For Sunny Stroeer it all began on Aconcagua (22,841 feet), the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere. In 2014 she squeezed a two-week expedition to Argentina between 65-plus-hour weeks working as an international strategy consultant. What’s more, she upped the ante big time by climbing solo and unsupported.

Unlike most giant mountain routes, the standard path up Aconcagua does not involve glacier travel so going alone is relatively safe. That said, it’s far more difficult both physically and mentally than climbing with a team. While other solo climbers — the men — were held in esteem by others during the ascent, Sunny was asked inane questions like, “What are you doing here by yourself?” Or, “Where is your guide or husband?”

“That was an eye opening moment for me,” she told me over

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