I Did It! Climbing Mt. Everest as a South African Woman

It was an incredible journey, but I did it! I became the 6th South African woman ever to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Looking back on my adventure, I find it hard to believe that I made it to the top of the world’s highest peak.

The journey up Mt. Everest was no walk in the park, that’s for sure. There were steep slopes, icy trails, and treacherous crevasses that constantly tested my courage and determination. But with every step I took, I felt a sense of exhilaration and freedom.

Being one of the few South African women to conquer this mighty mountain fills me with pride. It wasn’t easy, but I knew that if I persevered and believed in myself, I could achieve anything. And now, standing on top of the world, I know that I made the right choice.

Mountaineering is a challenging and sometimes dangerous sport. Every year, countless climbers attempt to summit Mt. Everest, inspired by the allure of adventure and exploration. But it’s not a decision to be taken lightly.

Before embarking on such a momentous journey, it’s crucial to prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally. The harsh conditions on the mountain demand strong physical fitness, mental endurance, and emotional resilience.

Weather conditions on Mt. Everest can be brutal, with freezing temperatures and unpredictable storms. The lack of oxygen at such high altitudes can also be a real challenge. That’s why climbers must acclimatize to the altitude and give their bodies enough time to adjust.

But the rewards of reaching the summit are worth every ounce of effort. The feeling of standing on top of the world, surrounded by breathtaking beauty, is unparalleled. It’s a moment of pure awe and accomplishment that stays with you forever.

I hope that my journey inspires other South African women to pursue their dreams and push the boundaries of what they believe is possible. We are capable of achieving great things, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Climbing Mt. Everest was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It pushed me to my limits and forced me to confront my fears and doubts. But it also taught me that I am stronger and more resilient than I ever thought possible. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

“Never again,” I emphatically replied when asked if I would return to Mt Everest. It was 2015, just days after the avalanche that hit Base Camp on April 25th.

But here I am, fast forward to May 12th, 2021 at 08:20 am, standing proudly on the summit of Mt Everest, 8,848m above sea level. I am now the 6th South African woman to achieve this incredible feat.

It’s funny how adventurers, especially those who conquer high altitudes, have a selective memory. We quickly forget the pain, suffering, and loss from our previous expeditions and soon find ourselves eager for the next one.

My journey into the world of mountaineering began in February 2000 when I climbed Kilimanjaro. It all started with a road trip and ended with me standing on the highest peak in Africa. From that moment, I knew I was hooked, and I set my sights on conquering the Seven Summits a decade later.

Since then, I’ve tackled some incredible mountains:

• Mt Elbrus (2010)
• Aconcagua (2014)
• Denali (2014)
• Carstensz Pyramid (2019)

Now, I’m on my way to Mt Vinson in Antarctica, which will mark the final leg of my ultimate mountaineering challenge.

With each mountain I’ve climbed, I’ve gained valuable skills, experience, and confidence. My gear collection has grown too, as I’ve learned what works best in these extreme environments. But my eyes have always been set on one prize – Mt Everest. The year 2017 was a turning point for me when my climbing partner, Wilmien van der Merwe, became the fourth South African woman to conquer Everest. Her stories and achievements inspired me to go back and pursue my own dream of reaching the summit.

When I started planning my climb to Mount Everest, I sat down with a large piece of paper and sketched out the route. I marked the locations for the camps and made notes about each one. It was important to me to set a clear goal, so I wrote “EVEREST” on my wheel of life, which is a visual representation of my goals.

I believe in the power of setting goals and writing them down. It helps me stay focused and motivated. As I prepared for this adventure, I met up with a seasoned adventurer and mountain guide named Noel Hanna. We had several coffee meetings to discuss our plan for 2020: climbing Mount Everest from the Northern Side.

When it comes to my training routine, I like to mix things up and keep it exciting. One of my true passions is mountain biking, so I make sure to include that in my regimen. Additionally, I do strength training using weights to work on my upper body. To challenge myself even further, I go hiking with a 20kg backpack. It’s tough, but it pushes me to my limits and helps me grow stronger.

