Graniteman Challenge celebrates sixth grueling year in Mono County

One of the state’s greatest athletic challenges returns for a sixth year September 11-13 in a competition that’s as tough as granite.

The Graniteman Challenge, sponsored by the High Sierra Triathlon Club, is a unique three-day combination of the Granite to Granite Swim, a 2.4-mile swim in June Lake on Friday, September 11, the Mammoth Gran Fondo, a 102-mile bike ride on Saturday, September 12 and the Tioga Pass Run, a 12.4-mile run up Tioga Pass on Sunday, September 13.

“It’s a beautiful combination of challenging courses,” said Alana Levin, one of the event organizers. “Breaking it down into three days makes it more doable for people than an ironman race in one day. It celebrates the multi-sport spirit and the quest for self-challenge!”

While any athlete can compete in any one of the above races, only a select few take on the Graniteman Challenge, garnering the title of Graniteman or Granitewoman. In 2014, only eight men and two women completed all three to take the illustrious title.

The Granite to Granite swim is an open-water swim around six buoys in June Lake, a beautiful alpine lake set under the Sierra Crest.

The Mammoth Gran Fondo takes riders 102 miles through Mammoth Lakes, along Highway 395, east to Benton and back up toward Mono Lake before finishing again in Mammoth Lakes.

And the Tioga Pass Run, described tongue-in-cheek as “only one hill” climbs 12.4 miles up Tioga Pass Road to the entrance of Yosemite National Park, one of the most scenic highways in the country.

To find out more or to register, go to highsierratri.org/graniteman. To find out more on lodging, dining and other things to do in Mono County, go to MonoCounty.org.