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.

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.

Hear 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

Send this episode to a friend who loves real talk about mental health in outdoor adventure!

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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Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance). Hosted by Angie Lake and edited by Alyson Castonguay.