Shortly After Summiting Mount Everest, the Daring Deaf Duo Heads to Share Their Iconic Tale

The thrills associated with the mountaineering world follow no bounds for climbing enthusiasts. Where communication is the key to traversing through rugged landscapes associated with the matter of life and death, two individuals namely Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger have evaded all challenges to create new records.

The duo with impaired hearing has left a deep mark amidst the climbing community as a testament to determination and love for adventure. This article covers the story of the two remarkable individuals.

Turning hurdles into impetus hurdles them from classroom to climbing summit

Both Lehmann and Unger were born deaf and this impairment brought both of them together while attending the same school. Over the years their bond has grown stronger sharing the love for mountaineering and they jointly embarked on adventures to reach the summit of the famous mountain ranges. 

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Commencing in 2012, with no prior experiences, Lehmann failed in his attempt to climb Mount Rainier and this setback served as an inspiration for him to execute his dream into reality. However, once again he faced obstacles as no proper sources or American Sign Language (ASL) classes were available for mountaineering. 

Based on the reports of Tahoe Daily Tribune, Lehmann then resorted to YouTube and carried pen and paper on his climbing endeavors to learn from his fellow mountaineers. He soon encouraged Unger to pursue the mountaineering interest and both of them marked their first victory by climbing the tallest mountain in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro. 

The historic ascent and Tahoe appearance

In their record of accomplished summits, the most remarkable achievement is their ambitious expedition to conquer the top of the world, Mount Everest. Their triumph marked a historic moment since Unger became the first deaf woman to climb the peak while for Lehmann, his victory made him the first deaf American to conquer Mount Everest. 

In their bag of conquests are renowned peaks including Denali, Lhotse failed to provide gratification to both of them. Hence, taking inspiration from the exceptional feats in the Himalayas, Lehmann and Unger would be making an appearance at GearLab in Glenbrook, Lake Tahoe to share their experiences with everyone else. 

Rob Sandy, the office manager of the producer of the event, Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic, shared with Tahoe Daily, “It’s going to be about sharing their experiences as deaf mountain climbers, and everything that they endured leading up to, during, and post their summit of Everest.”

Stepping out of their individual missions, they aim to fill the knowledge gap, so that the others who want to pursue their mountaineering dreams do not have to go through what they have faced initially. As they continue to share their stories, their experiences will serve as a stark reminder of the human spirit that pursues dreams and overcoming all hurdles.

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