German climber David Göttler makes history with paragliding descent from Nanga Parbat summit in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir. French climbers achieve first ski descent on Rupal Face.
Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan-administered Kashmir) — In a remarkable feat of adventure and endurance, renowned German mountaineer David Göttler successfully paraglided down from the summit of Nanga Parbat, marking a historic achievement in high-altitude mountaineering and aerial descent.
David Göttler, accompanied by French climbers Tiphaine Duperier and Boris Langenstein, reached the 8,126-meter peak via the challenging Shell Route between June 21 and 24. Following the ascent, Göttler undertook the daring paragliding descent, becoming one of the few to combine high-altitude climbing with aerial navigation on this perilous mountain.
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Due to harsh wind conditions, Göttler launched his paraglider at an altitude of approximately 7,700 meters and managed to reach the base camp in just 30 minutes, showcasing extraordinary skill and courage.
Meanwhile, Duperier and Langenstein accomplished another first by descending the formidable Rupal Face—the steepest face of Nanga Parbat—through a combination of skiing and trekking. They spent a night at 7,625 meters before completing the descent to base camp over three days, marking the first successful ski descent from this route.
The CEO of Adventure Tours Pakistan, Niknam Karim, confirmed that all three climbers summited via the Shell Route, a challenging path well-known among mountaineers.
Nanga Parbat, often called the “Killer Mountain,” is notorious for its technical difficulty and high fatality rate, making such achievements particularly noteworthy.
German instructor Michael Beck congratulated Göttler on social media, describing the climb and paragliding as an “amazing Alpine-style ascent” and hailed the flight from 7,700 meters as a moment of great joy.
This remarkable expedition highlights the growing international attention on Gilgit-Baltistan, part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a region known for its dramatic landscapes and mountaineering potential amid complex geopolitical realities.
