After a lifetime of conquering challenging peaks around the globe, COCPA member Steve Van Meter, CPA (Retired), took on a new challenge in 2024: thru-hiking the Colorado Trail (CT), a 491-mile trek from Denver to Durango. In the newly released winter 2025 issue of NewsAcount, Van Meter shares stories from the trail – a 43-day journey of endurance, resilience, and personal discovery.

A Lifetime of Adventure

Van Meter, a California native who began climbing mountains at age 15, has over the years climbed such iconic mountains as Mt. Logan in the Yukon Territory of Canada, Mt. Foraker in Alaska, and Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, to name just a few. He has climbed Denali three times and led four climbing expeditions to the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest in 1987.

Following his retirement as a CLA audit partner at the end of 2020, he took up fly fishing. It was enjoyable enough, but eventually he was ready to stretch his legs, and began thinking about new challenges. 

In 2023, Van Meter and his wife, Donna, hiked the Haute Route in Switzerland, which runs from Chamonix to Zermatt. While it wasn’t mountain climbing, he enjoyed the trip immensely and he began considering a big hike in the United States.

He set his sights on completing the Colorado Trail (CT), a 491-mile journey that, at its highest point, is 13,271 feet, with most of the trail above 10,000 feet. He had hiked and crossed parts of the CT multiple times over the years as he climbed many of Colorado’s 14ers, but hiking the full length was going to be something else altogether.

He began planning his trip in November 2023, targeting an August 2024 departure. He trained rigorously, hiking several hours a day, three times a week, gradually increasing the weight of his pack and the duration of his outings. He supplemented his increasingly frequent hikes with trips to the gym and home workouts to build core strength. 

On Aug. 2, Van Meter hit the trail, setting off from Waterton Canyon with well-wishers by his side. While his journey was meticulously planned with strategic supply stops in place, there were fun surprises as well, including Donna's arrival with a pizza at Kenosha Pass and a special visit from his 5-year-old granddaughter, Liesel, in Salida.

Mental and Physical Challenges

Beyond the physical challenges – including being plagued by blisters on his feet the first two weeks before ultimately switching out his hiking shoes for a more breathable, sized-up pair – Van Meter says that the mental aspects of a long-distance hike are challenging. Loneliness and uncertainty can creep in, with many ultimately quitting, but he adopted the simple strategy of taking it one day at a time. 

He would often talk to himself or sing a tune to deal with the loneliness. “In my 50 years of climbing and being in business, I’ve built up mental toughness,” he says. “You can have all the ‘right’ gear and spend months getting into physical shape, but if you don’t have the mental and emotional fortitude for what a thru-hike entails, it’s going to be tough to make it.”

Connections and Trail Names

As far as he knows, Van Meter – at age 69 – was the oldest person on the CT; most of the other hikers were in their 20s and 30s. He made friends along the way, swapping stories, sharing meals, making progress, and providing encouragement. 

Nearly everyone who does long-distance trail hiking ends up with a trail name. “You get your name from other people because of something you do or are known for,” Van Meter explains.

One night, he was hunkered down in his tent at 11,700 feet next to Hancock Lake, which is just north of Chalk Creek Pass. It had been raining all day and all night, and thunder and lightning boomed. 

Around 9 pm, Van Meter was writing in his diary when a young man came over a rise and saw the orange glow of Van Meter’s headlamp in his tent. The young man was cold, wet, and shaking. “He was in a bad way,” Van Meter recounts. “He was showing signs of hypothermia. He knew he was close to Hancock Lake, but he couldn’t read his map app because the rain was blowing sideways. When he saw the glow of my headlamp, he was forever grateful.”

And that’s how Van Meter got his trail name – Beacon – because he was a beacon of light in the dark when that young man needed it most.

A Bittersweet Finish and Plans for the Future

On Sept. 13, Van Meter reached the final day of his trek. “As I packed up my tent, I knew it was the last time I’d sleep in it on this trip,” he says. “You start reflecting on everything you’ve done, the wonderful people you met, and the experiences you’ve had. It was bittersweet.”

With the CT behind him, Van Meter is already planning his next adventure. This May, he will begin “chunk hiking” the Continental Divide Trail, aiming to complete the route over three years. This September, he and Donna will join another couple to hike the 200-mile England Coast to Coast Trail over 17 days.

Read more about the highs and lows of Van Meter’s journey – including weather delays, breathtaking views, water-scarce stretches, and wildlife encounters – in the newly released winter 2025 issue of NewsAccount.