Fresh out of a divorce and going through depression, Stella Juarez decided to take up hiking. Now, it’s an addiction that has helped her heal. Juarez is on a mission to climb all 53 of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks, called “fourteeners,” and she’s inspiring others to follow in her tracks. Reporter Lesley McClurg joined Juarez and two young Latinas for a climb in Central Colorado.

This story is part of the RadioNature series which explores the ways Latinos connect with nature. RadioNature is supported by the REI Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Lesley McClurg, Diana Oregon climbing Mount Sherman, Colorado.  

Lesley McClurg is a reporter and producer for Colorado Public Radio’s daily interview program, “Colorado Matters.” She came to CPR after getting her start in public radio as a freelance reporter and producer for KUOW in Seattle, Washington. Prior to that, Lesley spent more than three years working in public television in Seattle, reporting on a variety of stories and producing long-form segments for KCTS 9 Public Television.
In addition to her work as a journalist, Lesley also has extensive experience in documentary filmmaking and writing. A seven-time Emmy Award nominee, she won an Emmy Award in 2009 for the documentary, “Green Prison Reform.” Lesley holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Louisiana State University.