Eva Steinwald, a 64-year-old mountaineer from Idaho, is redefining her life after the loss of her husband, Pat, in 2018. Having spent 26 years together, she faced the daunting question of her identity without him. Following their marriage on May 20, 1993, in a small ceremony with only her parents present, the couple built a life of mutual support, freedom, and individual growth. With no children to occupy her time, Eva is using her grief as fuel to embark on a new adventure: mountaineering.
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Steinwald explains that the passing of her partner made her acutely aware of the fragility of life. “Losing Pat made me realise how short life is and that it is a gift,” she shares. This existential crisis prompted her to explore her identity in ways she had never considered, leading her to take on the physical challenge of climbing mountains — a pursuit that once felt distant.
Her current ambition is to conquer the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent, by the age of 70. Dubbed her “7 Summits x 70” project, the challenge illustrates her unwavering commitment to rediscovery and personal growth. “The mountains became part of that discovery,” she says, reflecting on the journey she is undertaking, one step at a time. The process has enabled her to uncover newfound strength, purpose, and possibilities.
Steinwald, who originally hails from Germany, began her mountaineering journey but faced initial setbacks. Her first attempt at Denali in June 2023 ended without reaching the summit due to inclement weather. Struggling with feelings of inadequacy, she came to understand a crucial lesson in mountaineering: “The mountain always decides.” This newfound wisdom prompted her to reconsider failure as an essential part of the journey rather than an endpoint.
In January 2024, she successfully summited Aconcagua in Argentina, despite tripping and almost not completing the climb. This experience inspired her mantra, “Can’t. Must. Did,” which she now employs for both her climbs and daily life. According to Steinwald, embracing this mindset enables her to overcome self-doubt, highlighting the importance of commitment to one’s goals.
Her most significant challenge came in May 2025 when she attempted to summit Mount Everest. After a year of diligent training with altitude and strength coaches, Steinwald found that no amount of preparation could fully equip her for the mental strain of spending weeks in such extreme conditions. “Even when climbing with a group, you are often alone in your head,” she notes. Her mantra transformed into “One breath. One step. Just don’t stop” as she neared the summit, and the euphoric sensation she experienced upon reaching the top was indescribable. “It felt surreal; it felt like freedom,” she recalls.
At 63, Steinwald made headlines by becoming the oldest American woman to summit Everest, breaking an 18-year record, albeit one that was shortly surpassed. Since achieving this monumental feat, she has continued her climbing journey, successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc, and plans to challenge herself with Carstensz Pyramid and Mount Vinson in the near future. Achieving her goal by age 65 is now in sight, a full five years ahead of schedule.
Her journey goes beyond merely checking off items from a bucket list. Steinwald aims to raise awareness that the pursuit of adventure does not diminish with age. “As we get older, it is easy to believe that our time for new beginnings has passed,” she states, encapsulating her message. She advocates for starting small, whether it’s learning a new skill, travelling, or pursuing long-held dreams. “Start where you are, respect your body, and invest in yourself,” she advises.
With her climbs chronicled on her website and Instagram, Steinwald is not merely documenting her own journey; she is inspiring others to reflect and pursue their dreams. Friends and family have begun to question their own paths, echoing the search for identity that propelled her into the mountains. “If sharing my story helps even one person think, ‘Maybe I can,’ that means so much to me,” she confides.
In conclusion, Eva Steinwald’s story of resilience and self-discovery illustrates the transformative power of facing grief head-on. As she continues her journey, she embodies the notion that life’s adventures don’t cease with age, but rather can flourish anew, encouraging others to embrace the possibilities that await when they take that crucial first step.