At age 30, sitting behind a desk in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Viridiana Álvarez never imagined she would one day stand atop the world’s highest peaks. With a business administration degree and a master’s in engineering, her life followed a conventional corporate path in the manufacturing industry. Yet something stirred within her—an unquenchable desire for more than the mundane rhythms of office life.
Viridiana is the perfect example that it’s never too late to pursue something that truly fulfills us. A radical change transformed her way of living, leading to an unexpected transition from working in automotive research to mountaineering, with extraordinary results.
BEFORE turning mountaineering into her way of life, Viridiana lived her days in an ordinary way.
I spent ten years behind a desk working on automotive research, and at the age of 28, a window of opportunity opened.
She also explored other sports, like triathlons and mountain biking. Through mountain biking, she met a friend who frequently climbed Mexico’s highest mountains. “Seeing the photos of my friend’s expeditions on social media sparked something in me—a desire to try it.”
Her transformation began modestly at 28, when she laced up her running shoes for her first 10K race. These initial steps into athletics would eventually lead her toward the clouds which made her realize how much she enjoyed challenging herself. From there, she began running longer distances, such as half marathons and full marathons.
The opportunity came quickly when someone from her friend’s group couldn’t join an expedition due to work commitments, leaving a vacancy for the planned trip. “They had rented a van from Aguascalientes and offered me the chance to join. I immediately accepted, assuring them I would buy all the necessary gear, as all I had were my boots, which I’d used to climb Picacho.”
The climb to Pico de Orizaba completely changed her perspective.
I had no mountaineering experience and reached the summit with trembling legs. But seeing the view from there left me in awe. I realized I was at the highest point in Mexico and thought that this view might be similar to what you’d see from Everest, the world’s tallest mountain.
By 30, she stood at the base of her first mountain, Pico de Orizaba, Mexico’s highest peak at 5,636 meters. That moment marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would see her break world records and redefine what’s possible for late bloomers in extreme sports.
The dream of climbing Mount Everest took root, though it seemed almost impossible given her complete lack of mountaineering experience and financial constraints. For three years, she persevered, sending countless emails to Alpine clubs and studying YouTube videos about climbing Everest when formal responses didn’t come.
Although Everest wasn’t initially in her plans, the idea grew on her. “I learned to dream and aspire to new things. This led me to align my actions with my dreams. Ten months after climbing Orizaba, I was in Aconcagua, Argentina. Another ten months later, I was in the Himalayas. Three years after climbing Pico de Orizaba, I reached the summit of Everest.”
In 2017, after three years of dedicated preparation, Viridiana achieved what once seemed impossible: summiting Mount Everest.
During this journey, Viridiana left her job to fully dedicate herself to her passion for mountaineering.
Himalayan expeditions typically last one to two months, about 40 days. I requested leave from work to join an expedition, but it was denied. That’s when I decided to resign, after seven years of service, to start my first climb of an 8,000-meter peak—only a year and a half after I started mountaineering.
This path required tough decisions, not only in mountaineering. “At that time, I also ended my engagement and returned the ring. Ultimately, reaching Everest wasn’t something that happened overnight; it was a series of decisions and sacrifices that led me to achieve my goal.”
Uncertainty loomed—whether she should return to find another job or start another expedition. However, “when the longing, desire, and enthusiasm are strong, everything becomes easier as long as you don’t let your thoughts influence you. If you let negative thoughts take control, they can convince you it’s not worth chasing your dreams“
The achievement opened her eyes to new possibilities when she learned it was one of the Seven Summits the highest peaks on each continent. This realization sparked a cascade of ambitious goals, leading her to tackle Aconcagua in Argentina and other formidable peaks.
Her Self-taught approach became her signature style—developing her own methods for training, nutrition, and preparation in a country where high-altitude mountaineering barely existed as a sport.
The Seven Summits journey proved particularly challenging, not just physically but logistically. Some expeditions, like climbing in Antarctica, carried costs even higher than Everest. Yet Viridiana persevered, sometimes taking years to accomplish certain peaks while others, like Mount Elbrus in Russia, came more quickly.
