Climbing Everest in a weekend

Imagine climbing the height of Mount Everest, an intimidating 29,029 feet, not in the Himalayas, but on a single mountain in North America, over the course of a 36-hour time period. This challenge is the heart of 29029 Everesting, a unique ultra-endurance event that blends physical grit, mental strength, and a strong sense of community. Lisa Buoy, of Buffalo, has previously completed the challenge, and will attempt to do so again in June, at an event in Sun Valley, Idaho. “This is how you climb Everest without going to Mt. Everest.”      

29029 Everesting

Participants of 29029 Everesting events repeatedly hike up the side of a ski mountain until they’ve accumulated an elevation equivalent of summiting the world’s tallest peak. 29029 Everesting is not a race, it’s a personal challenge with a goal of climbing enough times to reach 29,029 vertical feet. After each ascent, participants ride a gondola down to the bottom, saving strength, and conserving energy as they prepare to do it all over again. 

Events are held at several locations across the U.S., including Stratton Mountain in Vermont, Snowbasin in Utah, and Sun Valley in Idaho. Each venue has its own unique terrain, weather, and level of difficulty.

The Challenge

Hiking a steep landscape through day and night transforms the experience into a test of endurance, resolve, and self-belief. Depending on the mountain, it may take roughly 15 ascents to reach 29,029 feet. Conditions can vary drastically, from intense daytime heat, to bone-chilling cold at night. When sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion set in, mental resilience becomes just as important as physical preparation.

Buoy’s inspiration to attempt a 29029 Everesting event came shortly after the height of the COVID Pandemic, during a personal journey of weight loss and health improvement. “I had really started to work out a lot. I was doing different challenges and getting stronger. I kept pushing myself.” 

A series of online videos caught Lisa’s attention, one of which highlighted an Everesting event held in Stratton, Vermont. “As soon as I watched the video, I was instantly hooked and obsessed.”

Buoy’s first attempt came in 2023. “The first year I did not finish.” Around the tenth lap, Buoy wasn’t feeling well. “I got a little bit in my head. This whole hike is not only your physical ability, it’s your mindset. I got in my head and realized I couldn’t finish. It took me a long time to accept that I basically gave up on myself. My goal was to finish. It was really hard to come to terms because I gave up on myself.” 

In reality, Buoy never gave up. Through perseverance and dedication, she attempted the challenge again the following year. That go-around paid off. In 2024, Buoy completed her first Everesting event at Snowbasin Mountain Resort in Utah. “It’s grueling, it’s hard. I was so sore, miserably sore when I finished. I swore up and down when I finished that I would never do it again.” It took all of four days for Buoy to reconsider. “When I got back to work someone asked me if I was going for the black bib.” That question ignited a spark, fueling Buoy to consider another climb, which she will attempt in June. First-timers start with wearing a white bib; if they successfully complete three events, they earn a black bib, an honor amongst the 29029 Everesting community. 

Training and Preparation

Preparing to climb 29,029 feet requires months of focused training. While you don’t need to be a hardcore athlete, building leg strength, stamina, and uphill hiking efficiency is crucial. 

Event organizers provide participants with a twenty-week training program that’s tiered for all levels of fitness endurance, from beginner to expert. Long hikes are part of the regime, but mental preparation, the ability to keep going when every muscle is screaming to stop, may be the hardest part to train for. “It’s a total mind game. You have to train your mind to be stronger than anything else.”

Buoy highlighted that Everesting is for all ages and athletic abilities. “Being a female at 50, and now at 55, I want to prove that I can do really hard things, and anybody can do hard things. This is not a race. This is you against the mountain. It doesn’t matter who finishes first or who finishes last, you all get the same thing.”

Focusing on how you approach the climb is a key factor in reaching the ultimate goal of finishing the course. “The first year, the only option was finishing. Last year, I changed my mind set to; this is step-by-step, aid station-to-aid station, mile-by-mile, summit-by-summit, and lap-by-lap. I have to focus on where I’m at now and not the end game.”

Community

A defining feature of 29029 Everesting are the participants themselves and the community they represent. Everesting is not a typical endurance event filled with elite athletes chasing podiums. It’s a supportive, inclusive environment where first-timers hike beside long-time veterans, all with the same goal of finishing the ascent.  

This camaraderie turns the event into something more than a physical trial; it becomes a transformative personal journey. When participants finally hit the summit for the last time, the emotion is raw and overwhelming. Tears, hugs, and the coveted red finisher hat mark the end of an unforgettable experience.

“You’re never alone on the mountain. There are 250 people going through it with you. The community I have met and the life-long friends that I’ve made is beyond what I thought the first time I signed up. Amazing people that do amazing things. I have dear friends for life.”

As Lisa Buoy strives to complete another climb, her husband, Rob, and the many friends she’s made, will be cheering her on every step of the way. 

Kyle Pease Foundation

The leader for 29029 is Brent Pease, a competitive triathlete. Brent’s brother, Kyle, has cerebral palsy. As the brothers grew up, Brent made sure Kyle was able to participate in the same athletic endeavors as everyone else. The Kyle Pease Foundation was established in 2011, after the brothers completed a triathlon together, in an effort to support athletes with disabilities. 

Part of participating in a 29029 Everlasting event is supporting the goal of raising money for athletes with disabilities. Prior to an event, Buoy raises money through the generous support of the community, with a goal of raising $10,000. If you would like to learn more about the Kyle Pease Foundation or contribute to Lisa Buoy’s mission to support disabled athletes, please visit: https://givebutter.com/KPFSunValley25/lisabuoy.