The idea behind the Triple D is seems deceptively simple: hike Devil’s Rest, Mount Defiance, and Dog Mountain all in one day. Actually doing it is a real experience. It involves hiking 27.7 miles, going up (and down) 10,808 ft of elevation gain. Not to mention about an hour of driving the 45 miles between the trailheads.

I have personally not done it – thought I have done a double-D. The double-D is to hike Dog Mountain twice (up and down twice in a row) – which is only 13.8 miles and 5600ft of gain. I had an assistant instructor from my Mazamas class the actual Triple D challenge and said that somewhere on the last leg that more than one person ended up crying from the effort – though they all pushed through and completed it.

KGW8 followed a group that tried the same challenge. Bonus points to those folks for being smart enough to change clothes between mountains. That’s very wise as salt and sweat can build up and cause chaffing.

Article:

• https://www.kgw.com/video/life/style/lets-get-out-there/triple-d-challenge-columbia-river-gorge-lets-get-out-there/283-f9a6eef9-0bf7-479e-8b4f-cb447c0d18a7