Last weekend I tackled 29029 Mont-Tremblant, my second 29029 Everesting event.
And let me just say—it was every bit as humbling, exhausting, and rewarding as my first climb in Idaho (and then some).
For those who aren’t familiar, 29029 is an ultra-endurance challenge where you hike a ski mountain enough times to equal the vertical gain of Mount Everest—29,029 feet. At Mont-Tremblant, that meant summiting 15 times in 36 hours or less, with gondola rides back down between ascents. Sounds wild? It is.
What It’s Like to Climb Everest in Quebec
The 29029 Mont-Tremblant course was no joke.
Each climb started with a steady grind that had my glutes and lungs questioning my life choices within the first few minutes. Midway up, a slightly flatter stretch (with an aid station oasis) offered just enough relief before the final push.
And oh, that final push—three false summits and the steepest, muddiest, most quad-scorching 500 vertical feet of the whole course. Think big step-ups with nothing but a slippery toehold to lean on. Multiply that sequence by 15, toss in a nighttime thunderstorm, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a weekend.
By the numbers:
- 15/15 ascents complete
- 29,029 vertical feet
- ~25 miles of hiking
- 32.5 hours total (just over 21 on my feet)
- 1 terrifying thunderstorm
- Countless ugly cries, belly laughs, new friends, and memories
The Hardest Part Wasn’t the Mountain
Funny thing about 29029 Mont-Tremblant—it wasn’t just about hiking up and down. The hardest part was showing up for myself day after day in training.
For 20 weeks, I laced up my shoes, climbed hills, knocked out what felt like a billion step-ups, and practiced fueling—all while juggling life as a single mom, work, a blistering heat wave, and the usual aches and pains of an active 45-year-old.
Conquering the fear of night hiking and pushing through that storm felt amazing. But the real victory was proving to myself that I could do the work to get there.
Your Mind Will Give Up Before Your Body Does
With only two events under my belt, I’m no 29029 guru. But for me, the thing that helped me finish was being willing to rest on the mountain.
29029 is a very well-organized event, complete with delicious meals, a sweet recovery room, and a comfy hotel bed steps from the base. And yes—it’s tempting to sneak off for a nap or hang out in the Normatec boots between ascents.
But if you want to finish? In my opinion, you can’t do much of that.
My strategy both times was to head right back up the hill after branding my board at the bottom (which you do after each ascent). Aside from a couple of hours of sleep after the storm, I rested on the gondola ride down and took a few breaths as needed on the course.
Did I want to sit down? Yes. A thousand times yes. But instead, I gave myself permission to slow down when I needed to. And honestly, I’m still amazed at what my body pulled off—especially when I was so freaking tired. And how great of a life lesson is that? When work feels impossible, or parenting feels impossible, you don’t have to quit—you can just slow down.
The Community Makes It
One of the very best parts of 29029 Mont-Tremblant was the people.
Imagine 300+ strangers who quickly become teammates, all cheering each other on through the highs, lows, and mid-climb ugly cries. Add in rockstar volunteers, inspiring coaches, and my own 26 Fitness fam cheering from afar, and it felt like the biggest pep rally of my life.
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering 29029 Mont-Tremblant, here’s my advice: train smart, pack dry socks, and prepare to be blown away—not just by the mountain, but by the entire experience.
It’s one of those events that pushes you past what you thought was possible and leaves you stronger, inside and out.