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IronHike Endurance Series 2026–27: Choose Harder. Choose Your Summit.

At Mohawk Mountain, Cornwall, Connecticut & Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, Georgia, USA

IronHike enters its 4th season after expanding in 2026 to two venues and three Series. With its 2026 Mohawk Mountain Series now complete, the IronHike Endurance Series proudly extends a hearty invitation to Mountain Athletes from around the globe for the three Series on the 2026–27 calendar: Thu–Sun, December 10–13, 2026 on the Appalachian Trail Approach at Amicalola Falls, then Thu–Sun, June 3–6 and Thu–Sun, October 7–10, 2027 back at Mohawk. These Endurance Events are more of a personal odyssey than a competition, beckoning Mountain Athletes to reach the highest summit in their own mind, to choose harder, and to choose their summit.

🌊 The Newest Venue: The Appalachian Trail Approach at Amicalola Falls, Georgia

Amicalola Falls State Park is the Series’ newest venue, home to Georgia’s highest waterfall and the official southern gateway to the 2,197-mile Appalachian Trail. The course is the park’s iconic staircase: 604 stairs down to the Reflection Pool, 604 stairs back up, 1,208 stairs every lap. An Olympus Mons Ultra finisher there climbs 144,960 stairs. Base Camp sits at the top of the falls, the on-site Lodge offers a special Mountain Athlete rate, and Atlanta is about an hour and 15 minutes away.

Fast Facts

Appalachian Trail Approach · Fall: Thu–Sun, Dec. 10–13, 2026 · Amicalola Falls State Park · Dawsonville, GA · USA · Registration open

Mohawk Mountain · Spring: Thu–Sun, June 3–6, 2027 · Cornwall, CT · USA · Registration open

Mohawk Mountain · Fall: Thu–Sun, Oct. 7–10, 2027 · Cornwall, CT · USA · Registration open

Format: 7 Endurance Events · Solo, Trail Buddy, or Trail Family FlexRelay

A Lineup of Seven Events

IronHike is built for Mountain Athletes to crush the ordinary, offering a comprehensive lineup of seven Events: five named after a legendary mountain, and two Backyard Ultras, the format that is the current craze in the endurance world. Each is a beacon for personal achievement:

Kuwohi12 Hours · Target Summit: Kuwohi · 6,643' · Highest Point on the ATHighest summit on the Appalachian Trail. The entry point for first-time Mountain Athletes. If you can hike 4 hours over hilly terrain, you have the base fitness to start. The rest is mental. That’s what the Mountain is for.

Double Kuwohi24 Hours · Target Summit: Kuwohi x2 · 13,286' · Double the Highest Point on the ATBack-to-back Kuwohis across a full day and night. Night trekking by headlamp. 24 hours to find out what you are actually made of.

Denali48 Hours · Target Summit: Denali · 20,310' · Highest Peak in North AmericaNorth America’s highest peak. A full weekend on the Mountain. This is where mental grit separates the finishers from those who came to try.

Everest72 Hours · Target Summit: Everest · 29,032' · Highest Peak on EarthOwn Everest. Three days and nights on the Mountain.

Olympus Mons Ultra84 Hours · Target Summit: Olympus Mons · 72,000' · Tallest in the Solar SystemHighest summit in the solar system. Ranked Top 4 Hardest Ultra Events in the World. Only three finishers to date.

Answer the Bell - Basic24 Hours · Elevation Determined by Course · 1 Lap Per HourOne lap per hour, every hour, until you can’t anymore. IronHike’s elevation-based take on the Backyard Ultra format, on a real Mountain.

Answer the Bell - Full84 Hours · Elevation Determined by Course · 1 Lap Per Hour84 hours. The Backyard Ultra format: one lap per hour, every hour. Through darkness, fatigue, and doubt. Answer the bell until you just can’t anymore.

For those who prefer teamwork over solo endeavors, IronHike offers FlexRelay options for Trail Family and Trail Buddy Teams. This unique format allows team members to share the mileage and elevation, managing their laps and pace according to their own strategy and strength.

A Personal Odyssey, Not a Race

The IronHike Endurance Series strips away the conveniences, pushing participants to rely on their own resilience and determination. It is raw and uncompromising, offering a true test of endurance and spirit.

