Southern California - Everest Challenge

Anyone doing the Everest Challence this year? It's only a week and a half away. If interested check out this link http://www.everestchallenge.com/page1.ihtml?id=2&parent_id=0
This is a hard race, but one of the best climbing races I've ever competed in. Scenic views, good company and one of the best supported races on the schedule. If you don't want to suffer you can show and enter the public class and do the climbs you want each day, fully supported. This is the third time I have entered this race and have never regretted it.

Thanks for the info John. My interest was piqued when you mentioned the public option, but then I went on their website and saw the word "freezing." Well you have a good time though. Do you do both days and the entire course?

Thanks for the info John. My interest was piqued when you mentioned the public option, but then I went on their website and saw the word "freezing." Well you have a good time though. Do you do both days and the entire course?

You must hate the cold. The weather can vary from year to year. In 07 a storm came thru on Friday and Saturday and we had snow on Saturday. Last year the weather was perfect, 50s in the morning warming up to around 80 in the daytime. I enter the master class and race both days. If you can make through the 16,000 feet of climbing on Saturday, the 13,000 on Sunday is easy. Most riders finish around 15 hours total time. If you enter the race and drop out on Saturday you can still race on Sunday, they just wont score you. You should try it!!!! :D

I also started a thread about this in the racing forum

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=577763

Thanks for the info John. My interest was piqued when you mentioned the public option, but then I went on their website and saw the word "freezing." Well you have a good time though. Do you do both days and the entire course?


It's probably going to be nice weather this year- the race is a week earlier than usual. While I have seen ice on the side of the road in the past, and been snowed on, last year I was doing the first descent (usually the coldest part) in just a jersey. I didn't even put my arm warmers on. I expect this year to be similar. Although it's the sierras, so you never know for sure till you get there.

If you ride "tourist" class you can just do the scenic climbs- actually you can do that for any category; if you're in a racing category you just get an DNF. I'd skip the second climb on day 2 unless you like desert scrub.

I'd skip the second climb on day 2 unless you like desert scrub.

Which climb is that? White Mountain?

Rick / OCRR

No it's death valley road

the third climb is to the white mountains. If you only do 1 climb of of the 6, that is the 1 to do.

No it's death valley road

the third climb is to the white mountains. If you only do 1 climb of of the 6, that is the 1 to do.

As a public/tourist, do you have to start at the beginning and do the whole 120 miles or can you start at the climb you like and just do the miles involve with that one? For example, I want to do white mountain. Can I start at its base, climb it and then go to the finish?

I'm too lazy to do the whole 120 miles. I'm just out for the scenery.:D

You can pick and choose. Note that on the second day all three climbs radiate from the same point. Well one of the climbs, the first one to glacier lodge is about a mile up the road. On the first day the climbs are pretty far apart.

Also as a tourist you would want to keep in mind that the last climb of each day has real food at the end and the other two just have bars/gels/etc. So if you were going to do one climb each day you would want to do south lake on the first day and of course white mountains on the second. Those two climbs alone account for nearly half of the total elevation.

Here't the nuts and bolts of the EC. You can race in your USCF catagory. If you are not a member of USCF you can purchase a one day licence and figure out what catagory to race in at sign up. Then there are the public Womans and Mens classes. I don't understand how these work but I know there timed and there are prizes for these classes. Then there is the Non competitive Tourist class. This class is not timed and is the first class to leave in the morning (630 am). Anybody that signs up in any class, Racer or tourist has a pass all weekend to do any climb or skip any climb they want. If your racing they just won't score you and you will be listed as DNF in the results. This race involves a 4 day commitment, Friday to travel and pick up your packet, Sat and Sunday to ride, Monday to return home and recover. If you love to climb and want to do a ride thats fully supported with people who care, and see some of California's beautifull terrian, this is the one to do.

This race involves a 4 day commitment, Friday to travel and pick up your packet, Sat and Sunday to ride, Monday to return home and recover.

Last two years I've driven home on Sunday after riding. Two years ago I drove, last year my wife drove because I had to be on a red-eye to Washington DC on Monday morning for work :eek:

Last two years I've driven home on Sunday after riding. Two years ago I drove, last year my wife drove because I had to be on a red-eye to Washington DC on Monday morning for work :eek:

Wow!! Your a tough person. I love to return to the Hotel , rest up and have a nice dinner get a good nights sleep then tough out the 5 hour drive back to Orange County on Monday. What class do you race in?

Wow!! Your a tough person. I love to return to the Hotel , rest up and have a nice dinner get a good nights sleep then tough out the 5 hour drive back to Orange County on Monday. What class do you race in?

I'm in the 3s this year. Last year I was a 4 and the previous year I was a 5. Last year they separated out the 4s from the 5s but the previous year they were combined and this year they appear to be combined again.

. This race involves a 4 day commitment, Friday to travel and pick up your packet, Sat and Sunday to ride, Monday to return home and recover. If you love to climb and want to do a ride thats fully supported with people who care, and see some of California's beautifull terrian, this is the one to do.

I wish I could get that much time off of work. Echoing ***, I drove up last year after work on Friday (ok, I left an hour early). I was able to register and squeeze in a short ride. After the race Sunday I drove home and was back at work at 7am on Monday. It looks like the same for this year. I live just north of the OC. I do agree that the ride is supported very well and the scenery is beautiful, though tough to enjoy with all of the suffering that must happen if you plan on placing well. If your just going to enjoy it, have fun.

I'm in the 3s this year. Last year I was a 4 and the previous year I was a 5. Last year they separated out the 4s from the 5s but the previous year they were combined and this year they appear to be combined again.

... and they're split again already. At least as of yesterday. The race director is good about sending emails to keep us informed. I'm racing in the 4s instead of the 45s this year.

I do it as a four day, but I am driving over from the bay area and it's a bit longer drive. My wife to comes out and drive support for me and my teammates, so we make a vacation of it... drive through Yosemite and stop to look at the scenery, do tourist stuff. I hope tioga pass is open by next friday- it's closed due to a fire.