Mountains To Sea Trail Challenge

September 1, 2020
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Mountains To Sea Trail Challenge. Mountain-to-Sea trail issues challenges to celebrate its 43rd birthday during September. Friends of the MST have devised four new challenges to assist hikers and trail friends in celebrating this significant birthday of the trail that runs 1,175 miles, beginning at Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountain National Park and ending at Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks. During the month of September 2020, MST Friends encourage everyone to get out and enjoy some or all portions of the trail that meanders through areas of natural beauty, historical significance and cultural interest.

The three-day hiking challenges are based on Great Day Hikes on North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail guidebook. Edited by Jim Grode and published by UNC, the guide features 40 different hikes of various lengths and difficulties, and showcases many natural and cultural gems intersected by the MST. The challenges, which are to be completed during September 2020, encourage hikers to adhere to local Covid-19 guidelines for safe outdoor recreation and to be socially aware and responsible.

This challenging event provides an opportunity for us all to see Mother Nature at her finest and to enjoy new vistas and experiences. Given today’s restrictive climate, these words on the MST’s website certainly ring true, “Step after step, mile after mile, the MST was made for times like these.”

Challenge No. 1: Take a day hike and walk one or many of the 40 hikes outlined in the new Great Day Hikes on North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail guide.

Challenge No 2: 43-Kilometer challenge. Hike one of three designated 43-kilometer stretches of the MST in a 24-hour period and ace the 43K challenge.

Challenge No. 3: Attain Triple Crown status by completing each of the three 42K hikes in a 24 hour period during September.

Challenge No. 4: Encourage your hiking buddies or family members to help raise funds for the MST. Friends of MST have created a peer-to-peer campaign that will use the proceeds to build, maintain, protect and promote. MST.

HeySmokies.com challenge to you: JUST DO IT!