Carolina Mountain Club Announces Two New Hiking Challenges

Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) turns 90 years old this year. To celebrate, the CMC Challenge committee has announced two new hiking challenges. We're hikers. What better way to celebrate a birthday!

The basic idea is to hike the 93 miles of the A.T. and 130 miles of the MST maintained by the club this year - 2013. As with all CMC challenges, hikers will report when they did the individual hikes but they're on the honor system.

“90 in 90” Appalachian Trail (A.T.) Challenge

CMC maintains 93 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Davenport Gap to Spivey Gap (going trail north). Hikers will pass through iconic Max Patch and enjoy the outstanding views on Big Bald.

CMC Mountains-To-Sea (MST) 130 Challenge

CMC maintains 130 miles of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, between Waterrock Knob and Black Mountain Campground, past Mt. Mitchell State Park (going trail east). While walking the MST, hikers will go past Skinny Dip Falls, walk through Graveyard Fields, and enjoy the local history at Rattlesnake. They'll also have the satisfaction of walking to the top of Mt. Mitchell.

Here are some basic guidelines for both challenges.

-No minimum hiking distance for individual hikes required. Mileage may be accumulated in unlimited number of hikes.
-Mileage hiked must be traveled by foot only starting on January 1, 2013. Hikes done before don't count.
-Hikes may be completed alone, or pieced together during CMC hikes.
- Successful challenge completers will be awarded a special 2013 A.T. or MST anniversary patch and certificate.

For more information, go to the Carolina Mountain Club website (http://www.carolinamountainclub.org) and click on the Challenge tab. Start hiking and keep a record of the section you did, your hiking companion (if anyone) and the date.

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The Carolina Mountain Club, the oldest hiking and trail-maintaining club in Western North Carolina, fosters the enjoyment of the mountains of Western North Carolina and adjoining regions.