The Conquer
& IronHikeComparison3.6 miles and 605 steps, every hour.
Or 604 stairs up and 604 back down, every hour.
Same park, same steps, one week apartWe have deep respect for The Conquer, the Backyard Ultra that already runs on the Amicalola Falls stairs. Its loop proved a Backyard Ultra belongs on these steps. Answer the Bell - Basic runs on the same staircase one week later, with a shorter lap that is all staircase: every stair up and every stair back down, every hour, for 24 hours.
The ConquerBilled as The Toughest Backyard Ultra, The Conquer starts at 8 AM on the first Saturday in December at Amicalola Falls State Park. Each 3.6-mile loop starts at the top of the falls, drops down the East Ridge trail, follows the Mountain Laurel trail and climbs the 605 steps of the AT Approach Trail back to the top, with about 1,025 feet of elevation. The last man and the last woman standing each win $1,000, and the loop record is 36.
IronHike Answer the Bell - Basic24 hours on the AT Approach Trail staircase at Amicalola Falls, one lap every hour, on the hour: 24 laps, 36 miles, 14,496 feet up and back down and 28,992 stairs, 604 up and 604 down every lap. Run it or power-hike it. Everyone who answers every bell wins. Answer the Bell - Basic $360 Solo. Want more than 24 hours? Answer the Bell - Full keeps ringing for 84 hours. Veteran-owned and operated.
The honest assessmentIronHike is better on 7, the Conquer on 6, and 9 are a tie. The Conquer wins on distance, climbing, prize money, price and its record: a longer, faster, hillier loop with real money for the last man and woman standing. IronHike wins on the staircase and the finish: every stair back down on foot, a lap you can power-hike, everyone who answers every bell wins, three Series a year, a training plan in every registration, and alumni and military discounts.
The Conquer & Answer the Bell - Basic💪 More badassery for the buckLegend: ✓ Better = Tie ✓ Good – Not offeredThe Conquer
Backyard Ultra
Amicalola Falls State Park, GA - USAIronHike
Answer the Bell - Basic
Amicalola Falls State Park, GA - USAFormat = Backyard Ultra format: one loop every hour, on the hour = Backyard Ultra format: one lap every hour, on the hour Loop = 3.6 miles: down the East Ridge trail, along the Mountain Laurel trail, then up the AT Approach Trail = 1.5 miles at Amicalola: up and back down the AT Approach Trail staircase Stairs per Loop ✓ 605 steps up; down by trail ✓ 1,208 stairs: 604 up and 604 back down Elevation per Loop ✓ About 1,025 feet ✓ 604 feet up and 604 feet back down Pace to Make the Bell ✓ 3.6 miles in under an hour: about 16:40 per mile ✓ 1.5 miles in under an hour: about 40 minutes per mile, run or power-hike Distance in 24 Hours ✓ About 84 to 86 miles ✓ 36 miles Duration = Until one runner is left; the record is 36 loops = 24 hours, noon to noon; Answer the Bell - Full runs 84 hours Finishers ✓ One winner. Everyone else earns a custom DNW (Did Not Win) medal. ✓ Everyone who answers every bell wins and earns a finisher medal and hat Prize Money ✓ $1,000 to the last man and $1,000 to the last woman standing, plus $1,000 more past the 36-loop record ✓ None. The Iron Award goes to the Mountain Athlete who shows the most iron, mettle and gumption. Milestone Awards = Marathon from Hell (8 loops), Full Day of Hell (24 loops), Everest in One Day (29 loops) = Finisher medal, hat and a cookie Location = Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, Georgia = The staircase at Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, Georgia; Answer the Bell also runs at Mohawk Mountain, Cornwall, Connecticut Dates ✓ Once a year in early December (December 5, 2026, 