Russian para-alpinist Rustam Nabiev, who became the first person in history to climb Mount Everest on one hand, revealed the most perilous section of his journey and his intense fear of heights during an interview on May 29.
According to Nabiev, the Khumbu icefall—a constantly shifting river of glacial ice where climbers often perish—presented the greatest challenge. He navigated this treacherous terrain for 15 consecutive hours without a single break, supporting himself entirely on his hands.
“Not every person walking on two feet could sustain that kind of effort for 15 hours without stopping,” Nabiev explained. “And here you are moving on your hands, which is unnatural for the human body. In fact, it’s something people should never do. But I had no other option.”
The climber also shared how he constantly thought about his family and children during the ascent. Aware of the extreme dangers inherent in high-altitude climbing, Nabiev admitted to having a deep fear of heights but resolved to conquer his inner turmoil.
“You have to talk to yourself, persuade yourself, push through, calm your nerves,” he said. “When you’re alone, you become both a psychologist and a personal support system because no one can truly understand what’s going on inside you.”
Nabiev, who achieved the historic feat on May 20, dedicated his climb to people with disabilities, urging them to “fight to the end.”
Alexander Pyatnitsin, Vice-President of the Russian Mountaineering Federation, confirmed on May 21 that Nabiev had successfully completed the entire route from base camp to summit.
