2005 Sierra Challenge
August 5-14

Last Updated: 9/6/05

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Thanks to everyone who made this year's Challenge a great success!

DatePeakRT milesElev. gain
Fri, Aug 5 Hilgard 206,520ft
Sat, Aug 6   Merriam 215,700ft
Sun, Aug 7 Pilot Knob 234,000ft
Mon, Aug 8 Mendel 156,500ft
Tue, Aug 9 Clyde Spires 184,000ft
Wed, Aug 10 Isosceles 173,700ft
Thu, Aug 11 Temple Crag 165,500ft
Fri, Aug 12 Disappointment 146,500ft
Sat, Aug 13 Kearsarge Pinnacles 144,800ft
Sun, Aug 14 Junction 258,600ft

The Sierra Challenge is a series of ten consecutive dayhikes to some of the most challenging peaks in the Sierra Nevada range. The peaks for the 2005 event were chosen based on several criteria: they don't appear on previous Challenges; they hold special interest to the organizer; they are demanding dayhikes, much like the 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 events that preceded it. They tend to be 15-20mi of hiking/climbing, with an average of 5,580ft elevation gain. Not unlike climbing Half Dome, but more off-trail, more technically demanding, and at higher elevation. The Challenge is open to anyone who wishes to participate, whether for a single day or all ten. This is primarily a Wilderness experience, and as such there are serious risks involved that are the responsibility of each individual participant to manage for themselves. There are no water, food, or first-aid stations, no emergency services or shelter of any kind available to those in trouble. If you are uncomfortable accepting such risks in any way, you should not participate.

The Peaks

The previous challenges drew from the Sierra Club's SPS Peaks List, all of them located on or near the Sierra crest in the High Sierra region, stretching from northern Yosemite to the Golden Trout Wilderness south of Mt. Whitney. For the 2005 event, a new list of ten peaks was selected, seven from the SPS list, and 3 others of special interest for their more technically challenging summits. This year's selection does not cover the same broad swath of the High Sierra as previous challenges, instead concentrating on that portion around the Bishop area. The peaks selected range from class 2 to class 4 in technical difficulty and should include something of interest for almost any peakbagger.
PeakElevationClassLocationTrailheadRoundtrip MilesElevation Gain (ft)Date
Mt. Hilgard 13361 2 John Muir Wilderness Rock Creek / Mosquito Flat 20 6520 Fri. Aug 5 (5a start)
Merriam Peak 13103 2 John Muir Wilderness Pine Creek 21 5700 Sat. Aug 6 (6a start)
Pilot Knob 12245 2 John Muir Wilderness North Lake 23 4000 Sun. Aug 7 (6a start)
Mt. Mendel 13710 3 Kings Canyon NP North Lake 15 6500 Mon. Aug 8 (6a start)
Clyde Spires 13240 4 John Muir Wilderness Lake Sabrina 18 4000 Tue. Aug 9 (6a start)
Isosceles Peak 12321 4 Kings Canyon NP South Lake 17 3700 Wed. Aug 10 (6a start)
Temple Crag 12999 3 John Muir Wilderness Big Pine 16 5500 Thu. Aug 11 (6a start)
Disappointment Peak 13917 4 John Muir Wilderness Big Pine 14 6500 Fri. Aug 12 (6a start)
Kearsarge Pinnacles 12000 3 Kings Canyon NP Onion Valley 14 4800 Sat. Aug 13 (6a start)
Junction Peak 13888 3 John Muir Wilderness Shepherd Pass 25 8600 Sun. Aug 14 (5a start)

Why the Challenge?

Good question. I like the challenge of an endurance event, but I'm not so good with the sleep deprivation that goes with some of the other challenges out there such as the California 14er record (set by Jack McBroom in four and a half days) and the Colorado 14er record (set by Ted Keizer in just over 10 days).

I figure there is no chance in hell I'm going to come close to either of these guys. I simply must bow down to their superior skills and stamina. I don't have the will to climb for days on end with little sleep, hiking way before sunup and way past sundown. I will leave it to others to chase those dreams...

