Expectations
Everest Freedom Challenge
What to Expect from the Climb
In a word, challenge. Moving mountains is hard, that’s why we do it.
Full Summit Tier
For the Full Summit tier you will climb 9 mountains in 3 days, covering the equivalent vertical distance of the height of Everest, 8848m over 3 days. This means ~3000m vertical and 25km hiking on average per day. Some experts equate 100m of elevation gain to 1km of horizontal travel in terms of energy required; this means you will cover the equivalent of 165km of flat-ground hiking over 3 days.
Base Camp Tier
The Base Camp tier will climb 2 peaks a day for 3 days, an elevation of 5669m, which is hiking the equivalent of starting at Sea Level and finishing at Everest Base Camp. This means ~1900m vertical and 16km of hiking per day for a flat-ground equivalent of just over 100km hiking on the weekend. [2 peaks a day for 3 days]
Mountain Movers Tier
Mountain Movers will climb 1 peak a day for 3 days and ascend approximately 1000m/day and cover 25km total for a flat-ground equivalent of 55km hiking on the weekend. [1 peak a day for 3 days]
Choosing a Tier
These are big numbers, but they are attainable. Our alumni range in age from 16 to 72, from novice climbers to experienced endurance athletes. You do not need to be an ultra-marathoner to achieve any of the tiers, but you do need a lot of heart. Training is also critical to achieve your goals especially without injury.
When choosing which tier you would like to participate in, consider the following: Your current fitness and experience levels, the amount of time you can dedicate to training, and how many mountains you can comfortably climb in 3 days. Then kick it up a notch out of your comfort zone. Moving mountains is not meant to be comfortable, but it also isn’t meant to injure you. Be ambitious but be realistic. If you have questions, please ask. We can help you find the resources you need to map out a training plan.
What You can Expect at the Event
At the Ranch
- Camping: We will be camping at a group campsite in Kananaskis with outhouses and limited electricity via generator during the day. Pay showers are available at nearby campgrounds if desired.
- Food: We will feed you all your meals` starting with breakfast on Thursday morning, finishing with breakfast Sunday. We will do our best to accommodate any dietary requirements.
- Transportation: We will provide rides to and from each trailhead for hiking. This is mandatory for safety reasons for Full Summit and Base Camp teams, optional for Mountain Movers who wish to drive themselves (carpooling is strongly encouraged).
- We have space for RVs if you prefer. There are no hook-ups and there will be a small additional fee for RVs, payable on registration.
On the Trail
We will provide you with the tools you need to navigate as well as food, snacks, hydration, and any other supports we can think of before and after your hikes. The hiking portion is fully self-guided and self-supported once you are on the trail. Safety is crucial, so no one hikes alone. This also makes it more fun!
Spiritually
At Freedom 8848 we are motivated to action by our Christian faith. We will be expressing this with prayer and songs of celebration and invite everyone to join us. All are welcome regardless of their faith background, and no one will be pressured to join in anything they aren’t comfortable with.
Education
Our partner organizations will be with us on the trail and at the Ranch to share their stories and words of encouragement, and to educate us in the world of trafficking, what’s being done to fight it, and ways we can engage. This keeps the focus of the event on the reason we are out there doing it.
What we Expect from You Before the Event
E-Learning
Included with your registration is a complete e-learning suite covering everything you need to know about Everest Freedom Challenge, our partners, trafficking, and fundraising. This will be the first step in your journey where we provide you the tools you need to succeed! Topics will include an introduction to Freedom 8848 and our partners, overview of the event, what is Human Trafficking, Prevention, and of course fundraising. You will need to complete the e-learning BEFORE you start fundraising! You can expect it to take 2-3 hours, so starting early and breaking it up into smaller segments is ideal.
Seminars
We will have a series of seminars from each of our partner organizations which will help you to gain greater understanding of their work, learn ways you can engage, and ask questions in an interactive format. We want to equip you with information to help you in your fundraising efforts. Please make every effort to attend all of the webinars. We get that life happens and not everyone can be available for all the events, we just ask you to make it a priority. The good news is the seminars are recorded and can be watched at a later date, although live and interactive is always preferred.
Partner / Training Hikes
We will also host a series of partner hikes which are designed to give you a chance to engage with our partners, other climbers, and members of the Freedom 8848 team. Here you can ask questions, get to know each other, and of course have a great time in the mountains! Training and conditioning? It will also be an opportunity to gauge where you’re at with your fitness levels and give you insight on ways to prepare before the event.
Fundraising
Fundraising is a critical part of the Everest Freedom Challenge experience. For many the emotional challenge of fundraising and raising awareness is an even tougher obstacle to overcome than climbing Everest. It can feel challenging and awkward to bring up the topic of sex trafficking in a conversation. However, remember that the goal of the Everest Freedom Challenge is to support our partner organizations in the fight against sex trafficking so they can continue in their difficult work. Completing the challenge will feel fulfilling, but especially when you know you’ve contributed tangible funds that go directly to the prevention, rescue, and restoration of trafficking survivors.
Alumni in the past have shared that starting these conversations with their contacts was much easier than expected, and the amount of encouragement, support, and funds they received surpassed their expectations. Share what you’re doing and why, what you learn, and invite people to join you in the fight however they can. Most people know at least a bit about the problem of sex trafficking; many will be inspired by your courage and dedication and will want to support you!
Because this is a fundraiser, a minimum of $1,000 must be raised by each climber at least one week before the event in order to participate. But don’t let this minimum limit you, we encourage you to set your goals high, and shoot for the equivalent of Everest in dollars: $8848! We have had participants from all walks of life manage to raise over $10,000 with several reaching over $15,000!
New for 2025, our climbers will choose one Freedom Partner for whom they will fundraise. This decision doesn’t have to be made until the e-learning is complete and you feel inspired by one organization in particular.
Something we talk about at Freedom 8848 is “choosing our hard,” for those who have no choice. So, if asking for funds feels hard, and physical training is hard, remember you’re choosing to do it for those whose life is hard and who have little or no choice to change it.