#135 Kristin Harila: Everest Without Oxygen, 14 Peaks in 92 Days & Life After 8,000m

Kristin Harila is one of the world’s most accomplished high-altitude mountaineers.

In May, she reached the summit of Mount Everest for the fourth time - this time without supplemental oxygen. She has now completed 31 summits above 8,000 metres, and in 2023, together with Tenjen Lama Sherpa, climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in just 92 days.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it actually takes to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen
• Why reaching the summit is only half the challenge
• The preparation, logistics and mindset behind climbing 14 peaks in 92 days
• Breaking overwhelming goals down into one mountain, one camp and one step at a time
• Why Kristin returned and started the entire record attempt again after completing 12 of the 14 peaks in 2022
• Her friendship and partnership with Tenjen Lama Sherpa
• Losing Lama and the impact it has had on her life
• Risk, fear and how she remains calm in life-or-death situations
• Commercial expeditions, overcrowding and the future of Mount Everest
• The responsibility climbers and expedition companies have toward the Sherpa community
• Being a woman in a male-dominated industry and the challenges of securing sponsorship
• Growing up on a farm in northern Norway and learning independence from an early age
• Why she has decided that her long 8,000-metre expeditions are now over
• What comes next after reaching some of the highest places on Earth

This is a conversation about much more than mountains. It is about self-belief, preparation, grief, responsibility and the price of pursuing something most people believe is impossible.