BY KAREN BOSSICK
Ketchum resident Mark Pattison, a former NFL wide receiver who has climbed the Seven Summits, will offer a free presentation titled “Finding Your Summit” on Wednesday at The Community Library in Ketchum.
Pattison will share stories from his new book “Finding Your Summit” at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the Library. His takeaway: How clarity, discipline and endurance are built one deliberate step at a time.
“Extreme environments teach us about leadership, decision-making, resilience, and perseverance when life gets hard,” said Pattison. “I’ve always believed that the lessons from the hardest experiences can lead to the greatest reward.”
Attendees can reserve a seat at https://thecommunitylibrary.libcal.com/event/16430622. The program will be livestreamed at https://vimeo.com/event/5839459 and available to watch later at the Library Archive.
Pattison was the first NFL player to climb the Seven Summits—the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. They include Mount Everest, Denali, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus in Europe, Vinson in Antarctica and Kosciuszko in Australia.
He also has climbed The Matterhorn, Eiger, Mont Blanc, Grand Teton and Cotopaxi. And he’s climbed Baldy in Sun Valley countless times while in training to climb the others.
Pattison, a wide receiver with the Los Angeles Raiders and Rams and the New Orleans Saints, said “Finding Your Summit,” which is available on Amazon, is the culmination of everything he learned on his journey from the NFL to the world’s highest peaks and into the boardroom of Sports Illustrated where he is an executive.
More than a story about mountains, it’s a guide for leaders, athletes and entrepreneurs who are ready to rise above their circumstances and climb toward a life that demands more and rewards the effort it takes to achieve it.
“Each chapter reflects the grit, resilience and high-performance mindset that have carried me through some of life’s toughest challenges,” Pattison said. “Whether you’re in business, in sports, or striving to become the best version of yourself, ‘Finding Your Summit’ offers actionable insights for overcoming adversity, making bold decisions and pushing beyond limits. It’s not just about surviving tough situations—it’s about thriving through them and coming out stronger.”
Inspired by the release of his book, Pattison plans to launch an executive retreat in Sun Valley called The Summit, which he curated for leaders with an A-list roster of speakers, including quarterback Tom Flick, Academy Award-nominated actress and Ketchum native Mariel Hemingway, Blue Angels pilot and Wood River Valley resident John Foley, songwriter Steve Azar and TV personality Shep Rose.
The Summit will take place Sept. 18-20 at Sun Valley Resort. Learn more at https://sevensummitssummit.com/.
Pattison also founded and hosts the Finding Your Summit podcasts where he interviews individuals who have overcome great obstacles. His “Searching for the Summit by NFL 360,” which debuted at The Argyros in Ketchum, won an Emmy for Best Picture and a nomination for Best Cinematography.