Home > International

New Book by Sharon Wood, First Canadian Woman up Everest

Sharon Wood's new book is Rising: Becoming the First North American Woman on Everest

Sharon Wood was the first Canadian and North American woman to summit Mount Everest back in 1986 while on the Canadian Light expedition led by Jim Elzinga. Wood was one of Canada’s leading big mountain climbers in the 1980s and has been guiding and climbing around the world for the past 40 years.

She began climbing in the early 1970s at an Outward Bound climbing camp. Laurie Skreslet, the first Canadian to climb Everest, said, “It was obvious to me the moment I saw her that she was committed, grounded, determined, focused, persevering and overflowing with potential.”

She’s been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by the University of Calgary, appointed to the Honour Roll for Outstanding Achievement by MacLean’s magazine, awarded the inaugural Tenzing Norgay Award as Professional Mountaineer of the Year from the American Alpine Club and New York Explorer’s Club, awarded the The Summit of Excellence Award by the Banff Centre and awarded The Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada.

In 1977, she joined an all-women’s expedition to Mount Logan. Then in 1983, she had her first big success with the Cassin Ridge on Denali which “really changed my attitude. I didn’t see myself so much as a woman but as a climbing partner. I came back with a lot of confidence.”

She went on expeditions to Makalu (1984), the South Face of Aconcagua (1984) and the Northeast Face of Huascaran Sur (1985). After the 1986 Everest ascent, fellow Canadian climber Albi Sole said, “It’s not because she was a woman that she got to the top, it’s because she was the right person for the job”

Despite being a motivational speaker and climbing guide, Wood tries to stay out of the media spotlight. “An uncomfortable part of being a summitteer, for me, is the public and media’s one‑eyed view of heroes – our summit was the bottom line result of a series of collective heroic and selfless acts by all the team members,” she said.

“Dwayne and I stood on top because of the sacrifice, effort, integrity and heroic efforts of our eleven other team members.”

Wood has a new book that will be published in the near future called Rising: Becoming the First North American Woman on Everest, which you can read more about here. Wood lives in Canmore and continues to be a mentor for younger climbers.

Sharon Wood on Huascaran Sur in Peru during the FA of Southern Cross in 1985. She was climbing with a cracked scapula in her right shoulder as a result of being struck by falling rock four days earlier in the climb. Photo Carlos Buhler

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

Easter Weekend Sales on Climbing Gear

Be sure that your rack is updated and ready for the upcoming rock climbing season