Curiosity Turned Passion Project

Kelly and Tim Duda on climbing all of Colorado’s 14ers

By Amanda Lacey

Have you ever felt so superstitious that you’ve refused to throw out a beat-up piece of gear simply because it got you through moments of great adversity? Throughout the course of climbing all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers, Kelly Duda stayed true to her faithful duct-taped Patagonia hat and ripped pants. Without the secret powers these items seemed to hold, Kelly (and husband Tim) might not have summited every peak and completed this journey.

Kelly and Tim may hail from the Midwest, but they’ve called Colorado home since 2001. Just a year after their move, they decided to climb their first 14er together. Admittedly, the couple will tell you they didn’t know what they were getting into when they chose Longs Peak—one of the top ten hardest 14ers with a Class 3 route—as their first. But that didn’t stop them. “I literally had altitude sickness and said, ‘I’m doing this even if I have to crawl to the top of this mountain,’” Kelly says. That first climb, grueling as it was, only inspired them to continue. 

In addition to the altitude sickness, Kelly was afraid of heights. She crawled on her hands and knees, and her husband tied them together through the narrows. “Aside from marrying my husband and having my kids, that was probably one of the most amazing experiences—that right there: combating a fear and not letting fear be what keeps you from trying something,” she says. 

As they gained experience, the couple built the confidence and skills to take on Colorado’s most difficult Class 4 peaks. It wasn’t easy. Along the way came years of planning, getting married, having two children, and balancing mountain adventures with family life. They’d bring parents along or arrange for a sitter so they could hit the next trailhead by 3 a.m., summit a peak, and be back to their hotel by lunchtime.

Over time, this beloved pastime evolved into a lifestyle. “We hiked Bear Peak a lot—we’d even try to run some of it because we figured out if you could really hammer your way up that thing, it’d easily prepare you for being in good shape,” recalls Kelly. Staying active year-round became their shared rhythm.

For Kelly, some of the most memorable moments were the emotional ones. “I think of when we got to the top of Capitol Peak—it chokes me up a little. I never thought in a million years that I could do that,” she says. Of course, harrowing moments couldn’t be avoided—like lightning cracking all around them on Mount Blue Sky. “Our hair was literally standing straight up, and we just started running down the mountain, seeking shelter in the trees,” recalls Tim.

Back in 2002, Tim had escorted a group of active seniors to Durango on the Durango & Silverton train. One stop was Chicago Basin, where a group of backpackers set off to hike nearby peaks. The memory stuck. That was when he knew he wanted to set the same goal for himself.

Fast forward twenty-three years to August 31, 2025—the weekend the couple completed their goal. After summiting four peaks that weekend, Mount Eolus became their final climb, and it felt like coming full circle. Their son Ryder camped at the base of Eolus, watching them summit and cheering them on. “He really got to see what we’ve been doing,” Tim says. “He told us there were points where it looked like we were cliffed out. He was scared for us but also really excited as he anxiously waited for us at the bottom.”

While many people feel a sense of rest after reaching a major goal, Kelly says it’s anything but over. “It’s really bittersweet. We wish there were ten more now that we’re done, and I’m really proud that we got to do this together—it was just he and I the whole time, something special we could have just for ourselves.” Because, as any Colorado climber knows, the thrill of a 14er lies both in summiting it—and in dreaming about the next.