Sat, June 6, 2026, Noon to Midnight

Course:
12 hours
12 laps
15 miles
7,140 Feet Elevation Gain and Loss!

Inspiration:  Highest Summit on The Appalachian Trail
Significance: Do this all in one really hard day and sleep over when you are done.
Participation: Individual Mountain Athletes, Trail Buddy, and Trail Family
Description:  You may have to trek past sunset to get up and down the mountain until you reach the elevation gain (and loss) equivalent to the highest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains on the Appalachian Trail in NC / TN USA.
Type:  Power-hike | Trail Run | Endurance Challenge | Ski Slope Loop 

IronHike Answer the Bell Ultra – Full & Basic

Dates:
Full Ultra: Wed, June 3, 2026, Midnight – Sun, June 7, 2026, Noon
Basic Ultra: Sat, June 6, 2026, Noon – Sun, June 7, 2026, Noon

Course Options:
Full: 84 hours · 84 laps · 100.8 miles · 50,400 ft elevation gain/loss
Basic: 24 hours · 24 laps · 28.8 miles · 14,400 ft elevation gain/loss Each lap: 1.2 miles with 600 feet of vertical gain and loss—on the hour, every hour.

Inspiration: The IronHike Answer the Bell Ultra is a summit-by-summit battle of purpose, discipline, and resilience. Whether you’re committing to four relentless days or diving into a concentrated 24-hour trial, this challenge strips away distractions and reveals your inner resolve.

Significance: From midnight starts to midday pushes, through darkness, fatigue, and doubt—you’ll hike, climb, and reset, hour after hour, in pursuit of something greater than a summit: a deeper connection to your mission, your limits, and your strength.

Participation: Individual Mountain Athletes only.

Purpose: This event fuels impact. Whether you're trekking for wounded veterans, raising funds for medical research, or showing up for a personal cause—the Answer the Bell Ultra transforms effort into service and miles into meaning.

Type: Power-trek · Trail Run · Endurance Event · Ski Slope Loop

Sat, June 6, 2026, Noon to Sun, June 7, 2026, Noon

Course:
24 hours
23 laps
28.75 miles
13,685 feet of elevation gain and loss

Inspiration: Highest Summit on The Appalachian Trail (TWICE)
Significance: This one could take all day and all night.
Participation: Individual Mountain Athletes, Trail Buddy, and Trail Family
Description:  You will have a full 24 hours to get up and down the mountain until you reach the elevation gain (and loss) equivalent to twice the highest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains on the Appalachian Trail in NC / TN USA.
Type:  Power-hike | Trail Run | Endurance Challenge | Ski Slope Loop

Fri, June 5, 2026, Noon to Sun, June 7, 2026, Noon

Course:
48 hours
35 laps
43.75 miles
20,825 feet of elevation gain and loss

Inspiration: Highest Summit in USA / North America
Significance: This is the perfect "Damn-this-is-hard" weekend mountain trek! Get it done in 48 hours and get back to your other life on Monday.
Participation: Individual Mountain Athletes, Trail Buddy, and Trail Family
Description: You will have 2 days to get up and down the mountain until you reach the elevation gain (and loss) equivalent to the tallest mountain in North America, located in south-central Alaska. This one is perfect for serious mountain athletes who want to invest a whole weekend.
Type:  Power-hike | Trail Run | Endurance Challenge | Ski Slope Loop | Ultra Distance

Thu, June 4, 2026, Noon to Sun, June 7, 2026, Noon

Course:
72 hours
49 laps
61.25 miles
29,155 feet of elevation gain and loss

Inspiration: Highest Summit on Earth
Significance: This is our version of the currently popular event known as "Everesting". What makes us a bit different is that it is completely self-powered, with no lifts, so you are trekking to the equivalent elevation of Everest and back down! This is NOT a race, this is an investment in you. Do something over-the-top hard and let it change you for the better.
Participation: Individual, Trail Buddy, and Trail Family
Description: You will have 3 days to get up and down the mountain at our venue until you reach the whopping elevation gain (and loss) equivalent to the highest Mountain on Earth found at the Mahalangur Himal, Himalayas in Nepal and China!
Type:  Everesting Challenge | Power-hike | Trail Run | Endurance Challenge | Ski Slope Loop | Ultra Distance 

Wed, June 3, 2026, Midnight to Sun, June 7, 2026, Noon


Course:

84 hours
122 laps
152.5 miles
72,590 feet of elevation gain and loss

Inspiration: Highest Summit in the Solar System on Mars
Significance: The most elevation gain we have seen anywhere in one challenge, 72+K feet up and down! It is equivalent to the highest summit in the solar system on Mars! This one reaches "are-you-kidding-me?" status and lasts a whopping 84 hours. Only try this one if you have done all the work to get here. This is a Beyond-Everesting-Challenge!
Participation: Individual, Trail Buddy, and Trail Family
Description: You will have 3.5 days to get up and down the mountain until you reach the whopping elevation gain (and loss) equivalent to the highest planetary mountain in our Solar System found in the Tharsis Montes region on Mars!
Type:  Beyond-Everesting-Challenge | Power-hike | Trail Run | Endurance Challenge | Ski Slope Loop | Ultra Distance

NOTE: Currently the most extreme elevation profile of any Ultra in the world!  There are currently only TWO finishers in the history of this event and the unofficial FKT was captured at just over 63 hours.