SPECS:
- Plastic Frame the size of a USA License Plate
- Available to only those who have hiked or ran to the tippy top of all three of SoCals highest mountains within a 12-month time frame.
- Purchase Limit of 2 per Customer
- Qualifications will be verified by Karma
THE STORY:
Being located in Southern California, A16 is fortunate to have 3 mountain peaks that are over 10,000 feet elevation. San Gorgonio Mountain 11,503' located in the San Bernardino Mountain Range, San Jacinto Peak that is 10,834' in the San Jacinto Range, and Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) is 10,064 in the San Gabriel Range. They are all terrific hikes with well maintained trails. And because the trailheads are within a max of a 3-hour drive from nearly all points in SoCal, they are ideal training grounds for those working to get into shape for high altitude and snowy climbs in the Sierra, Rockies, Cascades and elsewhere in the world.
In around 2010 we began challenging our Customers to summit all 3-Peaks within set time-frames. 1 Day (yes it's doable), 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months. Different time frames would earn different degrees of prizes and recognition. And in the Fall, we'd celebrate with a party in one or two of our shops to share stories, tips and photos. And we were known to tip a bit of the bubbly as well.
When we closed the last of the A16 shops in 2000, we were left with a big ole box of "I Took the Challenge" license plate frames. What to do, what to do? Not being known for tossing good stuff recklessly into a landfill only to sit there unappreciated for the next several hundred years, we decided to keep the spirit of the "A16 3-Peak Challenge" alive by making the frames available to anyone who has reached all 3 of those summits within a 12-month time period. If you are one of those adventurous souls who have accomplished this, you are eligible to purchase up to 2 frames to grace your auto or perhaps your wall with a summit photo or two.
But wait, there's more: A16's 3-Peak Challenge was modeled after an Outdoor Industry event called the "8000 Meter Challenge." Mark Fulton was a long time and well respected Manufacturer's Rep who was extremely outdoor active and lived in Big Bear California. A small town in the San Bernardino mountains. Mark represented many notable and high end brands like Lowa, Jansport, ExOfficio, to name just a few. In the mid 90's he invited a handful of A16ers and employees from a couple of other SoCal outdoor shops to join him on a hike to the top of all 3 peaks. To be accomplished within a 24 hour period. Over the course of the next 25 years the annual event peaked at around 160 industry participants, with over half of those meeting the challenge. Stay tuned for more on this amazing story!
Photo in frame is of A16 Store Managers Katie Heinemann & Greg Smith on San Gorgonio. c 2011