From a boy who grew up on the flatlands of Illinois, Ed Viesturs has established himself as America’s premier high-altitude mountaineer. He’s the first American and the fifth person to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter (26,250-foot) peaks—all without the use of supplemental oxygen. He moved to Seattle in 1977 to study at the University of Washington and then at Washington State University, where he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine. Viesturs began guiding on Mount Rainier with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., in 1982 and has participated in 30 Himalayan expeditions since 1987.
Climbing Highlights
Certifications