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Ed Viesturs

Mountaineer, Known as One Of the U.S.'s Foremost High-Altitude Climbers

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Ed Viesturs Biography

Ed Viesturs is widely regarded as America’s foremost high-altitude mountaineer. He is familiar to many from the 1996 IMAX Everest Expedition documentary. In 1992 he received the American Alpine Club Sowles Award for his participation in two rescues on K2. In 2002, he received the historic Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorer’s Club for outstanding achievement in the field of mountaineering, joining an elite group of climbers including Sir Edmund Hillary. His achievements as an alpinist include seven summits of Mount Everest.

Viesturs has made a career as a professional mountaineer. He currently does corporate motivational speaking as well, touching on subjects such as Risk Management, Leadership, Teamwork, Overcoming Major Obstacles, and Decision Making Under Pressure. He is also a brand ambassador for Rolex, and continues his long involvement as a design consultant for several prominent outdoor equipment manufacturers.

In the community, Ed serves as an advocate for Big City Mountaineers (BCM), an organization that instills critical life skills in under-resourced youth through wilderness mentoring experiences that help kids stay in school, reduce violence and avoid drug use. He is spokesperson for BCM’s Summit For Someone benefit climb series, which places individuals on iconic peaks to raise support for BCM youth and programs.

Viesturs capped his climbing career by reaching the summits of all fourteen of the world’s 8000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen, an 18-year project he christened Endeavor 8000. He is one of only a handful of climbers (and the only American) in history to accomplish that feat. He completed his quest on May 12, 2005 with his ascent of Annapurna, one of the world’s most treacherous peaks. That year National Geographic named him Adventurer of the Year. During the 18-year span of Endeavor 8000, Viesturs was a member of 31 Himalayan expeditions to the 8000 meter peaks, reaching the summit on 21 of these. In January 2011 he led a climb of Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica, at 16,066’. He climbs without bottled oxygen, which he feels is unwieldy and potentially troublesome. Only an extremely conditioned athlete can scale heights above 25,000 feet without supplemental oxygen – a fact Viesturs has turned into an important metaphor for his audiences: the key to the journey is in the time and energy invested in the preparation.

Viesturs motto has always been that “climbing has to be a round trip – summitting is optional, but descending is mandatory.” All of his planning and focus during his climbs maintains this ethic, and he is not shy about turning back from a climb if conditions are too severe. Viesturs recalls once being just 300 feet away from the top of Mount Everest when he had to turn back. In spite of his conservative attitude, Viesturs has been one of the most successful Himalayan climbers in American history. His story is about risk management, including being patient enough to wait for conditions that allow an ascent. Ultimately, in his words, “The mountain decides whether you climb or not. The art of mountaineering is knowing when to go, when to stay, and when to retreat.”

At the start of their 2005 season, the Seattle Seahawks football team engaged Viesturs to speak to them about teamwork. The team and coaches incorporated some of his messages and ideas into their practices and games, and went on to play in the Super Bowl that season. According to Viesturs, regardless of the enterprise, teamwork is the same: “It is an implicit trust in, and recognition that the person next to you is No. 1,” he explains. “If we’re climbing a mountain together and you slip and fall, I’m there to save your life” – the ultimate example of teamwork. Another tenet Viesturs stresses is the importance of perseverance, or going step by step and not getting discouraged by setbacks when working toward your goal.

In October 2005 Viesturs’s best-selling autobiography “No Shortcuts to the Top” was published by Broadway Books. The book covers Viesturs’s career as a mountaineer, how he prepared for his expeditions, and his philosophy on managing the inherent risks. In 2008 Viesturs published his second book – “K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain” (Broadway Books). This book chronicles six historic expeditions on the world’s second highest peak, and discusses the risks of success and the costs thereof. Risk management is a key theme throughout. Viesturs’s third book – “The Will to Climb: Obsession and Commitment and the Quest to Climb Annapurna – the World's Deadliest Peak” was released on October 4, 2011.

Viesturs was born in 1959 and now lives in Ketchum, Idaho with his wife of 24 years, Paula, and their four children. He continues to conduct speaking engagements, consult, go on adventures, and guide in Idaho and on Mt. Rainier. In August 2018, he made his 215th ascent of 14,411’ Mt. Rainier.

Speaking Topics
  • Key points:

    1. “Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory.” Climbing a mountain has to be a round trip. You need to plan ahead and have resources to make sure you finish what you set out to do.

    2. “Listen to your instincts.” Make decisions based on your experience and gut feelings. Don’t get caught up in group think.

    3. “Temper your ambition in the face of overwhelming risk.” Be patient enough to wait for the right time to move forward, even if others are going ahead.

    4. “Patience and persistence are keys to success but I believe that passion is the most critical ingredient.” If you are passionate with what you do, you’ll perform better, enjoy the process and be willing to take as long as it takes to succeed.

    5. “Teamwork, regardless of the industry, is the same: It is an implicit trust in, and recognition that the person next to you is No. 1”.

  • The Will to Climb

    In his signature presentation, Viesturs shares highlights from his life as a mountaineer, and recounts attempts to summit Annapurna, the “world’s deadliest peak” and the one that defied Viesturs the longest.