The Sierra Challenge opens to a wider audience some of the same experiences of these marathon climbing events. I conceived it as a personal challenge that was at the edge of my own abilities, and wanted to share the experience with others who might similarly enjoy a good workout. Besides, suffering is more fun if you have someone to share it with. :)

Who is organizing this?

The Sierra Challenge is being primarily organized by Bob Burd. There is no legal entity responsible for this event and no grants available for advertising, promotion, or funding. It is being done on a volunteer basis (in terms of time, money, and energy), so please be kind to the organizer. He has a job and family, and so has limited time and resources. If you would like to help contribute to the organization of this event, please feel free to contact me.

How do I participate?

Send mail to snwbord@hotmail.com. Let me know which peaks you are interested in climbing. I will include you on a mail list for future info about carpooling, meeting times, changes, etc. I would like to collect the following information about you as well so that we can post it on this website. That will allow others to contact you for coordinating hiking, climbing, and driving partners. If you would like information to be kept confidential, please indicate this, and it will not be posted. If you're really worried about privacy, give me as much info as you see fit, your email address being the minimum required amount. You are also free to simply show up at the trailhead and join us, but it is helpful for planning purposes if you can let me know in advance that you intend to join us. Send a photo of yourself (or point me to one on the web) if you'd like your picture shown on your information page. It can prove useful to allow others to identify you at the trailhead or out on the trail.

  • Full Name
  • Email Address
  • Phone No.
  • Mailing Address
  • Which Peak Challenges do you plan to participate in?

    You may also choose to climb these peaks following The Rules on days other than those listed here. I will be happy to add your name to the finishers list provided that as a minimum you post a trip report about your adventure. You can post it here (via email), or any other place and simply pass along the URL for me to post on this website.

    What does this cost?

    Nominally, nothing. There are no entrance fees to participate in any of these hikes. You are responsible for your own food, lodging, and gear. There is a nominal charge for T-shirts, but there is no obligation to buy anything from the organizer.

    What are the prizes?

    There are no prizes. It is hoped that the enjoyment of participation is reward enough. There will be recognition on this website for all participants and finishers. If you were hoping for something more in the way of renumeration, please look elsewhere.

    What am I in for?

    Most of these peaks are usually climbed as multi-day trips into the Wilderness. As dayhikes these climbs are all very strenuous. You should not attempt any of them without proper training and experience. Only you can judge your level of preparedness, so no training formula can be given that works for everyone. There are those that train for months and still fail to summit Mt. Whitney even though a regular trail exists all the way to the top. There are others who because of outstanding physiology or possibly sheer will might not train at all and still go out and climb the toughest of these. I would expect that those with the best chances to succeed will have experience with long hikes combined with much elevation gain ( 20+ miles, 4000+ ft), extensive cross-country travel, and are comfortable climbing class 3 rock, snow, and ice.

    You should not expect others to lead you to the summit or wait for you along the way. No one has yet started out running on any of the previous Challenges, but the pace in the front is brisk, around 3mph on the uphills. A fast pace allows participants to reach the summit before afternoon thunderstorms may appear, as well as to get off the trail to start resting for the next day as early as possible. You should carry a map and whatever other gear you deem appropriate to be self-sufficient, and be familiar with the route (study it beforehand, and know how to read your map) in case you find yourself alone because others didn't wait for you. That said, it is primarily a social experience. We would rather hike as a group, climb to the summit together, returning to town to eat and drink together while reliving the day's adventure. If you aren't going to keep up, it's usually clear in the first hour or so. If the technical difficulty is more than you're comfortable with, don't be afraid to speak up for some additional guidance, or to turn back and call it a day. A number of past participants have turned back before reaching the summit but still enjoyed a great adventure in the mountains. And if you hike 4 hours with the group to reach the start of the technical section, don't worry about getting stranded - no one's going to abandon you.

    Who do I sue if I get hurt?

    No one. There is no official organization to ensure any level of safety any greater than you have on your own when you venture into the Wilderness. If you are hiking or climbing with others during this event, you do so the same as if you were out with friends. Don't expect anyone to ensure the qualifications of another you are hiking or climbing with. If you have doubts, you should find someone you trust, go alone, or choose not to participate.
    For corrections or comments, please send feedback to: snwbord@hotmail.com