Heidi Zimmer is an American deaf mountaineer who has accomplished several notable firsts in mountaineering. She was born deaf, and became the first deaf woman in history to reach the top of Mount McKinley on June 13, 1991. At the top, she unfolded a banner reading DEAF WOMAN, A PARADE THROUGH THE DECADES. On August 15th, 1992, Zimmer became the first deaf person to summit Mount Elbrus. On September 22nd, 1994, Zimmer became the first deaf woman to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. She has also won a bronze medal in the Deaf Olympics. She graduated from Gallaudet University in 1978.