History Made: Emma Schwerin Becomes Youngest Woman to Complete the Seven Summits

On May 15th, 2025, in the wee hours of the morning, Emma Schwerin stood on the summit of Mount Everest, completing a journey that’s been over two years in the making. At just 17 years, 2 months, and 24 days old, Emma is now the youngest woman to climb the Seven Summits—the highest mountain on every continent—and the youngest American woman to summit Everest.

Her achievement marks a milestone not just for her and her team but for young climbers and women around the world who dare to dream big. Emma completed her Everest climb (and the Seven Summits quest) with her father, Sam Schwerin, and CTSS lead guide Tendi Sherpa, an 18-time Everest summiteer whose calm expertise helped guide the way. Together, they’ve made their way into the history books.

Emma’s Thoughts on Finishing the Seven Summits

After nearly two years of rigorous training and relentless climbing, Emma reached the final summit of her Seven Summits goal. Her journey was filled with training and skills sessions, acclimatization pushes, navigating weather windows, and moments of exhaustion and triumph alike. Throughout it all, she remained steady, focused, and deeply grateful.

Reflecting on the moment she reached the top of the world, Emma shared:

Emma on the summit of Everest.

“It felt very surreal to be standing on top of the world. My Dad and I have been working towards this goal for the last two years, so completing it and standing at the top felt like a dream. I felt very proud of myself and my Dad for everything we were able to achieve in the last 17 months. I was so grateful to my Dad and Tendi, but also our whole Sherpa team and all of my friends and family cheering us on at home. It was incredibly rewarding to reach the summit not only because it’s the top of the world but also because it is a reflection of all of the hard work I had put in. It reminded me of when I first started and how big my dreams had seemed at the time, but here I was making them come true.”

When asked which mountains challenged her the most, Emma offered a thoughtful reflection:

Emma and Sam on the summit of Denali

“Each of the seven had their own challenges to them. Denali was definitely the most physically hard mountain for me, but Aconcagua was the most mentally hard. We faced extremely high winds on Aconcagua, and the possibility of summiting was unclear all the way until the last possible day. Everest was very emotionally difficult because of how long it took. This element of the climb really surprised me because on mountains like Denali and Aconcagua, they are really hard in the moment, but you work as hard as you possibly can for two to three weeks, and then you are done. Everest was very different in that we were there for around 50 days, and for most of it, we were trekking or doing rotations on the mountain. Which meant that we couldn’t focus on the summit or spend a lot of our energy on any individual day. This was really hard for me because I wasn’t used to playing the long game and being patient. I was used to having to work really hard and mentally push through things, but on Everest, you can’t do that until the final rotation.”

Editor’s Note: Denali was the most physically demanding in part because Emma is just 4’11” and had to carry nearly her body weight in gear and food between her backpack and sled. To prepare, she pulled a tire around her high school campus and built up to 900 weighted squats in a single session. Her Denali guide, Jordan, was wildly impressed by Emma’s strength and skills, noting that he’s seen men twice her size struggle to carry the same load up the mountain.

She also had a clear message for other young people who may be eyeing the big mountains:

“I would tell young mountaineers to dream big. Set high goals and hold yourself to them. You can truly do anything and achieve anything if you set your mind to it. My journey is proof that if you have enough grit and determination, you can accomplish big things.”

At the end of this blog, you will find youth-focused scholarship opportunities to help young people dream big, just like Emma.

From Kosciuszko to Everest

Along the way, Emma completed an extraordinary series of climbs that spanned the globe. Her path wasn’t just fast—it was intentional, thoughtful, and showcased the kind of resilience that can’t be taught. Here’s a look at her timeline:

    • 🇦🇺 Kosciuszko (November 2023)
    • 🇹🇿 Kilimanjaro (January 2024)
    • 🇺🇸 Denali (June 2024)
    • 🇫🇷 Mont Blanc (July 2024)*
    • 🇦🇷 Aconcagua (December 2024)
    • 🇦🇶 Vinson (December 2024)
    • 🇳🇵 Everest (May 2025)

*Editor’s Note: Current geopolitical conditions make Mount Elbrus inaccessible to U.S.-based climbers, so CTSS recognized Mont Blanc as Emma’s European summit.

