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Finding Elevation: Fear and Courage on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain Spiral-Bound | January 10, 2023

Lisa Thompson

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Near the death zone on K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, Lisa Thompson searched for the strength to continue climbing. Her choices were clear: give in to her doubts and descend or push past her own limits and continue up the mountain’s steep face. 

Defiance had provoked Thompson to enter the male-dominated world of high-altitude mountaineering, but defiance could only take her so far. After a harrowing battle with cancer, Lisa realized she needed to understand what motivated her to take greater and greater risks in the mountains. Finding Elevation chronicles Thompson’s path from novice climber to world-class mountaineer, as she becomes the second American woman to summit K2, which is considered by many to be the most dangerous mountain in the world. 

More than a climbing memoir, Finding Elevation is a deeply personal examination of motivation and the human spirit. It is a story of what can happen when we finally stop letting others define our limits and instead trust that we are capable of more. In this inspiring book, Thompson reaches beyond the mountain to tell a story of heartbreak, resilience, and the discovery that we are responsible for defining our own boundaries, finding our own happiness, and facing our fears head-on.

Publisher: Ingram Publisher Services
Original Binding: Hardcover with dust jacket
Pages: 244 pages
ISBN-10: 1954854676
Item Weight: 1.14 lbs
Dimensions: 6.0 x 0.73 x 9.0 inches

“Beautifully written, Lisa Thompson’s Finding Elevation takes us through her story arc that anyone climbing a physical or proverbial mountain can relate to. From frustration to despondency, leading to hope, exploration, and self-discovery, Lisa inspires us not to give in to our doubts. With every step, deep breath, and occasional fall, she motivates us with the tools to push past our limits and find the courage to decide who we want to be despite the challenges and obstacles so prevalent in our lives.” —Chuck Garcia, CEO of Climb Leadership International, adjunct professor at Columbia University, and amateur mountaineer 

“An honest and gripping look at the world of high-altitude mountaineering by one of America’s finest alpinists.” —Johanna Garton, author of Edge of the Map 

“Thompson gives readers an intimate view into the world of high-altitude mountaineering. She writes honestly about struggling to balance fear while exploring her own limits.”   —Garrett Madison, world’s premier Everest guide and expedition leader 

“Lisa’s brutal honesty makes this much more than just another climbing book. It is an absorbing autobiography peppered with interesting and sometimes frustrating characters. It is the story of a young woman facing and overcoming glass ceilings both externally and internally. It is the story of a rare determination and focus. Not only an absorbing read but also inspirational.” —Victor Saunders, author, mountain guide, and past president of The Alpine Club 

“This outstanding mountaineering memoir will appeal to readers of outdoor adventure, climbers, and those who revel in successful women athletes.” —Library Journal, starred review 

“Conveying heartfelt emotions, suspense, and triumphs, Finding Elevation is an upward journey of body and mind.” —Foreword Reviews 

“Finding Elevation is an inspiring memoir that shares the challenges the author faced when fighting breast cancer and then conquering the highest mountains in the world: Mount Everest and K2. Lisa takes the reader on a journey as she searches for the answer to the question we so commonly find ourselves asking: Why? Her perspective is intriguing, and her book is difficult to put down. This book is highly recommended to all types of climbers—climbers of physical, mental, or emotional mountains. We all have mountains to climb.”—Lucy Westlake, youngest American female to summit Mount Everest and world record holder as the youngest female to climb all 50 U.S. state highpoints

Lisa Thompson is a mountaineer, cancer survivor, and sought-after speaker and coach. Growing up in the flat, humid farmlands of Illinois, she relied on adventure as a distraction, always knowing that she'd someday leave her hometown for something bigger. She soon became the first person in her extended family to graduate from college. She worked for twenty-five years as an engineer and in leadership roles at technology companies.

Since she began climbing in 2008, Lisa has summited some of the most challenging mountains in the world, including Everest. She has completed the Seven Summits, reaching the top of the highest peak of each of the seven continents. Through her company, Alpine Athletics, and other platforms, Lisa shares her message of strength and resilience with corporate and private groups worldwide. She lives in Seattle with her golden retriever, Chevy, who loves the mountains almost as much as she does. You can learn more about Lisa at www.lisaclimbs.com.