View as PDF »As the petite blonde walked off the elevator on 9th Floor of the WAC, I did a double take. Could this be Sue Ershler, the 12th U.S. woman to reach the peak of Mount Everest in May of 2002?
We laughed as we shook hands and introduced ourselves in tandem. "Hi, Sue, I'm Sue!" Then I said what she's probably heard too many times before, "You don't look like you climbed Mount Everest!"
Looks are deceiving. This 46-year-old former telecommunications executive not only reached the 29,035-foot summit of the highest mountain in the world, she and husband Phil Ershler are the first married couple to climb the Seven Summits, the highest peak on each of the world's seven continents. The Ershler's journey began in 1992 with Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro. Over the course of the next decade, they would successfully scale Russia's Mount Elbrus; North America's Mount McKinley; South America's Aconcagua; Antarctica's Mount Vinson; Australia's Mount Kosciuszko; and Asia's Mount Everest.
I want to be as close as I can get to 'athlete' shape... If you stay in shape, you can do anything.
"I've never had a happier day in my life than at the top of Everest," said Sue, who smiles when recalling reaching the summit on May 16, 2002, at 10:20 am. Their achievement was even more meaningful since the Ershler's previous attempt to reach the summit was aborted the year before "because it wasn't right."
Sue Ershler's journey to the top began at a Christmas party in 1991 when she met Phil, a world-renowned climber/guide; somebody she describes as "a true mountaineer." Before long she was hiking and climbing with him, and working out after work. While on vacation in 1992, she climbed Mount Rainier with Phil "to see what it was like"—she was hooked. Since that time, Sue has climbed 30 peaks over 14,000 feet, including 17 successful ascents of Mount Rainier. The Washington State grad has left her mark.
So how did she prepare for the granddaddy of them all, Mount Everest? She worked out—a lot. As a member of the WAC since 1998, the Club was an integral part of Sue's physical game plan. She credits both "The Beckett Brothers" (Personal Trainers at the WAC) and the WAC Boot Camp Fitness course as part of her secret for success.
Another decision Sue made prior to the couple's second attempt at Mount Everest was to leave the telecommunications industry after 20 years and focus on the climb. So what was it like sleeping in a five-by-six foot tent for 60 days with her husband? Sue laughs and said it went surprisingly well. "We just happen to be really good friends!"
Sue isn't resting on her laurels. On the physical front, she'll continue training, maybe competing in an Ironman triathlon (a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run). But there's one glitch: she's not a swimmer. The WAC Pool may become a popular destination for her in the coming months.
"I want to be as close as I can get to 'athlete' shape," Sue said. "If you stay in shape, you can do anything." With Phil guiding mountain climbing expeditions half the year ("I'll go with him on some of the climbs"), Sue is not sitting at home reminiscing about her accomplishments. As founder of Ershler International, she's put together an inspirational slide-illustrated presentation highlighting the couple's Seven Summits journey. "If I can have any kind of impact, it would be to get people to strive for their dreams," said Sue. She and Phil are also planning to write a book.
Sue Ershler exudes success—but it didn't happen overnight. As her husband said to her as she looked up at the daunting 20,320-foot Mount McKinley during their 1995 ascent, "We are not going to climb the mountain in one day. We will walk a bit one day, then sleep, and then walk some more. Just like eating an elephant: one bite at a time." Her green eyes sparkle as she recalls his advice—a winning recipe for a healthy and happy life.