Together on Top of the World; The Remarkable Story of the First Couple to Climb the Fabled Seven Summits A Saga of Love and Courage

[18], 294, [6] pages. Illustrations (some in color). Maps. Glossary of Climbing Terms. Inscribed and signed by both Ershlers. Inscription is To Mari, keep reaching new heights. Phil Ershler began guiding and instructing climbers on Mount Rainier when he was still in college. Upon graduation, he became a full-time guide, and his trips have taken him to six continents. Ershler was the first American to make the ascent of the north face of Mount Everest in 1984. He has survived Crohn's disease and cancer, but they never stopped him from climbing, because that is when he feels at his best. When Ershler met his wife, Susan, she was in sales, and her favorite pastimes included water skiing and boating. Ershler learned to water ski, and Susan learned to climb. Together, they were the first married couple to climb the Seven Summits when, on May 16, 2002, they completed their climb of Mount Everest. They wrote Together on Top of the World: The Remarkable Story of the First Couple to Climb the Fabled Seven Summits: A Saga of Love and Courage, about their personal lives, his ability to become more open about his illnesses, and their love of climbing. Each spouse provides a separate narrative, which is distinguished by its own typeface. In reviewing the book for the Seattle Times Online, Sherry Grindeland noted that the book "details not just their treks to the tops of mountains but their adjustment to married life." Susan speaks about pushing past perceived boundaries in extreme environments to pursue your dreams and shares lessons learned to achieve Peak Performance in business. Phil and Susan Ershler were the first couple in history to scale the fabled Seven Summits. In mountains on every continent they learned to trust each other and to put their lives in each other's hands. On May 16, 2002, Phil and Susan Ershler reached the top of Mt. Everest and became the first couple in history to scale the fabled Seven Summits. What made their achievement all the more remarkable was that Susan was not a mountain climber, but a high-powered Fortune ® 500 executive who had never hiked or climbed until she met Phil at the age of 36. Phil, a professional mountain guide who was the first American to summit Everest from its treacherous north face, had climbed his whole life with Crohn's disease, a chronic, debilitating illness. Adding to these challenges, just before their final summit, Phil was diagnosed with colon cancer, and the resulting surgeries and complications were expected to end his career. This is Susan and Phil's story: a tale of love set in the mountains, a story of triumphal highs and devastating lows in quest of a seemingly impossible dream. First edition [stated]. First printing [stated].