Endeavor 8000:
The 14 Tallest Peaks
Watch Ed and First Ascent Team on National Geographic Adventure
Viesturs available for speaking events
Ed Viesturs is available for lectures and appearances at your next event. He has spoken to dozens of large corporations and small groups. His themes include Teamwork, Goal Setting, Perseverance, and inspirational entertainment in general.
His lectures are based on his experiences from 27 years of climbing and include a PowerPoint presentation with dramatic expedition photos.
Everest
1990 8850m (29035ft) Himalayas, Nepal
Attempts:
1987 - North face summit attempt
1998 - East Face attempt
1993- North Face solo
1995 - summit attempt
Summits:
May 8, 1990
May 15, 1991
May 9, 1994
May 23, 1996
May 23, 1997
May 17, 2004
May 19, 2009
Ed climbed Everest in 1991, 1994, 1996 (Everest IMAX movie), 1997, 2004 and 2009. On his own way to the summit in 1996 he encountered the bodies of Scott Fischer and Rob Hall who had died days before. "That was hard," he acknowledged. "I'd never lost a close friend in the mountains before."
"People ask me, though, how I could go back up the mountain only days after losing two of my best friends and dearest companions. I suppose I rationalized. The disaster wasn't our fault. Our team hadn't gotten in trouble - so far, we'd done everything right. What Scott and Rob did on May 10, I wouldn't have done. I wouldn't have gone to the summit at 4 p.m.
"Long before 1996, I'd developed a formula that was my cardinal rule ... 'Getting to the top was optional. Getting down was mandatory.'"
