Last updated June 7, 2026

Event for 2027 has not been confirmed yet… The Whiskey Tango Fondo 2027, affectionately known as WTF, is not your typical cycling event; it’s an extraordinary fusion of two passions—cycling and fine spirits. And it is what the organizer calls a Frontier Gravel Fondo. The Alabama Hills, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada just west of Lone Pine, is one of old Hollywood’s favorite filming locations. The beautiful rock formations of the hills bordered by a vast open plain rising majestically to the snow-capped mountains beyond has been a prime filming location for Westerns since the early 1900s. Strambecco rates WTF Whiskey Tango Fondo 2027 as one of the Best Gravel Events in California and the Southwest.

There are three route options in WTF Whiskey Tango Fondo 2027, which include challenging but not overly technical gravel terrain and up to 11,750+ feet of elevation gain. Options are friendly enough for first-timers but epic enough for even the most seasoned athlete. The signature climb of the events is End to End; Whitney Portal Rd is 13 miles (22 km), topping out at an elevation of 8,374 feet (2,552 m). Whitney Portal is the gateway to Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States.

Whiskey Tango is produced by the same producers as the Phil’s Cookie Fondo, a popular Fondo in the Malibu; CA area held each fall. Big Boss behind Whiskey Tango and Phil’s Cookie is the irreverent pro cyclist, author, and entertainer Phil Gaimon. Phil is one of the fastest hill climbers in the world. Since retiring from the pro peloton, Phil has been attempting to beat the “kind-of-the-mountain” (KOM) records on the Strava digital App.