August 2024 and time for the Sierra Challenge - the annual 10 day obscure peak dayhike event. Bob has mostly handed the reins over to Sean Casserly, but he still came for a number of days. You can see a summary of my Sierra Challenges here as well as links to what the challenge is all about.
I have even included a bonus day 0 for 2024. This year Iris and I traveled together for the start and some of the days and apart for other days and the end, there were enough different trailheads and we were often starting and ending at different times. For the second half I was in my truck and Iris lived out of the Element. We also slept a little in Bishop, but not much this year. It was nice to have the additional space, especially when I got back exhausted and dirty and could just crawl into the back of my truck and didn't have to worry about disturbing Iris - the same was true for some stupid early starts. Iris was kind enough to cook me dinner a few times so I could just start eating when I got back late.
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| Challenge Peak | approx distance (for the challenge peak) |
approx elev gain (for the challenge peak) |
bonus peaks and swims | date | Strava Link |
| AG Pinnacle | 6 miles | 2158 ft | bonus: the whole day is a bonus | 8-08-24 | Day 0 Strava Link |
| Ink Rocks (S) | 22 miles | 8600 + ft | bonus: Ink Rocks N | 8-09-24 | Day 1 Strava Link |
| Bath Mountain | 11 miles | 4200 ft | bonus: Slide Mountain, 1 swim | 8-10-24 | Day 2 Strava Link |
| Pumice Butte | 21 miles | 7000 ft | bonus: Red Cones (2 peaks, counted as one), Birthday Peak, Madesno Peak, The Thumb | 8-11-24 | Day 3 Strava Link |
| Pavilion Dome | 13 miles | 5500 ft | bonus: Honeymoon Peak, Peagreen Peak, Flat Top, Peak 12060 | 8-12-24 | Day 4 Strava Link |
| Piute Crag #2 | 26 miles | 7600 ft | bonus peaks: Piute Crag #1 | 8-13-24 | Day 5 Strava Link |
| Rambaud Peak | 7 miles | 3500 ft | bonus: that was plenty far, 1 swim | 8-14-24 | Day 6 Strava Link |
| Piper Peak | 14 miles | 7200 ft | bonus peaks: | 8-15-24 | Day 7 Strava Link |
| Cataract Peak | 15 miles | 4600 ft | bonus peaks: | 8-16-24 | Day 8 Strava Link |
| Oak Peak | 36 miles | 8000 ft | bonus peaks: | 8-17-2024 | Day 9 Strava Link (Sean's - we went about the same way) |
| Golden Trout | 6 miles | 4000 ft | bonus peaks: | 8-18-24 | Day 10 Strava Link |
This year I came in first for the Green Jersey (over 50) with no real competition, fourth for the Yellow many hours behind Dylan and Clement and Hunter - we were the only 4 to do all 10 Challenge Peaks, and 6th for the Polka Dot - King of the Mountain Jersey with 21 peaks far behind Clement with 32. I'm not sure where I came in for the Aqua Jersey with just a few swims out on the trail, but a lot more after getting back to the trailhead, I think Iris had the most for that. My only real goal going in this year was to do all 10 Challenge peaks, which I did manage to do. The long days and tired legs helped me avoid doing a lot of bonus peaks even when they were "just right there" - and the fact that I had already done some of the obvious bonus peaks helped too. A few of the long days really took their toll - especially Rambaud, Pavilion, and Cataract.
For gear I used a 25L Ultimate Directions running pack for most days and a larger Camp pack for the Ink Rocks day with more gear. I usually carried a Sony a6700 with 18-135 lens on a Cotton Carrier chest harness. I appreciated the lower weight compared to my previous Pentax, but am a bit concerned about it's durability. I had a sandwich or 2 each day as well as some bars and summit cookies and things to make my water taste better and add electrolytes and sometimes calories and protein to it. As usual by the end of the Challenge I was in a bit of a sleep deficit, nothing like an adventure race, but it was noticeable, especially getting up in the early mornings. We did sleep in a bit and start late one morning. The extra sleep was nice, the hotter hiking not so much. I mostly wore Altra shoes, and took my Evolv "ruby slippers" for a few times I expected to need better climbing. Most days I wore Darn Tough sox with a few others in the mix. I put at least a little bag balm on my feet and hands most nights before going to sleep. I used trekking poles - Black Diamond distance Z poles which worked well, but the baskets are completely worn down. I wore a Tilley hat. I also wore hooded sun shirts most days and REI hiking pants every day which I quite like except the ones I have are a bit too loose in the leg. I wore sun gloves for most days but wore leather gloves for most of the scrambling - taking them off for the hardest climbing.
After quite a lot of hiking and peak bagging in the previous months I was in pretty good shape - but I probably could have used another week to taper before the Challenge. Still, for the most part I was about as ready as I can expect to be going in. That doesn't mean I wasn't exhausted after a few big days, but I was able to do more - or hurt less - than I would have with less preparation.
As usual the Sierra Challenge relies on the Sierra for the challenge, but the other participants make it all a lot more fun and manageable. Thanks to everyone who came along for the fun, especially those going for all 10 days and that hiked along with me either for a few hundred feet or for miles and miles. Hunter in particular helped me keep a decent pace for some of the bigger days and kept me company out there. I reserve a special thanks for Iris who helped me in numerous ways - from training and gear and food planning and prep before and during the event to food and other support during the Challenge as well as support in my effort to do every day.
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