“There is nothing out there like IronHike. The camaraderie, the shared suffering, the sense of brotherhood. I’ve done Tough Mudders, Spartans, and marathons. Nothing compares.”
— Paul, IronHike Everest Finisher

About the IronHike Endurance Series, Mohawk Mountain & the Appalachian Trail Approach

Founded by John Kolker (Founder/CEO), a US Army Intelligence Veteran and sudden cardiac arrest survivor, the IronHike Endurance Series is a call to those who seek to redefine their boundaries. John, who has completed the Appalachian Trail, the New England Trail, and 15 triathlons, created IronHike to push the human spirit.

Co-founders join him:

Dan Allen: A world-class Masters Swimmer, accomplished triathlete, and US Army Military Police Veteran who brings IT expertise to the team.

Cliff Anders: A Longbow Apache Pilot US Army Veteran, strong hiker, former D1 College Football Player, and Team USA Bobsledder, known for his commitment to the trail.

Scott Festa: A former Enlisted Green Beret and US Army Medical Officer PA, an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker, and the first person to finish the grueling Olympus Mons Ultra in 2024.

Also on the Cadre:

Dave “Yeti” Darcy, Strategic Advocate: A former marathon coach, Appalachian Trail section hiker, and TGO Challenge finisher who crossed Scotland coast to coast. He holds more IronHike Event finishes than any Mountain Athlete in the world.

Tasha Boyd, IronCoach: An RN in Emergency Medicine, former CrossFit and nutrition coach, marathon runner, bodybuilder, and IronHike Everest Finisher who builds IronHike’s custom training plans.

This Cadre of US military veterans, long-distance hikers, coaches, and doers has created an invitation to embark on a journey that promises to be as rewarding as it is demanding, set against the backdrop of Mohawk Mountain’s breathtaking vistas and the Appalachian Trail Approach at Amicalola Falls. Mohawk Mountain Ski Area, located in Cornwall, Connecticut, holds the distinction of being Connecticut’s oldest ski area, operating since 1948 and remaining in the hands of the same family ownership that founded it. Cornwall is known as “the Greenest Town in Connecticut” for its forested land and natural beauty.

Key Details for Mountain Athletes

Go solo, buddy up with a friend, or form a Trail Family team in the FlexRelay format, switching Mountain Athletes anytime.

Camp in the Base Camp near the course with other Mountain Athletes and spectators.

Complimentary tenting is provided for all participants and up to six spectators.

This is an all-weather Series, so be ready for anything.

These Events are well suited for raising funds, awareness, and acceptance for a cause. IronHike Endurance Productions is supportive of using these Events as a vehicle for fundraising and socializing issues of significance.

