Top of the world: When Highlands climber Alison Hargreaves made history on Everest
13 May 2017
On 13 May 1995 Spean Bridge-based climber Alison Hargreaves became . A major achievement, she was only the second person to reach the summit without assistance.
Living and climbing in Scotland, the 33-year old mum of two had spent the previous year practising for the ascent on the slopes of Ben Nevis.
An experienced solo climber, Hargreaves had previously scaled all , including the Eiger and the Matterhorn, while pregnant in the summer of 1993.
Sadly, months after conquering Everest, , the world’s second-highest mountain. Having reached the summit, Hargreaves and five other climbers were swept to their deaths when severe storms battered the peak.
20 years later, Alison’s son Tom followed in his mother’s Alpine footsteps by becoming .
Interview
Alison Hargreaves
Mountain climber Alison Hargreaves recalls finding the body of a climber on the Eiger.
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