[5] Viesturs graduated from the University of Washington in 1981 with a BS in zoology[6] and worked as a guide for Rainier Mountaineering.

[8] In 1992, he and fellow American Scott Fischer brought down French climber Chantal Mauduit, suffering from exhaustion, after her summit of K2.

[11] In July 2003, Viesturs and a Kazakh team, headed by Denis Urubko, were instrumental in the rescue of French climber Jean-Christophe Lafaille from Broad Peak.

UCLA coach Jim Mora, Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took part in this charitable enterprise, summiting the 14,410 ft peak.

[18] Viesturs was a cinematographer for the film Trio for One (2003), which told the story of French alpinist Jean-Christophe Lafaille's mission to climb Dhaulagiri, Nanga Parbat, and Broad Peak in a period of two months.

[19] He acts as a design consultant for manufacturers of outdoor equipment, and is a representative of his adopted hometown's football team, the Seattle Seahawks.

He is a member of the board of directors for Big City Mountaineers, an urban youth organization that offers wilderness experiences.

He is also the recipient of the Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award (2001)[21] He was named National Geographic's Adventurer of the Year (2005).