Christine Boskoff
Owner
Chris was one of the premier female alpinists in the world. She climbed six of the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks — Everest, Cho Oyu, Gasherbrum II, Lhotse, Shishapangma and Broad Peak. She also climbed six of the Seven Summits — Aconcagua, Carstensz Pryamid, Elbrus, Everest, Kilimanjaro and Vinson Massif.
Christine Feld Boskoff was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, and spent her childhood years keeping up with her three older brothers. In high school she excelled in math, science, and sports. She put herself through the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where she was one of few female engineering students. After graduating, she was hired by Lockheed in Atlanta at age 24. “I began climbing the walls at Lockheed,” she laughed, “and then realized that I could climb the walls at the indoor gym in Atlanta instead.” There, she met Keith Boskoff, an experienced climber and successful architect 15 years her senior. Keith took her on a trip to Ecuador, where they climbed the country’s high-altitude volcanoes. She was smitten both with the man and the mountains. In short order, Chris quit her job, married Keith, and committed to climbing full-time.
Chris and Keith first met Scott Fischer in 1995 while climbing Broad Peak. Unbeknownst to them, they would take over the leadership of Mountain Madness two years later, after Scott died on Everest. As the company’s leaders, they used their climbing experience and love for people and the mountains to continue Scott’s dream of bringing the beauty and excitement of adventure to anyone who wanted it. Sadly, Keith passed away in 1999 and it fell to Chris to keep her passion for both climbing and Mountain Madness alive. The company blossomed under her leadership and it allowed her to further her own dreams along with the dreams of her clients.
![mountaineer Christine Boskoff rock climbing](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=1e63b54d4634263aeab303a64113f4b7 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=a782b54b5690f713452ec671a7a4e11a 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=5da05c59c4f8a6a228d3d3fe56411a0b 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=dc5a72b46a793f7fed5d991d1c0d360a 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=e8a1ed2b6ae6ec0cf2352abb54ecdb96 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=a3b711bedc12320f970466c084f7b924 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=b2aa56d97603660163455036deea6ddf 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=c0ae6b55e5db1932ffe12beec9521087 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=1aa53c70d18014d57be82004d36b8607 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=f7b9ad3f2f13855f37501ad8bc35ab07 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoffrockclimbing.f1577481074.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4432&fp-y=0.4654&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=630227c300bac2368f38a6354e88cccc 200w 167h)
![Chrisb everest summit](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=2e326e72e5e1a9e1894d8937dd94967c 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=5b54db6e09f6e7f20d4e48dd9797b9ab 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=4db62c6c0e6faee2b2b4b8d12d38adc6 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=b91ef3b26270e432154e1d5d6da78bca 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=560f6e9b8da6f63666f52db3dce96d4f 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=3ae3fefc298c9da329d31e4f4941ed98 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=6158b0a5e4b272cec96f467fe77729f7 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=325e496bfcf8e1693f890a049c86d767 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=368d222bd3092708359802dc4db5a991 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=896103f6df88a537b003820845687265 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/chrisb-everest-summit.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=6e51be5d06e19a722e1b7445b6040441 200w 167h)
In December 2006 she and her climbing partner, Charlie Fowler, were scheduled to return from a personal climbing adventure in the Sichuan Province of China. When they didn’t, it was with great concern that our office began the effort to determine their whereabouts, an effort that ultimately led to Genyen Peak. Once there, the search and rescue team found Charlie’s body at the base of the north face. Christine remained missing until the summer, but a recovery effort then was hampered by poor weather and rock fall hazards to the recovery team. In September 2007, with improved conditions for the recovery team, she was recovered and her remains cremated in China for return home to the U.S.
![Christine Boskoff mountaineer and climber](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=e4010150b6e793133b83c39dff481fa7 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=e2d8b43f97915e348f2415f654eedbbf 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=5f4ee514b7a4d50c60cf7ec3537c0ba1 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=a41db522e569b1fb36f78d5c6834d4f3 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=206c349e327e78452cc19d4ed1aa5893 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=941b8df79d3c1d4cd6273ffda7a91501 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=e5a3ae071094da10139fe30a080e3abb 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=da98d90121c53fa402a520a469829956 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=0df4836a11719a8cd9b5dd3d397f8031 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=e0fe36c806f7f389f3bfdc33c9e6da4a 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/People/ChristineBoskoff.f1577481031.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5331&fp-y=0.316&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=67c86c95dda6eaf34dde051028401f34 200w 167h)
![Picture 787](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=4034f93275c5fa177da84300a13a33e4 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=4ebf962e442dcd4e1e3d3e99e98c8077 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=3a286bfd9dfcfdd6dada3681b2ccf262 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=2b56f421dee5dc906a7728ce7ae0bf7a 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=348858b415bfa245688bc109c762e409 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=1a886145be77028a179415565ea0c2a2 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=c31db1e3c0181208ba1b51609287422b 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=5d6ecc3b41ff24a41e03d83e30b5712b 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=46f8d4cefcec7f0c6507b511d62e3de5 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=5d2011fb1846bc99bc253aac4c4c5407 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Picture-787.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=c34638232b2fd9598ecfd3fa64f9f3c7 200w 167h)
For many, her success as a female climber will standout as an inspiration and serve as a role model. The inspiration lies not directly in her success as a climber, but in her decision to follow her dreams.
Chris was inspirational for many reasons — her big-peak climbing; her business leadership; her even-keeled, positive attitude — but maybe the most inspirational thing about her was her all-in approach to life and her decision to follow her dreams. She left a well-paying job as an aeronautical engineer to take a chance on a company. That gutsy move led her to the highest peaks of the world and offered her a vehicle with which to share her passion. What she left behind for all is Mountain Madness and an appeal to get out there and live big! Her story can be found in the book, “Edge of the Map, (see below).
To learn more about “The Mountain Life of Christine Boskoff check out the book below.
Order here!
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