New Delhi, Aug. 7 -- A little over a decade ago, Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja was still new to the high mountains. He was raised in the flatlands of Nepal where rhinos ruled and felt at home in the stark Afghanistan landscape while serving the British Gurkha forces. The rendezvous with altitude was by chance, but it left him fascinated. He decided to return to the mountains. And soon enough, for good.

Last week, Nimsdai, 43, and nine other climbers were killed by an avalanche on Broad Peak, the world's twelfth highest mountain that lies in Pakistan. The world sat up and took notice, much like it did when he first arrived on the climbing scene.

Some of the best mountaineers have silently gone about making their mark, notching up many firsts al...