Photograph © Robert Mackinlay
Photograph © Robert Mackinlay
Known in some circles as simply “Mr. Everest,” Peter Athans summited Mount Everest for the first time in 1990 and hasn’t stopped climbing since. He has climbed the mountain seven times, participated in 16 expeditions there, and was awarded the highest medal of recognition from the American Alpine Club for a rescue featured in the bestselling book and feature film Into Thin Air.
After leading expeditions that produced scientific stories for Nova and ABC, Athans championed the Himalayan Cataract Project, which provides sight-restoring surgery to indigent Nepalese patients who suffer from cataract blindness. In 2007, he initiated the Magic Yeti Libraries, featuring illustrated bilingual texts for preschool children in Himalayan villages.
Beyond climbing, Athans has collaborated with North Face for over 20 years, contributing to the design and sales of products, and has cinematography credits on Seven Years in Tibet, National Geographic Explorer, and other shows. He has recently returned from Nepal’s forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, where a National Geographic expedition was granted the first ever permission to enter ancient caves in search of texts, antiquities, and art.
Popular Presentation
Expeditionary Leadership and the Lessons of Everest
An avid philosopher and poet, Athans evokes the magic of true exploration and leadership with personal anecdotes from his expeditions, while asserting that everyone—whether mountaineer, CEO or homemaker, has his or her own Everest.
Learn More About Peter:
Listen to Radio Interview With Peter Athans
Boyd Matson Interviews Peter for NG Weekend Radio Show
Join climber Pete Athans in search of the caves and mummies of a lost civilization.
High in the Himalaya, explorers found thousands of mysterious caves filled with centuries-old wall paintings, hidden temples, and an ancient library filled with text.
This short video for Dove® Men+Care® features Peter Athans and his gear.
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