On this episode, I sat down with a bunch of damn Fools! And what I mean by that is they’re all participants of the legendary Fool’s Traverse Challenge. Back on Saturday, June 13th, our good friends over at TRVRS Outdoors hosted their infamous Fool’s Traverse — an absolutely brutal 11 peak endurance challenge through the mountains of the Mount Baldy region. If you’re a longtime listener of the pod, this adventure might already sound familiar. I actually dedicated an entire solo episode to my first attempt back in 2021 on Episode 40.
This year, I wanted to approach the challenge a little differently and be more strategic. Instead of waking up in the middle of the night and driving into the mountains, I decided to camp at Manker Flats Campground the evening before. The plan was simple: get a good night’s rest, wake up already on the mountain, and walk straight over to the check-in table at 2am.
As it turned out, a few friends and fellow trekkers had the exact same idea. Before we knew it, our neighboring campsites turned into a mini pre-adventure gathering filled with good conversations, laughs, and all the nervous excitement before a massive mountain challenge. Luckily, I had my mobile podcast setup with me because, as you know, you gotta stay ready rocksteady. I grabbed the gear, hit record, and captured an impromptu campsite conversation before we all stepped into the peak-bagging abyss.
Joining me around camp were Denise & Matt Graves, Warren Hikes, Seth, and myself. We talked about how each of us discovered the Fool’s Traverse, what inspired us to take on one of Southern California’s toughest mountain endurance challenges, our favorite sections and peaks along the route, and the mindset needed to tackle something this intense.
Stick around until the end of the episode to find out how each of us performed on challenge day and to hear my personal trek reflections from another unforgettable Fool’s Traverse experience.
Follow the Camp Fool's Crew:
https://www.instagram.com/warrenhikes
https://www.instagram.com/lost_on_a_planet
https://www.instagram.com/denisebgraves
https://www.instagram.com/mattgraves
https://www.instagram.com/justroc
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