
PUNCAK JAYA
FIRST DEAF CLIMBERS
On August 4, 2025, Scott and Shayna became the first Deaf climbers to summit Oceania's highest peak, Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid).

For nearly five years, Scott and Shayna waited for the chance to climb the remote mountain in Papua, which had been closed due to COVID-19 and regional conflict. When the mountain finally reopened in 2024, they didn’t jump at the first opportunity—instead, they waited another year to ensure conditions were truly stable and safe. On August 4, 2025 at 8:55 am, their patience paid off as they stood on the summit of Puncak Jaya (also known as Carstensz Pyramid), making it their fifth continental summit of the Seven Summits. But they weren’t just climbing for one list—they were committed to completing both the Bass and Messner lists. To do that, they had already summited Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, on December 30, 2023, fulfilling both versions of Oceania’s highest point.














