Why I Do 24-Hour Traverses
- Because I’m normal-speed: Not slow, not fast. Just steady and need every daylight hour.
- Heavy packs are a nightmare in 4th–5th class: Ever try a rock step with a stove on your back?
- Sunrises and sunsets: Watching the light change while you’re halfway up a ridge? Magic.
- Covering huge terrain: You get deep into places backpackers take days to reach. And you’re back for brunch the next day.
- Protip: If you do decide to backpack into an objective instead of completing it in a push, make sure to start your backpack early the day before. This gives your body time to recover at camp.
- Charlotte Dome: Amazing 5.7 and 5.11 routes, 27-mile round trip. Get to camp early, nap, eat, go to bed early. Don’t roll in at 8pm and expect to crush the next day.
- Shasta / Rainier: If you’re not doing a quick push, set up basecamp early or you lose the advantage of turning it into an overnight. Big gear adds wear and tear—rest matters. Go early.
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How I Make Long Traverses Happen
- Emergency bivy only: No sleeping bag, pad, or stove. Just enough to survive if plans change.
- Water Strategy: Know the location of water sources including snow patches used for water. Don’t carry the weight of 3 liters if there’s a stream in several miles. Protip: I often start with a half liter and plan to refill and drink at a water source a few hours into the day. This gives you a spot to rest and refuel off your feet, as well as making your pack much lighter. When you collect snow, if it’s not melting fast enough, you can put the BeFree platypus inside your jacket or sunshirt for 30 minutes as you hike and it’ll all be water. It works!
- Know your exits: Bail options = confidence. Everyone in your party should know them.
- Minimalist rack: Bring only the rope length, diameter, and pro you need. Don’t pack the #5 “just in case.”
- Caffeine plan: At hour 12 when your brain turns to goo, add caffeine electrolytes, chews, or instant coffee to your Nalgene.
- Timing is everything: Hit cruxes when you’re fresh and in daylight. Route-finding in the dark isn’t a fun puzzle.
- Study lots: Maps, books, recent trip reports with GPX and photos. Beta from strangers = gold.
- Rest smart: Take off your pack. Sit down. Put your feet up. Choose spots with views so you stay stoked—and scout the route ahead while you snack.
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Final Prep
- A week before: Start sleeping more. Like, grandma-at-7pm more.
- Three days before: Eat and drink like you’re going into hibernation. Carbs and electrolytes are your new best friends.
- Night before: One drink max. Tons of carbs at lunch. Bed. Try not to overthink it. Overeating means fewer snack breaks later.
On the Day
Have a blast. Stay safe. Know your body and be kind to it. There’s a quiet joy in watching the sunrise and sunset on one outing—and knowing you did something bold, not reckless, that brought you closer to the mountains.
Related: The Cathedral Traverse – 24 Hours, Light and Not So Fast
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Pictures in this post are from Glacier Gorge Traverse in Rocky Mountain National Park, August 2024.