Kilian Jornet Returns to Everest during Covid-19
In 2017, the world record holder claimed to have summited Everest twice in a week, but it's been disputed
Hundreds of climbers are currently in Everest base camp, slowly making their way to the summit. New rules in Nepal suggest the order in which climbers go for the summit depends on when they got a permit, but the complications of that might prove it to be unrealistic.
Top mountain runner Kilian Jornet is currently on his way back to Everest. He’s twice been named Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic. He has won some of the world’s most prestigious ultra-trail races (Hardrock 100, Western States Endurance Run, Ultra Trail de Mont-Blanc) multiple times, holds multiple course records and FKT’s (fastest known times), and is one of the world’s most recognizable names in both climbing and ultra-trail running.
In 2017, he claimed to have summited Everest twice in one week without using bottled oxygen or fixed ropes. He climbed at odd hours that some top climbers said would be foolish to do: 9:30 p.m. and midnight. He didn’t provide the customary photo or video evidence, did not phone anyone with his satellite phone and his GPS watch stopped well short of the summit. And there were apparently no eyewitnesses. Jornet stands by his summit claims.
There’s been a lot of speculation about Jornet’s 2021 plan with many suggesting that he’ll be teaming up with David Goettler, who is currently in Everest base camp. Goettler nearly reached the summit in 2019, but stopped 100 metres below. Jornet has been training for Everest in Europe, mostly on Norway’s highest peak, Galdho Peak, at 2,469 metres. There’s no word what the two might attempt, but rumours are that it might be the West Ridge of Everest, a very realistic goal for the veteran mountaineers.
There have been a number of confirmed Covid-19 cases at Everest base camp already this season. Read more about it here.
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