Charleston Peak + Griffith Peak Trail

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Hiker standing beside the summit flagpole on Charleston Peak at 11,916 feet, holding the American flag against a backdrop of sweeping mountain ridgelines and drifting clouds

Trail Stats

18 mi , 4,700 ft gain, 11:00, Fasted, 3 LMNT

🪜 Stairs Equivalent

~470 flights (~8,000 steps up), StairMaster Conversion ~140 min (Lv. 6) • ~90 min (Lv. 10) • ~70 min (Lv. 12) 🏙️ Motivational Comparison That’s like climbing the Empire State Building 4.5 times… after running a half-marathon plus 5 more miles!

Hike Summary & Reflections

On June 7, 2025, we climbed not just Charleston, Nevada’s highest peak at 11,916 feet, but also added Griffith Peak (11,059 feet) on the return. Together, the double summit delivered nearly 18 miles of alpine training and back-to-back 11k summits — the most demanding single-day push before Whitney. Snow patches lingered on the upper switchbacks, testing both footwear and layering. The altitude carried lessons in pacing, while the double summit demanded confidence in gear and fueling.

Charleston + Griffith weren’t just a weekend hike — they were a dress rehearsal for Whitney. Pacing, nutrition, layering, and mental composure all came together, proving that TrailGenic wasn’t just chasing summits, but forging a repeatable high-altitude system.

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Wild Moments on the Trail

  • Crossing bristlecone pine forests that felt older than memory.
  • Sudden shifts from desert heat to icy snow crossings at 10k+.
  • Tagging Griffith Peak on tired legs — the decisive moment that confirmed Whitney readiness.
  • Clear skies revealing Las Vegas far below, glowing against alpine stillness.
  • At the summit, I crossed paths with Traviesos Hikers (@TraviesosHikers), a Hispanic hiking club. We shared stories, laughter, and a mutual love for the trail — a reminder that summits are never just about altitude, but also about connection.

    • Why This Hike Mattered

    Charleston + Griffith marked the turning point from training to readiness. It was the highest elevation we’d climbed, at the time, before Langley and Whitney, the longest continuous test of gear and fueling, and the first double-summit at altitude. This was where endurance training transformed into confidence — proof that TrailGenic’s system could hold up against the Sierras.

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    Trail Gear & Fuel

    This was the full-system stress test: Salomon ADV Skin vests carried hydration and fuel efficiently over 11+ hours, New Balance More Trail V3 for long distance, LMNT kept electrolytes balanced under shifting temps, and coconut butter provided compact, reliable energy. Arc’teryx Cormac + Ionia tees and Salomon Shakeout shorts handled both heat in the canyons and wind near the summits. The Garmin inReach Mini remained a critical safety anchor on long stretches of solitude.

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