Ed Viesturs made a career as a professional mountaineer. He originally thought to work as a veterinarian, but after earning his degree in veterinary medicine, his desire to climb full-time changed the course of his life. Viesturs’ eventual goal was to climb all 14 of all of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. This was a project that he christened Endeavor 8000. His goal, which eventually took 18 years to completed, was achieved 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) to accomplish this. That same year, Viesturs was awarded National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year. In 2002, he received the historic Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorers Club for outstanding achievement in the field of mountaineering, placing him among the ranks of elite climbers like Sir Edmund Hillary. In 1992, the American Alpine Club presented him with the David A. Sowles Memorial Award for his participation in two rescues on K2, the world's second-highest peak.
During his career, Viesturs has also made seven successful ascents of 29,028-foot Mt. Everest, three of these without supplemental oxygen. He still guides clients worldwide on climbing adventures, is an Ambassador for Rolex, and works as a design consultant for Boulder, Colorado-based outdoor clothing manufacturer Himali. Viesturs also serves as a spokesman and advocate for Big City Mountaineers (BCM), an organization that instills critical life skills in under-resourced youth through wilderness mentoring experiences that help keep kids in school, reduce violence and drug use.
Viesturs resides in Ketchum, Idaho, with his wife Paula of 30 years. They have one son and three daughters.