Before our planned departure in April 2020, I had a bold idea. I wanted to do an 18-hour hike, starting at midnight on a Friday night and going all the way through to Saturday night. I was determined to make it happen. Excitedly, I asked a couple of my friends if they would like to join me on this epic adventure.

However, when I explained the details of the hike and the unconventional timing, their answers quickly changed to a resounding “no.” It seemed that my plan was too ambitious for them. Disappointed, I thought my idea might be too crazy for anyone to consider.

But then, a glimmer of hope appeared. Natasha, one of my friends, looked intrigued by my proposal. She hesitated for a moment and then bravely said, “Yes, I’m in!” I was overjoyed to find a companion for my adventure.

We set off on our hike at the beautiful Rustig farm in Hartebeespoort. The moonlit night added an extra touch of magic to the already breathtaking scenery. As we trekked through the rugged trails and conquered the challenging terrain, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment and exhilaration.

Our unconventional timing turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We witnessed the sunrise from the mountaintop and enjoyed the peacefulness of nature. It was a truly unforgettable experience, and I’m grateful that Natasha took a chance and joined me.

So, my message to you is this: don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something different. You never know what incredible adventures await you. Take a leap of faith and embrace the unknown. You might just find yourself on a remarkable journey that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

I was relieved when the 2020 expedition got canceled, giving me an extra year to train. Climbing Mt Everest is always a nerve-wracking endeavor, and I never quite feel fully prepared. During lockdown, I made the most of my time by exercising every day with my indoor trainer and weights. Once I was able to return to the gym, I stepped up my game, increasing the frequency, intensity, resistance, and duration of my workouts in all disciplines. It’s crucial to have strong upper body and arm strength because you’ll be spending a significant amount of time jumaring up ropes on Everest.

As 2021 approached, international travel once again became uncertain, and I mentally prepared myself for the possibility of missing another Everest season. Noel, who had been on a K2 expedition, returned in February, and we both started to entertain the idea of attempting Everest in 2021. We thought the mountain would be relatively quiet. However, as we later discovered, we were completely wrong.

Luckily, my boss agreed to give me a spontaneous two-month leave, and on April 6th, we arrived in Kathmandu.

When I finally reached Base Camp, more than 400 climbing permits had already been given out. The journey and the lodges were remarkably calm, but as time went on, Base Camp transformed into a compact city of tents in the limited area of the glacier it rested on. Each camp had its own approach to handling Covid, and sadly, I was not permitted to visit my fellow South Africans at other expeditions.

So, I just finished my first rotation through the treacherous Ice Fall, making it up to the bottom of Camp 3. It was quite the adventure, but not without its challenges. Unfortunately, I was dealing with a nasty cough and chest infection during this time, which made every step a struggle. I had to pause frequently to catch my breath and move forward. I have to admit, I was uncertain about my own health and if I had the strength to keep going.

Curious to know more? Check out Molly’s blog here.

Once we completed this acclimatization rotation, we made the decision to retreat to a warmer place – a tea house. It was a nice change of scenery and offered a bit of luxury compared to our usual base camp setup. I also took antibiotics to help clear my chest. We ended up staying at a tea house in Pheriche, which was about 16 km away from Mt Everest and had an altitude of around 4300m. Resting there for three nights was exactly what I needed to recover and regain my strength before our summit push.

I left Base Camp at 2 am on 8 May on my way to Camp 2 at 6400m. That’s when my coughing started again, although it wasn’t as bad as before. It seemed like everyone had the same problem – the famous Khumbu Cough. We stayed at Camp 2 for another day and night to wait for our Sherpas, Nima and Tshering, and then we continued our climb to Camp 3 at 7300m on 10 May. The weather was amazing, and we even spent the night using oxygen.

