Utahn far from 'over the hill'

LEHI — Some people go to great lengths to prove they are not "over the hill" as they celebrate birthdays.

Lehi resident Stephan Frey recently used Mount McKinley, North America's highest mountain at 20,320 feet, to make that point on his recent 51st birthday.

Frey returned in June from a 20-day journey to the mountain's summit.

"It's a wild mountain," Frey said. "It was a rough climb — really, really difficult."

For Frey, climbing the mountain was the realization of a dream that began almost 30 years ago when he and his brother started thinking about climbing it. The two began gathering information and training but put the plan on hold for college and marriage.

About 18 years later, Frey, then divorced, married Jennifer, a widow with seven children. For the first two years after that, he again put his plans on hold while he worked to turn himself, his wife, his daughter and his seven stepchildren into one family.

Last year, Frey was approached by a friend at Utah Transit Authority, where Frey works as a training administrator. The friend had been foiled in his first attempt to climb McKinley and was looking for a partner for a second attempt.

For Frey, the offer was simply too good to refuse.

"I ran a marathon while I was 50, and then I wanted to (climb McKinley) while I was in my 50th year to see if I still have it in me," Frey said, as a satisfied smile spread across his face. "Yeah, I've still got it."

Frey spent the past year on a training regimen that consisted of half-marathons, backpacking and pulling through American Fork Canyon an 80-pound sled similar to the one he would use to haul his gear on Mount McKinley.

He also picked up a few books — the first one a chronicle of every death on McKinley over the past 30 years — so he would know what he was getting into.

Unsure of what his wife would think, Frey took the cautious route, approaching her five times seeking her support.

"I told her a little bit about it each time, but I kept the books from her," Frey said.

Jennifer Frey, who is an accomplished climber herself, said she was a bit nervous, but she supported him from the start.

"I knew how important this was to him," she said. "I didn't worry — he's a safe climber and he's very wise. I knew he wouldn't risk his life to summit."