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At
the age of 21, Stacy attempted her first major climb,
Mt. Huntington in Alaska. Her climbing partner broke his
ice ax only 200 feet from the top and they turned around.
Although she did not summit, the undaunted desire to climb
big mountains began in earnest. "Our ability to respond
positively to setbacks, fuels our creativity and lays
the foundation for future successes." The following
year, Stacy did reach the top of Mt. McKinley, and was
part of the first successful women's ascent of Ama Dablam,
the 22,495 foot peak known as Nepal's Matterhorn. While
far from minor, Stacy saw these accomplishments as part
of the groundwork that would enable her to scale more
challenging mountains.
Stacy
was the first American woman to top Pik Communism, at
24,600 feet, the tallest peak in the Russian Pamir Range.
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As
a member of the North Face American Mt. Everest Expedition,
Stacy did not summit. She describes the challenge: "The
worst storm in forty years moved in trapping us in a
snow cave at 23,500 feet for five days." Turning
back can be the most difficult decision of all, particularly
when the effort represents the consummation of a lifetime
of dedication and hard work. Stacy reflects, "If
you see yourself as trying to beat the mountain, eventually
the mountain will win. You don't conquer mountains,
you cooperate with them."
Stacy
returned to Mt. Everest with the Northwest American
Everest Expedition. On September 29, 1988, after twenty
nine days on the mountain, Stacy became the first American
woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, the world's
highest mountain at 29,028 feet.
Stacy
then went on to become the leader of a
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successful K2 expedition,
the
world's second highest mountain, considered to be the
most difficult peak on Earth to climb.
Three of the team of seven made it to the top; after an
accident to the third, in keeping with her view of teamwork
and leadership, Stacy and the others descended. "In
any endeavor, leaders should inspire members of the team
with a passion for success, "Stacy says, "but
within the framework of team effort. One of the most crucial
things to realize, feel and remember, is that when one
team member succeeds, the entire team succeeds."
Stacy's
mission is to encourage people to move beyond limitations
and reach for their dreams. She challenges her audiences
to lay the foundation for risk taking by accepting full
responsibility for their lives. She also emphasizes the
importance of recognizing and valuing everyone's contribution
as a team member in life's pursuits.
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