Withering Heat Bests Hikers

On the sixth Rachel Carson Trail Challenge in 2002 (twenty two years ago), for the first time more than half of those who started the Challenge finished it. Since then, the finish rate never fell below 64%. Until this year.

The weather forecast in the prior week was ominous: sunny with high temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. Emails and social media posts reflected growing panic. Can I switch from the Full to the Homestead? Can I start earlier when it's cooler? Please cancel the Challenge, it's dangerous and reckless to stage it in these conditions!

The Challenge has always had two dimensions. One is to follow the trail and not get lost. The other is to endure the steep ups and downs in whatever weather nature serves on Challenge Day. While we've had hot Challenge Days, this year was the hottest ever.

Our medical team was prepared, our checkpoints stocked with over a ton of ice, and on the humid morning of Challenge Day 2024, hundreds of hikers began the trek. Fortunately, everyone heeded the cautions and listened to their bodies. They slowed down, took frequent breaks, hydrated properly, and stopped before they pushed beyond their limit.

One participant went to the hospital for an ankle injury. EMS was dispatched a few times for heat related stress during the afternoon, but after examination each hiker recovered without further treatment.

For the 37-mile Full Challenge, we had 604 participants scan out at North Park, and 269 or 45% made it to Harrison Hills Park within the official time of 15 hours, 4 minutes. This finish rate is the lowest since 1999.

For the 18-mile Homestead Challenge, we had 236 participants scan out at Springdale High School, and 137 or 58% reached Harrison Hills Park. Of those, 69 (29%) made it within the official time of 7 hours, 15 minutes. This is the lowest Homestead Challenge finish rate ever.

For the 8-mile Friends & Family Challenge, 41 groups set out from Tarentum to Harrison Hills Park and 39 finished.

Our sincere thanks goes to the over 130 volunteers who make this event possible: Tom Alden, George Baer, Stephen Baird, Genevieve Barbee-Turner, Bob Bastone, Maribeth Beatty, Lisa Beers, Judy Bishop, Charlie Brethauer, Dave Brooke, Becky Brown, Patty Brunner, Tricia Burkett, Reanna Buzza, Sheri Buzza, Alec Cantor, Tony Chick, David Ciuchta, Kielie Ciuchta, David Colledge, Adrienne Cook, Richard Cook, Sarah Cooper, Amanda Copeland, Jim Crist, Scott Cwalina, Mike Dailey, Beth Danilov, Tom Davis, Brooke Decker, Michelle Dees, Suzanne Dees, Pamela Derby, Joe Desantis, John Desantis, Jenna Devivo, Veronica Donahey, John Dummer, Gineen Dutkovic, Quinn Ferris, Kate Fissell, Matthew Fleeger, Laurel Frey, Mark Frey, Marko Frey, Terry Fuller, Steven Graham, Steven Graham, Jamie Grippin, Jason Guastella, Win H, Susanna Hamilton, Traci Hanna, Gary Hayden, Laura Henry, Scott Hill, Mike Hilty, Virginia Hoeg, Jerry Hoffman, Jim Holloway, Christine Holt, Nikki Homa, Sarah Hook, John Italiano, Michael Jones, Andrew Karnavas, Beth Kemp, Rachel Kertis, Victoria Khersonsky, Linda Kim, Kelly Koble, Jason Kodat, Alynn Kramer, Vera Krekanova, John Krofcheck, Heather Kulbacki, Joe Kulbacki, Charlotte Kymer, A L, David Lane, Lori Malazich, Jason Maruccio, Frank Matousek, Shannon Mcadoo, Joellen Mcdonald Shever, Danielle Mcdonald, Delaney Morrow, Kara Mostowy, Karen Mueller, Karen Muirhead, Cathy Nader-syiek, Amy Nelson, Susan Nelson, Terry Onufer, Eileen Owen, Keith Owen, Venetia Pimley, Valarie Porter, Ben Primis, Nick Primis, Alex Prizzi, Amelia Reese, Laura Reese, Sam Runyon, Aliza Rutledge, Deborah Sagan, Patty Salapa, Jordan Sanders, Jennifer Sarver, Timothy Sarver, Killeen Schlegel, Maggie Schlegel, Christopher Schuster, Nancy Smith, Ann Marie Staniszewski, Holly Stefanski, Donna Stolz, John Stolz, David Syiek, Gregory Syiek, Dorothy Tatrn, Katie Teshome, Jennifer Thompson, Kevin Tucker, David Turner, Dan Vernon, Robert Vickers, Jackie Welsh, Sandra Wilson, Lisa Woods, Quinn Woods, and Spencer Zacher.

And we're grateful for all of our generous sponsors. See the main page of our website, or the back of your shirt, for the complete list!