First Estonian woman on the top of the world

Krisli Melesk reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, the 8.848,86 meter Mount Everest. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Krisli Melesk, a mountaineer and a traveler, accomplished one of her greatest dreams early Sunday (May 23) morning five minutes past six (Estonian time): she reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, the 8.848,86 meter Mount Everest.

The 35-year-old woman from Tallinn said that she spent there several dozen minutes, enjoying the moment and the breathtakingly beautiful sight.

“The weather was wonderful. So we spent nearly three quarters of an hour at the summit,” Krisli Melesk told Postimees Sunday after noon from the fourth (C4) mountain camp, gathering strength in a warm tent for further stages of the descent. She should reach the base camp, together with the Madison Mountaineering expedition group, in a few days.

The interested parties back home were somewhat confused about the precise time when the Estonian reached the summit. Modern equipment provided one time, the group leader Garret Madison stated another and Krisli Melesk herself reported a third option. We shall hold on to the opinion of the hero of the day. She said: “Based on the photographs I got the idea that it was approximately 9:20 local time. OK, we reached the summit before him (Garret Madison). So we spent there nearly three quarters of an hour.”

Melesk is the fourth Estonian after Alar Sikk, Tanel Tuuleveski and Andras Kaasik to conquer Mount Everest. Sikk, who was the first 18 years ago, said that the achievement of the female mountaineer delights him. “Wonderful! I wholeheartedly congratulate her!” Sikk said. “The conditions were tough but there was one good aspect – there were fewer climbers this year. That was convenient. Otherwise they would wait in a line and freeze to death that way. There were fewer people this year. As far as I know there have even been years on Everest when no one reached the summit.”

Sikk speculated that the corona virus may have also affected the plans of many groups. “If you fall ill there, that’s the end,” he said.

Sikk, who had earlier climbed on Kazbek and Acongagua with Melesk, praised the young woman and described her as a tough girl with strong character.

“A serious contender,” he said and added that he had had to answer phone calls and receive congratulations on Sunday after Melesk’s achievement. “All kinds of friends I have been climbing with have already congratulated me and, honestly, it feels great”, Sikk chuckled. The descent should take less time, he said. “A couple of days and then she’ll be in Katmandu and it’s done;” he added.

Krisli Melesk, who had maintained contact with Postimees for a couple of months, reported on Saturday when her group waited for suitable weather for the decisive try, that the weather conditions on Mount Everest are very complicated this year. “The weather is pleasantly windy. The whole camp was rather shabby yesterday (May 21). Today they promised that the wind will subside by the evening, which could mean the ascent,” she said.

Melesk as well as all the other Madison Mountaineering group members were fortunately untouched by the corona virus. Only one member of the team had to give up the expedition even before it started, due to the virus,” she said. “Our team is Covid-free,” Melesk assured.

The other Estonian mountaineer who also dreamed of conquering the summit, Katrin Merisalu, also reached the fourth mountain camp at 7,900 meters by Saturday, following a hard 12-hour journey. She gave up the decisive try for the summit apparently for health reasons. Eesti Päevaleht wrote on Thursday that the entire Snowy Horizon Treks & Expeditions group, including its member Merisalu, suffered quite badly from the corona virus.