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Top 10 Moments of 2021

By 29029 Everesting

December 31^st, 2021

#10: Incredible Totals

Over the course of 2021, 602 participants from the 29029 community completed 10,916 mountain ascents.

The total distance covered by this amazing group was 20,198 miles. That’s like walking from New York to L.A… the long way! That’s right, the cumulative 29029 community almost walked the distance of the circumference of the entire Earth this year!

Even more relevant to 29029, our community climbed 22,538,815 vertical feet in 2021. That’s like climbing from Earth to the International Space Station, not once, not twice, but ten times!

In Vermont, the original 29029 mountain, we set a new record: the highest finisher rate. On the slopes of Stratton Mountain, 79% of those who started got to pull on the coveted Red Hat. That bested the next-best finisher rate by a whopping 10%!

Only an incredible group of people could come together to achieve such incredible totals!

#9: James "Junior" Hogans

James ‘Junior’ Hogans was hesitant about entering 29029. In fact, the only reason he signed up was because of his wife, Nicole. She was tackling the event herself, and encouraged him to join her.

His hesitancy was short-lived once he hit the slopes of Idaho, but it wasn’t without challenges for Junior. Only a few ascents in, his hips started aching. Not just soreness, but excruciating pain.

He told us what his internal dialogue was like after those first few ascents: “What the f*** are you doing this for? This is crazy! You don’t have what it takes. You didn’t train like you should have. You’re the biggest person on this mountain. There’s no way you’re going to finish.”

But Junior didn’t let himself quit. He kept going until he had checked Denali off the list - 11 ascents. It was then that he realized he wouldn’t be able to Everest. He didn’t have time for two more, so he prepared to call it quits.

His wife was at the bottom of the mountain, and she looked at him lovingly, and said 5 simple words.

“You have to do one more.”

He had time for one more, and Nicole knew he wouldn’t be happy if he didn’t seize the opportunity. With some help from the 29029 community, Junior started his 12th ascent. He emptied the tank, crossing the line teary-eyed. Although he didn’t pull on the Red Hat, he did reach his own personal Everest, an accomplishment every bit as impressive.

“Instead of buying a car for my midlife crisis, I did 29029 Everesting! Best decision I’ve ever made!” he said.

Click here to read the full feature story on Junior.

#8: New Mountains

In 2021, we visited a new mountain: Sun Valley in Idaho. Unrelenting heat, amplified by the exposed trail under the scorching solstice sun, made this one of the most challenging 29029s yet.

Almost every participant had a story of their darkest moment coming on a steep section nicknamed “The Wall,” but the 29029 community is strong. Even if “The Wall” was challenging, nobody was going to stop. 134 participants made it to Everest in Idaho. 134 people pulled on the Red Hat.

Keep an eye out for even more new mountains to conquer with 29029. In 2022, the slopes of Whistler, Canada, await. And in 2023, there will be even more new mountains to conquer!

#7: Visa Shanmugam

“I’ve never even done a 5k, but here I am trying to Everest.”

Those were some of the first words out of Visa’s mouth when we met her at 29029 Vermont.

She didn’t come to 29029 with a background in sport. She wasn’t here to tick off some fitness goal. She came to Vermont to shake up her life! She wanted to learn what it was like to push up against the edge and find out far she could truly go.

One step at a time, Visa worked on conquering the slopes of Stratton Mountain. Her first big moment came when Coach Dawn told her that it was okay to be struggling; that “it can be hard and you can keep going.”

That’s when a switch flicked in Visa’s brain.

“I had been expecting this to be easy if I was going to finish,” she told us. “But I realized it could be hard and I could still finish.”

With that simple mindset shift, Visa changed her game plan. She was going to hike until she saw the sunset. Then she was going to keep hiking until she saw the sunrise. Then she was going to keep hiking until she pulled on that Red Hat.

And that’s exactly what she did: After 22.4 miles and 29,029 vertical feet, she got to pull on a well-deserved Red Hat. Not bad for somebody who’s never ran a 5k!

Read the full feature story on Visa here.

#6: Family at 29029

There’s nothing as heart-warming as family support during an attempt at 29029. Taking part in a life-changing experience on the mountain is only made sweeter with the support and encouragement that family does best.

In 2021, that loving support took many forms.

Jim and Mary Fisher used the slopes of Utah as a chance to reconnect with their son, Chuck, who was also participating. COVID kept them apart for almost two years before they reunited on the slopes.

Jason Kanaris was taking part in his third 29029, but this time, he was doing it with his brother. Except instead of doing it in person, his brother was doing it virtually, from Norway. Jason facetimed his brother after each lap, branding the ascent board for the both of them, proving that distance can’t come between family connections.

Kara and Nate, prolific travel vloggers, climbed with us in Vermont, and made a YouTube video about it. They forged their connection together - an adventurous couple doing adventurous things - and captivated millions through their video, showing that there is no limit to the adventures a family can tackle together.