  • No Shortcuts to the Top: Managing and Mitigating Risk Through Perseverance, Dedication, and Teamwork

    Using dramatic slides and video, Viesturs recounts his 18-year quest to conquer the 14 highest mountains in the world, drawing from the experiences relevant strategies for managing risk, motivating a team, and staying focused on core values in the business world.

Videos
Books
The Mountain: My Time on Everest

The Mountain: My Time on Everest

The Will to Climb: Obsession and Commitment and the Quest to Climb Annapurna--the World's Deadliest Peak

The Will to Climb: Obsession and Commitment and the Quest to Climb Annapurna--the World's Deadliest Peak

K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain

K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

News
FAQs
  • HOW TO BOOK Ed Viesturs?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Ed Viesturs for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Ed Viesturs, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Ed Viesturs or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK Ed Viesturs?

    Speaking fees for Ed Viesturs, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Ed Viesturs charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Ed Viesturs, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • WHO IS THE AGENT FOR Ed Viesturs?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Ed Viesturs for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ed Viesturs for your next private or corporate function.
  • WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE TALENT BOOKING AGENCY?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Ed Viesturs or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Ed Viesturs or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

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Mountaineer, Known as One Of the U.S.'s Foremost High-Altitude Climbers

Travels From:
Washington, USA
Speaking Fee:

Ed Viesturs Biography

Ed Viesturs is widely regarded as America’s foremost high-altitude mountaineer. He is familiar to many from the 1996 IMAX Everest Expedition documentary. In 1992 he received the American Alpine Club Sowles Award for his participation in two rescues on K2. In 2002, he received the historic Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorer’s Club for outstanding achievement in the field of mountaineering, joining an elite group of climbers including Sir Edmund Hillary. His achievements as an alpinist include seven summits of Mount Everest.

Viesturs has made a career as a professional mountaineer. He currently does corporate motivational speaking as well, touching on subjects such as Risk Management, Leadership, Teamwork, Overcoming Major Obstacles, and Decision Making Under Pressure. He is also a brand ambassador for Rolex, and continues his long involvement as a design consultant for several prominent outdoor equipment manufacturers.

In the community, Ed serves as an advocate for Big City Mountaineers (BCM), an organization that instills critical life skills in under-resourced youth through wilderness mentoring experiences that help kids stay in school, reduce violence and avoid drug use. He is spokesperson for BCM’s Summit For Someone benefit climb series, which places individuals on iconic peaks to raise support for BCM youth and programs.

Viesturs capped his climbing career by reaching the summits of all fourteen of the world’s 8000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen, an 18-year project he christened Endeavor 8000. He is one of only a handful of climbers (and the only American) in history to accomplish that feat. He completed his quest on May 12, 2005 with his ascent of Annapurna, one of the world’s most treacherous peaks. That year National Geographic named him Adventurer of the Year. During the 18-year span of Endeavor 8000, Viesturs was a member of 31 Himalayan expeditions to the 8000 meter peaks, reaching the summit on 21 of these. In January 2011 he led a climb of Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica, at 16,066’. He climbs without bottled oxygen, which he feels is unwieldy and potentially troublesome. Only an extremely conditioned athlete can scale heights above 25,000 feet without supplemental oxygen – a fact Viesturs has turned into an important metaphor for his audiences: the key to the journey is in the time and energy invested in the preparation.

Viesturs motto has always been that “climbing has to be a round trip – summitting is optional, but descending is mandatory.” All of his planning and focus during his climbs maintains this ethic, and he is not shy about turning back from a climb if conditions are too severe. Viesturs recalls once being just 300 feet away from the top of Mount Everest when he had to turn back. In spite of his conservative attitude, Viesturs has been one of the most successful Himalayan climbers in American history. His story is about risk management, including being patient enough to wait for conditions that allow an ascent. Ultimately, in his words, “The mountain decides whether you climb or not. The art of mountaineering is knowing when to go, when to stay, and when to retreat.”

At the start of their 2005 season, the Seattle Seahawks football team engaged Viesturs to speak to them about teamwork. The team and coaches incorporated some of his messages and ideas into their practices and games, and went on to play in the Super Bowl that season. According to Viesturs, regardless of the enterprise, teamwork is the same: “It is an implicit trust in, and recognition that the person next to you is No. 1,” he explains. “If we’re climbing a mountain together and you slip and fall, I’m there to save your life” – the ultimate example of teamwork. Another tenet Viesturs stresses is the importance of perseverance, or going step by step and not getting discouraged by setbacks when working toward your goal.

In October 2005 Viesturs’s best-selling autobiography “No Shortcuts to the Top” was published by Broadway Books. The book covers Viesturs’s career as a mountaineer, how he prepared for his expeditions, and his philosophy on managing the inherent risks. In 2008 Viesturs published his second book – “K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain” (Broadway Books). This book chronicles six historic expeditions on the world’s second highest peak, and discusses the risks of success and the costs thereof. Risk management is a key theme throughout. Viesturs’s third book – “The Will to Climb: Obsession and Commitment and the Quest to Climb Annapurna – the World's Deadliest Peak” was released on October 4, 2011.

