Challenges often push us to redefine our limits. For Lisa Thompson, a highly accomplished mountaineer, adversity has been a constant companion. 

From surviving cancer to climbing the tallest peaks on every continent, Lisa’s story is about resilience, determination, and self-discovery. 

In a candid conversation with Jason Widup, she shares her journey through mountaineering, cancer survival, and her passion for helping others—particularly women—overcome personal mountains. 

This article is based on Lisa and Jason’s conversation.

The call to the mountains

Lisa didn’t grow up as an athlete. Born in a small town in Illinois, she never dreamed of conquering the world's highest peaks. 

“I didn’t grow up super active or athletic. I didn’t make the high school volleyball team.”

Her passion for climbing developed unexpectedly in Seattle—driven by a desire to prove herself when her office peers frequently excluded her from their weekend climbing trips.

“I got mad about it and decided I would go climbing on my own, having no idea what that meant.”

Initially fueled by frustration, her pursuit of climbing soon transformed into something far more personal—a journey to achieve the unthinkable and help others do the same.

Today, Lisa coaches and leads all-women climbs, guiding others to push their boundaries. “I am particularly focused on helping other women push themselves in the mountains,” she says.

Confronting cancer: A mountain of its own

Lisa’s resilience was tested in 2012 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer while training for a Himalayan expedition. “It was earth-shattering,” she recalls. 

Cancer wasn’t something she had ever expected, especially as a 42-year-old athlete. Yet, the diagnosis didn’t break her—it only strengthened her resolve. 

“I was adamant that cancer wasn’t going to prevent me from reaching my goals that year.”

Though she didn’t summit the mountain on the first attempt, the experience left her with a deeper understanding of her own strength. 

“I came back from that climb very confident about how important it is for us to define our own path in life,” she says, emphasizing that external circumstances or diagnoses shouldn’t dictate what we are capable of achieving.

Climbing Everest: Proving strength to herself

Just three weeks after her last surgery, Lisa was on her way to scale Everest—the highest mountain in the world—not for fame or glory but to rebuild trust in her own body. 

“I needed to prove to myself that I was still strong and capable.”

Training for Everest involved grueling endurance exercises and hikes—carrying heavy loads up steep hills. 

During the ascent, she had to adapt to both physical and mental challenges. One of the most intense moments came when Lisa ran out of oxygen during the climb. At 22,000 feet, she felt sluggish and off-balance, unaware she was hypoxic. “I didn’t realize what was happening,” she says. 

Even in this dangerous situation, Lisa’s determination kept her going until she reached a safer spot, proving to herself that mental strength is just as important as physical endurance.

Facing fear and failure: Lessons from the K2 climb

After Everest, Lisa felt the need for an even greater challenge, which led her to K2—the world’s second-highest and deadliest mountain. K2 is notorious for its dangerous storms, avalanches, and objective hazards, yet Lisa was undeterred.

“I needed the next, more difficult thing to continue proving what I was capable of.”

The climb challenged her in unforeseen ways, including a terrifying 50-foot fall during a solo descent. 

“I had to calm down, take some breaths, and figure out what was real and factual from the story in my head, which was fear-driven.”

This mindset—separating real danger from imagined fears—has been critical not only in mountaineering but also in her personal growth. “I study fear,” she explains, recognizing it as a protective instinct but also something that can limit you if you don’t manage it well.

“Understand why you’re doing something. If it’s important to you, push outside your comfort zone.”

The importance of thorough preparation and a good team

Mountaineering is not just about physical fitness—it’s about careful preparation and assembling the right team. Lisa is meticulous in her planning process, studying the mountains in detail before committing to a climb. 

“I study the mountain meticulously—what is the terrain like? What are the challenges? What’s the day-to-day like? This process allows me to get to know the personality of a mountain.” 

She takes time to research the route, understand the hazards, and visualize each step of the journey.

Lisa also emphasizes the importance of a strong mindset to overcome the mental and physical challenges of mountaineering.

“I like to write myself a letter to read before I summit, as though I had already summited, congratulating myself and reminding myself what I’m capable of.”

When it comes to building a team, personality is just as important as skill. “Mountaineering is about suffering,” Lisa says with a laugh. “I want to be surrounded by people who can suffer gracefully and not be too demonstrative about how much it sucks, because we’re all right there with you.”

For Lisa, finding the right team involves assembling people who have similar skill levels and goals and share the same endurance and mental resilience. “Getting the team together takes about six months,” she explains, highlighting how much thought goes into ensuring the group is aligned physically and emotionally.

The power of adaptability

In mountaineering and life, things rarely go as planned. On K2, an unexpected storm forced Lisa and her team to reassess their approach. “There was a lot of negotiating and teamwork involved,” she recalls, noting how they had to decide whether to descend or stay put. 

It was a life-or-death decision, one made more challenging by the isolation and extreme conditions.

Amidst these challenges, Lisa remained focused on adaptability. Focusing on the end goal rather than the minutiae of the process allowed her to make tough decisions with clarity.

“Life is about this fine line between having a solid plan and being flexible enough to pivot.”

Applying mountaineering lessons to everyday life

To anyone managing complex, high-pressure situations—such as event marketers—Lisa's advice is straightforward: be adaptable. 

“Have a plan, but accept that it’s probably not going to be followed exactly.”

The key is to keep your eye on the end result and move confidently in that direction, even when things don’t go as expected.

Her journey is a powerful reminder that adversity is not an obstacle but an opportunity to discover how strong we truly are. Whether you’re climbing mountains or navigating life’s challenges, resilience, adaptability, and self-belief are the keys to success.

Watch the complete video session for more insights.