A life spent exploring mountains led South Africa’s Jeannette McGill to Everest at last and has become the oldest female South African to do so. From the top of the world, Jeannette cried, reflecting on the power of resilience.
Global (01 June 2025) — Jeannette McGill recently did something most people only dream about. At the top of Mount Everest, Jeannette looked down at the world from its high point and cried her eyes out for the journey there had been much longer than the climb up.
Originally from Port Elizabeth, Jeannette grew up mountain-curious. At 13, she sneaked her way in to the Mountain Club of South Africa, anxious to be a part of the excitement of life on the slopes as soon as she could. The risk would pay off; leading Jeannette to a life filled with adventure. Later on in life, Jeannette became the first female leader in 24-years at the Winter July Camp in Drakensburg. This big moment was followed by a series of mountaineering moments overseas that shaped her as one of South Africa’s most-experienced mountaineers!
Jeannette tells Good Things Guy that she has undertaken many a feat, including 8x8000m expeditions, becoming the first first South African to summit Himlung Himal, 2023 (7,126m), Manaslu, 2018 (8,173m), and to attempt Dhaulagiri, 2019 (8,176m).
But, what of Mount Everest?
“I had a chance to consider Everest when the Sunday Times had a competition to find a female member for the 1996 expedition,” she says. “I also heard via the grapevine that the outcome was in fact known, so decided to throw my application away and focus on my studies instead.”
Years went on, decades in fact, until Jeannette decided it was time.
“I thought Everest wasn’t for me. but 3 years ago I changed my mind, deciding I did in fact really want to summit! I just hoped I hadn’t left it too late in my life!”
Jeannette explains that patience and resilience got her to the summit, but not without obstacles, disappointment and, most importantly, trying again.
In 2023, she fell ill and only reached Camp 2; in 2024, she reached South Col, but technical equipment let her down, as well as some personal matters.
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“I was going to quit my Everest goal but decided I’d regret not giving it one last decent try so focused on my training, pooling my resources, been strategically nomadic for a year and came back one final time in 2025.”
As they say, third time’s the charm!
“On 22 May I went for the summit but strong winds turned me around early on 23 May at the Balcony (8440m). Everyone else aborted their climbs that day, not summitting. I was going to settle for going to Lhotse the next day, but my leader said I was strong enough to go up again (normally people rest lower at C2 before trying again).
“That night I repeated to climb up the Balcony (so 2 8000m in 2 days!) – and did continue on to the summit, reaching the top of the world and realising my dream on 24 May. I am now the 10th, and at 52 the oldest, South African woman to summit Everest.”
A Catharsis From the Top of the World
“Besides appreciating the incredible view from the top of the world I found the experience very emotional. I cried my eyes out on the summit. My journey there had been so long – over 30 years! I gave so much personally, and so much was taken from me along the way. I love mountains and respect them deeply. They are not a show place for personal gain.
“My summit is a message of resilience and grit and never giving up on yourself – not matter your age. That is why I support a mountaineering scholarship through the AWE Scholarship Foundation specifically allocated to women from African countries so that they might learn about the transformative power of the outdoors.”
We All Have a Mountain to Climb
In offering advice for anyone facing mountains (proverbial or literal) in their own lives, Jeannette (who knows the ebbs and flows, slopes and lows of life well), shares:
“We all have our own mountains in our life: be it health, relationships or just life in general. I succeeded my literal and figurative Everest by having a plan, letting people support me along the way, and focusing on the goal while on the mountain – not letting distractions deter me. I am filled with gratitude and humility that I realised my dream after so many years and can share my story resilience and determination.”
Sources: GTG Interview
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