These are but a few of the many family stories that took place on the slopes this year. Families grow through experiences together, and 29029 is an experience like no other!

#5: JT Mestdagh

Many come to 29029 to prove something to themselves. Some come to prove something to others. And others come to amplify something to become bigger than themselves - even bigger than the mountain!

JT suffers from VATER syndrome, and spent most of his early years in the hospital. Against all odds, he pushed through and achieved what many thought was impossible. He’s now a public speaker, author, and adventurer.

He started a foundation, and used the magnitude of his 29029 undertaking - the sheer boldness of a goal so big - to fundraise for the JT Mestdagh Foundation.

The goal was $29,029. He reached that well before event day, and once the dust had settled on the mountain - once JT had pulled on that well-deserved Red Hat - the total had risen in excess of $100,000!

#4: Kids on the Mountain

The day before Father’s Day, Andrew Lausch received the perfect gift: he got to pull on a Red Hat with his two daughters right beside him. Bibi and Nadia conquered the slopes of 29029 Idaho alongside their father, pushing through extreme heat and steep grades to achieve their goal.

Dylan and Chase Hodulich were also on the slopes of Idaho, but instead of climbing the mountain themselves, they were helping out as volunteers. They were part of our all-star support team that ensures every single participant has the best possible chance of achieving their own personal Everest.

A few months later, in Utah, Dylan and Chase were there again, helping. This time, they got to witness their father, and 29029 cofounder, Marc, finish his first-ever 29029 event! You couldn’t create a more magical moment for the Hodulich family.

Magical moments on a magical mountain is something 29029 delivers, for youth and adults alike.

#3: Joannie & Thomas

Once complete strangers, now 29029 compatriots, these legends need no introduction. Going into 2021, many of you already knew them well: Joannie and Thomas had both Everested 3 times before. This year, they doubled that number, pulling on a Red Hat at Idaho, Utah and Vermont.

Their infectious enthusiasm has gone a long way in bringing new people to 29029. They understand the life-changing experiences that take place on the mountain better than any. They understand it so much that they keep coming back, again and again, each time learning more about themselves, pushing their limits, and doing hard things.

At Vermont, to wrap up the year, Thomas waited for Joannie on the last ascent, and for the very first time, after 5 successful 29029s, they crossed the line together. Two legends finishing side by side for the first time was a spectacle only the mountain could deliver.

#2: Perseverance

Many participants have been to 29029 before, but have never Everested. Falling short of the goal is okay, as long as you leave everything out there - as long as you push your limits and learn about yourself in the process.

But for some, that’s not enough. Some come back, again and again, pushing their limits until they finally achieve what they set out for: the Red Hat.

Greg Jacobs came to Vermont a new man since his last 29029. He’d tried twice before, but couldn’t quite reach the top - the true Everest. For 2021, he had a fire in his belly - nothing was going to stop him! He did the training, he lost weight, he got healthier and fitter, and through hard work, mental fortitude, and straight-up grit, Greg finally got to pull on the Red Hat.

Kim Skouras, a cancer survivor, tried to Everest at Utah in 2019. She didn’t quite make it. This year, she tried to Everest in Idaho. She didn’t quite make it again. Finally, she hit the slopes of Utah once more, looking for redemption. She gutted it out over 34 hours, and with an emotional finish, finally reached Everest. She finally conquered the mountain and pulled on the Red Hat.

Keith Yaeger emptied the tank on the mountain in Idaho. He left it all out there, but fell short of his goal: Everest. Quietly, he took a rock from the summit of Idaho - a reminder of unfinished business. A few months later, in Vermont, he hiked that rock up the mountain 17 times. Without making a scene, after his last ascent, he pulled that rock out and set it down on the summit. He had done it - he got to pull on the Red Hat.

Every single person who tackles 29029 has their own story of persistence. It takes grit, willpower, and mental strength to finish even a single ascent on the mountain. It takes even more to come back again to try to best yourself. When it happens - when somebody finally pulls on the Red Hat - it's a magical moment on the mountain that can't be topped.

#1: The Reunion

The top moment of 2021 couldn’t be anything else! The reunion of the 29029 community brought a new layer of magic to the mountain. After 2 years, our community finally had the chance to reconnect in person.

Time apart can hinder most connections. Many communities falter when faced with challenges. But the 29029 community is different; it’s built on challenges, built on pushing through; built on doing hard things. The pause - the year apart - only did one thing for the 29029 community: it made us stronger!

The community exemplified why 29029 exists. You exemplified why 29029 exists. You did something hard. You did it with a smile on your face. You did it with compassion. You didn’t quit when things got hard. You helped others reach their own personal Everest. You watched in awe as others tackled this amazing, audacious goal alongside you.