Stacy Allison became interested in climbing while still a student at Oregon State University. After several hours of climbing and repelling from a 50 ft Douglas Fir tree near the campus, she decided to pursue rock climbing. During one of her early rock climbing expeditions in Zion National Park she met and climbed with Scott Fischer.

The first mountain Allison climbed was Mt. Washington. What began as an adventure turned into a test of strength. The last 300 feet of the mountain took Stacy three hours to ascend. Back on the ground fifteen hours later, Stacy realized that with enough will and endurance she could climb any mountain. She went on to climb other mountains including Mt. Huntington.

In 1987 Stacy Allison, along with Scott Fisher, attempt to climb Mt.Everest's North Face. Bad weather made it impossible for them to summit. The following year, Allison won a spot on the Northwest American Everest Expedition. Allison and two other climbers made it to Camp 4. With only enough supplemental oxygen for one climber to attempt the summit, the three had a 'lottery' to see who was going to try to make it to the top. Allison won the lottery and September 29, 1988, she became the first American woman to summit Everest. Following her Everest climb, Allison went on to lead an expedition to K2.

Stacy Allison is a survivor and a role model for women. She not only survived Everest, but she has also survived an abusive first marriage. In fact, Allison claims that winning the spot on the 1987 Everest expedition got her through her divorce. Today, she is a published author, owner of a contracting company in Portland, Oregon, as well as a sought-after motivational speaker.