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Mike Marolt and his twin brother, Steve, were just twelve when they took to heart the famous quote by notable mountaineer W.H. Tilman, "Just put on your boots and go!" Since that moment, their passion has been to climb and ski mountain peaks while relying on perseverance, abilities, and gifts to transform into two of the most elite ski mountaineers in history.
In a how-to guide not only for climbing and skiing the highest peaks but also for succeeding in life, Mike shares exciting tales of mountaineer accomplishments as he and Steve became the first Americans, north or south, to ski from one of the world's fourteen, eight-thousand-meter peaks; the first Americans and handful of people to attain multiple, eight-thousand-meter ski descents while skiing the sixth highest peak, and the first Americans to ski the North Ridge of Mount Everest. In sharing their stories, Mike illustrates how to find a passion and cultivate it, all while focusing on the process of natural progression, not the objective, to realize success and true contentment in life.
"Natural Progression shows how the Marolt brothers and their small group of friends join the ranks of the small number of extreme high-mountain skiers that have taken their sport to the ultimate level."
-Ed Viesturs, First American to climb all fourteen, eight-thousand-meter peaks
About the author
Mike Marolt has spent his life climbing and skiing the highest peaks in the world with expeditions; over the course of thirty-five years, he climbed and skied sixty of the highest peaks in the world. Among his accomplishments, he and his identical twin brother, Steve, were the first Americans to ski from an 8,000-meter peak. When they climbed and skied the sixth highest peak in the world, Cho Oyu, the duo became the first Americans, and second people ever, to attain multiple 8,000-meter peak ski descents. Mike and Steve were also the first Americans to ski the North Ridge of Mount Everest, a feat they accomplished twice. They have achieved dozens of first-ever ski descents as well as more ski descents from 7,000-meters than anyone in history, with six. The brothers adhere to pure-style mountaineering, shunning the use of supplemental oxygen, altitude drugs, Sherpa, and porters. In 2017, Mike and Steve were inducted into the USA National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame.
