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Scott Lehmann & Shayna Unger

Deaf Mountaineers + Educators + Seeing Beyond: Seven Summits

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We were both born into multigenerational deaf families and raised in the deaf community. Growing up, there wasn’t much deaf representation in the outdoors, nor access to outdoor education due to communication barriers. We taught ourselves how to climb mountains by studying YouTube videos and using paper and pen to communicate with other climbers.
 
Over the years, we have climbed some of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Denali, Aconcagua, and Kilimanjaro. For us, it has always been about more than just the peaks; our passion lies in making the outdoors accessible for our deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, spreading awareness, and changing global perceptions of deaf individuals.

What are your favorite ways to get outside?

Our favorite way to get outside is through any form of activity: hiking, climbing, biking, sea kayaking, trail running, skiing—you name it—as long as it allows us to be out there, fully connecting and immersing ourselves in the outdoors. It’s even better when it takes us to places without an internet connection 🙂

What are your favorite ways to get outside?

Our favorite way to get outside is through any form of activity: hiking, climbing, biking, sea kayaking, trail running, skiing—you name it—as long as it allows us to be out there, fully connecting and immersing ourselves in the outdoors. It’s even better when it takes us to places without an internet connection 🙂

Shayna, what is your favorite Leave No Trace Principle?

My favorite Leave No Trace Principle is ‘Leave What You Find’. Every time I’m out in the outdoors, I always find myself in awe of the magical wilderness places on this planet. I hope generations to come will experience the same, both now and in the future. By consistently practicing the ‘leave what you find’ principle, we can ensure that these natural wonders remain preserved for all to enjoy. It’s a simple yet powerful way to maintain the integrity of our wilderness areas and minimize our impact while experiencing the great outdoors—an effort that involves all of us collectively. 

Scott, why did you decide to become a Leave No Trace Ambassador?

I decided to become a Leave No Trace Ambassador because I am an educator, and I love being outdoors – being a Leave No Trace Ambassador allows me to bring both of my passions together. As the old Chinese proverb goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”. It’s my goal to educate people on practicing Leave No Trace principles while enjoying the outdoors so that they will continue to practice and educate future generations for lifetimes to come.

Scott, why did you decide to become a Leave No Trace Ambassador?

I decided to become a Leave No Trace Ambassador because I am an educator and I love being outdoors – being a part of the Leave No Trace Ambassador team allows me to bring both of my passions together. As the old Chinese proverb goes, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” –  it’s my goal to educate people on practicing Leave No Trace principles while enjoying the outdoors so that they will continue to practice and educate future generations for lifetimes to come.