Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner
PROFESSIONAL MOUNTAIN CLIMBER
(1970 - present)
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, born in the Alps
in Austria, is the first woman to have climbed
all 14 of the world's "eight-thousander"
mountains, without using oxygen-breathing
apparatus.These mountain peaks are at least
26,250 feet. She had only been a professional
climber for 8 years when she made this
achievement. Her first climbing expedition
was at the age of 13 in Austria, when she
ascended Sturzhahn (6,654
feet). Kaltenbrunner trained as a nurse which
helped finance her expeditions. In 2009,
Kaltenbrunner published her
autobiography "Mountains in My Heart:
A Passion for Climbing." Despite her amazing
feat, she isn't finished yet and continues to
indulge her love of climbing, determined to
break down more barriers for female climbers.
Katharine Wright
INVESTOR & MENTOR (1874 - 1929)
Katharine Wright was the younger sister of
aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright,
she worked closely with her brothers
managing the bicycle shop, helping with flight
operations, writing, communications and
iterating ideas. She was a high school teacher
and later became an international celebrity
when the whole family team went to
Europe.The French recognized her
contributions, awarding the French Legion of
Honour to all three Wright siblings. Wright also
worked to support women's suffrage efforts in
Ohio and provided financial and moral support
for the first machine-powered flight by
humans, which occurred on December
17 1903. Wright inspired Baroness Raymonde
de Laroche of France, who was the first
woman in the world to solo in 1909.
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