Ed Viesturs
Born in 1959
edviesturs.com
Memoir
Ed Viesturs is a renowned American high-altitude mountaineer who has climbed Mount Everest seven times.
He completed a 16-year quest to summit all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen, becoming the first American and fifth person globally to achieve this feat.
Viesturs reached his final summit, Annapurna, on May 12, 2005.
His approach to climbing emphasizes personal challenge and experiencing mountains in their natural state.
He prioritizes safety and believes that reaching the summit is optional, while getting down is mandatory.
Viesturs' accomplishments have earned him recognition as America's leading high-altitude mountaineer.