On May 27, 2026, Kristin Harila reached the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. The climb marked more than another Everest summit — it completed her Triple Crown: Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest in one single climbing season.

With this achievement, Kristin became the first woman in history to complete the Everest Triple Crown in one season. She also became the first Norwegian to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.

The expedition began in early April 2026, when Kristin made her way toward Everest Base Camp with a clear and ambitious goal: to climb Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest in the same season, while attempting to do so without supplemental oxygen. From the beginning, patience was key. Instead of pushing too hard too early, Kristin focused on careful acclimatization, recovery and listening to her body — knowing that success would depend on staying strong enough for all three mountains.

The 2026 Everest season was far from straightforward. A large, unstable serac in the Khumbu Icefall delayed the opening of the route, forcing climbers to wait before they could move safely higher on the mountain. While the route was being assessed and prepared, Kristin used the time to continue acclimatizing. Together with Bianca Adler, she climbed Lobuche East at 6,119 metres and spent two nights near the summit — an important part of preparing her body for the extreme altitude ahead.

Once the Khumbu Icefall opened, Kristin began her rotations on Everest, climbing higher through the mountain to Camp 2 and Camp 3 before returning to Base Camp to recover. Each rotation was part of a careful process: build altitude, recover, adapt, and prepare for the next push.

On May 17, Kristin and Ming Temba Sherpa reached the summit of Nuptse at 7,861 metres without supplemental oxygen. Nuptse had been a dream of Kristin’s for many years, and it is considered one of the most technical and demanding mountains in the Everest region. Although it stands slightly below 8,000 metres, its exposed ridges, steep terrain and narrow summit ridge make it a serious and rarely climbed objective. Reaching its true summit placed Kristin among very few women in history to have stood on top of Nuptse.

Only four days later, on May 21, Kristin and Ming Temba Sherpa reached the summit of Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world at 8,516 metres. The climb brought harsh conditions and strong winds. During the upper part of the ascent, Kristin made the decision to use supplemental oxygen for safety and because of strong wind. The summit became her 30th ascent of an 8,000-metre peak.

After Lhotse, Kristin returned to Base Camp to rest before the final mountain of the Triple Crown: Everest.

On May 27, 2026, Kristin stood on the summit of Mount Everest at 8,849 metres without supplemental oxygen. It was the final and highest point of the Triple Crown — and one of the most demanding climbs of her career. Climbing Everest without supplemental oxygen leaves almost no room for error. Weather, timing, energy, hydration and every decision on the mountain become critical.

By summiting Everest, Kristin completed the sequence: Nuptse on May 17, Lhotse on May 21 and Everest on May 27. Three of the most iconic mountains in the Khumbu. Ten days. One season. A historic first for a woman in high-altitude mountaineering.

For Kristin, the Triple Crown and Everest without oxygen was a test of patience, experience, resilience and respect for the mountains. And it was a powerful final chapter in her years of 8,000-metre expeditions.

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