Bolles alumnus Daniel Fritton ’12 recently shared his inspiring story on a mountain biking website, recounting his efforts to summit all of Colorado’s legal “14ers” (mountain peaks with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet above sea level).

When faced with life challenges, Fritton found a way forward with mountain biking. He became an expedition coordinator, guiding people through mountain biking, climbing, rafting, fishing and wilderness experiences. 

“Mountain biking became my outlet,” said Fritton. “Climbing high into the mountains became therapy. I loved the brutal climbs and endless hike-a-bike sections because of what waited at the top: perspective, silence, and the reward of the descent.

Fritton started his mountain biking mission with Mount Elbert, the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains in North America, on September 21, 2021. He completed his quest on September 6, 2022, on Pikes Peak. He is unaware of anyone completing the same feat, but his own personal sense of accomplishment goes beyond biking up large mountains.

Following his efforts, Fritton went on to compete undergraduate and graduate degrees and even visited the Bartram Campus in 2023 to share his story and words of encouragement with Bolles middle school students.