Rendezvous Mountain Hill Climb

August 2, 2025

8:30 am

We are thrilled to announce that the most demanding hill climb running event in the West is on again for 2025! The race will start at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, up the Wildflower Trail to Rendezvous Lodge, continuing onto the Cirque Trail, and then finishing at the summit of the Aerial Tram at the top of Rendezvous Bowl. This non-profit annual race is run in honor of our friend and longtime JHMR Aerial Tram mechanic Chris Onufer (Captain "X"), who on March 7th, 2012, tragically passed away in an avalanche. To keep the spirit of running alive for future generations, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort donates 100% of the proceeds to the trails division of Friends of Pathways in the name of Chris Onufer.

Registration

2025 Registration is now live!

Registration is now open for one of the best mountain races of the summer! Get ready to push your limits on a breathtaking route from the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to the summit of Rendezvous Bowl. This is your chance to be part of an unforgettable mountain challenge—all for a great cause. Don’t miss it!

Register Now

Event Details

Start Time

  • 8:30 am, with those wishing to race competitively queued at the front.

Race Packet/Goodie Bag Pickup

  • Pre-registered entrants may pick up their race packet/goodie bag starting on Friday, Aug. 1 from 4-6 pm under the tram line next to Tram Dock, or on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 7-8 am next to Tram Dock.

Need To Know

  • Aid stations are provided along the course. However, due to the backcountry location and rugged nature of this race, racers are encouraged not to depend on these stations as their sole supply of water.
  • The race will go on rain or shine (or snow!).  Please dress and be ready for all kinds of weather, as Rendezvous Mountain and the top of the Aerial Tram are known for variable weather.  In early August, the weather is generally clear/cool in the morning (50's), and warm/sunny by mid-day (mid 70's). Thunderstorms are not uncommon in the afternoon.

Prize Purse

  • $1,000 to each overall winner (men and women)
  • $50 to each age group winner (men and women)
  • $600 to 2nd in each age group (men and women)
  • $300 to 3rd in each age group (men and women)
  • $1,000 bonus to male and/or female record breaker

Details are subject to change.

2025 Course Route

The race will start near the base of the Bridger Gondola and will finish at the summit of the Aerial Tram. Racers will take the Wildflower Trail to Rendezvous Lodge and then continue on the Cirque Trail until the summit of the Aerial Tram. The course is subject to change and the final course will be posted via Strava before the race.

  • The route is the same for both categories. The course is almost entirely singletrack up the Wildflower and Cirque Trails!
  • Starts at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on the access road between the Bridger and Sweetwater Gondolas and ends at the top of the Aerial Tram.
  • Distance is approximately 6.1 miles and 4100' vertical gain
  • Check out the course route on Strava as "Rendezvous Mountain Hillclimb 2022 Route". The course may be subject to change for 2025, but will be very similar.

    From The Blog

    RMHC

    Record-Breaking Rendezvous Mountain Hillclimb

    It's been 11 years in the making. 4,139 vertical feet of running over 6.2 miles. Breaking the one-hour mark at the Rendezvous Mountain Hillclimb has eluded the best of runners since its inception, but this year we can finally congratulate not one, but two racers on achieving this monumental feat of endurance and perseverance!

    RMHC24

    A Record-Breaking Rendezvous Hillclimb 2024 Recap

    Rendezvous Hillclimb 2024 is in the books! Congratulations to everyone who gave it their all in this annual event put on in the memory of Chris "Captain X" Onufer. It was a hot one out there, but racers prevailed through the conditions to claim glory atop Rendezvous Mountain. A massive round of applause is in order for two record-breaking runners: newly-minted Jackson Hole athlete Anna Gibson and for a second consecutive year, Tyler McCandless. Read on for their results as well as the rest of the field's.

    Racers on the Rendezvous Mountain Hill Climb course

    Preview: Rendezvous Mountain Hillclimb

    The Rendezvous Mountain Hillclimb returns August 3! Racers ascend 4,139 vertical feet to the top of Rendezvous Mountain in this unique annual event. Register today.

    Breaking the One-Hour Record at the Rendezvous Mountain Hillclimb

    We are excited to host the 10th anniversary of the most demanding hillclimb event in the west on Saturday, August 6! Starting at the base of the Bridger Gondola, runners will ascend our steep slopes over 4,000 vertical feet and once again finish at the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. This annual, non-profit race is run in honor of our friend and longtime Aerial Tram mechanic Chris Onufer (Captain "X"), who on March 7, 2012 tragically passed away in an avalanche. Keeping the spirit of running alive for future generations, we donate 100% of the proceeds to the trails division of Friends of Pathways, all in Chris' name.

    Anna Gibson

    Anna Gibson Joins the Jackson Hole Athlete Team