The Tour de Le Conte involves hiking all six trails on Mount Le Conte in 24 hours. The exact route and the order the trails are done is optional. When Austin Funderburg took on the challenge, he realized he had an opportunity to do an unprecedented route. As a member of the crew at LeConte Lodge, Austin had the option of starting and finishing at the Lodge. On Saturday, Sept. 25, he completed his upside-down tour, covering 45 miles in 17 hours and 20 minutes. Austin has climbed Mount Le Conte 42 times this year and the youngest to “hike his age,” meaning that his ascents will outnumber his birthday candles when he turns 24 in November. Austin is the 15th hiker to complete the Tour in 2021 and the 56th since it was first accomplished in 1993.
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