Hi, I'm Frankie
I started running in 2024, summited Mount Whitney — my first California 14er — in 2025, and then decided to do all 15. That's Project King of Cali, the defining undertaking of this site. Three years, every California 14er. Everything else here — trip reports, gear notes, the journey — orbits around it.
The full origin story lives on the journey page. The short version: I tore my knee, took up running to get healthier, accidentally fell in love with the mountains, and now spend every free weekend driving up the 395 to do it on purpose.
I'm not a guide. I'm not a pro. I'm a regular person figuring it out one peak at a time. If you're somewhere along the same arc, hopefully this site saves you some research time.
Some links on this site — particularly in the gear database — are affiliate links to retailers like REI, Backcountry, and Amazon. If you click one and end up buying the product, this site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend gear I've personally used on a real trip. No sponsored reviews. No gear I haven't tested. If I disliked it, I say so — the same disclosure applies.