Want to hike 35 miles on longest day of the year? Rachel Carson Challenge is on

While the pandemic caused a flurry of event cancellations last year, some outdoor outings are a “go” this summer, including the 24th Rachel Carson Trail Challenge.

The 35-mile trek though rugged, hilly terrain only adds to the challenge of the event, which will start in Harrison Hills Park in Harrison at sunrise and finish at North Park in Pittsburgh’s North Hills by sunset.

It’s not by coincidence the hike is set for June 19 — the Saturday closest to the summer solstice (June 20 this year) — because most participants need one of the longest days of the year to make the long-distance trek.

After canceling last year’s challenge and refunding registration fees, some of the organizers were able to safely offer the 50-mile Baker Trail UltraChallenge footrace in August for about 150 people.

“Having an event outside can be done safely,” said Steve Mentzer of McCandless, challenge director. “Our goal is to have an event that people can train for, get outside and have a chance to connect with other people and friends they haven’t seen.”

That the challenge is an endurance hike and not a race helps make the event pandemic-safe, he said.

Transmission of covid-19 is unlikely in an outdoor setting where people aren’t crowding. Because of a staggered start and different starting points, hikers will not be congregating together. And at choke points, such as check-in stations, hikers will be required to mask up, Mentzer said.

A highlight this year is that hikers will no longer have to traverse Riddle Run Road in East Deer and Frazer. The Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy, the challenge’s sponsor, bought some land at the East Deer-Frazer border to move walkers off the dangerous and windy road.

“During the pandemic, RCTC volunteers and stewards did a yeoman’s job of blazing a new trail through the woods around Riddle Run Road, utilizing newly acquired parcels and respecting neighbors,” said John Stephen, the conservancy’s trail network development coordinator.

Stephen added, with or without the challenge, hikers will enjoy that section of trail and the neighborhoods it passes through.

Registration opens March 1.

The conservancy receives about 25% more registrations than there are slots for the challenge that is set at 600 slots for the full challenge, 300 for the half-challenge and 50 for the friends and family challenge, Mentzer said.

The conservancy uses a weighted lottery system to determine who can get into the event. Choices are influenced by whether a person has volunteered for the challenge, is a member or donated to the conservancy, he said.

Volunteers are needed for this year’s challenge.

Training hikes begin in April. Carpooling won’t be used so participants will have to park their vehicles at the end point of the hike and make plans for someone they know to drop them off at the starting point.

More people appear to be using the Rachel Carson Trail during the pandemic, Mentzer said. To help the public learn about the trail, the conservancy offers a free navigation tool online to help the public find parking areas to access the trail. It also offers a guide to the trail.

Learn about the challenge and the trail on the conservancy’s website, rachelcarsontrails.org.