Spring has arrived, the Sierra snows are now melting in earnest with fair weather ahead, the passes are starting to open and thoughts naturally turn to What to Do in the Sierra this Summer. The 16th annual Sierra Challenge is set for August long after most of the snows have melted, the mosquitoes have had their run, water as plentiful as the sunshine and far more of daylight hours than you'll know what to do with. 10 new peaks have been selected for the 2016 event, a collection of little-known and rarely visited summits. We're going to visit the Hoover Wilderness, the Kuna Crest in Yosemite, the far reaches of the Ritter Range in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, treks to the front and back sides of the Palisades, yet another return to Taboose Pass, visit Glen Pass and more.
The all-new 2016 Sierra Challenge gives you ten days in August to challenge your stamina and your sanity amidst the beauty that is the Sierra Nevada. Leave your heavy backpacks and marginal camp foods behind. Climb some impressive peaks with a daypack and enjoy fine Eastern Sierra cuisine at day's end. Join us for one day or all ten, to test your legs in the backcountry or just to meet fellow enthusiasts. We already have several dozen folks signed up this year, always room for more.
For those who aren't familiar with the yearly Challenge, in a nutshell - we drive up and down the Eastern Sierra for ten days and climb 1-2 cool peaks each day. Mostly carrying a light daypack, sometimes crampons/axe. It's primarily a hike/scramble event, with little technical rock climbing. It's generally a pretty exhausting day, but most participants would use the word "fun" somewhere in their varying descriptions. This is not a race, there are no official sponsors, and there are no prizes. There are no qualifications to join in the fun - everyone is welcome. The link above will give you all the info.
Tom Grundy just below the summit of Forester Pass Peak: