Beyond the Impossible: Nikol Kovalchuk Completes the 14 Peaks and Seven Summits, becoming the first Russian/American to do so.

Summiting the 14 Peaks and the Seven Summits is no easy task; it takes determination, hard-work and resilience – qualities Nikol, an extraordinary mountaineer and an inspiring figure in the world of high-altitude climbing, encompasses.

With her summit of Denali on 6th June 2025 (at 18.40pm), Nikol has officially completed both the 14 Peaks and the Seven Summits — a feat only a handful of people in the world have ever achieved.

Nikol climbed 20 of the 21 mountains with Elite Exped and Nims Purja, a testament to her belief in the team. This journey has taken Nikol and the Elite Exped team across continents, into some of the most extreme environments on the planet, and through every imaginable high and low. From the Khumbu Icefall of Everest to the frozen vastness of Antarctica’s Mount Vinson, Nikol has shown unwavering resilience, heart, and a true love for adventure.

A Journey Across the World’s Greatest Heights

To give you a sense of just what it took to complete this challenge, here’s a snapshot of the challenges Nikol faced in her journey:

The 14 Peaks – Every mountain above 8,000 metres

From the brutal slopes of K2 and the deadly beauty of Annapurna, to the high winds of Dhaulagiri and the technical ridgelines of Gasherbrum I, these mountains are infamous for their difficulty, with extreme altitudes, rapidly changing weather, and physical exhaustion taking a toll on even the most experienced climbers.

Nikol’s 14 peaks dates:

·      16th May 2023 - Everest 8848m

·      2nd of July 2023 - Nanga Parbat 8126m

·      17th of July 2023 - G2 8035m

·      21st of July 2023 - G1 8080m

·      27th of July 2023 - K2 8611m

·      17th September  2023 - Manaslu 8163m

·      29th September 2023 - Dhaulagiri 8167m

·      2nd October 2023 - Cho Oyu  8188m                

·      13th April 2024 - Annapurna 8091m

·      5th May 2024 - Makalu 8485m

·      28th May 2024 - Lhotse 8516m

·      27th July 2024 - Broad Peak 8051m

·      9th October 2024 - Shishapangma 8027m

·      18th May 2025 – Kanchenjunga 8586m

The Seven Summits – One on every continent

From the oxygen-starved heights of Everest to the remote icefields of Mount Vinson, the Seven Summits presented a completely different kind of challenge — altitude, climate, logistics, and terrain varying wildly from peak to peak. Nikol even skied the Last Degree to the South Pole as well.

Nikol’s Seven Summit dates:

·      24 February 2020 - Kilimanjaro 5895m

·      11 August 2022 - Elbrus 5642m

·      16 January 2023 - Aconcagua 6961m

·      16 May 2023 - Everest 8848

·      20 October 2024 - Carstensz Pyramid 4884m

·      2 December 2024 - Mt. Vinson 4892m

·    BONUS 15 December 2024 – Skied to South Pole

·      6 June 2025 - Denali 6190m

A Legacy of Inspiration

What makes this achievement even more powerful is that Nikol completed her 14 Peaks and Seven Summits Challenge in just over 5 years – which the majority of the mountains climbed in just 2023 and 2024.

Beyond her mountaineering prowess, Nikol is a successful entrepreneur and a dedicated philanthropist, using her platform to inspire and uplift others. As a mother of four, she embodies resilience and determination, proving that it is possible to balance family commitments while pursuing one's passions. Nikol symbolises strength, perseverance, and the incredible potential of women in high-altitude mountaineering. She is also a Nimsdai Store Ambassador – testing the kit to the limit on the high peaks – read her story here.

Nimsdai “Nims” Purja was Nikol’s guide throughout the project. He said that the 14 Peaks and Seven Summits was ‘more than a milestone,’ adding: “ It’s a legacy of courage, tenacity, and a passion for pushing human limits. Nikol’s story serves as a powerful reminder that with determination and hard work, nothing is impossible.”

From Base Camps to Summits — and Beyond

Want to start your own 14 Peaks or Seven Summits journey? Contact the Nimsdai team and start on the path of achieving your goals.