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29029 Sun Valley Recap

Opening Ascents

By 29029 Everesting

June 12^th, 2024

Nestled in the heart of Idaho, where pioneering spirits carved out America’s first ski resort, Sun Valley stands as a monument to human ambition.

Here, where the world’s first chairlift once raised skiers up Bald Mountain, a new breed of adventurers are ready to tackle the same slopes in an entirely different way.

Nearly 300 individuals, filled with resolve, gathered at the base ready to prove themselves against the mountain.

This was the kickoff to the 2024 29029 season.

Fresh Resolve

In the early hours of Friday, generous summer daylight bathed everything in a soft glow, unlike the typical pre-dawn starts at most 29029 mountains.

Faces exposed by dawn light showed nerves, yet also a steely resolve.

With the air buzzing with anticipation, the monumental challenge was about to begin.

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No feature along the 29029 circuit is as notorious as The Wall, and it only took the first ascent for you to learn why.

Initially, a meandering climb from the base lulled you into a false sense of security.

This climb isn’t too challenging…

Then, suddenly, it rose before you.

A sheer, daunting slope - less a trail, and more a vertical wall - rising skyward.

The Wall tested your resolve, with grades upwards of 40% on its loose, scree slope. Each time up - each time to the aid station above - was an accomplishment worth celebrating in its own right.

But not for long.

The summit was still ahead.

And after that first summit, there were no more surprises. Just 14 more ascents - 14 more times up The Wall - and 14 more times to the summit...

Trial by Fire

As you climbed towards Everest, the sun climbed higher too.

Intense rays illuminated the mountain's harsh beauty - the heat of the day only amplified by the cloudless sky overhead.

There was no shade.

There was no respite.

You had no choice but to keep climbing.

Your only option was to endure.

Ascent after ascent.

Presence

“Pressure is a privilege”

That was a quote from the opening speeches that you could lean on during the challenge.

To experience that privilege, you needed to be present, and that presence might just have been the ultimate privilege on the slopes.

It was easy to get lost in the difficulty of the challenge: It’s hard. There’s so far to go. I’m tired. It’s hot.

But you didn’t give those negative thoughts a voice.

You leaned into the moment.

You focused on your breath.

You chose to be where your feet were.

You chose to step out of your head and into the mountain.

And in that moment, you connected to the raw, immediate experience of the monumental endeavor you were tackling.

You were climbing to Everest, and you knew it wouldn’t be easy.

It wasn't supposed to be easy.

Shared Steps

The mountain was used as a test - many chose to make it a proving ground not only for themselves, but also for their relationships.

Tackling the trail as a pair became a dance of give and take. Each step was not only a step closer to the summit, but a step in growing even closer and stronger together.

Amidst the vast landscapes of the mountain, small gestures - a hand extended, a smile shared under strain - spoke volumes.

A strengthened bond was emerging on the sun-drenched slopes.

Those moments - between married couples, parents and children, extended family, and more - painted themselves into a rich tapestry, not only of love growing through challenge, but also of conquering new heights.

Patience

As the second day began, the lesson on the mountain became one of patience.

Somewhere between the first and last ascents, you found yourself in a mid-event limbo - too far in to stop, but still a long way before the finish.

It was in that moment that the ultimate lesson was taught: patience.

Each step became a lesson in pacing and perseverance, a reminder that you were moving at the exact right speed you were supposed to be.

You were exactly where you needed to be, and surrendering to the moment was the only choice you could make.

Your patience was tested, yet you kept climbing.

A Bad Day for the Ego is a Great Day for the Soul

Nobody escapes a 29029 mountain unscathed.

Some of you thought it would be easy - or at least easier than it was.

Others thought you’d pull on a Red Hat, only to realize you would fall short of that goal.

Whatever your story - whatever your journey - you remembered Coach Chris' words.

"A bad day for the ego is a great day for the soul."

Because in those moments - the moments you realize you need to detach from the result and attach to the experience - are when you truly start living.

The bigger the struggle, the better the story.

So whether you achieved your goal or not, don’t despair.

29029 was only the beginning of your journey.

Grit Over Quit

Sue Erredge has climbed with us before, so she’s no stranger to the lessons the mountain holds.

She came not with a singular focus on a Red Hat, but instead a desire to push herself - to better herself - and to prove that she had the grit to keep climbing, no matter the circumstances.

On the slopes of Bald Mountain, Sue was losing the battle against the clock. But instead of throwing in the towel when it became clear Everest was out of sight, she doubled down.

Sue put her head down, and Sue kept climbing, right to the very end.

When the dust had settled, she had 12 ascents to be proud of.

12 examples of her resolve.

12 examples of choosing the struggle instead of quitting.

12 examples of the kind of person we all strive to be.

Sue left Sun Valley not with a Red Hat, but with something even greater: a stronger sense of self-belief.

Shades of Success

For Jen Varela, the sun wasn’t just a minor challenge on the slopes, it had the potential to be an insurmountable obstacle.

Diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, her skin was incredibly sensitive to sun exposure. With a UV index upwards of 10, she knew that conquering her mountain would not come without complications.

Instead of allowing an excuse to define her, she came up with a plan. You might remember her from the slopes with an umbrella, providing shelter from the sun’s intense rays, ascent after ascent.

During the hottest hours of the day, she took time off the mountain, finding shelter inside. Taking the breaks during the brightest times of day mean Jen couldn't afford the time to turn in at night. Instead, she hiked, under the cover of night, continuing her quest for Red.

Even though she had every excuse to fall short of her goal, Jen didn’t accept it. On Saturday, she realized her goal. She didn’t reach it despite her setbacks, she reached it to spite her setbacks, and she has the Red Hat to prove it.

Appreciating Every Step

A mountain as hard as Sun Valley’s can mean moments of negativity. It’s hard to stay smiling and positive for 36 hours when The Wall is always looming.

For Myles Spar, he knew that it could be easy to fall into a negative mindset. Sleep deprivation, fatigue, heat, exertion, and more laid down the kind of struggles that can easily turn even the strongest mindset sour.

But Myles had a quote he leaned on.

“Replace your expectations with appreciation, and your whole experience will change.”

Instead of expecting the mountain to be easy - instead of expecting the summit each time he set out for another ascent - Myles turned his mind to appreciate the experience.

He leaned into every footstep, trying to experience the mountain fully. Entirely.

On his 15th ascent, Myles walked the Red Carpet - with a smile on his face - as he appreciated the experience in its entire essence.

You Are an Endurance Athlete

From the first tentative steps in the cool dawn to the triumphant strides across the summit, every participant at Sun Valley embarked on a journey that transcended physical endurance.