Elevation-Based Endurance Events.
7,140' to 72,590' Vertical Gain.
Push Your Limits.
FlexRelay Format • Solo or Team • 12-84 Hour Events • Multi-Day Series
Veteran-Founded
We Bring the Highest Mountains to You!
We rent a mountain for 4 days to bring you IronHike...
Step into the IronHike Endurance Series—a journey that transcends the physical realm and taps into the depths of your spirit. Imagine the perfect blend of hiking, trail running, and group camping, all designed to push your limits and awaken your inner strength. This event isn't just a test of endurance; it's a pilgrimage to the summit under your feet and the one in your own mind. It's a relentless, full-throttle mountain footslog, where every step you take is a step closer to unlocking your true potential.
Three ways to IronHike!
1. Go it alone, together.
As an Individual Mountain Athlete, you choose from 12, 24, 48, 72, and/or 84-hour Events.
2. With a trail buddy.
You and a buddy choose to share the mileage and elevation from 12, 24, 48, 72, and/or 84-hour Events.
3. With a trail family.
You and 2 or 3 other team members choose to form a team (Trail Family) and share the mileage and elevation from 12, 24, 48, 72, and/or 84-hour Events.
Events may require night trekking by headlamp.
Manage your laps and pace in our FlexRelay format. You also manage your rest, food, hydration, and sleep in your tent right off of the trail.
Here's What You Get (Included in your Registration):
- Exclusive single-day or multi-day Event entry for you, your team, and your spectators.
- One bad-ass, course for day and night trekking.
- Tenting for each night you are on the Mountain (you bring your tent).
- Base area pop-up space (set up your staging pop-up).
- Base Support Station with shade, hydration, snacks, and an area for any items you want to access on each lap.
- Custom training plans by Chaski Endurance Collective.
- Customized and Personalized Event Bib.
- Summit Tokens.
- Finisher's medal for all finishers.
- Finisher's hat for all finishers.
- Ski-patrol medical support.
- Free parking, Spectator area, and Restrooms.
- A new tribe, Bragging rights, Proof.
You will summit and descend the Mountain until reaching the equivalent elevation of:
Kuwohi - 15 Miles | 7,140' Elevation | 12-Hour
Double Kuwohi - 28+ Miles | 13,685' Elevation | 24-Hour
Denali - 43+ Miles | 20,825' Elevation | 48-Hour
Everest - 61+ Miles | 29,155' Elevation | 72-Hour
Olympus Mons - 152+ Miles | 72,590' Elevation | 84-Hour
Answer the Bell Ultra - Full or Basic
Proof
It's not so much about proving things to others, it's more about proving yourself right about you.
Change the story you tell yourself in your own head and get on up there.
We bring you the unrelenting mountain.
You bring the mettle in your heart.
Culture
Here at IronHike, we are true to our founding love of trail, love of the summit, and a rich universal trail heritage and culture.
We embrace these principles:
Plan ahead and prepare.
Leave no trace.
Leave only footprints.
Take only good vibes and photos from the mountain.
Respect wildlife.
Be considerate of others.
Tribe
First-timers, day-hikers, long-distance hikers, trail-runners, ordinary or elite, young and old all on the same mountain.
Each mountain athlete is out there getting after the ups and downs, side by side, and summit after summit.
Individuals, Trail Buddy and Trail Family teams are all welcome on the mountain.
What is IronHike?
The IronHike Endurance Series—a raw and intense experience that's part hike, part trail run, part group camping trip, and one of the most grueling events you'll ever face. This relentless, full-throttle mountain footslog will push you to your absolute limits and beyond. Through shared suffering, you'll find a new tribe of resilient mountain athletes and IronHikers who understand the depths of your journey. Prove yourself right about you and lean into each summit with your newfound community.
Mission
At IronHike, we redefine endurance events by integrating physical, mental, and spiritual growth.
Our events are not races — no podiums, age group awards, or records to break. Instead, we focus on personal transformation through shared suffering and resilience.
Our mission is to offer life-changing experiences for individuals of all fitness and skill levels. From everyday adventurers to elite mountain athletes, everyone is encouraged to push beyond their comfort zones and discover their inner strength.
We provide multi-elevation endurance trail events worldwide, bringing these transformative experiences to a global community.
Venue
We acquire access to a mountain venue with base camp, summit, parking, tenting area, spectator areas, restrooms, and facilities for 4 days.
IronHike mountain athletes camp out in our tent city on-site and we allow tenting, and we allow tenting spectators to support them. Each Mountain Athlete pushes on until they complete their goal elevation within the allotted time
All Events are day and night trekking.
Events
IronHike is for those who want to live life to the fullest. Challenges change us and life's obstacles reveal our true selves.
Our goal is to give you that perfect mountain venue and events that will push hard on what you are made of in a way that will allow you to become a better version of yourself.
