I discovered a passion for mountaineering in 2000 on a technical climbing course in New Zealand. For two decades I dedicated my life to the mountains, climbing some of the world’s highest peaks including Everest.

In early 2022 my marriage ended and I threw myself completely into my dream of climbing the world’s 14 highest peaks without supplemental oxygen. By September I reached Manaslu base camp in Nepal . I was focused on the mountain ahead, not on love.

View image in fullscreen Allie and Mikel in Manaslu in 2023. Photograph: Austin Schmitz

That’s where I met Mikel. He was working at base camp as a guide, helping his client while I climbed with another Sherpa. For days it poured with rain and none of us could move higher. We had to wait out the weather. Mikel kept stealing my

See Full Page