About IronHike Endurance Productions

IronHike Endurance Productions, LLC is US Military Veteran built, owned, and operated. Trail-proven and Tribe-approved, IronHike hosts elevation-based Endurance Events at Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in Cornwall, Connecticut and Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Georgia. Learn more at ironhike.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IronHike Endurance Series 2026–27: Choose Harder. Choose Your Summit. At Mohawk Mountain, Cornwall, Connecticut & Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, Georgia, USA IronHike enters its 4th season after expanding in 2026 to two venues and three Series. With its 2026 Mohawk Mountain Series now complete, the IronHike Endurance Series proudly extends a hearty invitation to Mountain Athletes from around the globe for the three Series on the 2026-27 calendar: Thu-Sun, December 10-13, 2026 on the Appalachian Trail Approach at Amicalola Falls, then Thu-Sun, June 3-6 and Thu-Sun, October 7-10, 2027 back at Mohawk. These Endurance Events are more of a personal odyssey than a competition, beckoning Mountain Athletes to reach the highest summit in their own mind, to choose harder, and to choose their summit. The Newest Venue: The Appalachian Trail Approach at Amicalola Falls, Georgia Amicalola Falls State Park is the Series' newest venue, home to Georgia's highest waterfall and the official southern gateway to the 2,197-mile Appalachian Trail. The course is the park's iconic staircase: 604 stairs down to the Reflection Pool, 604 stairs back up, 1,208 stairs every lap. An Olympus Mons Ultra finisher there climbs 144,960 stairs. Base Camp sits at the top of the falls, the on-site Lodge offers a special Mountain Athlete rate, and Atlanta is about an hour and 15 minutes away. Fast Facts - Appalachian Trail Approach, Fall: Thu-Sun, Dec. 10-13, 2026, Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, GA, USA. Registration open. - Mohawk Mountain, Spring: Thu-Sun, June 3-6, 2027, Cornwall, CT, USA. Registration open. - Mohawk Mountain, Fall: Thu-Sun, Oct. 7-10, 2027, Cornwall, CT, USA. Registration open. - Format: 7 Endurance Events. Solo, Trail Buddy, or Trail Family FlexRelay. A Lineup of Seven Events IronHike is built for Mountain Athletes to crush the ordinary, offering a comprehensive lineup of seven Events: five named after a legendary mountain, and two Backyard Ultras, the format that is the current craze in the endurance world. Each is a beacon for personal achievement: Kuwohi (ironhike.com/kuwohi): 12 Hours. Target Summit: Kuwohi, 6,643 feet, Highest Point on the AT. Highest summit on the Appalachian Trail. The entry point for first-time Mountain Athletes. If you can hike 4 hours over hilly terrain, you have the base fitness to start. The rest is mental. That's what the Mountain is for. Double Kuwohi (ironhike.com/double-kuwohi): 24 Hours. Target Summit: Kuwohi x2, 13,286 feet, Double the Highest Point on the AT. Back-to-back Kuwohis across a full day and night. Night trekking by headlamp. 24 hours to find out what you are actually made of. Denali (ironhike.com/denali): 48 Hours. Target Summit: Denali, 20,310 feet, Highest Peak in North America. North America's highest peak. A full weekend on the Mountain. This is where mental grit separates the finishers from those who came to try. Everest (ironhike.com/everest): 72 Hours. Target Summit: Everest, 29,032 feet, Highest Peak on Earth. Own Everest. Three days and nights on the Mountain. Olympus Mons Ultra (ironhike.com/olympus-mons-ultra): 84 Hours. Target Summit: Olympus Mons, 72,000 feet, Tallest in the Solar System. Highest summit in the solar system. Ranked Top 4 Hardest Ultra Events in the World. Only three finishers to date. Answer the Bell - Basic (ironhike.com/answer-the-bell-ultra): 24 Hours. Elevation Determined by Course, 1 Lap Per Hour. One lap per hour, every hour, until you can't anymore. IronHike's elevation-based take on the Backyard Ultra format, on a real Mountain. Answer the Bell - Full (ironhike.com/answer-the-bell-ultra): 84 Hours. Elevation Determined by Course, 1 Lap Per Hour. 84 hours. The Backyard Ultra format: one lap per hour, every hour. Through darkness, fatigue, and doubt. Answer the bell until you just can't anymore. For those who prefer teamwork over solo endeavors, IronHike offers FlexRelay options for Trail Family and Trail Buddy Teams. This unique format allows team members to share the mileage and elevation, managing their laps and pace according to their own strategy and strength. A Personal Odyssey, Not a Race The IronHike Endurance Series strips away the conveniences, pushing participants to rely on their own resilience and determination. It is raw and uncompromising, offering a true test of endurance and spirit. "There is nothing out there like IronHike. The camaraderie, the shared suffering, the sense of brotherhood. I've done Tough Mudders, Spartans, and marathons. Nothing compares." - Paul, IronHike Everest Finisher About the IronHike Endurance Series, Mohawk Mountain and the Appalachian Trail Approach Founded by John Kolker (Founder/CEO), a US Army Intelligence Veteran and sudden cardiac arrest survivor, the IronHike Endurance Series (ironhike.com/about) is a call to those who seek to redefine their boundaries. John, who has completed the Appalachian Trail, the New England Trail, and 15 triathlons, created IronHike to push the human spirit. Co-founders join him: Dan Allen: A world-class Masters Swimmer, accomplished triathlete, and US Army Military Police Veteran who brings IT expertise to the team. Cliff Anders: A Longbow Apache Pilot US Army Veteran, strong hiker, former D1 College Football Player, and Team USA Bobsledder, known for his commitment to the trail. Scott Festa: A former Enlisted Green Beret and US Army Medical Officer PA, an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker, and the first person to finish the grueling Olympus Mons Ultra in 2024. Also on the Cadre: Dave "Yeti" Darcy, Strategic Advocate: A former marathon coach, Appalachian Trail section hiker, and TGO Challenge finisher who crossed Scotland coast to coast. He holds more IronHike Event finishes than any Mountain Athlete in the world. Tasha Boyd, IronCoach: An RN in Emergency Medicine, former CrossFit and nutrition coach, marathon runner, bodybuilder, and IronHike Everest Finisher who builds IronHike's custom training plans. This Cadre of US military veterans, long-distance hikers, coaches, and doers has created an invitation to embark on a journey that promises to be as rewarding as it is demanding, set against the backdrop of Mohawk Mountain's breathtaking vistas and the Appalachian Trail Approach at Amicalola Falls. Mohawk Mountain Ski Area, located in Cornwall, Connecticut, holds the distinction of being Connecticut's oldest ski area, operating since 1948 and remaining in the hands of the same family ownership that founded it. Cornwall is known as "the Greenest Town in Connecticut" for its forested land and natural beauty. Key Details for Mountain Athletes - Go solo, buddy up with a friend, or form a Trail Family team in the FlexRelay format, switching Mountain Athletes anytime. - Camp in the Base Camp near the course with other Mountain Athletes and spectators. - Complimentary tenting is provided for all participants and up to six spectators. - This is an all-weather Series, so be ready for anything. - These Events are well suited for raising funds, awareness, and acceptance for a cause. IronHike Endurance Productions is supportive of using these Events as a vehicle for fundraising and socializing issues of significance. About IronHike Endurance Productions IronHike Endurance Productions, LLC is US Military Veteran built, owned, and operated. Trail-proven and Tribe-approved, IronHike hosts elevation-based Endurance Events at Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in Cornwall, Connecticut and Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Georgia. Learn more at ironhike.com.

