Jeff Hester & The Six Pack of Peaks

J E F F H E S T E R & The Six Pack of Peaks You know what we think is awesome? When ordinary hikers do extraordinary things. Like start a national hiking challenge that brings together thousands of hikers and provides training, gear and route planning advice, support, swag, and a fun end of year party all while giving back over $80,000 to date to two very worthy causes, Big City Mountaineers and The Heroes Project. This is exactly what Jeff Hester, founder of SoCal Hiker, has accomplished with the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge™.

Jeff’s love for hiking started young while he was in the Boy Scouts. Short overnight backpacking trips gave him a taste for what nature has to offer. When he was 16, he took his first real backpacking trip to Tahquitz Peak in San Jacinto and was hooked. By the time he turned 18, his life was changed after hiking the John Muir Trail, a 210.4-mile, 47,000 ft elevation gain thru-hike that passes through the heart of the Sierra Nevada’s. But as life goes, he got married, had kids, and hiked as much as he could. Life took over, and his desire to allow his kids to explore their own interests didn’t allow enough time for Jeff to hike as much as he had previously. Time went by, and in 2007 the kids were all grown up and out of the house, so Jeff took up mountain biking two to three times a week. While he was riding one of his favorite trails, the San Juan Trail, he had an accident flipping over his handle bars and breaking his wrist in two places. He had no idea, while hobbling the 8 miles dragging his bike back to his car, what that accident would create in his life. Since he wasn’t able to ride his mountain bike for a few months while his wrist healed, he started hiking again. The memories of his John Muir trip when he was 18 crept back into his head and Jeff made a plan to hike it once again.

Although this time he wasn’t 18 anymore, and knew he needed some major training if he was going to be successful in completing the trail. So, he put together a training program which developed into the SoCal Hiker blog and the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge™. With the program he was able to get in shape, increase his endurance, and complete the JMT in 2010, 30 years after he hiked it his very first time. Since then, the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge™ has turned into a national event that supports a community of thousands of hikers all with the same goal; to complete all six peaks. From the hikers who bag their very first peak ever, to those that attempt their first solo hike, Jeff is inspired daily by the courage they have to take the challenge. Since it is self-paced, how you complete it in the year is your personal choice. Some hikers take months to complete it, some do it all in snow, some like to backpack all of them, and others like to compete for the fastest time. The most important part is doing what works best for you to have fun! So how can you get started? First, you’ll want to make the commitment and sign up for the challenge. Currently, there are challenges in Southern California, Northern California, Colorado Rockies, Central Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Arizona (both Simmer & Winter, Utah, and New England.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

The original challenge that includes six peaks, 82 miles and 27,000 vertical gain. Mt. Wilson, Cucamonga Peak, Mt. San Antonio, San Bernardino Peak, San Jacinto Peak, San Gorgonio Peak. New alternate peaks- Mt. Baden Powell, Ontario Peak, Sitton Peak, Mt. Pinos, Strawberry Peak, and Santiago Peak. New in San Diego- Mt. Gower, El Cajon Mountain, Volcan Mountain, Cuyamaca, Coret Madera, and High Point allow hikers to customize their experience.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

A series of iconic Bay Area summit hikes each with unique histories and climate zones. Mt. St. Helena, Mt. Umunhum. Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Sizer, and Rose Peak.

COLORADO ROCKIES SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

Takes you on some of the most beautiful trails in Colorado and ends with a climb up Grays Peak- a 14er on the Continental Divide. Bergen Peak, Rocky Mountain, Mt. Sherman, Horseshoe Mountain, Mt.Yale, and Gray's Peak.

ARIZONA WINTER SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

The Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge™ brings people together around one goal: having fun hiking six iconic Arizona mountains between November 1st and April 30th. Mountains include: Piestewa Peak, Camelback Mountain, Picacho Peak, Fremont Saddle, Wasson Peak, and Flatiron.

ARIZONA SUMMER SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

The Arizona Summer Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge™ brings people together around one goal: having fun hiking six iconic Arizona mountains near Sedona and Flagstaff, between May 1st and October 31st. Mountains include: Bear Mountain, Wilson Mountain, O'Leary Peak, Mt. Elden, Kendrick Peak, and Humphreys Peak.

NEW ENGLAND SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

Includes high points across several states and the Northern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail and the most prominent peak East of the Mississippi. Bear Mountain, Mt. Greylock, Mount Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, Mt. Lincoln, and Mt. Washington.

CENTRAL OREGON SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

All six mountains have a volcanic origin which makes this challenge unique. Ending with the 3rd highest peak in Oregon, South Sister. Peaks include: Black Butte, Tumalo Mountain, Black Crater, Maiden Peak, Mt. Bachelor, and South Sister

Coming soon!

UTAH SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

PACIFIC NORTHWEST SIX-PACK OF PEAKS

Coming soon!

There are Three Levels to Sign up:

Explorer

Access to challenger-only hike log Personalized profile to track your progress Earn virtual badges for each peak summited Connect with others in the Challengers-only area Entry in our monthly giveaways Peak reports and training tips Finishers get reduced entry to the Finisher's Party + Welcome packet: Sticker pack and patch.

+ Invitation to our monthly video chat

Trailblazer

Access to challenger-only hike log Personalized profile to track your progress Earn virtual badges for each peak summited Connect with others in the Challengers-only area Entry in our monthly giveaways Peak reports and training tips Finishers get reduced entry to the Finisher's Party + Welcome packet: Sticker pack and patch + Invitation to our monthly video chat ++ The all-new 2019 Six-Pack of Peaks T-Shirt

Starter

Access to challenger-only hike log Personalized profile to track your progress Earn virtual badges for each peak summited Connect with others in the Challengers-only area Entry in our monthly giveaways Peak reports and training tips Finishers get reduced entry to the Finisher's Party

SOME ADDITIONAL TIPS FROM JEFF TO GET STARTED ARE:

Start with local, convenient hikes that will work with your schedule. Choose hikes that are easy to hike 2-3 times a week and the mileage can be increased as you train (maybe doubling the trail or making it into a figure eight). Make it a routine and involve some friends to make it social. Maybe grab a beer and tacos afterwards as a reward. Before attempting the first peak, make sure you can at least cover the same mileage not at altitude. Add in vertical gain- track the gain and build up to your goal. Have fun! You can sign up for any of the challenges at: sixpackofpeaks.com

Check out Jeff Hester’s blog, SoCal Hiker.

If you would like to help support either nonprofits in addition to the challenge, you can donate here:

Big City Mountaineers - Instills critical life skills in under-resourced youth through transformative wilderness mentoring experiences.

The Heroes Project - The Heroes Project makes the impossible a reality by empowering injured war veterans through physical and emotional training. These expeditions challenge the severely wounded to redefine their personal limits post injury. The Heroes Project inspires our injured military veterans to find purpose, both physically and mentally, and ignites others to do the same.