Cassidy Randall – The Untold Story of Denali's First All-Women's Ascent

Cassidy Randall is a journalist and author whose work explores the intersections of adventure, history, and the natural world. Her new book, "Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women's Ascent of Denali," tells the gripping true story of six women who, in 1970, became the first all-female team to summit North America's tallest mountain. It's a meticulously researched, beautifully written account that brings long-overlooked voices to the forefront of mountaineering history. As someone with a deep personal interest in Denali, I was especially excited to read this book and speak with Cassidy. In our conversation, we talk not only about the origins of "Thirty Below" and the individual women at the heart of the story, but also about Cassidy's career as a journalist— how she got started, the path she's carved through the world of longform storytelling, and how she approaches writing with such clarity, depth, and purpose. She also shares insights into her research process, the challenge of shaping complex narratives, and the broader importance of telling stories that have too often been overlooked or dismissed. Whether or not you've ever set foot on a glacier, Thirty Below offers a deep dive into universal themes— resilience, purpose, and the human desire to explore. It's a story about ambition and endurance, but also about complexity, contradiction, and the ways women have long carved space for themselves in places that often excluded them. Cassidy brings these histories to life with nuance and empathy, honoring the individuality of each woman while raising timeless questions about legacy, belonging, and what drives us to push beyond our limits.  Thanks to Cassidy for writing the book and for taking the time to chat. I hope you enjoy. --- Cassidy Randall "Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women's Ascent of Denali" Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/cassidy-randall/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:06 – Intro, how did Cassidy get into Denali? 8:28 – Getting to know Grace 13:08 – Landscape of women in climbing 18:16 – Margaret and her journey with multiple sclerosis 22:39 – Why do people climb mountains? 25:38 – Grace at 88, any discontent? 28:08 – Ed on his experience climbing Denali 31:02 – The process of climbing 37:39 – Adventure for the sake of adventure 42:23 – Writing advice on structure 45:41 – Source change 47:07 – Book writing compared with magazine work 50:36 – Early creativity threads 53:28 – Shifts in the writing industry 55:24 – What is journalism's role anymore? 1:00:17 – It's alive! (The content we're consuming.) 1:01:19 – Denali or McKinley? 1:04:37 – Writer recs 1:08:03 – Pro tips on being a writer 1:10:17 – Wrapping it up --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts