Jeannette McGill is a seasoned mountaineer and executive leader who, at 52, became the oldest South African woman to summit Everest in May 2025. With more than 30 years of global climbing experience—including leading expeditions across four continents—she knows deeply that the summit is never just about standing on top.
Jeannette's journey is a testament to patience, resilience, and the quiet power of backing yourself, no matter how many setbacks you face. Beyond her personal achievements, she is passionate about demystifying the modern-day myths of Everest and advocates instead for the very real challenges mountain terrains face through climate change globally. Having been there herself, she brings an informed, honest perspective on what is truly happening above 8,000m.
Today, Jeannette combines her love for high-altitude adventure with leadership on Boards and helping others explore their own limits. She also supports future generations through leading snow camps in the Victorian Alps and mountaineering scholarships, believing that mountains are powerful teachers of courage and humility. Her story is not just about conquering peaks but about becoming the kind of person who dares to try.
We first spoke with Jeannette on 7th January 2021 - Jeannette McGill - 1st South African woman to summit Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world
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Show notes
- Who is Jeanette
- Corporate executive, board director and most importantly a mountaineer
- South African by origin, located in Melbourne and spending up to 5 months in Nepal
- TGP Episode - January 7th 2021 - - 1st South African woman to summit Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world
- Her Mt. Everest dream
- A one day - someday project…
- How climbing Mt. Everest came to the forefront of her mind
- To be a real mountaineer you needed to tick Mt. Everest off the list
- Deciding to go in a different direction in 1995
- The pivotal moment - university and having a career or entering the climbing competition
- Pursuing her career
- Was Mt. Everest a realistic goal?
- Growing into the project
- Adding Mt. Everest to the bucket list after covid
- Going through a back surgery and perimenopause and deciding that 2023 would be her Mt. Everest year
- Using Mera Peak as an acclimatisation strategy
- Getting sick and not recovering well, getting to camp 2 and not being able to continue.
- Heading back to Australia and deciding to go back in 2024
- Deciding to gift herself the power of a mid-life sabbatical
- Exciting her role in December 2023 and starting to train properly for Mt. Everest in 2024
- Joining a small team
- Mechanical failure on the mountain - her jumar not working and getting word that her house in Australia had burnt down.
- Getting to the South Col and not being in the right head space.
- Knowing she was making the right decision to turn around and head back down the mountain
- Dealing with the frustration and disappointment and why it was difficult
- Not being in a good head space. Needing to pivot and become nomadic during the winter
- Floundering and not knowing what was next
- Deciding that she would regret it if she didn't back herself one final time.
- Pivoting and making the best of the situation
- Having flexibility and deciding to do Mt. Everest one last time
- Figuring out where to do the winter work - in either Scotland or New Zealand
- Packing up and heading over to New Zealand to do training
- Doing more mountain work, on the NZ Alps in the South Island
- How it became a more personal/internal objective/goal
- What training looked like
- Working with a mental and physical coach
- Using Training Peaks
- Evoke Endurance Coach
- Returning to Manaslu in the fall of 2024
- Muscle endurance - steep hills in NZ out of Queenstown carrying 20kgs
- Following a structured gym program
- Her 'A' Team
- Figuring out through processes and what could derail her
- Having cheat sheets e.g. a mopey list to keep her focused on her goal and what she needed to do
- Heading back to Mt Everest in 2025 and wanting to do the Everest - Lhotse Double (having 2 permits)
- Acclimatising on Mt. Mera Peak
- Being an older climber and the changes she made
- Sleeping at camp 3 on her rotation
- Heading up to the balcony
- The challenge of the 2025 season
- Dealing with extreme winds and not being able to stand up
- Having to turn around - returning to her tent on the South Col and being hit with disappointment.
- Maybe climbing Mt. Everest just isn't going to happen again - shedding a tear
- Having her main sherpa needing to head back down to camp 2
- Having the opportunity to go for the summit of Mt. Everest the following night
- Now or never!!!!!
- Starting to prepare, getting herself together and heading back to the balcony before reaching the summit
- Reaching the summit - A surreal, glorious moment.
- Crying on the summit and why she will never forget it
- The descent back to base camp - dealing with fatigue
- Being able to look after herself on the descent
- The afterwards - Relief? Adventure blues?
- The pressure on herself to achieve the goal
- Being at peace with herself
- Needing to rest this calendar year and savour her summit
- Wallowing in the peace and knowledge of achievement
- How to connect with Jeannette
- Final words of advice for other women who want to take on their own mountains and challenges
- Keep stretching your fear muscle
Social Media
Website: www.mcgillsmountains.com
Instagram: @mcgills_mountains
