42-Mile Challenge 

You like to hike. Bet you like to hike even more when there’s a goal.

How about the goal of hiking 42 miles in one weekend to support and raise funds for your favorite statewide trail?

Here’s the plan:

Friday, Sept. 6. On Friday eve — we gather at 6 p.m. at the Julian Price Park Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway for hors d’oeuvers and to set up camp. We’ll get acquainted and discuss Saturday’s hike, then hit the hay early for our big weekend of hiking.

Saturday, Sept. 7. Breakfast is at 7. At 7:45, we’ll drive to the Osborne Mountain Overlook and be on the trail by 8 a.m. for the 21.9-mile hike on the MST back to the campground. Faster hikers should get back to camp at 4-4:30, more leisurely hikers around 6 p.m. There’s a good mix of hiking on Saturday, with more challenging passages offset by flat runs that let you get your legs back. The last stretch takes you on the carriage trails of Moses H. Cone Park. Dinner is on your own, before lights out at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 8. Breakfast is again at 7. We’ll break camp and be on the road to set our shuttle by 8. We begin the day at South Laurel Fork Road and the BRP and hike south. We hike through meadows, we hit overlooks, we have some moderate climbs near the end. Expect to finish up between 5 and 6 p.m.

The deal:

To participate: we ask that you raise $10 for every mile you hike, for a total of $420. Get your hiking friends to support you (better still, get them to join you), get your non-hiking friends to support you by offering to take them for an introductory hike on the MST, get your friends and family who don’t believe you could hike 42 miles in a weekend to support you. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll meet your goal.

What you get:

• Camping at Julian Price Park Campground
• Breakfast both mornings
• Trail snacks
• Swag tbd
• Guest star in our 42 second video on the hike (Note: participants in the Witness Protection Program may be excluded from this offer)
• Hike support from Joe Miller, of GetGoingNC

Details are being finalized for fundraising, but it’s as simple as you sending a check to the Friends for $420, you raising money amongst your friends and send us a check (and if those friends want a tax letter, tell us who to send it to), or a Facebook fundraising campaign.  We’re sorting out those Facebook details now, but will share as soon as we have that option.

Once you register, we will send you additional information about the hike. The $420 fundraising goal must be met by Aug. 30.

Register Now!