Already enjoying a successful career in “Corporate America” she made a 180-degree turn from the hard charging business world to pursue the adventurous lifestyle associated with climbing.

In 2001, Tonya climbed the southwest ridge of 17,000-foot Mt. Kenya in Africa and was immediately bitten by the allure of high-altitude mountaineering. With this new path of inspiration, she began an international climbing career, which has since taken her to the greater mountain ranges of the world.

Over the past five years, Tonya has made climbing pilgrimages to the Peruvian Andes, the Dolomites of Northern Italy and the Central Alps of Europe . In the fall of 2004, she organized and led an expedition of nine climbers to Ama Dablam - a peak of storybook beauty located in Khumbu region of the Nepal . On a windswept day in late October - joined side by side her teammates - Tonya stood atop Ama's 22,450-foot frozen summit, a defining moment in her career to reach new heights.

Today, Tonya resides in Boulder , Colorado surrounded by rocky crags and high peaks, where she spends over 150 days a year climbing rock and ice. Her extensive background in business has led her to become the Director of Sales and Marketing for Trango U.S.A. - a premier brand of technical climbing hardware.

Tonya is overjoyed with the opportunity to join this diverse group of international climbers and the chance to demonstrate what can be accomplished through teamwork and the passion to climb Mount Everest - the universal symbol for mountain adventure.

Tonya and the summit of Everest with Namgyal Sherpa

Enjoying the climb...

And just hanging out...