A team of explorers and filmmakers - including Thomas Palmer who lives in Abergavenny - are celebrating having reached the summit of all four peaks of Nevado del Huila, traversing and documenting the entire glacier.

During their epic challenge the team was caught in an avalanche, suffered physical injuries, faced toxic fumes and battled exhaustion.

‘‘After being caught by the avalanche going down from La Cresta, l will never forget the reaction of my heroic friends to save me. This day will mark me for the rest of my life,’’ said team member Timothée Callec.

In 2019 the team (sponsored by Redbull) had to abandon their attempt on the volcano after logistical problems.

Over one year later, on February 8, 2021 the team composing of Alex Torres (Colombia), Luis Silva Pete (Resguardo Indigena de Huila Paez, Community Nasa), Thomas Palmer (United Kingdom) and Timothée Callec (France), returned to the volcano for a second attempt.

At 4pm on February 14 after 39 hours, the team completed their world first expedition, summiting the southern peak (5020 m.s.m) .

‘‘My father told me that we are not the rocks, we are just flesh and bones. While we were climbing the volcano l was ready to die,’’ said Luis Silva Pete.

The expedition began at 3.15am on February 13 at Colombia Camp.

The team arrived at the north peak at 8.30 am. (5.345 m.s.m) and summited the peak ‘La cresta’ at 11.30am (5314m.s.m).

After crossing the central glacier the team made a bivouac just below the central peak at 7pm.

At 10am the next day (February 14) they completed the central peak (5.407 m.s.m) . After traversing the south part of the glacier, they climbed the south peak at 4pm (5020 m.s.m).

‘‘For me it is in the top ten most dangerous expeditions l’ve ever done. I feel grateful to have summited the four peaks of Nevado del Huila as it is more complicated to reach volcano Huila, than it is to reach some of the more well known mountains around the world,’’ said Alex Torres.

The team chose Huila because of her unique history and specificity.

For over three decades the volcano has laid unexplored and closed to the outside world, due to internal armed conflict between the FARC and Colombian government.

Some of her peaks have been left un-summited for over 40 years and many sections of the glacier never seen or recorded before .

For centuries the Nasa indigenous community have lived in the region of Huila around the volcano.

The connection with Luis Silva Pete Silva (Guide) allowed the team access to the volcano and they all shared a common goal to explore Huila and tell her untold story.

Thomas Palmer said: ‘‘What drove me at first was to summit all four of the peaks, but as the adventure approached, I realised exploration and bringing back a story was my purpose. Wonder filled my body as we reached the peaks and charted new ground .

‘‘Pain suffering and exhaustion introduced me to aside of myself l always knew was there ... What would Shackelton do ? Endure.’’

The production team filmed the entire expedition and will now make a documentary series to be broadcast.