DEAF MOUNTAINEERS | EXPLORERS | EDUCATORS | STORYTELLERS
MEET SCOTT & SHAYNA
Scott and Shayna, both born profoundly deaf, have climbed some of the world’s highest mountains, like Mount Everest, Lhotse, Aconcagua, Denali, Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, and Kilimanjaro. Scott and Shayna picked up skills mostly by YouTube videos and asking others through paper and pen because of the lack of accessibility in outdoor education. They have made it their mission of bridging the gap between the outdoors and the deaf and hard of hearing community.
HISTORY MADE ON EVEREST
On May 22, 2023, at 6:00 am, Scott and Shayna made history on Mount Everest, with Shayna becoming the first deaf woman in the world and Scott the first deaf American to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain. Just 26 hours later, they made history again with a double ascent of 8000m peaks back-to-back, reaching the summit of Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world.
Click to learn more about their recent Everest 2023 expedition and how they brought their own community to the top with them.
ON THE ROAD ACROSS U.S.
After climbing Everest, Scott and Shayna didn't stop, as the Seeing Beyond project was always about going beyond the peaks. They went on a road trip in their camper van, covering over 11,500 miles to bring Everest across the United States. They connected with diverse audiences, presenting at more than 30 different locations, including deaf and hard-of-hearing schools, community events, colleges, universities, corporations, and outdoor festivals.
BEYOND THE PEAKS
For Scott and Shayna, it has always been more than just climbing mountains. As deaf mountaineers, they have faced unique challenges, such as communication barriers, a lack of deaf representation, and limited access to mountaineering information and education. This has ignited their passion for making the outdoors more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing community.