You're right Adriandmen the answer was to go via b7 with a knight in between
possible or impossible?

how about this one
Easily achievable. The king passed via a6-b7-c8-d8 with a black knight on e8. The knight was eliminated by one of white's rooks.

OKay, this is an anti-puzzle. White to AVOID checkmating black !!!
Three possible solutions:
1. Offer a draw.
2. If Black is stupid enough to decline the offer, let your time run out. The arbiter has to declare the game a draw, since ALL moves are forced and lead to mate for white (which means, Black has no winning chances).
3. Resign (fastest, but costliest).
thank for the correct answer. who would have guessed that?

Yes. Thanks for the detailed answer. Was the e-pawn being on e6, the White Rook would have never be able to go thru, but on e5 as demonstrated it's acheviable.
you're right Fralnp! it may look like your puzzle but i just wanted to show that if the pawn on e5 was on e6 the rook could be there by promotion

You forget that the Queen and bishop has to get out. You need to start out playing e3 and d3. :)
A blasted Black Knight eated them so no Queen or Bishop please

you're right Fralnp! it may look like your puzzle but i just wanted to show that if the pawn on e5 was on e6 the rook could be there by promotion
Yes sadly, pigs will fly and gold fall off trees 'til I get a darn puzzle right.
Thanks to notice the tiny flaw in my presentation. You seems yourself quite the expert in those retro puzzles. Great work!
Put a knight in between