An amazingly courageous adventurer. And woman. Be remembered.
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Thank you for this very interesting and worthwhile article. It sounds like Hargreaves is worthy of wider awareness in respect.
On another note: I don't understand why the popular media refer to climbing a mountain as "conquering" it. To my knowledge, modern-day mountaineers (2nd half of 20th century to present) DO NOT use this word. It is extremely antiquated, seeming to harken back to a Victorian mindset in which nature exists only to be exploited and dominated by mankind (perhaps especially white, European, male mankind). I find this word rather offensive and in fact absurd. Did the team which summited K2 "conquer" it by climbing it? Obviously not because they died on the descent.
I believe almost all contemporary mountaineers, from modest recreationalists to the highest professional level, have great reverence for the mountain environment, and enough humility and self-awareness to know that mountains cannot be conquered--to climb a mountain is to engage with it on an emotional and aesthetic level, and to survive to climb another day comes from a combination of good decision-making and good luck.
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I salute her life and envy her accomplishments. She is truly an inspiration for all. She found her passion and pursued it. 23 years has passed...so sad...The Everest climb that is unachievable for all but her and Reinhold Messner I find a very strong statement of her abilities.
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