Along the way, Emma also became the youngest woman to summit Mount Vinson and joined a small, elite group of climbers who have completed the Seven Summits before the age of 18. Her achievement honors not only her own dedication but also the legacy of young women who continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the mountains.

Emma on the summit of Vinson.

Everest & Seven Summits Milestones for Women

Emma’s summit is more than a personal milestone—it’s a moment to celebrate all women in the big mountains. At CTSS, we know that historically, women—and especially young women—have been marginalized from the high-altitude world. Progress has been made, but there’s still a long way to go. Emma herself is passionate about breaking those barriers: she’s vocal about making space for women in male-dominated environments and believes time outside isn’t just powerful—it’s essential. Her Seven Summits journey is proof of what happens when those values meet action.

With Emma’s historic climb, we want to highlight a few other women who have paved the way, shattered expectations, and redefined what’s possible. When women are supported, seen, and safe in mountain spaces, they’re empowered to chase bold goals—and often, make history.

We’re proud to offer women-only expeditions and are committed to expanding the ways we support female climbers at every level. To all women pursuing big mountains: we see you, we celebrate you, and we’re committed to building a more inclusive future, one climb at a time.

Here are just a few of the women who continue to inspire us:

    • Junko Tabei: The first woman to summit Mount Everest (May 16, 1975) and the first woman to climb all Seven Summits (1992).
    • Phunjo Lama: Reclaimed the women’s Everest speed record in May 2024, continuing to push the limits of what’s possible at altitude.
    • Lucy Westlake: Former record holder for youngest American woman to summit Everest (age 18), and an inspiration to Emma and our broader CTSS community.

Emma now stands among these legends, part of a growing legacy of women who are changing the face of high-altitude mountaineering.

After the Summit: Savoring the Moment

Phunjo broke the women's speed record on Everest in 2024.

Big goals come with big emotions—and Emma Schwerin’s journey to the top of Everest is no exception. The summit was the final piece in a massive, multi-continent effort, and it can be all too easy to rush into the next challenge, to deflect the emotion with logistics or new plans. But real growth happens when we give ourselves room to reflect, to reconnect, and to appreciate the process—not just the result.

Emma running a half marathon in Connecticut.

Emma is doing exactly that. Soon, she’ll be back home in Bozeman, taking in the journey that brought her from Kosciuszko to Everest. 

This summer, she’ll be volunteering with Big Sky Youth Empowerment, an adventure-based mentoring program for teens in her hometown. There, she’ll gain experience teaching outdoor skills and exploring how the outdoors can be a therapeutic setting. In the fall, she’ll be channeling her mountaineering journey into her senior capstone project, which focuses on the psychology of fear and risk-taking in extreme sports.

And yes—she’ll also be doing regular 17-year-old things, like starting her college applications.

“I’m really looking forward to eating some of my mom’s home-cooked meals when I get home, seeing my dogs, and sleeping in my own bed. But also celebrating with my friends and family. Everything still hasn’t really set in. Mountaineers often say you’re only halfway there when you reach the summit because you have to make it down. I think that I’m waiting until I’m at home to celebrate and relax. I also look forward to continuing to spread my story and show young girls that anything is possible if they set their minds to it. I want to encourage girls to have big goals in sports like mountaineering, which they aren’t typically steered towards. I hope to inspire them to dream big.”

For Emma, there’s no pressure to map out the next big summit. For now, it’s about catching her breath, sharing the story, and letting it all sink in.

At CTSS, we believe the mountains should be within reach for more young people, especially those who haven’t historically seen themselves reflected in this space. That’s why we’re proud to share a growing list of scholarship opportunities and youth-focused programs designed to help the next generation access the outdoors, gain technical skills, and dream big—just like Emma.

Ready to Follow in Emma’s Footsteps?

Here are a few standout organizations offering scholarships to help young adventurers get outside, build skills, and even reach big mountains:

    • SheJumps – Outdoor programs and skill-building events for women and girls across the U.S.
    • Outward Bound USA – Outdoor expeditions for middle school through college-aged students, with financial aid available.
Emma on the summit of Mont Blanc.

Emma's Severn Summits Journey