The Seven Summits

In 1985 Richard Bass first postulated and achieved the mountaineering challenge Seven Summits, climbing the highest peaks of each of the seven continents. Messner suggested another list (the Messner or Carstensz list) replacing Mount Kosciuszko with Indonesia's Puncak Jaya, or Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 m/16,024 ft). From a mountaineering point of view the Messner list is the more challenging one. Climbing Carstensz Pyramid has the character of an expedition, whereas the ascent of Kosciuszko is an easy hike. In May 1986 Pat Morrow became the first person to complete the Messner list, followed by Messner himself when he summitted Mount Vinson in December 1986 to become the second.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhold_Messner

Alison Levine

 Alison Levine (born April 5, 1966) is an American mountain climber, sportswoman, explorer, and entrepreneur. She has ascended the highest peaks on every continent and also skied to both the North and South Poles. In 2010 at age 44, she completed the Adventure Grand Slam by reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, having fallen only 200 feet short in her previous attempt in 2002 as part of the 1st American Women’s Everest Expedition. She is one of few people in the world to have completed the Grand Slam. She currently serves as an adjunct instructor at the U.S. Military Academy. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from University of Arizona and an MBA from Duke University.

Summits and expeditions

1. Kilimanjaro (1998)
2. Elbrus (1998)
3. Aconcagua (two summits—1999 and 2004)
4. Carstensz Pyramid (1999)
5. Denali (2000)
6. Vinson Massif (2001)
7. Everest (2002; went as high as 28,750’ with the 1st American Women’s Everest Expedition)
8. North Pole (2004)
9. South Pole (2008; 1st American to traverse to the S Pole via the 600-mile Messner Route)
10. Everest (2010; in honor of friend Meg Berté Owen)

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Levine