On September 29, 1988, Stacy Allison of Portland, Oregon, became the first American woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. She climbed via the southeast ridge as part of the Northwest American Everest Expedition.

But the achievement wasn't her first encounter with Everest.

Allison had attempted the mountain in 1987 and was forced to turn back after severe weather. During that expedition, she and teammates spent days sheltering in snow caves. Rather than ending the story there, she returned to Everest the following year with a new expedition.

On her successful climb, Allison reached the summit at 10:38 a.m., accompanied by Sherpa guide Pasang Gyalzen. The journey had taken weeks, involving multiple camps and the challenging Khumbu Icefall along the route.

What makes her story especially interesting is that Allison later reflected that the summit itself was only a brief moment. The journey—the preparation, setbacks, teamwork, and decisions along the way—was the bigger story.

That's a detail Squeem fans can appreciate: sometimes the most interesting part isn't the final picture, but everything that happened before it.

September 29 marks more than an anniversary. It's a reminder of a woman who returned to the mountain, tried again, and became part of history. 🏔️✨