[citation needed] After a brief interest in volleyball, in her twenties she began climbing and ski mountaineering[2] with Club Alpino Italiano (CAI).

The Mount Everest attempt ended at 7,800 metres (25,600 ft) In 2004 she climbed again with Vielmo, this time to the summit of Shishapangma, along with Michele Fait.

[citation needed] The same day Fabrizio Zangrilli, Benedikt Böhm and Sebastian Haag from the Dynafit Gore-Tex-Team were climbing the mountain and spent a few stops with the Italian duo.

[17][18] On 18 July at 3 pm local time, Castagna and Casarotto reached the summit, despite severe weather conditions that had slowed the two climbers for nearly ten hours.

[25][26][27] A month after Castagna's death, following an Italian expedition in Hindu Kush, Tarcisio Bellò solo-climbed an unnamed peak and named it after her.

[15][29] An eye hospital service, specialized in early cataract treatment, has since been created in Alepe, Ivory Coast to remember Castagna.

[2][15][30] On 1, July 2010 CAI Valdagno and Recoaro Terme sections published a biography by Massimo Fontana, on Castagna's life and achievements.