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▶More about IronHike Endurance Productions

Who We Are IronHike Endurance Productions is a veteran-owned endurance event series built by US Army veterans who hike, coach, and compete. IronHike produces elevation-based endurance events and multi-day mountain endurance events at Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in Cornwall, Connecticut and Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Georgia. The Mohawk Mountain endurance event series runs Spring and Fall each year. The IronHike Appalachian Trail Approach Fall Series runs each year at Amicalola Falls State Park, gateway to the 2,197-mile Appalachian Trail. This is not a race. It is a time-allotted elevation-based endurance event: there is no podium and no age group awards. Finish and earn a Finisher's Medal and the coveted Orange Finisher's Hat. Every foot of elevation gain is climbed one lap at a time by Mountain Athletes from 30 states and 3 countries and counting who came here to prove themselves right.

The 2026–27 Series Registration is open for the IronHike Appalachian Trail Approach Fall Series at Amicalola Falls State Park, Thu to Sun, December 10 to 13, 2026 in Dawsonville, Georgia, and for Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, Connecticut: the Spring Series Thu to Sun, June 3 to 6, 2027 and the Fall Series Thu to Sun, October 7 to 10, 2027. The Series offers seven elevation-based endurance events ranging from a 12-hour endurance event to an 84-hour endurance event, covering target elevations from 6,643 to 72,000+ feet.

The Tribe The IronHike Mountain Athlete Tribe is a shared suffering endurance community built from the ground up by veteran endurance sports athletes who believe personal transformation happens on a mountain. Athletes register as Solo Mountain Athletes, Trail Buddy pairs, and Trail Family teams to earn every foot of elevation together. The IronHike Tribe spans 30 states and 3 countries and counting, supported by the veteran-owned Cadre who trek every Event alongside them. The mountain does not care, but the Tribe does. This is not a spectator sport. You show up, you belong, and you prove yourself right one lap at a time.

What Makes Us Different IronHike is a self-paced mountain ultra series where every foot of elevation gain is earned one lap at a time. As a veteran-owned endurance event operating at Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in Cornwall, Connecticut and Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Georgia, IronHike delivers East Coast ultra endurance built for the toughest goals athletes set for themselves. IronHike has an elevation gain series built around the FlexRelay format that no other trail endurance event USA-wide can match.

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