I n June of 1970, amid the snow-covered rock ramparts of Denali (the true name of North America’s highest peak), six women took their first steps in a historic feat. Led by Alaskan Grace Hoeman and Californian Arlene Blum, they were the first all-women’s team to attempt to summit one of the big mountains of the world. By this time, the U.S. had sent men to the moon, but women still hadn’t stood on the highest points on Earth. Popular belief held that women were incapable of withstanding high