2020 SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge

As we’re moving along the year and coming closer to the spring season, I wanted to share a hiking challenge that I stumbled upon last year. I’ve been searching online for hiking trails trying to find new places to hike. Looking for new hiking trails that I can visit daily or weekly. For the purpose of seeing something new and capturing images from my GoPro. During my search, I came across this website describing a challenge in Southern California with hikes I’ve never heard of before. Hikes that were literally in my own backyard. So, I did what anyone else would do and began to dig in for more information on what this challenge is. I quickly learned that this was more than just hiking a few peaks or reaching a certain goal. It was an online community for So-Cal hikers. Hikers like me and you.

For anyone who’s interested in hiking, I believe this is something for you. The 2020 SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge consists of 18 hikes in total, 82 miles, and over 27,000 ft. vertical gain. The goal is simple. Pick 6 out of the 18 peaks in the challenge and hike your way to the top. Once you’ve completed any of the 6 peaks from a list of 18, you’ve completed the challenge. Each location ranges in difficulty. Some are easier than others while some can be quite difficult, depending on your activity level. So I’d recommend some form of research on each hike before deciding what direction you want to go. For example, I created a list of all 18 hikes, listing information that included the total distance, elevation, and time each hike took. Once my list was complete, I was able to decide which few peaks were going to be the first off my list. Starting with Strawberry Peak as my first hike of the season. Not a difficult hike at all and one I believe anyone can jump into right away.

There are 18 Total Hikes!

1. Mt. Wilson
2. Cucamonga Peak
3. Mt. San Antonio
4. San Bernardino Peak
5. Mt. San Jacinto
6. San Gorgonio Peak
7. Mt. Baden-Powell
8. Ontario Peak
9. Sitton Peak
10. Sawmill Mt.
11. Strawberry Peak
12. Santiago Peak
13. Volcan Mt.
14. Cuyamaca Peak
15. Mt. Woodson
16. Hot Springs Mt.
17. High Point (Palomar)
18. El Cajon Mt.

As soon as you sign up for the challenge, you will receive an email on creating an online profile under the Social Hiker website, which is used to track your progress. This is where a sense of community comes into place.

On the website, you’re able to share all your progress (including photos), follow along other hikers, track and share all your activities, communicate through forums or other profiles, and see where you stack up with everyone else. Once you’ve finished a particular hike and logged your progress, you earn a virtual badge on your profile for the hike. This signals your progress within the challenge as you get closer to finishing the required 6 hikes.

However, you aren’t restricted to only 6 hikes. You’re more than welcome to hike all 18 peaks and take full advantage of what the challenge has to offer. Yes, there is a cool virtual badge once you’ve completed all 18 hikes. Some of the best views in Southern California are included on this list of peaks and I encourage you to try them all or miss out!

As I mentioned before, this is a great way to motivate yourself in trying something. There are guides available online that will help nativagate you during your hike so you can conquer all 18 peaks! During each hike I complete, I will post any guides I’ve used on my blog so you can follow along as well. There is information online you can find about what gear to have before taking on the more difficult hikes. If this feels daunting at all, please know I will post any useful information on my blog that will help ease any uncertainty.

Check out their Instagram!

If you don’t want to take my word for it, then I’d recommend checking out their Instagram page and see for yourself.

View this post on Instagram

Happy International Mountain Day!⠀ ⠀ What was your favorite mountain that you climbed in 2019?⠀ ⠀ 📸: @just.trek

A post shared by Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge™ (@sixpackofpeaks) on Dec 11, 2019 at 9:51pm PST

Pricing options include

• $50 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 monthly giveaways
  • Peak reports and training tips
  • Finishers get reduced entry to the Finishers party
  • Welcome packet with embroidered patch and sticker pack

• $70 Trailblazer
  • Same as above
  • Includes 2020 Six-Pack of Peaks T-Shirt

For more information, click the image below!

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First hike of 2020 👏 at Strawberry 🍓 Peak. 7 1/2 miles in total and just under 6,200 ft. of elevation. Amazing way to begin the Six Pack of Peaks challenge for anyone looking to get out. Can’t beat the views thou 🏔❄️.

A post shared by Michael (@michaellxpez) on Mar 20, 2020 at 3:38pm PDT