climbed during her effort to outpace Purja on the worldwide circuit.
The bureaucratic hangups derail Harila’s goal to finish all 14 peaks in 6 months or less.
“As you all know I have put everything I have on the line to make this happen, and falling short with just 2 peaks left due to factors out of my control is something I am struggling to process right now,” she wrote on Instagram.
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Later in the post, Harila said she will now temporarily retire to Norway to spend time with friends and family. She hinted that she will resume the hunt for the two remaining peaks when conditions — especially financial resources — allow.
Harila’s Team ‘Exhausted’ Permit Efforts; Comeback Promised
It’s not clear why Chinese authorities denied Harila’s requests for documents.
“We have left no stone unturned in this process, and have exhausted every possible avenue to make this happen, but unfortunately due to reasons out of our control we were unable to get the permits in time,” she wrote on Instagram with the “sobbing” emoji.
Harila had been on track for her 6-month timeline. She’ll now reset and aim for the provisional record at a later date. The current Himalayan climbing season ends around December; if she can’t return to China before that, she’ll have to wait until the spring season begins around February.
Presumably, the Norwegian will climb with the same 8K Expeditions team with whom she’s enjoyed so much success already.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Harila appeared misty-eyed and expressed “heartbreak” over her journey’s abrupt end. She also promised more information in the coming weeks — and a repeat bid next year.
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Kristin Harila, Sherpas Need 3 Peaks in 3 Months to Beat Nims’ Record
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