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A group of volunteers carries Emily Traveller in a mobility device during a hike of Mount Timpanogos on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Courtesy Kari Traveller

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Emily Traveller, right, and volunteers pose for a photo after a hike to the top of Mount Timpanogos on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Courtesy Kari Traveller

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A volunteer pulls Emily Traveller along the hiking trail during a summit of Mount Timpanogos on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Courtesy Kari Traveller

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A group of family and volunteers carries Emily Traveller in a mobility device during a hike of Mount Timpanogos on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Courtesy Kari Traveller

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A group of family and volunteers carries Emily Traveller in a mobility device during a hike of Mount Timpanogos on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Courtesy Kari Traveller

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Emily Traveller poses for a photo in a mobility device after a a hike of Mount Timpanogos on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Courtesy Kari Traveller

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In the spirit of strength, determination and pursuing what could be deemed as impossible, Emily Traveller took the challenge head on and completed a successful hike of Mount Timpanogos.

The 14-mile trek comes more than two years after Traveller lost total use of her hands and legs due to an ATV rollover crash that resulted in a spinal cord injury.

The accident may have left her wheelchair-bound, but she has committed to staying as physically active as her situation will allow. After all, prior to the crash, she was a cheerleader at American Fork High School and took part in a plethora of other school athletic programs.

The American Fork teen summited the mountain with the help of over a dozen volunteers and an adaptive mobility device.

In the early morning hours of Sept. 14, Traveller, her relatives and around 30 other family friends and volunteers met at the base of the trailhead to begin the hike. Of those, 13 men took turns in carrying Traveller up the daunting mountain and back down using a mobile cart from Huckleberry Hiking.

“It (the trail) was pretty rocky but we made it, and we had a lot of support. Like, without all of the men there, we could have never made it up,” Traveller said.

The group began to ascend the mountain just before 4:30 a.m., stopping every two hours for rest.

The high-elevation climb sparked concerns for temperature regulation. But fortunately, the weather conditions proved to be just right for the task at hand.

The hike originally was slated for mid-August. But due to snow still on the mountain, the event was pushed back out of caution.

The group ultimately prevailed. Though, Traveller admits to having her reservations about the adventure. “I had a little bit of doubt, because it’s a really long hike, and all of these people are pulling and pushing me up there,” she said.

Traveller said the entire journey — climbing to the peak of the mountain and the trek back down — took about 12 hours.

Summiting Mount Timpanogos was a goal Traveller set for herself that she mentally and physically prepared for. But even amid her brief skepticism, the teamwork made her dream come alive high overlooking Utah Valley.

“It was really neat because everybody was super excited. And even people that weren’t in our group, everybody on the mountain just started cheering. It was an exciting moment to actually make it,” Traveller said.

Kari Traveller, Emily’s mom, said reaching the top of Mount Timpanogos was an emotional moment that came with a lesson learned about the acceptance of help from others.

“We kind of talked to the whole group about how, especially just in our society, a lot of us carry a lot of burdens because we don’t want anyone to know what we’re going through,” she said. “And Emily’s a really good example of being vulnerable and recognizing that she couldn’t do that by herself and letting others help her.”

Taking on one of the highest peaks in Utah might seem intimidating to even the most avid backcountry enthusiasts. But Kari Traveller said the fact that her daughter adopted the mindset to challenge herself to effort the hike is a testament in itself.

“A lot of times, we’re so nervous to start something that’s a little bit scary or a little bit daunting. But if you truly pursue it and it’s your dream, you can never fail,” she said.

The mother and daughter duo hope the recent trek will serve as inspiration for others to boldly chase their dreams.

“I mean, you might have setbacks. But I told Emily, she succeeded by being willing to start,” Kari Traveller stated. “And so I think that’s where we get held up, you know. The journey is actually the most important part of any challenge.”

She said there’s already interest from others about doing another hike next summer.

Emily Traveller said, for now, she’s taking time to allow her body to heal — in between booking public speaking engagements and being an advocate for adaptive sports. But she isn’t opposed to any future hikes, possibly on another trail or mountain.