Cheryl Talbert
The Pacific Crest Trail (or PCT), a 2663.5-mile National Scenic Trail stretching from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington, epitomizes the ideal of physical challenge and one-of-a-kind natural resources bringing people together for a purpose larger than themselves - much like the mission of The Mountaineers.
The 2016 Mountaineers Pacific Crest Trail Challenge is designed to celebrate and focus the attention of our members on the trail – not only to help our members to experience it on foot, but also to encourage their engagement in the wide circle of cooperation that sustains it. We encourage you to participate in the challenge by volunteering your time to help maintain the PCT, to advocate for it, to assist others to complete their PCT dreams large and small.
The PCT Challenge Includes:
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A season-long program of Mountaineers-led day-hikes and backpacks on the PCT, and coordinated tracking of PCT miles completed, with badges for various mileage milestones and prizes for those who complete the most miles (plus extra rewards for those who lead!) – think PCT-related merchandise like caps, shirts, mugs, jackets, books and maps.
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Coordination of PCT service activities, from trail maintenance to ‘trail-angel’ activities, and celebration of exceptional service efforts.
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Events, speakers and films through the season to celebrate and educate people about the PCT and the amazing people and places associated with it.
Participate
To join the PCT Challenge as a participant, and take part in the mileage tracking, special activities and events, register here (a small fee to helps cover events and prizes). Members from all our branches are welcome.
We also invite hike and backpack leaders from all our branches to lead trips on the PCT as part of the program. Your miles led will count double toward the season-end prizes, and you'll be helping your fellow Mountaineers get out and enjoy these exceptional trails. If you'd like to lead for the program, register as an instructor here. (You need to have a hike or backpack leader badge from one of our branches to register as an instructor for the program.)
Questions or ideas?
Contact the course leader Denise Crafton at buffmtwoman@yahoo.com. We're excited for you to join us in our celebration of the trail, the ideal, and the people who protect and maintain it.