8 AM) ✓ 3 Series a year: December at Amicalola (December 12, 2026, noon), June and October at Mohawk Registration = Open on UltraSignup until December 1 = Open registration Price Range ✓ $175, or $189.87 with fees ✓ Answer the Bell - Basic $360 Solo Cost per Hour ✓ About $8 an hour if you last 24 hours ✓ $15 an hour Base Camp = A 10x10 tent spot, or a table under the support tent = Free tent space steps from the course, plus a group rate at the Amicalola Falls Lodge Crew = Crews can help at the finish area; no pacers = Cadre and up to 6 spectators at Base Camp; spectators stay off the course Training Plan Included – None listed ✓ Custom training plans from IronCoach Tasha and the Cadre Alumni Discount – None listed ✓ Generous Military & First Responder Discount – None listed ✓ $70 off with code brave70 Getting There = About 1 hour 15 minutes from Atlanta = Amicalola is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Atlanta; Mohawk is about 1 hour from Hartford World Stage ✓ Billed as The Toughest Backyard Ultra; loop record 36 ✓ None. Not a race. You vs the clock. Scorecard= Tied on 9 of 22 comparisonsThe Conquer✓ Better = 6✓ Good = 4– Not offered = 3Answer the Bell - Basic✓ Better = 7✓ Good = 6– Not offered = 0We built this comparison from each organizer’s public information, with real respect for every event on it. Scenery and the Better / Tie / Good marks are our own honest judgment, and “Not offered” means not offered to the best of our knowledge. Details change, so check with the organizer before you register, and if you spot something we should update, tell us. We’ll gladly fix it. IronHike is not affiliated with or endorsed by any event on this page. Last checked October 2026.
See Answer the Bell 🔔💬 “I have done marathons and a 50K. I read about the backyard format and could not sleep that night. Something about the idea of answering a bell every hour until you just cannot anymore. I had to know if I had it.”
— Priya · IronHike Mountain Athlete
▲ ▲ ▲We want to see you on our Mountain too!The Conquer asks who is the last one standing. Answer the Bell asks whether you can answer every bell for 24 hours, every stair up and every stair back down.
Running The Conquer on December 5? Come back on December 12 and Answer the Bell on the same steps.
It’s you versus the whole mountain (up and down) and you against who you were yesterday.
Current EventsPick your Series 🎯12 Hours⛰️ Mohawk: 12 laps · 15 miles · 7,140’🌊 Amicalola Falls: 11 laps · 16.5 miles · 6,644’ · 13,288 stairsSee Kuwohi24 Hours⛰️ Mohawk: 23 laps · 28.75 miles · 13,685’🌊 Amicalola Falls: 22 laps · 33 miles · 13,288’ · 26,576 stairsSee Double Kuwohi24 Hours⛰️ Mohawk: 24 laps · 30 miles · 14,280’🌊 Amicalola Falls: 24 laps · 36 miles · 14,496’ · 28,992 stairsSee Answer the Bell - Basic48 Hours⛰️ Mohawk: 35 laps · 43.75 miles · 20,825’🌊 Amicalola Falls: 34 laps · 51 miles · 20,536’ · 41,072 stairsSee Denali72 Hours⛰️ Mohawk: 49 laps · 61.25 miles · 29,155’🌊 Amicalola Falls: 49 laps · 73.5 miles · 29,596’ · 59,192 stairsSee Everest84 Hours⛰️ Mohawk: 84 laps · 105 miles · 49,980’🌊 Amicalola Falls: 84 laps · 126 miles · 50,736’ · 101,472 stairsSee Answer the Bell - Full84 Hours · Top 4 Hardest Ultra Events in the World⛰️ Mohawk: 122 laps · 152.5 miles · 72,590’🌊 Amicalola Falls: 120 laps · 180 miles · 72,480’ · 144,960 stairsSee Olympus Mons Ultra💬 “The camaraderie at 2:00 AM keeps you moving when legs quit.”
— Jim T · IronHike Olympus Mons Athlete
❓ Get your questions answered here.
Training, gear, tenting, night laps, what to expect at Mohawk and Amicalola, and plenty more. Or ask your own.
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