On Aug. 6, 2023, Andrea Dorantes stood 18,510 feet above sea level, atop Mount Elbrus in Russia. It marked the completion of a trek that began less than two years earlier with a passion for wildland adventure sparked at 青青草app State. Dorantes had climbed the highest peaks on all seven continents.
鈥淚t’s hard to take it all in,鈥� Dorantes (BBA, finance, 2019) said. 鈥淪ometimes I can’t believe I did it in less than two years. It was a big goal, but I never took my eyes off the target. Now I have the certainty I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to.鈥�
In May 2023, Dorantes summited the world鈥檚 highest peak, Mount Everest (29,032 feet). It took 45 days for her expedition to reach the top. Because of a storm, she could only stay at the summit for five minutes. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a moment I鈥檒l never forget,鈥� she said.
Ever the adventurer, Dorantes plans to ski to the North Pole next. She reached the South Pole in January 2023 while in Antarctica climbing 16,050-foot Mount Vinson. She also is writing a children鈥檚 book about her seven summits quest.
By Dave Southorn