More than an event series, IronHike is a community of people passionate about overcoming obstacles and discovering their greatest selves.
When you find the mettle in your heart, you'll be able to achieve things you never thought possible.
IronCoaching
Check out our recorded IronCoaching calls with IronHike Cadre who have successfully completed IronHike endurance events.
Not only will you gain insight on training, nutrition, hydration, mindset, and gear on our calls, but you’ll also have access to IronCoach Patty via email to answer any questions that crop up.
Basics
Just the nitty gritty... getting up there and back down.
Uncomplicated non-chichi events with:
- No yurts - glamping or gliking is not a thing at IronHike.
- No lifts or gondolas - get up there and down yourself... our events are entirely self-powered.
Training
Reaching the summit requires dedication, perseverance, and a great deal of determination.
We are currently collaborating with the Chaski Endurance Collective to bring you customized training options.
Trail Cred - The IronHike Team is full of US Military Veterans and Trail Crushers
Our founding cadre are a team of long-distance hikers, doers, and positive thinkers, many of us being proud US Army veterans. We founded IronHike to offer a highly unique venue that hosts extraordinary trail events for ordinary and extraordinary humans alike, all with one thing in common: the drive to push their individual limits. Our mission is to create these transformative experiences while staying true to our love of trail and the belief that pushing limits through movement can heal, transform, and enrich lives.
John Kolker | Founder/CEO
Trailnamed "Ironheart", John is a US Army Intelligence Veteran and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor, John passionately embraced extreme events starting in 2012 as a form of recovery, prevention, and growth.
He has since triathloned 15 times, hiked the full Appalachian Trail (AT) and the New England Trail (NET) national scenic trails in the USA.
He has also completed a Pilgrimage on the Camino Portuguese from Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
He continues to chip away at a BMT (Benton MacKaye Trail) hike.
IronHike is John's offering to the world as a means of challenging one's self to embrace the power, mettle, and gumption within the human spirit.
Dan Allen | Co-Founder
Trailnamed "Turnpike", Dan is a world-class Masters Swimmer, hiker, and powerful triathlete with multiple podium visits. Dan is a US Army Military Police Veteran.
He continues to chip away at the Appalachian Trail and is training for several national races and challenges.
A programmer and IT professional, Dan advises the IronHike team on several aspects of the business.
Cliff Anders | Co-Founder
Strong hiker, accomplished musician, and a Longbow Apache Pilot US Army Veteran, Cliff's love of trail is unparalleled. Cliff goes by the trailname "Bushwacker".
Cliff has a storied life as a former D1 College Football Player and Team USA Bobsledder and continued professional service as a helicopter pilot.
Cliff continues to go out for his "Yearly 100" as he continues his NOBO march up the Appalachian trail year after year.
Cliff's energy and wisdom bring rich advice in the building of IronHike.
Scott Festa | Co-Founder
Trailnamed "Ukulele Scott", Scott is a former Enlisted Green Beret and US Army Medical Officer PA and accomplished trail musician.
Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker, Scott completed the AT in 2020.
Scott engages in extreme challenge events annually for charity. In the 2023 Inaugural Series, he became the first Mountain Athlete to not finish the Olympus Mons Ultra.
In June of 2024 he then went on to finish Olympus Mons in just over 63 hours, which is still the Fastest Known Time FKT, unofficially.
Currently, Scott is a civilian medical entrepreneur and his keen business insights are influential in the IronHike team's decisions.
Paul Sealy | Co-Founder
Trailnamed "PackMan", Paul is an avid Appalachian Trail Hiker who continues to chip away miles on the AT.
An expert professional trail maintainer and outdoorsman, his love of the trail inspires many. Paul is dedicated to self-reliant, off-the-grid living at his homestead in Fancy Gap Virginia.
Paul is also a founder and entrepreneur focused on the mission of increasing food security and creating free fresh food outlets in food desert communities in the Carolinas by inspiring a culture of sharing and educating our neighbors on self-sustained gardening. Read more about this endeavor at dogoodpantry.org.
Patty Williamson | IronCoach
Patty Williamson is a 29029 Everesting and IronHike Everest Event Finisher. She is an avid hiker, nature lover, and fitness nut. Whether it’s climbing Kilimanjaro, hiking the Inca Trail, canyoneering in Mexico, or exploring the gnarliest trails in Texas, she loves a challenge.
Patty discovered IronHike in 2024 and completed the Everest climb in October. It instantly felt like she’d found her niche – the Mountain Athletes, the IronHike team, Mohawk Mountain, the physical and mental challenge – everything just felt right.
With decades of experience in personal training, nutrition coaching, trauma therapy, and yoga and meditation instruction, she wanted to offer her expertise to anyone interested in IronHike.
