Cascades 11-over-10 Challenge Series

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When nothing is sure, everything is possible.” — Margaret Drabble

The Peaks

There are 11 Cascade peaks over 10,000ft with at least 1,000ft prominence in Washington, Oregon, and California.

[table width=”600″ colwidth=”20|130|50|70|” colalign=”left|left|left|left”]
Rank, Peak, Meters, Feet
1,Mount Rainier,4\,392m,14\,411ft
2,Mount Shasta,4\,317m,14\,163ft
3,Mount Adams,3\,742m,12\,277ft
4,Mount Hood,3\,426m,11\,240ft
5,Mount Baker,3\,286m,10\,781ft
6,Glacier Peak, 3\,213m,10\,541ft
7,Mount Jefferson,3\,199m,10\,495ft
8,Lassen Peak,3\,189m,10\,462ft
9,South Sister,3\,157m,10\,358ft
10,North Sister,3\,062m,10\,085ft
11,Middle Sister,3\,062m,10\,047ft
[/table]

The Challenges

The Cascades 11-over-10 Challenge Series consists in

  • summiting P ∈ [2…11] out of the 11 peaks and
  • covering the distance between the P mountains with human muscle power only.

Without considering the peak order, there are…

  • 55 sets containing 2 peaks
  • 165 sets containing 3 peaks
  • 330 sets containing 4 peaks
  • 462 sets containing 5 peaks
  • 462 sets containing 6 peaks
  • 330 sets containing 7 peaks
  • 165 sets containing 8 peaks
  • 55 sets containing 9 peaks (Bronze Volcanoes)
  • 11 sets containing 10 peaks (Silver Volcanoes)
  • 1 set containing 11 peaks (Golden Volcanoes)

Thus, there is a total of 2025 different Cascades 11-over-10 Challenges. The goal of each challenge is not only to climb and link up as many peaks by using human muscle power only, but to also complete the challenge as fast as possible.

Examples:

  • Climbing Adams, Hood, and Jefferson (in that order) counts as the same challenge as climbing Jefferson, Adams, and Hood (in that order). Both count as a P=3 challenge. The route choice and peak order is entirely up to the individual or team.
  • The order in which you bag the peaks for the P=11 challenge, i.e., climbing all 11 Cascade volcanoes over 10,000ft, does not matter. Pick an order and a route that allows you to complete the challenge as fast as possible.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela

The Rules

    1. This is not a race. You do not need to register or qualify or anything. There are no fees. Anyone can do it anytime of the year.
    2. The challenge must start at an official trailhead (typically the access trailhead for the first peak) and end at an official trailhead (typically the access trailhead for the last summit).
    3. The clock starts at the first trailhead and stops when the individual or entire team reaches the destination trailhead.
    4. You can chose your own route between the summits.
    5. The challenge can be done individually or in teams. If completed in a team, all team members must do all parts of the route. Relays do not count.
    6. The clock does not stop if the individual or team sleeps, rests, etc.
    7. The challenge must be completed in a single push. Sleep, rest, etc. along the route are allowed. No leaving the route and returning unless by using human muscle power only.
    8. Crews and stashing of gear, food, and water are allowed. All stashes must be retrieved.
    9. Each and every part of the route must be covered with human muscle power only. That includes: climbing, hiking, running, biking, skiing, and paragliding. No motorized form of transport is allowed on any part of the route.
    10. The challenge can be completed in a unsupported, self-supported, or supported way.
    11. Announcing your intentions is encouraged, but not mandatory.
    12. The challenge must be tracked and documented.
    13. All wilderness regulations as well as Federal, State, and Local laws must be strictly followed.
    14. Strict leave-no-trace backcountry ethics must be followed.
“Set a goal so big that you can’t achieve it until you grow into the person who can.” — Unknown

The Records and Attempts

The following table lists for each P ∈ [2…11] challenge the Only Known Time (OKT) or the Fastest Known Time (FKT). Attempts will also be listed.

[table width=”600″ colwidth=”25|130|50|50|50|50|20″ colalign=”left|left|left|left|left|left|left”]
Number of peaks P,Peaks,Individual or Team,Total distance,Elapsed time,Date,Notes
2, Mt. Adams\, Mt. Hood, Christof Teuscher, 158mi, 64h48min (OKT), May 22\, 2015,
, Mt. Rainier\, Mt. Adams\, Mt. St. Helens, UltraPedestrian Ras & Kyle Pease, 187mi, 8d?h?min (OKT), Jul 23\, 2017, 3
3, North Sister\, Middle Sister\, South Sister,Mitch Thompson, 18mi ,6h39min (FKT), Sep 2009,1
4, , , ,,,
5, South Sister\, Middle Sister\, North Sister\, Mt. Jefferson\, Mt. Hood, Jason Hadrath, 150mi, 4d 6h 15m (102h15min), Aug 31\, 2019,
5, , Christof Teuscher, 150mi, 67h23min, Aug 18\, 2016,2
6, , , ,,,
7, , , ,,,
8, , , ,,,
9, , , ,,,
10, , , ,,,
11, All of ’em,Alexander,NA,NA,2016?,4
[/table]

Notes:

  1. No route info and GPS track is available for Thompson’s FKT. Also, it is unclear whether he summited the North Sister pinnacle or just traversed over.
  2. This time should be labeled as an attempt. While Teuscher “climbed” all mountains, he did not technically “summit” the class 4 summit pinnacle on North Sister, the class 4 summit pinnacle on Mt. Jefferson, and he had to turn around on the Hogsback on Mt. Hood because of the conditions. See his report for more info.
  3. The RAS traverse is listed under 2 peaks because St. Helens is not a peak over 10,000ft.
  4. Alexander (aka Tiger) hiked the PCT and, as far as I can tell from his report, climbed all 11 Cascade peaks over 10,000ft with at least 1,000ft prominence in Washington, Oregon, and California. Not just that, he bagged many others as well. There is no indication of the total distance and the time he required for this.
“If it’s both terrifying and amazing then you should definitely pursue it.” — Erada

FAQ

  • How can I announce an FKT attempt? Contact me and I’ll post here or use your personal Facebook, on Twitter, or in some running-related group/forum/page.
  • How can I submit a record? Contact Christof Teuscher.

Stay Informed and Connected

Disclaimers

  • Records are not verified. The burden of proof is solely on the individual or team. Thus, the more documentation you can provide, the better. See http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/19/read-first for more info.
  • The information provided on this website does not identify possible dangers. When you are attempting a record, you assume responsibility for your own actions and safety.