In a world where mountain climbing is still considered a male-dominated activity, Lisa Thompson is a force to be reckoned with. The second American woman to summit K2, Lisa has overcome countless obstacles in her journey to become one of the world's top mountaineers. From her early days of hiking and climbing in the Pacific Northwest to leading all-women expeditions in Nepal, Lisa's determination and perseverance have been the keys to her success.
Lisa's journey has not been without challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis in 2015. However, she refused to let this setback define her, and instead used it as motivation to pursue her passion even more passionately. She founded Alpine Athletics, a training company that helps aspiring climbers reach their mountain goals, and has since led expeditions to some of the world's highest peaks.
In her recently released book, Finding Elevation: Fear and Courage on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain, Lisa shares her personal journey of climbing K2 and the lessons she learned along the way. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, determination, and self-belief, and is sure to inspire anyone who is looking to take on their own personal challenges.
As Lisa says, "The right path is always to be true to who you are." Whether you're a novice climber or an experienced mountaineer, Lisa's story is a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and a little bit of courage. So, if you're looking to push yourself to new heights, be sure to check out Lisa's book and connect with her through Alpine Athletics. Who knows? You just might find your own path to the summit.
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Show notes
Who is Lisa
Living in Seattle in the USA
Starting climbing in 2008
Wanting to give back to the climbing communities
Her early years and growing up in a little farm town in Central Illinois
Being outdoorsy but not sporty
Starting to push herself more in the outdoors and in the mountains
Wanting to be seen as capable by her peers
Starting to get into hiking and climbing
Climbing Mt. Rainier (also known as Tahoma), 4,392 m, located in Washington State
Having a desire to prove people wrong
Often being the only female on the team
Using spite as a motivator to start
Starting to climb mountains for herself
Taking it to the next level
Being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 at 42 years old
Planning to climb in the Himalayas for the first time.
Wanting to climb Mt. Manaslu (8th-highest mountain in the world, 8,163 metres above sea level)
Making big changes in her life in 2016
Choosing to end her marriage and quit her corporate job
Dedicating herself to her passions
Selling everything she owned and going to climb Mt. Everest
The process and method used for starting again
Listening to her gut and knowing that she was doing the right thing for her
“The right path is always to be true to who you are”
Sharing big goals publicly or keeping it private?
Deciding to climb K2
Tips for handing stress and pressure
Focusing on breathing and using breath as a way to calm her nervous system
Using mantra in the mountains
Her experience of climbing Mt. Everest in 2016
Descending the Geneva Spur by using an arm wrapping technique
Finding her voice in the mountains and starting to stand up for herself
Dealing with the Adventure Blues after doing a big challenge
Planning future climbs while on the current climb
Enjoying the process of training and keeping fit
Book: Finding Elevation: Fear and Courage on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain
Making the decision to climb K2 in the Summer of 2018
Questioning whether or not she was doing the right thing
Knowing that she was capable of climbing the mountain
Making two promises to herself - that she would not climb above her ability and doing the best she could every single day.
Dealing with self doubt
Working as a mountaineering coach
Starting her training company - Alpine Athletics
Leading an all women’s climb in Nepal
Planning future all women expeditions in the USA and Nepal
How to connect with Lisa
Final words of advice for women who want to take on their own personal challenges
Social Media
Website: www.lisaclimbs.com
Instagram: @lisaclimbs
Facebook: @lisatclimbs
About the book: An inspiring story of danger, daring, and triumph on the world's most dangerous mountain. Finding Elevation is the story of mountaineer and cancer survivor Lisa Thompson as she climbs through the "death zone" of K2.
Defiance led Lisa Thompson to the male-dominated world of mountain climbing. But after battling breast cancer, she needed to understand the motivations behind the risks she took while climbing. Finding Elevation is more than her climbing memoir. It is an examination of the human spirit and motivation.
Readers will be gripped by Lisa's path from amateur mountain climber to world-class mountaineer as she:
Becomes the second American woman to summit K2
Conquers the world's most dangerous mountains
Defines her own limits, and
Discovers what she's truly capable of
In this inspirational book, readers will be moved by Lisa's story of heartbreak, resilience, and the discovery that we must define our own boundaries, find our own happiness, and face our fears head-on.
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