Southworth to return to Everest a year on from surviving the quake

Melanie Southworth will make her third attempt to scale Mount Everest this year. She was an hour’s walk away from Everest Base Camp last year, when the Gorkha quake struck.

Talking to www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk, the 48 year old expressed her hope that, it will be “third times the charm and not that bad things come in threes”. She has been to the Everest Base Camp for the last 15 years, and says her love for the country was the chief reason she kept returning.

“I have a very big love affair with the mountain and with Nepal. It may be the biggest unrequited love affair of my life.”

Following the quake last year, Southworth remained in the country to lead a relief effort for survivors of the disaster. However, despite the disaster lingering on her mind, the avid climber is hopeful that she will finally be able to fulfill her lifelong dream of summiting Everest this year, as she’s “getting too old for this”.

Southworth will spend a few days in Island Peak Base Camp to acclimatize before the final push to Everest Base Camp.

Banner Photo Credit: Melanie Southworth