On the 11th of May, I found myself ascending into the death zone of Camp 4 (7900m) on the South Col. It was an unforgiving and desolate place, battered by relentless winds. The objective was clear: I needed to get in and out of there as swiftly as possible. By 1pm that afternoon, my team and I had reached our destination. After a few hours of much-needed rest, we set off for the summit at 7pm.

The night was bitter cold as we made our way up. To keep warm, I frequently clasped my hands together, acutely aware of my fingertips and the threat of frostbite. I had heard stories of climbers who had returned from their summit attempt earlier that day, their fingers blackened and ravaged by the cruel touch of the cold. I did not want to be one of them.

As the night wore on, I witnessed the gradual emergence of dawn. The sun began to cast its golden glow over the clouds and the majestic peaks on my right. On my left stood the awe-inspiring shadow of Everest. It was a surreal sight, etching itself into my memory forever.

Yet, I still had to conquer the final hurdle – the Hillary step – before reaching the summit. It was a moment that required utmost focus and determination. And so, I pressed on.

As I stood at the summit of the mountain, my mind couldn’t help but revisit the frozen body I had encountered earlier. It was a chilling reminder of the risks and challenges that come with this daring endeavor. Noel, Thsering, Nima, and I had persevered through it all, and finally, we could claim our victory at 8:20 am.

The freezing cold was relentless, with temperatures plummeting to minus 40. To make matters worse, a biting wind started to pick up momentum. We were acutely aware of the limited time we had, so we made the most of the 15 minutes we spent at the summit.

We exchanged heartfelt congratulations among ourselves, acknowledging the immense feat we had accomplished. We captured the moment with quick snapshots and videos, attempting to etch the experience into our memories. The view from the summit was awe-inspiring, but our time to revel in it was brief.

Surprisingly, there was no overwhelming sense of elation or glory. Emotions were scarce, seemingly suspended in the frigid air around us. We were undoubtedly proud of our achievement, but it was overshadowed by the weight of the journey. The summit was but a milestone in a much larger narrative, a testament to the resilience and determination required to reach this point.

Reaching the summit isn’t like crossing a finish line and getting rewarded with a medal and a ride back home. It’s actually just the halfway point. If you don’t have enough mental and physical strength left, you could end up like the lifeless body you just passed. So, you tough it out, holding on to whatever resilience you have left, turn around, and make your way back to the relatively safer Camp 4. Sadly, a fellow climber we had gotten to know since Kathmandu didn’t make it back. We later learned that he died from exhaustion on his way back from the summit, succumbing to sleep in the snowy wilderness between 8848m and 7900m.

After four hours, Nima and I finally reached Camp 4. But the weather had drastically changed. It was now windy, cold, and visibility was poor. We were also surrounded by other injured climbers. So, we endured another grim night in the death zone, relying on oxygen to survive.

On May 13th, I made my way down to Camp 2. The conditions were absolutely dreadful, and the journey took a painfully slow nine hours. The very next day, on May 14th, I finally made it back to Base Camp. It was then, and only then, that I allowed myself to express all the pent-up emotions I had been holding back. And let me tell you, it was quite the release.

As soon as I set foot in Base Camp, a fellow climber approached me and hugged me tightly. It was in that moment that the floodgates opened, and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Those tears were for all the climbers who had lost their lives during the expedition, and for the two unfortunate souls who had tragically perished on May 12th. They were also for the climbers who had suffered frostbite and other injuries, for the physical and emotional toll that the journey had taken on me, and for the sheer relief that I had made it back down safely.

But those tears were not only tears of sadness and exhaustion. They were also tears of pure joy and gratitude. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the fact that I had successfully reached the summit and returned to safety. I was grateful to be alive and unharmed, and I felt an immense sense of accomplishment for achieving my goal of conquering the sixth of the seven summits. In fact, I became the sixth South African woman to have ever climbed Mount Everest, a distinction that filled me with pride.

So, as I looked back on my journey and allowed the tears to flow, I was filled with a mix of emotions. It was a moment of reflection, of mourning, of relief, and of gratitude – all bundled up into one cathartic release.

Photo credit: Molly de Jager