• What is this?
• Why should you do this?
• How do you play? What are the rules?

The Santa Monica Mountain Challenge is the most challenging and spiritually demanding “trail’ run of your life. And/or it’s the funnest high-angle dirt scramble ever conceived of. Either way it’s 14.7 mile Thrash linking the four highest peaks in the Santa Monica Mountains. Get a cue sheet. Bring a friend. Expect chaparral, sage, rattlesnakes, Type 2 Fun, Ego Death, Exercise Induced Exorcism and, possibly, Ascension.

The first 10 teams to complete the challenge and submit proof of completion will receive FKT Thrash Awards—2 Custom Nalgene Bottles, 2 Ciele PYNCaps, 2 limited edition L/S FKT t-shirts, and a grip of  limited edition FKT stickers. Teams 11 to infinity that complete the challenge and submit proof of completion will receive an official Route Sticker and whatever other random shit we feel like putting into an envelope at that time. Regardless—and more importantly—attempting and/or completing this challenge will lead to pedestrian clarity, an appreciation for hot and cold running water,Type 2 Fun, Ego Death, Exorcism, Rapture and Ascension. 99% of these exist entirely outside the context of Late Stage Capitalism, are carbon neutral and don’t cause waste.

The course opens at 12:01am January 27th, 2024 and never closes. This challenge is open to the public and costs nothing to do. FKT is modeled after the Brevet Cards used by an esoteric cycling tradition called Randonneuring. The basic gist is this; you and a friend can complete the challenge on your own time whenever you want. All you need is the GPX file and a cue sheet which you will stamp at each of the three checkpoints. Once the challenge is finished you submit proof of completion in the form of a photograph of your cue sheet featuring all stamps from the checkpoints.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF RULES AND ALL THE BETA YOU WILL NEED CLICK THIS LINK.

HOW TO PLAY

1. Watch the FKT SMMC Beta Video in its entirety. Don’t scrub unless you wanna get scrubbed.
2. Check-out and study the annotated Beta Map. Maybe screenshot it and keep it on your phone?
3. Download this GPX file.
4. Download the GPS coordinates to Checkpoint One, Checkpoint Two and Checkpoint Three Stamp Caches. 
   • Boney Mountain
   • Sycamore Falls
   • Balanced Rock
     
5. Pick-up a cue sheet at Luft Los Angeles. If you can’t make it to Luft holler, we’ll mail you one.
6. Find a reliable friend and Endurance Partner to join you. Teams of 2 or more  required.
7. Anytime after 12:01am January 27th run, hike, scramble and thrash this challenge.
8. Complete the challenge the funnest you know how. Stephen Kersh (course guide)  did it in 3 hours and 29  minutes. If you beat that and can prove it, we’ll make you a custom technical running jacket. Otherwise who cares about time. This is about fun however you define it. And friendship. And Collective Effervescence.
9. Along the way stop at each Checkpoint. Locate the Stamp Cache—an olive green pelican case chained to the ground. Inside each Stamp Cache  you will find a stamp and an inkpad. Stamp your Cue Sheet in the space provided and please return the stamp and ink pad into the olive green pelican case.
10. Take clips and snaps at key emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically challenging moments. 
11. If you CAN’T FIND the Stamp Cache take a photograph of yourself at the checkpoint and smear something onto your Cue Sheet onto the area provided for stamping. Dirt, mud, boogers, blood, gel, snot, tears, sweat, etc.; are all accepted.
12. Fill out the Digital Brevet Card at the bottom of this page and submit your proof of completion.
13. The course will be open for eternity BUT the first 10 teams to complete the challenge and submit proof of completion will receive an FKT Thrash Award. Teams 11 to infinity that complete the challenge and submit proof of completion will receive an official Route Sticker and whatever other random shit we feel like putting into an envelope at that time.