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SF Stair Challenge recap: rain, stairs, smiles (and more rain!)
Stair Challenge attendees donning thick raincoats pose for a picture with the route map.

SF Stair Challenge recap: rain, stairs, smiles (and more rain!)

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Despite (and because of) the weather, an unforgettable 2024 SF Stair Challenge

Who said rainy days are for staying in? Certainly not the nearly 300 fearless souls who took on the 2024 SF Stair Challenge on what turned out to be the wettest single May day in over two decades!

Donning slickers and ponchos and armed with umbrellas and thermoses, these stair slayers battled close to an inch of rain and strong winds to conquer the 2,000 steps in this year’s Challenge.

Even with the wind and rain, this year’s route still impressed, connecting 20 staircases in a constantly surprising course. It included the extensive Harry Street Steps with all their wonky wooden charm and secret gardens.

At registration, where staff and volunteers had lost all feeling in our feet, we couldn’t believe how many registrants just kept showing up despite the rain. Many were folks who had done last year’s Challenge in North Beach and weren’t about to miss out. Others were just those people who walk, no matter what. There were also racers with weights strapped to their chests, three-legged dogs, office teams, and preteens. Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle brought the #TotalSF spirit.

Special recognition goes out to Cheryl, the MacGyver of the Challenge. She ingeniously repaired her broken hiking shoe mid-route with her lanyard cord!

And a huge thanks to everyone who bought tickets, whether you showed up on Saturday or not. Your ticket purchase provides crucial funding for Walk SF’s work to make our streets safe for everyone, of every age and ability.

Three individuals wearing raincoats pose for the photo. The person in the front is holding a map. Stair Challenge attendees donning thick raincoats pose for a picture with the route map.
Stair Challenge attendees donning thick raincoats pose for a picture with the route map.
Six individuals pose for a selfie under a teal canopy. Walk SF staff pose for a selfie as they seek shelter under a canopy.
Walk SF staff pose for a selfie as they seek shelter under a canopy.
Two individuals holding a poster displaying a map of the SF Stair Challenge route. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-37
More Stair Challenge participants pose with a map of the route before heading off to conquer the two-thousand-step Stair Challenge.
A woman wearing pink athletic gear gives a thumbs-up to the camera. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-36
Stair Challenge participant Cheryl ingeniously repaired her broken hiking shoe mid-route with her lanyard cord.
An individual in a yellow raincoat walking along a paved park path. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-34
A participant returning triumphantly after completing the Stair Challenge.
Three individuals pose from behind a table covered with snacks, fruits, and drinks. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-33
Our snack table volunteers braved the rain and helped make sure everyone was nourished ahead of the Stair Challenge.
Two individuals pose side-by-side while donning raincoats. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-32
Walk SF members armed with raincoats, hot coffee, and an umbrella as they set off on the Stair Challenge.
Four individuals standing behind a table pose with JAMBAR energy bars. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-31
Staff and volunteers pose with organic energy bars generously donated by in-kind donors JAMBAR.
Four individuals pose on a paved path in front of some greenery. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-30
These smiling faces were among the first to finish this year's Stair Challenge.
An individual walking down a flight of stairs with their arms outstretched. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-10
Our challengers embraced the Stair Challenge with arms wide open.
An individual wearing a beanie and rain jacket smiles widely while wearing a Stair Challenge lanyard. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-22
Big smiles from our challengers as they pick up their Stair Challenge lanyards.
Three women huddle for a photo under a teal tent. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-28
Our staff members arrived at George Christopher Park at 6AM to begin setting up for the Stair Challenge.
A black dog wearing an orange raincoat. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-13
Our furry friends also decided to join in on the fun.
A woman wearing a baseball cap and pink athletic gear poses for a photo with her hands on her hips. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-15
Stair Challenge participant Cheryl ingeniously repaired her broken hiking shoe mid-route with her lanyard cord.
Two individuals touting umbrellas walk down a covered corridor with a dog. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-08
Our fearless participants set off on their two-thousand-step journey with umbrellas and furry friends in tow.
An individual wearing a green raincoat hold up a map. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-18
All Stair Challenge participants were given digital and analog maps to help guide their journeys.
Six individuals walk along a paved path in the rain. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-25
Participants cross the finish line wet but happy.
A man wearing a blue Walk SF cap and a black hoodie. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-24
Walk SF member Luca Giusti poses with his Walk SF cap.
A group of three stand in a circle talking to each other. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-04
Our participants often huddled up to discuss strategy before setting off on the Stair Challenge.
Two individuals pose for a photo under a teal tent. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-14
Our fearless volunteers helped challengers access the route map online.
A group of people donning lanyards and raincoats walk down a flight of stairs. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-12
Participants set off on their journeys in groups big and small.
A three-legged dog standing next to its owner. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-17
Another furry friend ready to take on the Stair Challenge.
Two individuals wearing raincoats pose for a picture. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-06
Big smiles from our participants as they set off on the Stair Challenge.
Two bearded individuals wearing gray caps pose for a picture side-by-side. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-16
Laughter from our participants as they set off on the Stair Challenge.
Two individuals pose for a picture under a bright yellow umbrella. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-07
Staff and volunteers greeted participants with noise-makers and cheers as they crossed the finish line.
Three individuals pose for a photo with a map. walk-sf-stair-challenge-2024-fiona-yim-02
Participants pose with a map of the Stair Challenge route before starting on their journey.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 3, 2025!

Ready for round three? Save the date for next year’s SF Stair Challenge on Saturday, May 3, 2025. It’ll be another brand new, top secret route guaranteed to test your glutes and quads. While we can’t promise a sunny day, we can promise that it will be another epic adventure!

It takes many hands to pull off big walks like this

We owe a huge and heartfelt thank you to our phenomenal squad of volunteers who braved the elements, transported supplies, checked in participants with smiles, loaded the route on their phones, cheered them on along the route, and kept everyone powered up with snacks. You all are true ‘walk stars’!

Hats off to WalkLab, the team of volunteers that mastermind all of Walk SF’s routes. Nancy Botkin and Eric Chase were the leads on the amazing route this year that once again proved that San Francisco is the best stairway city in the world.

Big thanks to our in-kind donors who fueled our event: JAMBAR for supplying the Snack Station with organic energy bars, Andronico’s Community Markets, Gus’s Community Market, Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, Safeway, Thorough Bread and Pastry, and Trader Joe’s. A big shoutout to our Board member, Rebecca Rudolph, for getting all this delicious support!

And finally, we’re deeply grateful to Kaiser Permanente for their generous support of Walk SF’s events.

 

Photo Credits: Fiona Yim

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