Melissa Arnot Reid, an American mountaineer, has made a remarkable six ascents to the summit of Mount Everest. Born on December 18, 1983, she grew up just outside of Glacier National Park in Whitefish, Montana.
Melissa's passion for climbing began in her early twenties, when she started living off her car to save money and pursue her mountaineering dreams. Her first climb of Mount Rainier in 2001 was a defining moment, which she dubbed a "watershed moment." She went on to become a senior guide with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. in 2006, having first joined the company in 2004.
Since 2001, Melissa has climbed Mount Rainier over 90 times, a testament to her dedication and expertise. She holds a Wilderness EMT certification and teaches Wilderness EMT courses for Remote Medical International. Her impressive resume also includes a stint as a senior guide with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
In 2008, Melissa joined forces with Jeff Dossett and David Morton on the Everest Team Inspi(RED),a project aimed at promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and supporting Product Red. Two years later, she led a celebrity climb on Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about access to clean water. The event, Summit on the Summit, featured a diverse group of celebrities, including actors Emile Hirsch, Jessica Biel, and Isabel Lucas, as well as musicians Kenna, Lupe Fiasco, and Santigold.
Melissa's impressive list of achievements also includes helping to defuse tensions between three European mountaineers and a group of Sherpas in 2013. Her attempts to summit Everest in 2014 and 2015 were disrupted by avalanches, but she persevered and eventually reached the summit without supplemental oxygen in 2016. This feat earned her the distinction of being the second American woman to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Francys Arsentiev, who reached the summit without supplemental oxygen in 1998 but tragically died during the descent.
Today, Melissa is sponsored by Eddie Bauer and Whittaker Mountaineering, a retail store based in Ashford, Washington. She continues to participate in product development and testing for the "First Ascent" brand, which was developed by a group of original six mountain guides, including Peter Whittaker, Ed Viesturs, Dave Hahn, Seth Waterfall, and Chad Peele.
