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, Makalu, Manaslu, 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 a.m., Scott and Shayna made history on Mount Everest, becoming the first deaf Americans 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.
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Click to learn more about their Everest 2023 expedition and how they brought their own community to the top with them.
RUNNING NYC MARATHON
This time, Scott and Shayna weren’t climbing—they ran the New York City Marathon for a charity. In November 2024, they raised over $7,000 to support PS 347, a Pre-K to 8 public school in New York City for Deaf students. During marathon weekend, they visited the school, shared their stories with the students, and were cheered on by them at Mile 19 on race day. For them, it was more than just a run—it was about breaking barriers, one mile at a time, for the next generation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth.
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.