To the Greatest Heights

“O’Brien pours her unflagging energy and hard-won life wisdom into every aspect of her book … A vicariously engaging addition to the literature on mountaineering as well as a beacon of inspiration in these dark times. O’Brien’s warm, witty voice will bring a wide audience to her world-class adventures.”– “Kirkus Reviews (starred review)”“Refreshing and delightfully written, To the Greatest Heights is a rare mix of heart-stopping adventure and powerful self-reflection by one of America’s finest mountaineers.”–Johanna Garton, author of EDGE OF THE MAP

Vanessa O’Brien is a British and American mountaineer, explorer, public speaker, and former business executive. As a result of her dual nationality, she became the first American and British woman to successfully summit K2 on July 28, 2017 when, on her third attempt, she successfully led a team of twelve members to the summit and back. In 2018, she received Explorer of the Year from the Scientific Exploration Society for her efforts. In 2022, Vanessa became the first woman to reach extremes on land, sea, and air, completing the Explorers’ Extreme Trifecta after passing the Kármán line on Blue Origin’s sixth human spaceflight, NS-22. She is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Scientific Exploration Society (SES).