May 2019 marked a important moment in her career. Standing in Kathmandu, Nepal, preparing for her Kangchenjunga expedition, she received unexpected news: she had the opportunity to break the world record for the fastest ascent of the three highest mountains in the world. Having already climbed Everest in 2017 and K2 in 2018, Kangchenjunga would complete the trio. The pressure was immense—she needed to summit before May 17 to break the record.
The expedition was grueling, requiring 42 days of careful acclimatization and navigation through the death zone above 8,000 meters, where every cell in the human body begins to die. On May 15, 2019—her birthday Viridiana reached the summit of Kangchenjunga, becoming the first Latin American woman to summit K2 and the seventh woman globally to reach all three peaks. The timing wasn’t just fortunate; it was the only day that year when summiting was possible.
Her achievements didn’t stop there. She went on to become the first woman to complete both the “Seven Summits” challenge and climb all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, a feat that places her in an elite category of mountaineers globally. Her most recent accomplishment includes climbing an 8,000-meter peak without supplemental oxygen, captured for an upcoming documentary set to release in 2025.
But Viridiana’s story isn’t just about climbing mountains. It’s about the profound lessons learned at extreme altitudes. At -40 degrees Celsius on K2, watching the sunrise while battling exhaustion and cold, she gained a new appreciation for life’s simplest pleasures. The mountain became her greatest teacher, showing her that success isn’t about titles or records but about personal growth and self-discovery.
Her approach to mountaineering is methodical and scientific. She’s learned to read her body’s signals at high altitudes, understanding how blood flow prioritizes vital organs over digestion, making pre-climb meals impossible.
She uses dry lips as a natural indicator of hydration instead of masking the signs with lip balm. Living in Mexico City at 2,000 meters has helped with her altitude adaptation, though each expedition brings new challenges.
The mental aspect of mountaineering, she emphasizes, accounts for 80% of success, while physical conditioning and technical skills make up the remaining 20%. She maintains this mental edge through regular meditation and yoga, treating mental strength like a muscle that requires constant exercise to prevent atrophy.
Her family’s reaction to her dangerous pursuit reflects the challenges of chasing unconventional dreams. While they celebrate her achievements and record-breaking successes, they live with constant worry about her safety. The loss of climbing companions and the ever-present risks of avalanches and accidents create a bittersweet dynamic in her relationships.
Beyond her personal achievements, Viridiana has channeled her experiences into meaningful social impact. Her nonprofit organization, “Living with Altitude,” addresses mental health issues in her hometown, which faces high suicide rates. The initiative provides psychological support in public schools, particularly in low-income areas, working to break the stigma surrounding mental health treatment in Mexico.
Papua New Guinea
Her professional life has evolved beyond climbing through sponsorships and speaking engagements. She’s currently working on a book and documentary, with footage spanning her decade of expeditions, including material from 17 Himalayan climbs. The documentary will showcase not just her mountaineering feats but her unique story as a late starter who defied conventional wisdom about athletic achievement.
Her journey demonstrates that success often means choosing one path at the expense of others. Over eight years of pursuing the 14 peaks, her dedication impacted her personal life, making relationships challenging and putting her professional career on hold. Yet she maintains that every sacrifice was worth it for the profound personal growth and achievements she’s experienced.
Viridiana’s story resonates because it challenges our assumptions about timing and possibility. In a world that often celebrates prodigies and early achievers, she proves that passion, dedication, and courage can overcome any starting point. Her journey from a desk job to world-record-holding mountaineer shows that transformative change is possible at any age.
As she often says,
Dreams do come true—but not on their own. We have to pursue them, fight for them, and put in the effort.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to rewrite your life’s script, to dream bigger, and to pursue the impossible. In the end, success isn’t about what you achieve but who you become along the way.
For those questioning whether they’ve missed their chance to pursue their dreams, Viridiana Álvarez Chávez stands as living proof that with determination, courage, and perseverance, extraordinary achievements are possible at any stage of life.
Her journey from the offices of Aguascalientes to the highest peaks on Earth reminds us that our greatest limitations often exist only in our minds, and that it’s never too late to begin the climb toward our dreams.
