Masters Mountaineering

Eva Steinwald is 63 years old and proving that it’s never too late to start something big. Originally from Germany and now based in Boise, Idaho, Eva is climbing the Seven Summits by the age of 70, a goal she’s calling her 7 Summits x 70. She didn’t grow up in the mountains and didn’t put on crampons or carry an ice axe until her 60s. But after losing her husband, she found healing and purpose in the mountains.

It started with Idaho’s Mount Borah, where Eva pushed through her fear of heights and made it to the summit in tears. That moment changed everything. In 2021, she climbed Mount Rainier without ever having worn a harness or helmet. “I felt like I was on Everest,” she says. That climb gave her the courage to trek to Everest Base Camp the following year—and now, she’s back in the Khumbu, climbing Everest with CTSS and completing her first rotation.

Since that first climb, Eva’s ticked off Aconcagua, Denali, and now Everest, and she’s just getting started. Her 7 Summits x 70 goal isn’t just about standing on the world’s highest peaks; it’s about honoring the life she’s lived, the one she’s building, and the purpose she’s found along the way. “The mountains rescued me,” she says. And now, she’s climbing them—one summit at a time.

“Participating in the Mt. Baker Alpine Climbing Academy was nothing short of life-changing. Over the course of five intense and unforgettable days, I had the privilege of training with two of the most accomplished and humble climbers I’ve ever met — Dallas Glass and Robert Jantzen. Between them, they’ve summited some of the world’s most formidable peaks, including Everest, Denali, and Cho Oyu, and brought a level of knowledge, professionalism, and humility that made this experience truly exceptional.

The training was rigorous, covering self-arrest, crevasse rescue, fixed rope systems, climbing strategy, and more — all in the heart of a glacial environment with no distractions, no cell phones, just mountains, stars, and snow.”

– Rajesh P. (USA)

I am 54 (2025). I might be past my physical prime, but I can still rest step!

Attending the MASTERS Mountaineering Academy was the best decision I have ever made for my personal growth. It was not easy. I struggled. I got angry. I laughed. I exulted. I felt pride and empowerment.

AND just like THAT, now, I want to do it again.

We could not have had more skilled, dedicated, and attentive guides than Dallas Glass and Rob Jantzen. You guys… Je vous aime! They made me feel safe at all times, which was essential to me since I was on a mission to overcome my debilitating fear of glaciers. Guess what? Dallas pointed out I was all smiles when we were progressing on the glacier.

I deeply loved being on the Masters team: it offered such nurturing energy, a tacit understanding, a slower pace, and a sense of belonging. I will be seeking Masters team climbs.

As for the learned skills, it was invaluable! We learned to stuff a backpack and hauled it to base camp. We learned to set up a camp in the snow. We learned the rest step, how to wear a helmet, harness, and crampons. We learned to progress as a roped team. We practiced self-arrest techniques, including various ice-axe grips and their usage based on the slope’s incline. We practiced climbing with the ascender along a fixed rope. And it paid off: we successfully made the summit!