“I finished the 58 highest peaks in Colorado at 53 years young... It was my journey. I embraced every moment, every person I met, every challenge faced.” Meet Lorette, she is a CO 14er finisher, and she has accomplished several other big mountain feats. “People often ask me what led me to climb the 58 highest peaks in Colorado, 7 more in the California, and Kilimanjaro in 2019. It’s a complicated answer. I feel my journey began in 2012 as I ‘reinvented’ myself after leaving a 19 year marriage that was loaded with trauma. I set out on a healing journey that included mountains as my cathedral... My mountain goals are still developing. I’m not done yet. I never once thought I would accomplish climbing as many mountains as I have, let alone all 58 in my home state of Colorado. In 2014 I climbed Mt Whitney. Standing at 14,505 ft is when I knew the mountains are home. In 2019 I reached the summit of Uhuru Peak, Mount Kilimanjaro on my 50th birthday. A honorable and fitting gift to myself. When I moved to CO in 2020, I didn’t think I could finish all 58 peaks. of the I sign ed up for rock climbing to manage my fear. I challenged myself, became more comfortable on exposed ridges... I love the challenge! In 2020, I climbed 16 peaks. In 2021, I climbed 13 peaks. Finally, in 2022, I climbed the remaining 23 peaks. Some say it's the people you climb with that makes the journey special. While I agree with that sentiment, I climbed over half of the CO peaks solo. It was my journey. I embraced every moment, every person I met, every challenge faced. I’m a different person today than when I started this journey... self love is the most important.”