Triple Crown Sports In Yosemite

Triple Crown Sports are done by athletes who are in extremely good shape. Yosemite National Park has its own triple crown and it doesn't even involve a horse! This is an extreme sport that has you climbing Half Dome, El Capitan and Glacier Point...all in one long day.

Half Dome

El Capitan

Glacier Point

Troy Kellenberger is the latest to receive the 2009 triple crown. He is not your average Yosemite hiker. On Saturday, (September 12th) the 19-year-old Fresno City College student made it to the top of Half Dome, El Capitan and Glacier Point -- all in one day.

This is hike not for the faint of heart or the weekend warrior. 

This triple crown feat is attempted by very few people. The route is 43 miles long and requires you to experience 24,000 feet of elevation change. You go 12,000 feet up and 12,000 feet down.

The most amazing thing about this athletic feat is that Kellenberger finished the linkup in 14 hours, 53 minutes.

"I felt pretty good right after," he said. "Just another day on the trail, I guess."

But what a day. Kellenberger and a friend started up Half Dome via the Mist Trail at midnight Saturday and returned at 4:20 am. Another friend accompanied him up El Capitan, which took from 5:50 to 11:10 am. At 12:10 pm., all three started up the Four-Mile Trail to Glacier Point. Kellenberger was back down to Yosemite valley by 2:53 pm.

Kellenberger said he "speed walked" on the uphill sections and ran the downhills.

"I know I can break 14 hours with a little better planning," he said. "Maybe next year."

Below is a video that I found on You Tube of Aaron and Joseph. A couple of hikers who did Yosemite's Triple Crown in 2007.

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