Redemption on the LA Freeway - Aaron Lozier

Join us as we chat with Aaron Lozier, who comes back to the podcast after attempting the LA Freeway for the second time. Last time, he had to be rescued via helicopter. Listen in to hear how the second attempt goes.

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After being dramatically rescued from the LA Freeway last year, Aaron Lozier returns to share his redemption story on one of Colorado's most formidable mountain challenges. The LA Freeway isn't a highway in Los Angeles—it's a brutal 35-mile technical traverse connecting Longs Peak to Arapaho Peak across at least 19 summits, featuring exposed ridgelines and class five climbing sections.

Aaron takes us through his year-long journey from failure to success, detailing how he processed the shame of rescue and rebuilt his approach through extensive scouting trips and mindset work. His story reveals profound lessons about preparation, as he meticulously studied routes, developed personal rules like "if you find yourself on unexpected fifth-class terrain, you're off route," and assembled the perfect three-person team for his second attempt.

The expedition itself unfolds like a thriller, from strong early progress to hallucinations and near-breakdowns during the 36-hour journey. Aaron candidly shares moments of doubt when facing technical sections in darkness ("at night, it's an abyss"), water challenges solved by his teammate's brilliant syringe innovation, and the infamous "jump" section that everyone mysteriously forgets exists. His vulnerability in describing mental struggles brings us directly onto those exposed ridgelines alongside him.

What makes this story truly special is Aaron's evolved perspective on achievement. Rather than focusing on proving critics wrong, he embraced "proving people right"—honoring those who believed in him. This shift transformed his experience from personal redemption into shared accomplishment, creating a powerful framework for approaching our own challenges.

Listen now to experience this remarkable comeback story that will inspire your own relationship with failure, preparation, and the mountains that call to us despite their difficulties.

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Hosted by Jon Eisen (@mildly_athletic) and Miranda Williamson (@peaksandjustice). Edited by Jon Eisen. Theme music by Matt Beer.