In an unusual feat, Purnima Shrestha of Nepal has summited Everest today for the third time this season.
Outfitted by 8K Expeditions, she first summited on May 12, supported by Phura Temba Sherpa. She then returned to the top on May 19 with Pasang Sherpa. Today, accompanied Karma Gyaljen Sherpa, she reached her third Everest summit. She is the first woman to summit Everest three times in a season.
It is unclear whether the climber returned to Base Camp after each climb or remained in Camp 2, to avoid venturing through the Khumbu Icefall too often.
Lakpa Sherpa of 8K told ExplorersWeb that Shrestha is on her way back to Camp 2. All is going well, and the weather today has been “just perfect.”
Shrestha also climbed Everest in a previous year, so this was her fourth summit of the highest peak on Earth.
Some guides have summited Everest twice this season as part of their work. Dawa Finjok Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks summited three times in eight days — May 12, 17, and 20.
From the information provided, it seems that Shrestha was not guiding, but climbing as a client, with supplementary oxygen and support staff. However, a recent article in The Himalayan Times states that she climbed as a “member” on her first summit and as “support staff” on the second.
“Not as support staff,” Lakpa Sherpa of 8K Expeditions told ExplorersWeb. “She has one permit as a member and two as a guide.”
Meanwhile, Kami Rita Sherpa didn’t do a third ascent this season. He is now back in Kathmandu with 30 Everest summits on his resumé.
