Who is Nena Holquin from The Crystal Horizon Everest-the First Solo Ascent and what is their importance?

Nena Holquin is Messner's girlfriend and helpmate during his assault on Everest. She is the only one who goes with him to the upper base camp and welcomes him when he returns, depleted and almost incoherent after his successful climb. When Nena first enters the book, she is just getting over an unrequited crush on the mountaineer Peter Hillary, who has gone back to New Zealand after an unsuccessful attempt to climb Ama Dablam during which he and his partner were rescued by Messner and his climbing partners. When Messner asks her to accompany him as an assistant on a lecture tour in Europe, she agrees. She admits to being surprised when he says he loves her because they hardly know each other.