The Bulger List is a compilation of the 100 highest peaks in Washington, and Cal Poly student Andrew Okerlund climbed them all.
The Camas, Washington, native was the fifth person — and the youngest — to ever finish the climbs in a single season, completing the Bulger List in only 85 days.
“During the summer of 2022, I was climbing volcanoes in Washington,” said the computer science student. “I was just feeling really unsatisfied with the amount I was able to actually get out and climb.”
Okerlund had a summer job and was only able to fulfill his hobby on the weekends, leaving little time for longer, more intense hikes and climbs. But he was eager to spend more time climbing and make the most of his summer. While looking into what he would do next, he came across the Bulger List.
“I heard about Jason Hardrath and Nathan Longhurst, who were the first two people to ever complete the Bulger List in a season,” he said. “For whatever reason, that made me think, ‘Oh, you know, maybe I could do this, too.’”
At the time, Longhurst was 21 years old and the youngest person to complete the Bulger List.
“That caught my eye because I was like, ‘Oh, if I did it, I’d be 20,’” Okerlund said.
Although taking over the title of the youngest climber to complete the Bulger List was a small incentive for Okerlund, his real motivation was to be intentional with his time and spend it outdoors, which solidified his decision to take on the 100 peaks.
In September 2022, he began planning the logistics of dedicating himself to the intense feat.
“I was mapping everything out and plotting all the peaks on a map, compiling information on every single climb, making spreadsheets of what gear I needed for each climb,” he said.
While devoting himself to the climbs was exciting, it was also potentially dangerous, so Okerlund had to take safety precautions. He began reaching out to friends and strangers as potential partners for the summer.
“There were lots of people who helped me out and partnered up with me for at least one climb,” he said. “But it was very hard to find a partner for every climb. My goal was to really avoid soloing stuff for increased safety and companionship.”
Overcoming Obstacles
Okerlund began his climb on June 18, 2023, starting with Amphitheater Mountain and Cathedral Peak near Washington’s northern border. The multiday climb would end at an elevation of more than 8,000 feet, and that was just the beginning.
The climb itself would prove to be the least of Okerlund’s problems, as wildfires in the area forced him to reevaluate his timeline and find new climbing partners.
“It became this whole thing of putting a lot of energy into trying to network with people and source people to climb with and just trying to fit them all into this big plan that I had laid out that was kind of falling apart,” he said.
The wildfires caused road closures in some of the areas where Okerlund had planned his routes, but after a bit of changing his schedule around, he faced a new problem.
“Lack of sleep proved to be really challenging,” he said. “It would be pretty often that I’d be in a streak of sleeping two to four hours every night for a week, and it really beats you down.”
Once again, Okerlund had to evaluate the safety of his plan and incorporate rest time into his schedule.
“At some point, I wasn’t able to drive because I would just fall asleep if I were to drive. It also just hurts your balance and awareness during a climb.”
Despite fighting exhaustion and feeling the strain on his body, Okerlund made steady progress throughout the summer.
One Peak at a Time
On Sept. 11, 2023, Okerlund began his final ascent up Mount St. Helens, the last stop on his journey.
“Mount St. Helens is the closest Bulger to my house, the one I grew up staring at, the hundredth peak I climbed,” he said reflecting on his journey. “I moved with speed and excitement, running and laughing and giving up on any concept of pacing.”
With two of his close friends at his side, this marked the end of his journey, making him the youngest person to complete the Bulger List in a single season.
“The last peak was the end, but it didn’t really feel any different than the 14th or the 40th or the 63rd,” Okerlund said. “The only difference was there was no plan for tomorrow or reason to wake up early or direction for what to do. This whole journey and section of my life had come to an end, and I really didn’t know what to do with myself.”
A year later, Okerlund is working as a wildland firefighter in Washington.
“That’s what I’m doing over the summer: wildland firefighting and trying to climb as much as possible on my weekends,” he said.
Okerlund will begin his senior year at Cal Poly in the fall.
By Taylor Villanueva
