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29029 Jackson Hole Recap

Rising Above

By 29029 Everesting

July 18^th, 2023

Born from the relentless grind of glaciers over millions of years, Jackson Hole is just that - a hole of sorts, or valley - perched in between the Teton and Gros Ventre mountain ranges. Its geography is full of contrast - a serene flat basin, cradled by intimidating, jagged peaks.

To be in Jackson Hole is to be in a piece of geographic history millions of years in the making. On the slopes of Snow King Mountain, 280 participants will write their own history.

A New Frontier

This year marked 29029’s first time in Jackson Hole, which meant a lot of unknowns.

For any other 29029 mountain, you could get a foot-by-foot breakdown of what to expect of the parcours from alumni who had already climbed it, but not here - not in Jackson Hole. Nobody knew what to expect, and as the clock ticked down toward the start, nerves about the unknown hung in the air.

Yet excitement resonated in the face of the unknown, pulsing through you and the rest of the 29029 community.

What sort of transformation would you find at the summit?

The start horn blared, and in response, 280 brave souls sprang forth.

The dance with the unknown had begun.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

For the first time in 29029’s chronicles, the participant list thrummed with a sense of familiarity. Sprinkled among the sea of faces were plenty of alumni - seasoned warriors who had done this dance with the mountains before.

Half of those assaulting the summit were 29029 veterans. They were back, lured by the siren call of 29029, ready once again to vanquish the mountain and use the challenge to grow.

Yet those alumni weren't just back solely for themselves. As they assaulted the summit, they took the time to extend their hands in aid.

This community is willing to sacrifice precious moments of their own climb to boost others.

That's the heart of 29029: a fellowship forged in a furnace of perseverance, resilience, empathy, and patience.

29029 is all about getting to the summit, but it’s also about looking back to pull others up with you.

Gradients of Grit

It doesn’t matter how you tackle it, 29029 vertical feet will always be hard. Each 29029 mountain comes with its own unique challenges.

In Jackson Hole, the trial wore the mask of extreme steepness. Gradients topped out at 65% with little respite. Mountain to mountain, this one had more vertical gain per mile than any other.

What it lacked in distance, it made up for in slow-going, steep, loose, demanding terrain.

The mountain of Snow King was no joke, but you already knew that.

You came here for hard, and hard was what was in store.

A Sizzling Summit

The challenge didn’t just come from the mountain. The relentless summer sun, amplified by altitude, bore down on the landscape.

Armed with sun hats and airy apparel, your ascent persisted, despite the climbing mercury.

Quit isn’t a word in the 29029 lexicon, even as discomfort escalated into your every single nerve.

Inch by inch, you claimed the scorched path upwards.

Towards the summit.

19

Steep means short, and at 29029, short means many.

19 ascents were what it would take to reach the summit of Mount Everest at Jackson Hole, which meant 19 brands on the ascent board - more than any other 29029 mountain.

This familiarity with the base enhanced the rhythm of camaraderie. Each brand was a dual testament to your personal victory and a chance to connect deeper to the 29029 tribe.

19 times you’d make your mark. 19 times you’d encounter each aid station. 19 times you’d relish in Colleen cheering your name.

Pressure is a Privilege

On these steep slopes, the weight of expectation pressed down on you.

You were under pressure.

Pressure to finish.

Pressure to persevere.

Pressure to leave it all on the mountain.

But that pressure wasn't a burden. It was a badge of honor.

Pressure is a privilege.

Pressure was the sweet sting of effort as you forced your tired body to climb just one more step. Pressure was the mental grind of staying the course when every part of you wanted to quit.

When you’re on a 29029 mountain, you quickly realize you’re not the only one under pressure. Everybody in Jackson Hole was shouldering that same weight, yet also pushing onwards.

You’re all a part of something bigger: a community of climbers, of strivers, and of relentless spirits all bound together by the same quest.

The quest for a Red Hat.

Red Bib Rush Hour

As the hours ticked away, you climbed. Under the cover of darkness, you climbed. As the sun rose again on Saturday morning, you climbed even more.

You showed patience in your assault on the summit.

As Coach Chris says, “Doing something difficult with style is called fitness. Doing something difficult with style for many hours is called endurance. And doing something very difficult with style and patience? That is called achievement.”

36 hours: a day and a half of patience, endurance and fitness were coming to an end. As Saturday unfolded, the mountain morphed into a sea of Red Bibs.

It was Red Bib Rush Hour.

After 36 hours of grit, grind, and patience, it was time for achievement.

It was time to celebrate with Red.

Conquering Personal Peaks

Last year at 29029 Whistler, Jon Samnick carried burdens greater than the mountain itself, as his mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and his cousin tragically took their own life. The literal and metaphorical mountains were vast, but the call of 29029’s challenge resonated in Jon’s spirit.

In Jackson Hole, Jon returned to 29029 to ascend again, his resilience a beacon in the harsh landscape. Despite life’s ruthless blows, he stood, unbroken - resolved to push through.

Quitting was never an option.

With less than an hour remaining, Jon achieved his 11th summit, etching the grandeur of Mount Vinson onto his bib and onto the branding board.

His triumph was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, inspiring us all to keep climbing and keep conquering, regardless of the harsh terrain life throws at us.

Racing Against Time

Caryn Davies was on the brink. 18 ascents were behind her, the allure of Everest almost within reach, yet her body and spirit teetered on the edge of surrender as time ticked down on Saturday.

The 29029 coaches had other plans.

Coach Brent and Coach Wooch became her physical momentum, nudging her forward, their hands on her back. Coach Chris was her pace-setter, marking time and distance, promising the summit before the cut-off.

Aid stations transformed into quick pit stops, as the community ensured her momentum was unbroken, bringing her everything she needed to keep moving forward.

Time was slipping away, but so was the remaining distance. Encouraged by the crescendo of cheers, Caryn broke through the finish line, conquering Everest.

The community had given her the nudge, but the victory was entirely her own.

Caryn earned her Red Hat.

Walk a Mile in Someone Else's Shoes

When Chris Carnal and Dan Baldwin touched down in Jackson, their luggage didn’t join them. It would have been a routine mishap at a major airport, but was an intriguing challenge in the heart of Jackson Hole.

As the event clock began ticking, their gear was still in transit.

The 29029 community stepped forward, sharing not just their spare gear with Chris and Dan, but also the spirit of resilience and camaraderie.

The old saying goes that you should “walk a mile in another’s shoes to understand them.”

Chris and Dan walked nearly 13 miles - 13 ascents - in not only another's shoes, but another's clothing.

Having chipped away 13 ascents in unfamiliar shoes and gear, their luggage finally arrived, propelling them forward with a new boost of morale.

Their 19th ascent saw them don their own Red Hats - an achievement carved not just from their own resolve, but also from the unwavering support of the 29029 community.

The Summit is Just the Beginning

A profound accomplishment was realized at the summit of 29029 Jackson Hole. Whether you climbed a single ascent or all 19, you achieved something remarkable.

You proved to yourself that any mountain can be conquered.

Your 29029 journey doesn’t end with your final gondola ride down; rather, it marks the beginning of a new life, one infused with grit, resilience, and a deep sense of community.