Youngest American Woman to Climb Everest and Seven Summits
Emma Schwerin has made history at 17 years old after reaching the summit of Everest. There are several variations of the summits list, see below for more info
Emma Schwerin, a 17-year-old from Bozeman, Montana, became the youngest American woman to summit Mount Everest on May 15, completing her 18-month quest to conquer the Seven Summits—the highest peaks on each continent, including Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Everest, and Mount Vinson.
Schwerin’s passion for mountaineering sparked in middle school after learning about the 1996 Everest disaster. Inspired, she trekked 100 miles to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, fueling her drive to climb. With her father, Sam, she began her Seven Summits journey in late 2023, starting with Australia’s Mount Kosciuszko and progressing to more serious peaks like Denali.
In a press release, Schwerin reflected, “Each summit presented unique challenges. Denali was the most physically demanding, while Aconcagua tested my mental resilience with relentless high winds, leaving summiting uncertain until the final day. Everest was emotionally taxing due to its sheer duration, unlike the intense but shorter efforts on Denali and Aconcagua.”
The summits in order: Kosciuszko (November 2023), Kilimanjaro (January 2024), Denali (June 2024), Mont Blanc (July 2024)*, Aconcagua (December 2024), Vinson (December 2024), Everest (May 2025) – *current geopolitical conditions make Mount Elbrus inaccessible to U.S.-based climbers, so Climbing the Seven Summits recognised Mont Blanc as Emma’s European summit.
Seven Summits Variation
The Seven Summits are the highest mountain peaks on each continent, with variations in lists depending on how continents are defined. The main points of variation are in Europe: Mont Blanc vs. Mount Elbrus, depending on whether the Greater Caucasus watershed is considered the boundary between Europe and Asia, Elbrus is included if the boundary places it in Europe; and Australia: Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) vs. Mount Kosciuszko, depending on whether the continent includes the Sahul Shelf or only mainland Australia.
These variations lead to different Seven Summits lists, including an “Eight Summits” list that includes both Puncak Jaya and Kosciuszko. Common versions include:
Bass version: Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson, Elbrus, Kosciuszko
Messner version: Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson, Elbrus, Puncak Jaya
Wilhelm version: Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson, Mont Blanc, Mount Wilhelm
Hackett version: Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson, Mont Blanc, Kosciuszko
Tectonic version: Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson, Mauna Kea, Puncak Jaya/Kosciuszko
Other variations: Combining Elbrus or Mont Blanc with Puncak Jaya or Mount Wilhelm
