Arnot has now climbed the peak 6 times, which is also a record for an American woman.
That feat is even more amazing considering that out of the 7,000+ climbers who’ve travelled up the mountain since Edmund Hillary put up the first ascent in May of 1953, only 2.7% of those have gone without supplemental oxygen.
In a press release from her sponsor Eddie Bauer, Arnot reflected on the experience saying that she is both honored and grateful for the chance to climb the mountain in pure form.
“Everest is an incredible mountain that continues to challenge and intrigue me. I never anticipated that I would be lucky enough to summit once, let alone six times. Climbing Everest without supplemental oxygen has been a goal of mine for a long time. When you succeed at reaching your goal, it makes you reflect on the hard days, the work, and lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’m incredibly fortunate to have this experience.” – Melissa Arnot
Arnot perviously tried to make the ascent without oxygen in 2015 but those plans were canceled by the tragic earthquake that killed roughly 8,000 people around Nepal. Shortly after the earthquake, Arnot set up The Juniper Fund alongside David Morton to support Nepali victims of the Everest climbing industry.
Find the entire Eddie Bauer press release here: Eddie Bauer Guide Melissa Arnot Sets New Everest Record Summiting Without Supplemental Oxygen, Breaks World Record For Summits
