Some people climb mountains. Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger climb mountains, then come back and make sure nobody else has to figure it out alone.
Both born into multigenerational deaf families and raised in the deaf community, Scott and Shayna grew up in a world where outdoor education was largely inaccessible to them. There was little deaf representation in the outdoors, and communication barriers meant that the skills and knowledge most climbers take for granted were simply out of reach. So they did what most people would never think to do. They taught themselves, studying YouTube videos and communicating with other mountaineers using paper and pen, building their knowledge one mountain at a time.
Over the last decade, they have climbed some of the world’s most demanding peaks, including Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Denali, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Then, most recently, they did something that had never been done before. Shayna became the first deaf woman and Scott the first deaf American to summit both Mount Everest and Lhotse, back to back, in 26 hours.
It is one of the most quietly extraordinary stories in modern outdoor sport.
Their project, Seeing Beyond: Seven Summits, is about more than reaching the highest points on each of the world’s seven continents. It is about showing the deaf and hard of hearing community that the outdoors belongs to them too. That the mountains are not closed to people who experience the world differently. That with the right support, the right community and the belief that it is possible, anyone can start.
We sat down with Scott and Shayna ahead of their appearance at Snowbound Expo 2026 to find out what drives them, what the view looks like from 27,000 feet, and what they would say to a deaf person thinking about getting outside for the first time.
What goes through your minds during the final push for the summit?
“At those final steps toward the summit at 27,000 feet, we try to be completely in the moment and just take it all in. After months of training and a long expedition, being there together up high with an unreal view of the Himalayas is pretty special. We just want to soak it all in and appreciate everything that brought us to that point.”
How has climbing together, as a team and as a couple, changed the way you communicate?
“Climbing with someone you love isn’t always easy. It adds a different layer than climbing with other people, but it’s also taught us a lot about how to communicate and really read each other. We’ve learned to be more open and honest when things get hard, especially when we have to make tough decisions on the mountain. We’ve learned when to push each other, when to listen, and when the other person just needs a little space. From squeezing into little tents for hours with barely any space to standing on summits, we’ve built a level of trust where we know we can count on each other, both on the mountain and in everyday life.”
What advice would you give a deaf person curious about getting outdoors?
Scott and Shayna answered this one in their own language. Watch the video below.
What would you say to anyone, deaf or hearing, who wants to get outside but doesn’t know where to start?
“Just start. You don’t have to begin by climbing a big mountain. Go for a hike, go camping, try skiing, kayaking, whatever sounds fun. Start small, learn the skills, and build from there. Find the simple joy of just being outside. At the same time, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need or advocate for yourself. Find your community, find people who are willing to communicate with you, and don’t be afraid to create your own system when you need to.”
Scott and Shayna will be at Snowbound Expo 2026, November 14th and 15th at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT. Come and find them on the show floor.