Why climber Kirstie Ennis called it quits just 200m from Everest peak

As a former soldier and an above-the-knee amputee who doesn't stop moving, Kirstie Ennis is not a quitter – but the adventurer's last attempt to tackle Mount Everest saw her give up her shot at achieving a mountaineering milestone just meters from the peak.

After spending 43 days on the face of one of the world's biggest mountains in May 2023, the 28-year-old was forced to turn around and call the ascend off, when she was about 200 meters away from finishing.

Both the lack of equipment and the overwhelming amount of people present near the summit, made Ennis reconsider her chances. Conditions were not ideal either, which caused some climbers to experience difficulties while reaching the summit. Ennis was close but made the right, yet painful decision, to call it off.

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"I never really felt comfortable being called a mountaineer. I feel like that is such a prestigious title because it's something that so many people work their bums off for. And then this time around, what I saw on Everest, it wasn't mountaineers out there", shared Ennis on NPR.

Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas, is the highest peak in the world and an iconic symbol of adventure and human endurance. Standing at an elevation of 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet), Everest attracts climbers from around the globe seeking to conquer its formidable summit.

The climbing season for Everest typically occurs in the spring and autumn months, during which mountaineers face extreme weather conditions, treacherous terrain, and low oxygen levels in the so-called "Death Zone" above 8,000 meters (26,000 feet).

"Well, this time around it didn't make sense to continue going...I pride myself on being able to put my team first, but also just self-preservation. And when I looked up, I was at the South Summit, and when I looked up at the line going into the summit, I realized that it wasn't worth it," shared Ennis during an NPR interview.

"If something got sideways as far as my prosthetic limb or prosthetic device, I didn't have the right team with me, and there were literally hundreds of people ahead of me and below me...It would still take me 24hrs to get down", added Ennis.

Born on February 23, 1991, in Homestead, Florida, Ennis grew up in a family with a strong military background, which instilled in her a deep sense of patriotism and service.

Enlisting in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17, Ennis served as a helicopter door gunner and airframe mechanic. However, her life took a dramatic turn during her second deployment to Afghanistan in June 2012 when the CH-53D helicopter she was aboard crashed during a combat mission.

The accident left her with devastating injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, a shattered jaw, a broken neck, collapsed lungs, and severe damage to her left leg.

Despite the life-altering injuries, Ennis refused to let adversity define her. She underwent numerous surgeries and grueling rehabilitation to regain her strength and mobility.

Unfortunately, after multiple attempts to save her leg, she made the difficult decision to amputate it in 2015.

Ennis discovered a passion for sports and athletics. She dedicated herself to becoming an accomplished Paralympic athlete.

Ennis excelled in a variety of sports, including snowboarding, rock climbing, cycling, and mountaineering. She competed in several adaptive sports events and set records, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. What is next for Ennis – an Everest round 2?

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