In 2006, Sophia Danenberg became the first African-American and the first Black woman to climb to the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal, the world’s tallest mountain. Since 1953, only about 2,500 people have reached the top, and more than 300 people have died trying.
But the potentially deadly climb was not at all easy for Sophia. When she reached the peak, she was suffering from bronchitis, a stuffed nose, frostbite on her face, and a clogged oxygen mask. Nonetheless, she made it to the top and made it back alive.
She has also successfully climbed other famous mountains, including Mount Tasman (in New Zealand), Mount Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania), Mount Rainier in Washington State, and Mount Kenya (yes, in Kenya).
Mount Everest
After originally planning on submitting Cho Oyu, Danenberg decided to climb Mount Everest one week before beginning the journey due to monsoon conditions. Sophia Danenberg began the climb of Mount Everest unguided, choosing her route, carrying her gear, and making her own decisions at age 34. At 7 a.m. on May 19, 2006, Danenberg reached the top of Mount Everest. Withstanding bad weather during the night that delayed some other climbers in her party, Pa Nuru Sherpa and his brother Mingma Tshiring were the only climbers to witness the event. At the time, Danenberg was suffering from bronchitis, a stuffed nose, frostbite on her cheeks, and a clogged oxygen mask. Danenberg was the first African American and the first black woman to reach the summit.
Also a businesswoman
Sophia, however, is more than just a mountaineer. A graduate of Harvard University, she works for Boeing as an aerospace industry expert in global chemical and environmental regulations. Her job is to advise the corporation on EH&S policy developments and to interface with global trade associations, governments, the United Nations, the OECD, APEC, and other intergovernmental organizations.
Before launching her career, Sophia was a researcher-writer for a travel guide in Thailand and a Fulbright Fellow in environmental economics at Keio University in Tokyo.
She didn’t go on her first hike until she was in college when she went rock climbing with a friend.
Early Life
Danenberg was born in 1972 in Okinawa, Japan, under the name Sophia Marie Scott. Her father was stationed in Japan as a member of the United States Army. At age 1, her family moved to the United States. As a toddler, her family moved back to Japan. Danenberg once again moved to the suburbs of Chicago, Homewood, at age 6. She graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 1990 after participating on the school’s track team.
Initially, Danenberg studied Applied Math and Chemistry at Harvard University. After travelling to Thailand, Danenberg switched to an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences and Public Policy when she saw the possibilities of the juxtaposition of the natural environment and economy. She graduated magna cum laude and was one of the first five students to graduate from this program. Upon graduation, Danenberg was a Fulbright Fellow at Keio University in Tokyo, where she first began to rock climb.
