world, she and husband Phil Ershler arethe first married couple to climb theSeven Summits, the highest peak oneach of the world’s seven continents.

The Ershler’s journey began in 1992with Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro. Overthe course of the next decade, theywould successfully scale Russia’s MountElbrus; North America’s MountMcKinley; South America’s Aconcagua;Antarctica’s Mount Vinson; Australia’sMount Kosciuszko; and Asia’s MountEverest.

“I’ve never had a happier day in mylife than at the top of Everest,” said Sue,who smiles when recalling reaching thesummit on May 16, 2002, at 10:20 am.Their achievement was even more mean-ingful since the Ershler’s previousattempt to reach the summit was abort-ed the year before “because it wasn’tright.”

Sue Ershler’s journey to the top beganat a Christmas party in 1991 when shemet Phil, a world-renowned climber/guide; somebody she describes as “a truemountaineer.” Before long she was hik-ing and climbing with him, and workingout after work. While on vacation in1992, she climbed Mount Rainier

with Phil “to seewhat it was like”

– She was hooked.

Since that

time, Sue has climbed 30 peaks over14,000 feet, including 17 successfulascents of Mount Rainier. The Wash-ington State grad has left her mark.

So how did she prepare for the grand-daddy of them all, Mount Everest? Sheworked out – a lot. As a member of theWAC since 1998, the Club was an inte-gral part of Sue’s physical game plan. Shecredits both “The Beckett Brothers”(Personal Trainers at the WAC) and theWAC Boot Camp Fitness course as partof her secret for success.

Another decision Sue made prior tothe couple’s second attempt at MountEverest was to leave the telecommunica-tions industry after 20 years and focuson the climb. So what was it like sleep-ing in a five-by-six foot tent for 60 dayswith her husband? Sue laughs and said itwent surprisingly well. “We just happento be really good friends!”

Sue isn’t resting on her laurels. Onthe physical front, she’ll continue train-ing, maybe competing in an Ironmantriathlon (a 2.4-mile swim, 112-milebike and 26.2-mile run). But there’s oneglitch: she’s not a swimmer. The WACPool may become a popular destinationfor her in the coming months.

“I want to be as close as I can get to‘athlete’ shape,” Sue said. “If you stay inshape, you can do anything.”

With Phil guiding mountain climb-ing expeditions half the year (“I’ll gowith him on some of the climbs”), Sue isnot sitting at home reminiscing abouther accomplishments. As founder ofErshler International, she’s put together

an inspirational slide-illustrated

1 2 / w a c m a g a z i n e / j a n u a r y 2 0 0 3

As the petite blonde walked offthe elevator on 9th Floor of theWAC, I did a double take.

Could this be Sue Ershler, the 12th U.S.woman to reach the peak of MountEverest in May of 2002?

We laughed as we shook hands andintroduced ourselves in tandem. “Hi,Sue, I’m Sue!” Then I said what she’sprobably heard too many times before,“You don’t look like you climbed MountEverest!”

Looks are deceiving. This 46-year-oldformer telecommunications executivenot only reached the 29,035-foot sum-mit of the highest mountain in the

around the club

Sue Ershler Quest for the Seven Summits

B Y S U E F R A U S E / Wr i t e r

Sue Ershler on her Everest climb.

j a n u a r y 2 0 0 3 / w a c m a g a z i n e / 1 3

presentation highlighting the couple’sSeven Summits journey. “If I can haveany kind of impact, it would be to getpeople to strive for their dreams,” saidSue. She and Phil are also planning towrite a book.

Sue Ershler exudes success – but itdidn’t happen overnight. As her husbandsaid to her as she looked up at the daunt-ing 20,320-foot Mount McKinley dur-ing their 1995 ascent, “We are not goingto climb the mountain in one day. Wewill walk a bit one day, then sleep, andthen walk some more. Just like eating anelephant: one bite at a time.”

Her green eyes sparkle as she recallshis advice – a winning recipe for ahealthy and happy life. ●

Sue Frause is a freelance writer living onWhidbey Island.

Join Sue Ershler

at the WAC on Wednesday,

February 19, as she shares her

Seven Summits experiences

(see page 37).

Phil and Sue atop Mount Everest

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