Viesturs was born in 1959 and now lives in Ketchum, Idaho with his wife of 24 years, Paula, and their four children. He continues to conduct speaking engagements, consult, go on adventures, and guide in Idaho and on Mt. Rainier. In August 2018, he made his 215th ascent of 14,411’ Mt. Rainier.

Ed Viesturs Speaking Topics

  • Key points:

    1. “Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory.” Climbing a mountain has to be a round trip. You need to plan ahead and have resources to make sure you finish what you set out to do.

    2. “Listen to your instincts.” Make decisions based on your experience and gut feelings. Don’t get caught up in group think.

    3. “Temper your ambition in the face of overwhelming risk.” Be patient enough to wait for the right time to move forward, even if others are going ahead.

    4. “Patience and persistence are keys to success but I believe that passion is the most critical ingredient.” If you are passionate with what you do, you’ll perform better, enjoy the process and be willing to take as long as it takes to succeed.

    5. “Teamwork, regardless of the industry, is the same: It is an implicit trust in, and recognition that the person next to you is No. 1”.

  • The Will to Climb

    In his signature presentation, Viesturs shares highlights from his life as a mountaineer, and recounts attempts to summit Annapurna, the “world’s deadliest peak” and the one that defied Viesturs the longest.

  • No Shortcuts to the Top: Managing and Mitigating Risk Through Perseverance, Dedication, and Teamwork

    Using dramatic slides and video, Viesturs recounts his 18-year quest to conquer the 14 highest mountains in the world, drawing from the experiences relevant strategies for managing risk, motivating a team, and staying focused on core values in the business world.

Ed Viesturs Videos

  • The Summit: Ed Viesturs Keynote - YouTube
    Oct 28, 2020 ... On October 21st we were joined by world-renowned climber, Ed Viesturs.Ed has summited Everest seven times and climbed all 14...
  • Ed Viesturs: No Shortcuts to the Top - YouTube
    Oct 21, 2019 ... Ed Viesturs, world-class mountaineer and author of several best-sellers, gives an inspirational keynote speech to kick off the...
  • Ed Viesturs: A Perspective on Everest - YouTube

Ed Viesturs Books

Speaker Lists Featuring Ed Viesturs

FAQs on booking Ed Viesturs

  • How to book Ed Viesturs?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Ed Viesturs for both live and virtual events for over 20 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Ed Viesturs, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Ed Viesturs or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Ed Viesturs?

    Speaking fees for Ed Viesturs, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Ed Viesturs charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Ed Viesturs, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • Who is the agent for Ed Viesturs?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Ed Viesturs for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ed Viesturs for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service talent booking agency?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Ed Viesturs or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Ed Viesturs or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.

Ed Viesturs is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Key points:, The Will to Climb and No Shortcuts to the Top: Managing and Mitigating Risk Through Perseverance, Dedication, and Teamwork. The estimated speaking fee range to book Ed Viesturs for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Ed Viesturs generally travels from WA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are David Breashears, Jim Davidson, Melissa Stockwell, Conrad Anker and Stacy Allison. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ed Viesturs for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Ed Viesturs Speaking Topics

  • Key points:

    1. “Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory.” Climbing a mountain has to be a round trip. You need to plan ahead and have resources to make sure you finish what you set out to do.

    2. “Listen to your instincts.” Make decisions based on your experience and gut feelings. Don’t get caught up in group think.

    3. “Temper your ambition in the face of overwhelming risk.” Be patient enough to wait for the right time to move forward, even if others are going ahead.

    4. “Patience and persistence are keys to success but I believe that passion is the most critical ingredient.” If you are passionate with what you do, you’ll perform better, enjoy the process and be willing to take as long as it takes to succeed.

    5. “Teamwork, regardless of the industry, is the same: It is an implicit trust in, and recognition that the person next to you is No. 1”.

  • The Will to Climb

    In his signature presentation, Viesturs shares highlights from his life as a mountaineer, and recounts attempts to summit Annapurna, the “world’s deadliest peak” and the one that defied Viesturs the longest.

  • No Shortcuts to the Top: Managing and Mitigating Risk Through Perseverance, Dedication, and Teamwork

    Using dramatic slides and video, Viesturs recounts his 18-year quest to conquer the 14 highest mountains in the world, drawing from the experiences relevant strategies for managing risk, motivating a team, and staying focused on core values in the business world.

Ed Viesturs Speaker Videos

  • The Summit: Ed Viesturs Keynote - YouTube
    Oct 28, 2020 ... On October 21st we were joined by world-renowned climber, Ed Viesturs.Ed has summited Everest seven times and climbed all 14 peaks ...
    Ed Viesturs: No Shortcuts to the Top - YouTube
    Oct 21, 2019 ... Ed Viesturs, world-class mountaineer and author of several best-sellers, gives an inspirational keynote speech to kick off the Energy Exemplar's ...
  • Ed Viesturs: A Perspective on Everest - YouTube
    Listen to the mountain | Ed Viesturs | TEDxRainier - YouTube

Ed Viesturs News

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Speakers Similar to Ed Viesturs

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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