By Dr. Carl Mack
Sophia Danenberg was born on May 19, 1972 and grew up in Homewood, Illinois. Let’s be clear: you don’t just wake up and decide, “I think I’ll scratch Mt. Everest off my bucket list!” In the case of Danenberg, she had already scaled three of the highest summits in the world: Kilimanjaro (19,340.55 ft., Africa), Denali, aka Mt. McKinley (20,321.52 ft., North America), and Aconcagua (22,841.21 ft., South America). Now, there were a lot of other climbs in between these three, but overall, the foundation had now been set to climb No.1, Mt. Everest (29,035.43 feet).
So, I researched the cost of such an adventure. If you want a standard supported climb, the cost ranges from $28,000 to $85,000. If you want a fully custom climb, that’s going to cost you around $115,000. Now, if you’re confident enough in your skills, the climb will cost you $20,000. Keep in mind, the permit alone can run you $11,000. Now, that minimum cost means your guide offers little to no advice. Oh, the last thing: this little excursion is going to take you about two months to complete, if you make it to the top.
In the spring of 2006, with just one week to prepare, Danenberg and eight others took the unguided climb, the $20,000 deal. Yes, she had a Sherpa named Pa Nuru, but he wasn’t giving advice, he wasn’t carrying most of her gear, he wasn’t choosing a route, he wasn’t scheduling times to climb or rest, and the pace was up to her… you get the picture? Six weeks into the two-month adventure, on this day in 2006, Sophia Danenberg became the first Black woman ever to climb the highest mountain in the world! That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard! In 2019, the State of Washington governor, Jay Inslee, appointed her the Washington State Park Commissioner. The appointment expires on December 31, 2026.
This article is brought to you courtesy of Black Heritage Day V – the most comprehensive Black History Calendar ever! Edition V is an all women’s edition available at blackheritagedays.com
