Arnot Becomes First American Woman To Summit Everest Without Supplemental Oxygen AND Breaks Her Own Record For Most Summits By An American Woman
Mount Everest – On May 23, 2016 Melissa Arnot, a professional mountain guide and high altitude climber, summited 29,029-foot Mount Everest and broke two records in the process.
Arnot broke her own record for the most summits completed by an American woman when she stood on top of the Mount Everest for the 6th time. During the 2016 climb, she also climbed without supplemental oxygen and became the first American Woman to do so. Arnot’s previous ascents of Mount Everest have been made via the South Col route from Nepal, but this time she ascended via the North side from China.
The first woman to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen was Lydia Bradley from New Zealand on October 14, 1988. According to GearJunkie.com, there is a footnote to Arnot’s second record – Francys Distefano-Arsentiev, an American woman reached the summit of Everest without oxygen in 1998 but died during the descent.
Arnot is an Eddie Bauer guide. On PRNewswire, her bio reads, “A professional mountain guide since 2004, Arnot has guided on three continents, summited Mt. Rainier, Washington’s highest peak, 104 times, and will be attempting to climb the highest peak in all 50 states in 50 days this summer. She will be embarking on the 50 Peaks challenge from approximately June 30 to August 20, 2016, with mentee Maddie Miller.”
Congratulations Melissa! This fantastic news from Mount Everest, which only reopened for climbing recently.
