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Viv Serrano is a mountaineer who progressed from local trails to the summits of Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Rainier, and Hood — and she’s just getting started, currently training for Denali in the sharp, icy ridgelines of the Andes.
But what sets Viv apart as an athlete is her honesty. She navigates bipolar disorder, manages stabilizing medications, and still shows up for the kind of training that demands a lot from both mind and body. Viv is also committed to helping more women access adventure. She’s worked with both the Summit Scholarship and the Cairn Project, helping others step into their own big outdoor goals and new landscapes. Check out her Adventure page with us!
Viv and Angie talked about:
- Climbing Kilimanjaro on an all-women’s team as a Summit Scholarship recipient
- Deciding to climb Aconcagua, then getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder while training
- Why Viv almost quit mountaineering and the words that kept her going
- Training modifications and medication considerations
- What the outdoor community needs to talk about more: medication, therapy, and mental health acceptance
- Supporting women by becoming a Trailblazer with The Cairn Project
- Misconceptions about mood disorders
Read Viv’s blog post: 5 Things I Did to Train for Aconcagua as a Person Who Struggles with Mental Health Issues
Check out these resources:
- 📱 @Viviautumn18 on IG
- ➡️ The Cairn Project on IG
- ✨ The Cairn Project’s newsletter
- 🥾 Become a Trailblazer
- 📅 Summit Scholarship Foundation
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You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:
- Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.
- Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.
- Share this episode with a friend or family member.
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The Cairn Project
Mobilizing to empower young women in the outdoors through grantmaking.