DPP member Lara Daniel has a goal – to complete the Explorers Grand Slam, climbing the highest mountain on each continent as well as reaching the North and South Poles. Having already climbed four of the mountains, Lara traveled to Nepal in March of 2022 to climb Mt. Everest. She trekked to Everest Base Camp with her climbing team and participated in acclimatization climbs in preparation for her summit attempt. During one of these climbs, despite her extensive training and preparation,  she experienced a medical problem that could not be resolved. She made the difficult decision to not attempt to summit Everest this season in order to not endanger herself or others should she become ill while climbing. She is now safely back home and planning future climbs.
Before leaving for Everest, Lara decided to raise funds for Denver Pet Partners through her climb. Each person who donated to DPP in honor of Lara received special written updates and photos from her throughout her journey, providing a fascinating insight into a journey most people will never take!  Through the generosity of Lara and her donors, over $12,000 was raised for DPP! Thank you to Lara for offering us this opportunity to learn more about her journey and to Lara and her donors for their generosity.
Learn More About Lara
How I got started
My focus / preparation for an upcoming climb
To be honest, my husband, Steve – he was an alpine climber when we met and continued to do so after we married. I was always curious about the climbs he went on and how I might do if attempting one myself. So, I did in 2015. It was Mt Shuksan in the Cascades in WA. The elevation of Mt Shuksan is not very high (9,131 ft), but it provides the alpine climbing experience over just a few days which was perfect for my first go.
My focus / preparation for an upcoming climb
Training – I’m obsessed with if I’m training appropriately for whatever climb I’m focused on. There’s the physical training and then the skills training; for Everest that is ascending and rappelling on fixed lines. I show up to each climb having what I feel is necessary and hope that it is. Since I climb with a team, I want to be as strong (physically, skills wise and mentally) as possible (though it’s true on any climb everyone has an “off†day where you’re just not 100%).
What I love about mountaineering
> The challenge of the climb itself / Do I have what it takes to endure the altitude, weather conditions (often very cold and windy), sleeping in a tent for weeks, the physicality of it all. I often tell people you have to accept being comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’re rarely comfortable on a climb and to me that’s a large part of the appeal – you learn a lot about yourself in these situations.
> The scenery – amazing views, amazing landscapes especially the glaciated ones – the blue ice contrasted with the white snow is beautiful. The vastness of the terrain which often makes you feel so small and insignificant.
> The long-term friends you make. Climbers are a special breed and when you connect with somebody on a mountain that friendship tends to last.
Click the button on the right to donate to Denver Pet Partners on behalf of Lara Daniel’s Everest Climb! Thank you!