[Jeff]

Hi Jan! You are all set. If you check your profile, you'll see you have the finisher badge on it. You're also on the Finisher List.

When the challenge ends on December 31st, we will begin mailing finisher patches and certificates. We will be holding a virtual finisher recognition event, as well as (fingers crossed) an in-person event somewhere in the Bay Area in January (COVID-19 permitting).

What's your next adventure?

[Jeff]

Hi DeEdra!

I've backpacked overnight up San Gorgonio several times. October and November are the “shoulder season” which means the weather can be unpredictable. You can use Mountain Forecast to get an idea of what the weather will be like on the summit. Right now snow showers are predicted for this Friday morning! https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/San-Gorgonio/forecasts/3505

November CAN be wonderful, but almost certainly be cold at night (and possibly during the day as well). Keep in mind that daylight savings time ends in November, and the days are much shorter.

All that being said, I've camped at High Creek. I setup my tent for the night, then carried a lighter pack to the summit in the morning and hiked all the way out on Day 2 (stopping to break camp). There is usually some water at High Creek, though filtering or other form of purification is always recommended.

For overnight permits on San Gorgonio, start here and follow the prompts: https://permits.sgwa.org

[Jeff]

Hey David! We can get you setup with your group. Let me know what you want to name the group, and we will initiate it. Note that we also use the 2022 Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge “group” to give challengers access to the hike log forms, so you'll be able to invite folks to join your group, but they will also be members of the “whole challenge” group. Make sense?

[Jeff]

Good luck! This is a challenging Wilson.

[Jeff]

In 2022, I'm going to do the Central Oregon and New England Six-Pack of Peaks Challenges. I'm also planning a grand backpacking loop in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains, and some more bikepacking treks (maybe revisiting the Oregon Timber Trail?).

I'd also like to backpack the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood, time permitting.

We are going to be road-tripping across the country to New England in July, spending the entire month of August at our basecamp in Vermont. In September, we're hoping to hit Maine, Massachusetts, and then make our way back home.

[Jeff]

Hey Sean! Yes, we posted about this in our August Highlights.
Note that five of the six peaks in the San Diego challenge remain open…almost. Only the final .2 miles to the summit of El Cajon are in National Forest.
Most state parks remain open, including Cuyamaca.
Some are closed, but usually where access practically requires some National Forest travel (San Jacinto SP).
Currently ALL of the peaks in the SoCal challenge are closed, as they all fall within National Forest land. The closure order expires September 17th, though there could be extensions.
It is also worth noting that the deadline for the San Diego and SoCal challenges is December 31st.

[Jeff]

My “Plan B” this summer has involved a lot of indoor cycling. I have a Peloton bike, and am currently training for my first-ever bikepacking race in October. It's ~350 miles and self-supported, and it scares the crap out of me. So when the air quality has been bad, I've stayed indoors and pedaled my ass off (literally and figuratively). 🙂

When the air quality has gotten tolerable, I've made a dash for the trails to either hike or mountain bike. And tomorrow I leave for a backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park. Of course, the air quality has suffered there as well lately, so keep your fingers crossed. They are supposed to have some rain on Monday, and our backpacking trip starts on Tuesday, so hopefully that will help clear the air.

I'll be out of the office all next week. See you again on the 20th!

[Jeff]

We've had a number of folks hike Diamond Peak recently, and you can check out their trip reports here: https://socialhiker.net/six-pack-peaks-challenge/central-oregon/2021-hike-logs/diamond-peak/

Personally, I'm waiting until the air quality improves. Current levels in Central Oregon can cause damage to your lungs.

As for the route, there is an “easy” route from Oakridge here that can be driven in any 2WD car. It's more circuitous than the default route Google Maps recommends, which takes you past Crescent Lake on a very rough forest service road that high clearance and 4WD is recommended on (though Google won't tell you that).

It's a long haul from here in Bend… part of the challenge is getting there.

I'm heading to Grand Teton NP next week (and this week isn't looking promising) and am targeting Diamond Peak from Summit Lake TH probably the week after I return (~9/24). I'll probably spend a night at Summit Lake for an early start at Diamond Peak in the morning.

Diamond Peak Hike Logs

[Jeff]

Patches are on order and will be sent to everyone on the Finisher List. We have some extra stickers, and we will make them available in the shop sometime this week.

[Jeff]

It's all setup: https://socialhiker.net/challenges/amazing-arizona-adventures/

The group is hidden, but you are setup as an organizer. You can edit the cover image and group avatar, and begin inviting members to the group. Note that they must be registered at the site to be invited.

Happy Trails!

[Jeff]

I climbed Shasta in 2018 via Avalanche Gulch. Check out my write-up and don’t miss the tips and tricks section near the bottom.
It’s a great goal! ?

[Jeff]

So sorry to hear about your Whitney plans. You aren't alone. I've been sequestered indoors thanks to smoke from all the fires and had to rearrange my hiking schedule as a result. I try to remind myself that at least I haven't been evacuated.

Where are you planning to hike out of state? I know some of our SoCal challengers have been tackling the Arizona Summer challenge, based in the higher elevations around Flagstaff and Sedona. It runs until October 31st.

We also have the Las Vegas Challenge, which runs through the end of the year.

Fortunately the National Forest closure is temporary, and there will be plenty of time for challengers wanting to complete the SoCal challenge.

[Jeff]

Training for a marathon is exhausting! It should keep you in great shape for picking up those last peaks. Which marathon are you running?

Just a reminder that you have until the end of the year to complete your hikes for the SoCal challenge (December 31, 2021).

[Jeff]

GREAT PLAN! In the San Diego challenge, the following peaks are still open:

• Volcan Mountain
• Mount Woodson (aka Woodson Mountain and Potato Chip Rock)
• Hot Springs Mountain
• El Cajon Mountain
• Cuyamaca Mountain

Maybe it would've been easier to just say that High Point (Palomar) is the only one closed. 😉

[Jeff]

Glad you got out on that beautiful Rae Lakes Loop! Hope your friend with the ankle sprain is healing well.

And thanks for the kind words about the challenge. It's helped me get ready for something almost every year.