The day started a little later than I had planned since doggy daycare didn't open until later. At 9:00 a.m. I began the challenge with Black Hill. This was my first time on the Morro Bay Sisters, so I treated Black Hill as a warm-up and was thankful I had mapped out my parking locations ahead of time for quick transitions between peaks.
Next was Cerro Cabrillo, where I was a bit unprepared for just how steep the final climb is. At one point it becomes nearly vertical, making it one of the most physically demanding ascents of the day.
From there, I cruised back to San Luis Obispo for the final three summits. Bishop Peak is always a challenge and nearly broke my spirit. When I returned to the car, I honestly considered calling it. The temperatures were climbing, the wind was picking up, and the accumulated effort was starting to take its toll.
After cooling off with some ice from the cooler, I rallied and headed up Cerro San Luis, tackling 15 mph winds along the way. I was most familiar with Islay Hill, so I started that final climb with plenty of confidence. By then it was 75°F with 17 mph winds, but I barely noticed. The excitement of finishing the challenge in under five hours—my goal from the beginning—kept me moving.
My total moving time ended up around 3½ hours, which I was more than happy with. Overall, it was an incredible experience and one I would not recommend to anyone who isn't comfortable with sustained climbing and technical trails.
All of my supplies were staged in the car between peaks. I carried a full gallon of water, a cooler full of ice, and ran in Altra Timp 5s with a Salomon hydration vest using two front soft flasks (no bladder). I completed the entire challenge without trekking poles.
One piece of advice: check your shoes before attempting this challenge. I accidentally submitted this report to the Seven Sisters in the UK first, which gave me a chance to update it. My trail shoes were already about a 9/10 on the "toast" scale before I started, and this route finished them off. Stone bruising was by far the biggest issue, especially on my heels after several hard impacts. A shoe with a more protective rock plate would have made a significant difference.