Bonita Norris

Britain’s youngest female Everest summiteer has added a third Himalayan peak to her tally.

Bonita Norris successfully climbed Ama Dablam in the company of the same Sherpa who accompanied her to the top of the world’s highest mountain.

She had promised a return to the Himalaya after being struck by Ama Dablam’s beauty when last in the area. She summited the peak, which has heights stated between 6,812m (22,343ft) and 6,856m (22,488ft), last week.

The climber, who was a novice mountaineer when at the age of 22 she successfully got to the top of the world’s highest peak with Kenton Cool in 2009, said: “I made a pact with myself last year that I would return to Khumbu to attempt Ama Dablam.

“Looking at it from afar it is simply a beautiful mountain and a great route requiring a fair amount of skill to climb.”

She made the summit of Ama Dablam at 11.45am on 17 November with her climbing Sherpa, Lakpa Onju.

“Ama Dablam is the most beautiful mountain I have ever seen,” she said. “I had my doubts whether I would be able to get to the top as it is a challenging climb but when we got onto the mountain things just felt right.

“I have been working hard on my climbing technique and fitness this year and the hard work paid off. I was with my climbing Sherpa from Everest, Lakpa, and together we stormed the summit and got back to camp safely and in quick time.

“The whole experience was brilliant and I felt very lucky to be there.

“On the summit Lakpa and I were alone – we were the first to the top that day and felt like we had the whole mountain to ourselves. We sat down with Everest right behind us and I finally got to thank him properly for helping to save my life after exactly 18 months to the day when he helped me down Everest when I was injured. It was a moment I will never forget.

“There is nothing that makes me feel more alive than to be climbing towards a summit that has taken months of work and preparation.

“It is only when you stop to catch your breath that you can take in the incredible views and reflect on all the hard work that has got you to that moment. Feeling the warm sun on your face and watching the tiny shards of ice sparkle in the light is a reminder of how high up you are and that the top is not far off.

“It is definitely these moments that make all the suffering, cold and homesickness that accompany an expedition such as this worthwhile. It was just like on Ama Dablam – just incredible.

“After sustaining an injury during the descent of Everest, I was determined to get down Ama Dablam without any problems. I felt like I had something to prove to myself and especially to Lakpa that I was capable of climbing big peaks without suffering from injuries. It was the fire that I needed to get up and down as fast and as safely as possible.”

Bonita gives her sponsors a summit plug

The Berkshire-based climber was sponsored by outdoors brand Karrimor.

Ms Norris said: “I am very grateful for the support Karrimor continue to give me. I used a Karrimor extreme rucksack for the entire expedition as it was vital for me to have as lightweight a pack as possible due to the possibility of my neck injury flaring up.

“This rucksack is the lightest I have ever used and as every gram counts in the Himalayas this pack couldn’t have done a better job.”

“I also wore a Karrimor baselayer which was light and didn’t take on odours, and was confident in the knowledge that I had a big Karrimor down jacket should the temperature plummet.

“I was relying on this kit to survive on a formidable Himalayan peak and it stood up to the job perfectly. I’ll be taking my trusted kit even higher next year.”

The company’s marketing manager Pete Gostling added: “We were so pleased to hear that Bonita reached the summit of Ama Dablam – we had every faith in her.

“Bonita is an inspirational young lady – she has reached the top of Everest, trekked to the North Pole and now summited Ama Dablam, not an easy climb and quite an achievement at just 24.”