Tracee Metcalfe is an internal medicine physician, mountaineer, and avid backcountry skier based in Vail, Colorado. Raised in California, she moved to Colorado after high school to be closer to the mountains, attending Colorado College and earning her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Her first trip to Nepal was in 2014, when she worked as an expedition doctor for an international climbing team, launching a decade-long commitment to high-altitude medicine and Himalayan mountaineering. Tracee is the first American woman-and just the third American-to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks, a journey that began with early climbs in Colorado and Alaska and culminated in 2024 with the summit of Shishapangma in Tibet.

Throughout her years in the Himalaya, Tracee has been deeply moved by the resilience and generosity of the Nepali people.

Jake Norton is a world-renowned climber, photographer, filmmaker, philanthropist, and inspirational speaker. Based in Evergreen, Colorado, Jake’s worldwide adventures have taken him to the summit of Mt. Everest (three times) and on expeditions to all seven continents.

His photography has appeared in publications such as Vanity Fair, National Geographic, Forbes, and Oprah, while his film footage has been used in documentaries and television series.

Jake is an ambassador – along with Reinhold Messner – for the United Nations’ Mountain Partnership, and in this role advocates on behalf on mountains, mountain environments, and mountain peoples.

A Colorado resident and native westerner, Mark Udall represented the people of Colorado in the US Senate from 2009 to 2015 and the 2nd Congressional District from 1999 to 2009. During his time in office, Senator Udall successfully championed bipartisan legislation to balance the nation’s budget, fight climate change, protect our public lands, and establish tough but smart national security policies.

Prior to serving in Congress, Mark served as a field instructor and later as Executive Director for the Colorado Outward Bound School. Mark is an avid mountaineer and has climbed or attempted some of the world’s most challenging peaks, including Mt Everest, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat, Denali, and Aconcagua.

Mark and his wife, Maggie Fox, live in Eldorado Springs, Colorado.

Erik Weihenmayer is one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in the world. In 2001, he became the only blind person in history to climb Mount Everest. When he stood on the top of Carstensz Pyramid in 2008, he completed his quest to climb all of the Seven Summits – the tallest peak on each of the seven continents. Erik is the author of the best-selling memoir, Touch the Top of the World, which was made into a feature film, as well as The Adversity Advantage, which shows readers how to turn everyday struggles into everyday greatness. He is an internationally recognized speaker and brings his message of living a No Barriers Life to audiences worldwide. Erik continually seeks out new adventures, focusing his efforts on empowering people traditionally swept to the sidelines of life. He founded an organization called No Barriers, which helps people with challenges tap into the human spirit, break through barriers, and contribute to the world.