What is the Sheltowee Hiker Challenge?

 

​Hike Moco can say that we now have 6 members who have completed the challenge: DeAnn Kirgan, Cathy Howard, Erin Howard, David Howard, Suzie  McPeters  and Linda Spangler.  Cathy, Erin and Suzie are on their 2nd challenge in 2024! Congratulations!!!!T

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Take 343 miles, the current length of the Trace, divide those miles by 12, and then walk that distance once a month and you have the Challenge. The goal is to hike the entire Trace from end to end over 1 year. Each month, multiple opportunities are planned for you to join a team of like-minded adventurers on a Saturday and Sunday hike of the Trace. To keep the miles at a level everyone can complete and find somewhat enjoyable, we have added one more hike to make it 12 hikes over 11 months.

 

Saturday shuttle meet up times are usually early in the morning so we encourage participants more than 3 hours away from the shuttle pick up point to consider coming in on Friday night and grabbing a local hotel, campground, or spot in the woods to avoid a long drive before dawn.

 

On the first Saturday in December, we all come together at the Gathering to share some stories and celebrate those who have completed through the Challenge or section / thru hiked the Trace and become End to Enders.

 

The history of the Hiker Challenge dates back to the earlier years of the STA. During a weekend hike out to Furnace Arch, south of Clear Creek, Steve Barbour, Executive Director of the STA, and members Dave Dummer and Mike Campbell from Morehead were forced to stop at the Arch to get out of the pouring rain. While sitting around that evening, Dave Dummer mentioned the idea of hiking a piece of the Trace, one weekend a month for 11 months and calling it the Hiker Challenge.Over 550 participants have completed the Challenge. Enthusiasm is still strong as each January a fresh group of backpackers (and a few who have already completed the Challenge) arrives at the starting point.