2009 Hike-a-Thonners Made their Miles Count

In short, Hike-a-Thon really rocked this year.

This past August, 59 hikers hiked over 3,300 miles with support from 624 sponsors to raise just over $35,000 for trails, meeting our goal for the event.

Presented by Sherpa Adventure Gear and sponsored by Outdoor Research, Clif Bar, ExOfficio, Gregory, Innate, Mountain Hardwear, MSR, and Teko, this year's event offered a plethora of great gear and fun prizes. Forty-three of our participants hiked away with their arms full of goodies at our Hike-a-Thon Awards Celebration hosted by the Mountain Hardwear Seattle Store last Friday night.

Though rescues, weddings, babies, injuries, illness and of course, a dearth of free time kept many Hike-a-Thonners from reaching their personal mileage goals, participants still felt successful - and indeed they were - in giving back to the trails they love to hike. Said first time Hike-a-Thonner Adam, "I certainly enjoyed the challenge of hiking as many miles as I could in August, and I got to a few trails I had been meaning to hike for a long time. Although I attained my goals (30 miles and $500), I have a few strategies in mind for raising more money next year, which includes more miles on trail. I can't wait!"

Thank you so much to every single hiker who participated in this year's WTA Hike-a-Thon, and all of the donors who contributed to their journeys.