Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women's Ascent of Denali

Cassidy Randall draws on archival research and original interviews to tell the story of a group of climbers who attempted the first all-women's ascent of Denali, North America's tallest peak. Grace Hoeman, a doctor in Alaska, had previously come close to summiting Denali but was turned back by altitude sickness and a storm that killed seven fellow climbers. After being denied places on other expeditions because of her gender, she received a letter from Arlene Blum, a climber in California who had also been excluded from expeditions unless she stayed in base camp to cook. Grace decided to organize and lead an all-female expedition to climb the frozen Alaskan peak. The team, which called themselves the "Denali Damsels," faced widespread skepticism that women could climb mountains independently. During their expedition, disaster struck, forcing the six climbers to either maintain their composure and prove their capabilities or face fatal consequences. Winner of the Banff Mountain Grand Prize and Banff Award in Mountain Literature. Featured in Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, TIME, Men's Journal, Outside, and The Guardian, and named one of the most noteworthy books of the month by The Washington Post.