Catherine Gibson ’77
- Mountaineer who was the third American woman and the fourteenth woman ever to scale Mount Everest
In 1990, Catherine Gibson ’77 became the third American woman, the fourteenth woman ever and the oldest woman — at age 35 — to scale the world’s highest peak: Mount Everest.
Her passion for climbing was ignited at Mount Holyoke, when she hiked in the White Mountains as a member of the Outing Club. Since then, Gibson has successfully ascended challenging mountains around the world, including Denali, Aconcagua, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc, Mount Vinson, Mount Elbrus and several of the Colorado Fourteeners. It should come as no surprise that Mountain Day is her favorite Mount Holyoke tradition and memory.
Since college, Gibson has spent her time balancing her professional life as a business mediator and staying active and fit. She is committed to continuing to learn and achieve in her work and her climbing — even past her eventual retirement.
Class year: 1977
Majors: history, political science/government