A passionate climber, Pepper discovered her love for climbing nearly 23 years ago when she summited Mt. This realization hit her while on a technical climbing course in New Zealand. Since then she’s devoted her life to the pursuit of summiting many of the planet’s most towering mountains. In early 2022, following her recent separation and the end of her marriage, Pepper fully immersed herself in her ambition to ascend all 14 of the world’s highest peaks without supplemental oxygen.
One of her most spectacular stops along the way, by September 2022 Pepper had arrived in Manaslu base camp in Nepal. The film captures Walsh’s single-minded determination to accomplish her climbing mission. Along the way, she developed an intense romantic relationship with another climber, Mikel. The two connected deeply and shared fulfilling experiences together during their time at base camp. They opened up about their lives and dreams, huddled in the dining tent over Mikel’s phone watching Nepali music videos on repeat.
Their friendship quickly evolved. On their way back from the base camp, Pepper and Mikel returned to the hotel. They had to decide how many people would share a room during their stay. For her and for him, this decision made all the difference. They started on a deeply intertwined personal and professional journey through the thrilling yet dangerous life of high-altitude climbing.
Collectively, they have climbed all of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks successfully a whopping 7 times. Pepper’s dedication to her craft is evident in her mantra:
“I love me, you love you, we love each other, and we both love the mountain.” – Allie Pepper
Just the other day, Pepper landed in Skardu, Pakistan, where Mikel welcomed her with open arms at the airport. Both climbers are still preparing to summit K2. As they learn how to overcome the perils of high-altitude expeditions, their connection deepens. Mikel is now coaching another client as Pepper trains toward her main goal of summiting K2.
When not in school, Pepper has spent the last twenty years diving headfirst into mountain adventures. She has recently conquered some of the world’s highest peaks – including Everest. You can track her progress to the top of all 14 of the world’s highest peaks without supplemental oxygen on her website. That’s where she chronicles her adventures—and the journey of an aspiring mountaineer—on the path to the summit.
Over the past two decades, Pepper has dedicated herself to the mountains, climbing some of the highest peaks globally, including Everest. Her journey towards summiting all 14 of the 8,000-metre peaks without supplemental oxygen can be followed on her website, where she documents her adventures and shares insights into her life as a mountaineer.