Above: Canmore climber Nancy Hansen has her sights set on Mount Everest. Jayme Doll reports
CALGARY – For 21 years, Canmore resident Nancy Hansen, has climbed, skied and explored the world’s mountains. She now has her eye on the tallest peak on the planet.
“I’ve probably always had a desire to climb Mount Everest, there’s probably no climber that hasn’t at least thought of it,” said Hansen.
She and her partner, world-renowned German climber Ralf Dujmovits, are set to explore the Tibetan side of Everest.
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They plan to climb along the North ridge before branching off at approximately 7,600 metres to the Norton Couloir, then proceed to the summit.
“The route that we are taking is going to be more difficult to retreat from if we need to,” said Hansen, referring to some of the risks going through her mind.
The climbers won’t have fixed lines and don’t plan on taking supplementary oxygen or high-altitude Sherpas.
“So you can actually climb Everest in a more pure mountain climbing style,” Hansen said. “I don’t really like to say that because I don’t care what other people do, I don’t hold anything against them, but for me it’s important.”
There are roughly 18 routes on Mount Everest, but the majority of people climb the south side of the mountain in Nepal.
While the south side can be more expensive, some will argue that it is slightly easier with more ladders, fixed lines and support to help climbers reach the peak.
“I wouldn’t even consider climbing it from the south side with all the crowds, it’s not why I go to the mountains,” Hansen said.
The route Hansen is planning to take on the north side has only been successfully climbed twice before, and never by a woman.
“If it turns out that it was some kind of a first for a female that’s great, but that’s not why I do things,” Hansen said.
The pair will spend roughly one month acclimatizing at an advanced base camp before making their final push sometime in May.
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