Susan Ershler
Encyclopedia
Susan Ershler is an international public speaker, a former corporate executive, Mt. Everest summiter and co-author. Ershler and her husband, Phil, are the first couple to climb the “Seven Summits
” together, the highest mountain on each continent. The crowning accomplishment of such an endeavor was achieved May 16, 2002, when Susan, and her husband reached the summit of Mount Everest
. This was the final crest of the Seven Summits and they entered into history on that date as the first married couple to climb all seven. It took ten years for the Ershlers to complete this adventure.
in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. In 1980, after a quick stint as a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines, Ershler landed her first corporate position in the telecommunications industry. During her 23-year corporate career, she has held a series of increasingly responsible executive positions in the sales divisions of Fortune 500 companies.
In 2001, the Ershlers attempted their seventh summit and highest in Asia, Mount Everest. After 63 days on the mountain the couple turned around 1,400 feet from the summit. They returned to Nepal and on May 16, 2002 at 10:20 a.m. the Ershlers successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest and became the first couple to climb the Seven Summits together.
After 23 years in corporate leadership positions, Ershler started her own business, Ershler International. Today, Ershler tours the world as a business speaker and illustrates how she utilized her experience as a sales leader as the foundation to her training for climbing mountains.
In 2007, Ershler co-authored Together on Top of the World, the remarkable story of the first couple to climb the fabled Seven Summits, by Grand Central Publishing. They appeared on the Today Show to recount their adventure and promote the book as well.
Seven Summits
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. Summiting all of them is regarded as a mountaineering challenge, first postulated as such and achieved on April 30, 1985 by Richard Bass .-Definition:...
” together, the highest mountain on each continent. The crowning accomplishment of such an endeavor was achieved May 16, 2002, when Susan, and her husband reached the summit of Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
. This was the final crest of the Seven Summits and they entered into history on that date as the first married couple to climb all seven. It took ten years for the Ershlers to complete this adventure.
Early life
Born in Portland, Oregon, Ershler moved with her family to Seattle, Washington in 1971. She graduated from Washington State UniversityWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. In 1980, after a quick stint as a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines, Ershler landed her first corporate position in the telecommunications industry. During her 23-year corporate career, she has held a series of increasingly responsible executive positions in the sales divisions of Fortune 500 companies.
Business & Adventure
In 1992, Ershler met her husband, Phil, a renowned international mountain guide who made the first American ascent of the North Face of Mount Everest. Every vacation throughout the next decade, the Ershlers would climb mountains together. By the end of 1999 they had climbed six of the Seven Summits together: Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa; Mount Elbrus, Europe; Mount McKinley (Denali), North America; Cerro Aconcagua, South America; Vinson Massif, Antarctica and Mount Kosciuszko, Australia.In 2001, the Ershlers attempted their seventh summit and highest in Asia, Mount Everest. After 63 days on the mountain the couple turned around 1,400 feet from the summit. They returned to Nepal and on May 16, 2002 at 10:20 a.m. the Ershlers successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest and became the first couple to climb the Seven Summits together.
After 23 years in corporate leadership positions, Ershler started her own business, Ershler International. Today, Ershler tours the world as a business speaker and illustrates how she utilized her experience as a sales leader as the foundation to her training for climbing mountains.
Media
In 2002, the Ershlers were featured guests on the Good Morning America show. They also appeared on CNN and CNN Headline News.In 2007, Ershler co-authored Together on Top of the World, the remarkable story of the first couple to climb the fabled Seven Summits, by Grand Central Publishing. They appeared on the Today Show to recount their adventure and promote the book as well.
Sources
- ABC NATIONAL — Good Morning America — Diane Sawyer interviews with Ershlers, "That's the seven highest peaks on the seven continents and they saved Mt. Everest for last. Joining us from Seattle are Sue and Phil Ershler."
- CNN American Stories — Ershler Everest story highlighted
- USA Today — "Record-setting day on Mount Everest" — by Don Cronin
- Seattle P.I. — "Couple climb into the history books" — by Kristin Dixon