Achieving one of the last feats left on the tallest peak in the world, Melissa Arnot, who lives in Ketchum, Idaho, became the first American women to summit Everest without oxygen. She also has the most summits of any Yank, reaching the top a record six times.
“This has been an emotional journey, to say the least,” said Arnot in a news release. “Everest is an incredible mountain that continues to challenge and intrigue me. 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.”
Her attempt to reach the summit last year without oxygen was interrupted by the earthquake that killed some 8,000 people. She’s helped rebuild the country since, and has helped Sherpas and the people of Nepal through her organization, the Juniper Fund, which she helped start in 2010.
Arnot,32, was raised in Montana and Colorado and moved to Idaho in 2009. This summer, during her 50 Peaks Challenge, she’ll try to climb the 50 highest peaks in all 50 states. Calling her a badass would be putting it mildly.
