HARDLINE CHALLENGE 2021
Like you, we feel like there is never enough time to fit in our bucketlist adventures. We've been putting ours off for over 3 years. This year we wanted to change that...This is the Hardline Challenge! Members of our team attempt to run & backpack over 200 miles climbing over 30,000 feet in elevation across 5 stages in order to finally check off these bucketlist trips! Failure to complete any stage results in elimination!
The first 3 stages are for training. They test our baseline fitness, stamina and elevation tolerance. The next two stages are 175 miles of bucketlist trails, pure elevation, and once in a lifetime experiences!
In order to protect the group, no team member can continue to the next stage if they fail to complete the previous stage.
Completing this Challenge pushes everyone farther than they've ever pushed before in body, mind, and knowledge, but the experiences and accomplishments we achieve along the way are unforgettable.
We truly desire to inspire confidence through experience - both our experience & our ability to help you, and your experience with our gear - so you feel absolutely certain you have what you need during your adventures.
Join us as we demonstrate that these types of bucket-list trips aren't just what other people do; you can do it too!
Stages
Stage 1: Base Line Fitness Test
As the team works towards being ready for the Highline Trail, they need to know where they're at physically & what to focus on during training. During Stage 1, the team loads up their fast packs runs up a steep 4.3 miles rising around 2000 ft in elevation, then runs back down. Anyone that doesn't make it cannot move on to the next stage!
Stage 2: Stamina Test
Both the Highline Trail (Stage 5) and the Skyline Trail (Stage 4) will require the guys at OV to hike or run at least 20 miles a day with loaded packs. This stage will test their stamina to see if they are up to high intensity trail time day after day! However, everyone is experiencing some sort of physical drawback since additional training after Stage 1. Anyone that doesn't make it cannot move on to the next stage! Who will make it?
Stage 3: Elevation Test
Both the Highline Trail (Stage 5) and the Skyline Trail (Stage 4) will require the guys at OV to hike or run at least 20 miles a day with loaded packs. This stage will test their stamina to see if they are up to high intensity trail time day after day! However, everyone is experiencing some sort of physical drawback since additional training after Stage 1. Anyone that doesn't make it cannot move on to the next stage! Who will make it?
Stage 4: Fastpacking The Skyline Trail
The OV team sets out to fastpack a custom 62-mile trail through the entire Tushar Mountain range. Here is where all the training from the first 3 stages really comes into play for the first time on a real thru hike! With extreme elevation change, lightning storms, and just 3 days to finish the trail, find out who will make it to the final stage!
Stage 5: Uinta Highline Trail
This whole summer we've been gearing up and preparing for the last stage of the Hardline Challenge: the Uinta Highline Trail! While trying to finish over 100 miles in 5 days, not everyone made it! Find out how we fared in the final episode of the Hardline Challenge as we faced possible hypothermia, electrocution, and more!
Meet The Participants
Tayson Whittaker
The man with the beard. Tayson is the "Mickey Mouse" of Outdoor Vitals. If you've seen anything from our Youtube channel before, you've seen Tayson. He's the founder, inspiration, and slave driver of the company. And he's scared of spiders.
Darren Styler
We're pretty sure Darren is numb to any pain and discomfort. He's quiet & sneaky - probably the most likely member of the team to be a ninja, but we wouldn't ever know it...
Brennan Clark
Super positive, super social. Brennan is all around the guy you want to hang out with on a Friday night. On the trail he's got some of the most impressive determination that we've ever seen!
Derek Rasmussen
If we were to take the word "adventure" and turn it into a person, we imagine it would look a lot like Derek. He's the biggest marketing nerd you've ever met, and can't get enough of being outside!
Brigham Crane
Brigham is our strong silent type heading up the product design department. As a military vet, he's got intense passion for ultralight backpacking and gummy bears.
Tyler Condie
He's the goal oriented guy, the competitive guy, the "all-in" guy. Tyler is always super excited about things, which is why he'll probably never manage budgets around here! But if you need a person to just "get it done," Tyler is your man!