In The Shadow Of The Mountain

By (author) Vasquez-Lavado, Silvia
Short description/annotation
Inspiring mountaineer takes a group of abused young women on an epic trek to Mount Everest Base Camp, before climbing the mountain herself, and healing her own trauma.
Description

WINNER OF THE 2023 EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR

''Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a warrior. I''m in awe of her strength and courage'' - Selena Gomez

''An incredibly powerful story'' Sunday Independent

''In the Shadow of the Mountain has all the elements a great memoir requires - a strong voice, cinematic prose, a hero to root for - in essence, an extraordinary story about an extraordinary woman''s life'' - San Francisco Chronicle

''Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a woman possessed of uncommon strength, rare compassion, and a ferocious stubbornness to not allow the trauma of her childhood to destroy her life'' - Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

''Powerful'' - New York Times

YOU DON''T CONQUER A MOUNTAIN. YOU SURRENDER TO IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.

Despite a high-flying career, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado knew she was hanging by a thread. Deep in the throes of alcoholism, and hiding her sexuality from her family, she was repressing the abuse she''d suffered as a child.

When her mother called her home to Peru, she knew something finally had to change. It did. Silvia began to climb.

Something about the sheer size of the mountains, the vast emptiness and the nearness of death, woke her up. And then, she took her biggest pain to the biggest mountain: Everest. The ''Mother of the World'' allows few to reach her summit, but Silvia didn''t go alone. Trekking with her to Base Camp, were five troubled young women on an odyssey that helped each confront their personal trauma, and whose strength and community propelled Silvia forward...

Beautifully written and deeply moving, In the Shadow of the Mountain is a remarkable story of compassion, humility, and strength, inspiring us all to find have faith in our own heroism and resilience.
Review quote
Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a warrior. I''m in awe of her strength and courage.
Review quote
An incredibly powerful story
Review quote
Powerful
Review quote
In the Shadow of the Mountain has all the elements a great memoir requires - a strong voice, cinematic prose, a hero to root for - in essence, an extraordinary story about an extraordinary woman''s life.
Review quote
Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a woman possessed of uncommon strength, rare compassion, and a ferocious stubbornness to not allow the trauma of her childhood to destroy her life.
Review quote
Told with searing honesty, this vividly wrought memoir chronicles an almost superhuman journey from the deep vortex of trauma and self-destructive compulsions to the heights of physical endurance and spiritual emergence.
Biographical note
Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a humanitarian, mountaineer, explorer, social entrepreneur, and technologist living in San Francisco. In 2014, she launched Courageous Girls to help survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking find their own inner strength. Courageous Girls has had projects in Nepal, the United States, and Peru. Vasquez-Lavado was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the Corporate Heroes of 2015. CNET named her one of the 20 Most Influential Latinos in Silicon Valley. She has also been recognized by the Peruvian government as a cultural ambassador. She is a member of the Explorers Club and one of the few women in the world to complete the "Seven Summits."
Review quote: previous work
Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a warrior. I''m in awe of her strength and cou