Scott and Shayna: The Deaf Climbers Making Mountains Listen
Their ears cannot capture the whispers of doubt or the warnings of limitation that society has long directed at the deaf community. Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger live in a world where traditional sound remains elusive yet they’ve heard the call of the world’s highest mountains with crystal clarity.
In a profound reversal, these mountains indifferent to human speech have listened to them. And through their extraordinary achievements, Scott and Shayna now speak LOUD to a world that refused to listen to them.
Standing atop peaks that few humans ever reach, this deaf couple delivers their message not with voices, but with presence. Each summit conquered roars a truth that needs no sound: limitation exists primarily in the mind, not in the body.
While guides discouraged them and experts doubted them because they couldn’t “hear” danger on the mountain, Scott and Shayna developed something more valuable a deeper connection to nature’s warnings and wisdom that transcends auditory experience.
The Beginning: A Spark Ignites
Scott and Shayna’s story began long before they tackled any mountains. Both were born into multigenerational deaf families and grew up using American Sign Language from infancy. They met as teenagers at a school for the deaf and have been together ever since, building a partnership that would eventually take them to the highest places on Earth.
In 2012, Scott joined friends on a cross-country road trip that changed his life. With no mountaineering experience, he attempted to climb Mount Rainier. The group had to turn back before reaching the summit, but something important happened during that failed attempt—Scott fell in love with climbing.
This newfound passion came with significant challenges. There were no mountaineering classes offered in American Sign Language and no deaf mentors in the field. Instead of giving up, Scott found a way forward. He taught himself through YouTube videos and communicated with other climbers using paper and pen or his phone.
Shayna, captivated by Scott’s enthusiasm, joined him as his climbing partner. In 2015, they climbed their first major peak together: Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. Their teamwork and determination on this first big mountain set the foundation for all their future climbs.
Learning Without Hearing
Most climbers learn from instructors who explain techniques out loud, from books with audio supplements, or from other climbers who share tips verbally on the mountain. Scott and Shayna had to forge a different path.
They developed their skills through unconventional means, studying online videos and asking questions in writing to other mountaineers. When most people would listen to weather reports or warnings about dangerous conditions, Scott and Shayna relied on visual cues and their deep connection to the mountains themselves.
“Being deaf requires us to be more prepared and self-reliant,” they explain. Before any climb, they meticulously study each route and ensure reliable communication systems are in place. They use a Garmin InReach device for independent communication and weather updates, and establish clear communication protocols with their climbing partners.
A Language of Their Own
On the mountains, Scott and Shayna have developed a unique way to communicate when traditional sign language becomes difficult due to distance or conditions.
“Even though we both primarily use American Sign Language to communicate with each other daily, on the mountains, we sometimes have to make adjustments,” they explain.
They’ve created a set of basic gestures to convey critical information: a big “X” with their arms means “stop”; waving arms above their heads and then down to their waists means “slow down”; thumbs up indicates they are okay, while thumbs down signifies something is wrong.
To get each other’s attention when they can’t see each other, they’ve established specific rules in advance, like tugging a rope three times. If they’re not roped up, the person in front looks back every one or two minutes to ensure the other’s safety and check for any messages.
When climbing with others who don’t use American Sign Language, Scott and Shayna teach them these basic gestures, ensuring effective communication in the challenging mountain environment.
Reaching New Heights
Their persistence and innovation have paid off. Scott and Shayna have climbed some of the world’s highest and most challenging mountains, including: Mount Everest (world’s highest), Lhotse (4th highest), Makalu, Manaslu, Kanchenjunga (3rd highest, completed in May 2025),Kilimanjaro,Aconcagua, Denali,Mont Blanc, Matterhorn
On May 22, 2023, they became the first deaf Americans to summit Mount Everest. Just 26 hours later, they also summited Lhotse, making them the first deaf couple to climb both peaks in the same season. By May 2025, they had completed five 8,000-meter peaks, a remarkable achievement in mountaineering.
Scott describes their Everest summit as a surreal experience “Standing at the highest point on Earth, surrounded by the beauty of the Himalayas and our team members, was incredible. It represented not just a personal achievement, but a leap forward for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.”
Facing Society’s Limitations
Despite their impressive achievements, Scott and Shayna still encounter people who doubt them because they are deaf.
“One of the unique challenges we face is working with guides,” they admit. “Many guides back out or suggest easier mountains upon discovering our deafness.”
They’ve faced two main stereotypes throughout their journey. First, some perceive deaf climbers as liabilities on mountains due to their inability to hear potential hazards like rock falls or avalanches. Second, some believe disabled individuals don’t belong in outdoor spaces at all.
Scott and Shayna have learned to work around these prejudices, sometimes withholding information about being deaf until meeting guides in person, then working twice as hard to prove their capability.
“The term ‘accommodation’ often intimidates non-disabled people as it implies making unfamiliar changes,” they explain. “This is ironic considering deaf individuals are already experts at making adjustments due to our lived experiences.”
A Mission Beyond Mountains
Scott and Shayna’s journey is about more than personal achievement. They are dedicated to bridging the gap between the outdoors and the deaf and hard of hearing community.
After their Everest ascent, they traveled across the U.S. in a camper van, visiting schools and community events to share their story and inspire deaf youth. Their presentations, which include hands-on experiences with mountaineering gear, have motivated many deaf students to dream bigger and believe in their own potential.
“The whole thing is about making a change on the global perspective of deaf individuals,” Shayna explains.
Their current project, “Seeing Beyond,” aims to make them the first deaf individuals to complete the Seven Summits—climbing the highest peak on each continent. But the project isn’t just about mountain climbing; it’s about transforming global perceptions of deaf and hard of hearing people, improving accessibility to information and education, and increasing representation in the outdoors.
Their Philosophy
Scott and Shayna’s philosophy is rooted in their upbringing in deaf communities where they were seen as complete individuals rather than defined by what society might consider a disability. They had the privilege of complete access to American Sign Language at home and during their education.
Even without deaf outdoor role models, they were inspired by deaf adults around them who embraced their identities fearlessly, claiming spaces often closed to deaf people. This gave them a strong sense of confidence that has fueled their mountaineering journey and driven them to challenge stereotypes.
They believe that being deaf is not something to overcome—it’s simply part of who they are. The real challenges are the barriers society places in their way through lack of accessibility and understanding.
For deaf or hard of hearing people interested in mountaineering, Scott and Shayna advocate starting with smaller peaks and gradually progressing to more challenging ones. They emphasize the importance of advocating for your needs, including requesting sign language interpreters when necessary.
Listening to the Mountains
In many ways, Scott and Shayna experience mountains more deeply than many hearing climbers. Without the distraction of sound, they connect with mountains through sight, touch, and intuition. They read the mountain’s messages through visual cues—changing cloud patterns, subtle shifts in snow conditions, the body language of animals sensing danger.
“Mountains don’t care if you’re deaf or hearing,” Scott says. “They treat everyone the same. They demand respect, preparation, and determination from all who attempt to climb them.”
Through their extraordinary journey, Scott and Shayna continue to prove that communication doesn’t require sound. Sometimes, the most profound messages are exchanged in silence—between two people who understand each other perfectly, and between climbers and the mountains they love.
Their story reminds us that limitations often exist more in society’s perceptions than in reality. By pushing boundaries and opening doors, Scott and Shayna are ensuring that future generations of deaf adventurers will find a world more ready to understand that different doesn’t mean less capablesometimes, it means finding an even more powerful way to listen.
