Ginette Harrison

Who was Ginette Harrison?

Ginette Harrison was a professional climber of British origin. She also lived in Australia and the United States.

She studied medicine at the University of Bristol and later specialized in high altitude medicine. At age 25 she climbed Denali, the highest mountain in North America. It was the first of her series of climbs of the highest peaks on all seven continents, which included Mount Everest on 7 October 1993, making her only the second British woman to climb Everest, after Rebecca Stephens.

On 1 December 1995 she became the third woman, and the first British woman, to climb all seven continental summits inclusive of Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in mainland Australia. On the same date she also became the fifth woman, and the second British woman, to climb all seven continental summits inclusive of the Carstensz Pyramid in Australasia.

On 18 May 1998, she climbed Kangchenjunga by its north face, making her the first woman to have reached the summit of the world's third highest mountain. She later became the first British woman to summit Makalu on 22 May 1999.

She was married to Gary Pfisterer, whom she met on her expedition to Mount Everest.