The 2024 Chirico Ten-peat

Most Seattle-area hiking aficionados have climbed up the steep rocks of the Chirico trail at least once - but how many of you can say you’ve done it ten times back-to-back? This is the goal for participants in the annual “Chirico Tenpeat”, an unofficial gathering of avid trail runners held annually on the last Wednesday in April since its creation by James Varner in 2012.

Starting line at the 2024 Chirico Ten-peat, photo by Lisa Switzer

Although it is nominally a competition - the first male and female to complete the arduous 40+ miles and 16,000+ feet of elevation gain win the honor of wearing a hat shaped like a tiger - it is more aptly described as a celebration of the local trail running community. Organizers prop up several white tents and tables with ample space for stretching, staring at the sky, and attempting to recover between laps. Runners are encouraged to bring something to share, resulting in a veritable cornucopia of aid station food from homemade fruit loop muffins to Oreos to candy to fresh bacon fried up on the spot.

This year the eventful non-event took place on Wednesday, April 24th, an overcast morning marked by a blustery wind and an occasional spatter of raindrops. Many runners - myself included - dropped by for as many laps as they could squeeze in before the workday (in my case, only one). Though the steep jaunt through the forest was as beautiful as always, the most striking part of the day was the gentle enthusiasm of the hordes of runners cheering each other on. This, to me, is the real significance of the trail running community and the Alps themselves: a place for community and helping each other achieve more.

While I wasn’t able to stay for the rest of the day, I know from previous experience that the roadside aid station becomes a revolving door of runners, hikers, and support people throughout the day. Some people stop by later for their single lap. Some people sandwich a workday in between their efforts. Some likely saw the forecast and stayed home (like I almost did!). Some may have shown up for a normal hike and been subsumed by hordes of trail runners - and hopefully enjoyed the snacks as well! The cluster of tents becomes a chatty hub with the electric energy of a race, and it’s hard not to be marked by the sheer joy of playing in the mountains we are lucky to call home with a group of like-minded friends. This feeling of connection with both the land and the people is what underlies our work at IATC, and I feel lucky to be part of this community and organization.