Acclaimed mountaineer and Community School parent, Ed Viesturs, inspired a full house with his incredible life story on December 5. 

After spending the day with Community School students, Viesturs gave a free community presentation in the evening at the Community School Theater. During his presentation, titled “No Shortcuts to the Top,” Viesturs discussed his life story, his adventures on the world’s highest peaks and how leadership, teamwork, and overcoming major obstacles have helped him achieve his success.

“Ed Viesturs is one of the great mountaineers in history, and we are proud to have Ed in our community. He has much to share with our students and community,” stated Community School Head of School, David Holmes. Viesturs is an advisor to two of Community School’s recent initiatives: the Outdoor Leadership Academy and the Sun Valley Ski Academy.

Ed Viesturs is widely regarded as this country’s foremost high-altitude mountaineer. He has successfully reached the summit of all fourteen of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen, an 18-year long project he termed “Endeavor 8000.” Viesturs completed this goal on May 12, 2005 with his ascent of Annapurna—one of the world’s most treacherous peaks. He is one of only a handful of climbers in history (and the only American) who can claim this accomplishment.

During his quest to climb the world’s highest peaks, Viesturs went on 29 Himalayan expeditions, reaching the summit on 20 of these climbs, including summiting Everest seven times.

Viesturs climbs without benefit of an oxygen tank, which he feels can be burdensome and potentially troublesome. Only superiorly conditioned athletes can scale heights above 25,000 feet without artificial oxygen. Viesturs believes the key to mountaineering lies in the time and energy invested in the preparation required to climb without oxygen. In examining the risks of climbing, he has been guided by the principle that “Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.”

Viesturs has published three best-selling autobiographies, most recently, “The Will to Climb: Obsession and Commitment and the Quest to Climb Annapurna— the World's Deadliest Peak,” in October 2011.