An Everest is a challenge in which you must climb 29028 feet ( the height of Mt Everest) doing repeats on the same hill over an over. It is one of the toughest challenges in cycling. 

The concept of Everesting is fiendishly simple: Pick any hill, anywhere in the world and complete repeats of it in a single activity until you climb 8,848m – the equivalent height of Mt Everest.

I am a terrible climber but this challenge intriques me and it would be fun to have a group attempt it together and have others to crew and cheer the group on.

It could be on Skyline drive and be a great social event for everyone and a chance for cyclist to push the limits and join the club of cyclist that have completed it.

Typical attempts take around 24 hours.

Any interest? It could be planned for the Spring and make it a club event to be remembered. There is also a Basecamp challange which is half of the Everest.

Let me know what you think!

J Michael Phillips

To provide some context to the challenge:

If this were to be done on the 'Back of Hogback' climb from the Elkwallow wayside at MP23 at skyline:

• Back of Hogback is 3 miles long with about 925' of elevation gain. It would take 32 ascents in order to Everest.
• My median time up the climb is about 22 minutes and most of my descents are under 5 minutes.
• So, taking a 5 minute break after each ascent (and assuming that the ascents would average the median time) that Everest would last just over 17 hours and be 192 miles long.

If this were to be done on the 'Ascent to Dickey Ridge' climb from the Front Royal Entrance station at MP 0.5 at Skyline:

• 'Ascent to Dickey Ridge' is 4 miles long with 1200' of elevation gain. It would take 25 ascents in order to Everest.
• My median time up the climb is about 29 minutes and most of my descents are under 7 minutes.
• So, taking a 5 minute break after each ascent(and assuming that the ascents would average the median time) that Everest would last just over 17 hours and be 200 miles long.

Even at that, I think that only 5 minutes of break time per repeat is probably pretty short and the likelihood that I would average my median climb time is fairly small, so figure on more time as appropriate. The usual '24 hours' that was suggested is not unreasonable.

Those are rides that J. Michael Phillips warms up on...

--Mike

RIDE RULES - EVERESTING

Here is a link to the rules. I would like to see if we can plan this for the end of April or first of May 2022. 

There is a basecamp challenge also which is half of and Everest. This could be a great club event and social gathering for the club.

Steve, I think the one that Mike described for Elkwallow at mile 23 on Skyline Drive. The parking lot is at the bottom of the hill which makes it convenient for any one that comes to help or set up food and water. Here is a strava listing of mine from earlier this year

Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/963jc5qsRjb

Mike

I am a definite maybe.  Having  a spring time goal to motivate through the god forsaken winter training days alone will be worth a definitely maybe commitment. 

-Todd Wunderly