When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Mt. Everest in the spring of 2015, Emily Johnston was in Camp 1 on the mountain and found herself in the uncomfortable position of being stranded on the mountain because the ladders in the Khumbu Icefall below her had been destroyed by the earthquake. However, her situation paled in comparison with the desperation at basecamp where the earthquake triggered an avalanche that killed 22 people. Emily will talk about the ensuing chaos on the mountain, how she managed to get back to basecamp and her efforts to help and treat injured survivors of the avalanche.

Emily works as a high altitude guide for International Mountain Guides where she is their medical director. She guides clients on Mt. Rainer, Denali, Mt. Vinson and Mt. Everest. Personal projects, guiding and adventure racing have taken her to the wild places of every continent. When she’s not working as a guide or ER doc, she finds relaxation in backcountry skiing, trail running and whitewater rafting.