Wuling Everesting Challenge Guide: The Ultimate Endurance Test of Climbing 8,848m

Everesting is the most extreme endurance challenge in cycling: climbing the same mountain over and over until you accumulate the height of Mount Everest — 8,848m. Using Wuling’s 2,855m of elevation gain per ascent, that means repeating the climb 3.1 times — a total distance of about 340 km and 8,900m of climbing. Fewer than 20 people in all of Taiwan have completed it.

What Is Everesting

Origins

The challenge was started in 2014 by Australian cyclist George Mallory, in memory of Mount Everest explorer Andrew Irvine. The rules:

• Climb the same hill or mountain repeatedly
• No stopping for sleep or extended rest
• Accumulate 8,848m of elevation gain
• Automatically timed and uploaded to Strava / Everesting.cc

Why Wuling

• Taiwan’s most iconic climb
• 2,855m of elevation gain per ascent (three reps get you to about 8,565m, with the remainder made up elsewhere)
• Or repeat a partial segment of Wuling
• A true, complete sense of challenge

Historical Records

• Taiwan’s first successful Wuling Everesting: completed in 2019, in roughly 26 hours
• The fastest Wuling Everesting in the world: roughly 18–20 hours

Physical Requirements

Absolute Minimums

• W/kg: at least 3.8 (just to finish)
• FTP: 250W+
• Body weight: under 75 kg (lighter is better)
• Training history: at least 5 years of consistent training
• Wuling experience: at least 5 completed full ascents

Mental Qualities

• Extreme endurance
• The ability to not be broken by monotony
• Strong self-motivation
• The capacity to cope with prolonged sleep deprivation

Preparation Period (At Least 6 Months)

Months 1–2: Base Building

• 15–18 hours of training per week
• Long rides of 8–10 hours
• Riding on consecutive days, 2–3 days in a row
• FTP testing

Months 3–4: Specific Training

• One 10–12 hour long ride per week
• Continuous climbing sessions (3–4 hours)
• Training to tolerate low blood sugar
• Building mental endurance

Months 5–6: Simulation and Taper

• Complete one “half Everesting” (4,500m of climbing)
• Taper for the final 4 weeks
• Confirm nutrition plan, route, and equipment

Nutrition Plan

Food

Early Phase (0–10h)

• Energy bars, energy gels
• Sports drinks
• Normal, familiar fueling foods

Middle Phase (10–20h)

• Solid food (rice balls, sandwiches)
• Soup and hot food (provided by your support crew)
• Avoid relying on simple sugars alone

Late Phase (20–30h)

• Whatever you can still manage to swallow
• Chocolate, candy
• Soup, coffee
• Once your brain shuts down, anything goes

Hydration

• An average of 600–800 ml per hour
• A total of 18–24 L over 30 hours
• Uninterrupted electrolyte replenishment

Total Caloric Expenditure

• Roughly 15,000–20,000 kcal burned over 30 hours of climbing
• The body can only store about 1,500 kcal
• Continuous fueling is mandatory

Support Crew

Essential Roles (At Least 3 People)

1. Nutrition manager: prepares food and drinks
2. Mechanic: repairs, tire changes, bike maintenance
3. Mental support: keeps you company, encourages, cheers you on

Ideal Crew (5+ People)

• Add a driver (transport, vehicle logistics)
• Add a photographer/videographer (documenting the attempt)
• Add medical support (in case of emergency)

Support Vehicle

• Able to carry water, food, and clothing
• First aid kit
• Spare parts
• Communication equipment

Equipment

Bike

• Climbing setup (34T × 11-34T)
• Ultra-lightweight wheelset
• Tubeless tires to reduce time lost to flats
• Reliable disc brakes (for repeated descents)

Clothing

• Daytime, nighttime, and rain gear
• Multiple pairs of cycling shorts (to change into)
• A warm jacket (for the cold late-night hours)
• Headlamp, front light, and rear light

Other

• Two portable power banks
• Backup cycling computer
• Plenty of sunglasses (in case of loss)
• Skin care products (for your seat area, hands, and face)

Route Options

Option A: Three Full Wuling Ascents Plus a Top-Up

• One Puli → Wuling → Puli round trip is about 110 km with 2,855m of gain
• Three reps give about 330 km and 8,565m
• Make up the remaining 280m with an additional short climb

Option B: Repeating Kunyang → Wuling

• One rep is 2 km with 175m of gain
• Repeated 51 times
• Total distance 200 km, total gain 8,925m
• Advantage: single location, easy resupply
• Disadvantage: extremely monotonous

Option C: Repeating Wushe → Cuifeng

• One rep is 18 km with 1,150m of gain
• Repeated 8 times
• Total distance 290 km, total gain 9,200m
• A balanced option

Time Planning (Based on a 30-Hour Finish)

Start (0–5h)

• 08:00 departure
• Feeling good, keeping pace conservative
• Eating every 2 hours

Middle Stretch (5–15h)

• 13:00 lunch
• 18:00 first wave of fatigue
• 22:00 night begins

Deep Night (15–25h)

• 00:00–04:00 the most painful stretch
• Overwhelming sleepiness, nausea, the urge to quit
• This is the point where you absolutely must not give up
• Things improve once the sun rises

Final Push (25–30h)

• Gradual recovery between 8 and 10 in the morning
• Give everything on the last one or two climbs
• The moment of finishing brings tears of emotion

Risks and Safety

Main Risks

• Sleep deprivation: impaired judgment → crash risk
• Dehydration / hypoglycemia: risk of collapse
• Cold: Wuling can drop below 5°C in the deep night
• Mechanical failure: unable to continue
• Mental breakdown: giving up

Safety Protocol

• Support crew checks in on your condition every 3 hours
• Stop immediately at any clear sign of trouble
• Emergency contacts: phone and alarm/distress signal
• Never push through to the point of needing hospitalization

After Finishing

Physical Recovery

• Full rest for 1–2 weeks
• Eat well, sleep well
• One easy hour-long ride
• Resume training after 2 weeks

Certification

• Upload your Strava GPX file
• Apply for certification at everesting.cc
• Earn the title of “Everester”
• Join the global club

Mentally

• An unmatched sense of accomplishment
• A complete redefinition of what you believed you were capable of
• An experience you will never forget

Prerequisites

Do Not Attempt Unless You Have…

• Completed Wuling multiple times
• Completed a Double Century (200 miles)
• A full, dedicated support crew
• Confirmed good health
• Support from your family

If You Complete It, You Will Be…

• A legend in Taiwan’s cycling community
• The owner of a story no one else can replicate
• Carrying the memory of one of the greatest self-challenges of your life

Conclusion

Wuling Everesting is the ultimate symbol of endurance cycling in Taiwan. 8,848m, 30 hours, and an extreme internal dialogue with yourself. This is not an ordinary challenge — it is the deepest possible tribute to what it means to be alive. If you are ready, let Wuling be the witness to your own Everest.

Related Reading

• Taiwan KOM Everesting Challenge Fully Explained: The Ultimate Endurance Test of Climbing 8,848 Meters Repeatedly
• My First Everesting Challenge: Repeatedly Climbing 8,848 Meters at Fengguizui
• Climbing-Specific Training Plan: A Complete 8-Week Program for the Wuling Challenge
• Nailing Wuling on Your First Try: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to the Western Approach to Wuling