It’ll be a mammoth October hiking on the Ice Age Trail

Put on the hiking boots or trail runners, and get ready to hit the Ice Age National Scenic Trail for the 2022 Mammoth Hike Challenge. It is the third year for this popular event, which is presented by the Ice Age Trail Alliance.

This year, participants are challenged to walk/hike/run/ backpack 42 miles on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and visit three designated trail communities. (This year’s mileage corresponds with the 42nd anniversary of the Ice Age Trail becoming a National Scenic Trail.)

The challenge is open to all ages and ability levels, with free registration now open at iceagetrail.org. The reward for completing the Mammoth Hike Challenge is a 2022 limitededition challenge patch and certificate.

Participants can accumulate their miles individually or as part of a team.

“The goal for this challenge is to be fun,” said Amy Lord, manager of outreach and education for the alliance. “Don’t think you can hike all 42 miles yourself? Then get a friend or your family to do it with you.”

Since post-pandemic life is more hectic and hiking 42-miles may seem daunting to some, the alliance is offering ways for challenge participants to earn “bonus” miles, without hiking. They can attend challenge-related events to earn 10 miles or visit a fourth Trail Community to earn 10 miles.

The Ice Age Trail goes through or near many Wisconsin communities, 17 of which are officially designated Ice Age Trail Communities. These communities are spread along the 1,200-mile trail, which includes Cornell.

“Trail Communities are great hiker destinations,” says Lord. “They understand the importance of the trail and appreciate the hikers that use it.”

To encourage participants to seek out new areas they’ve never hiked before – and make the challenge easier to achieve – the Ice Age Trail Alliance curated challenge itineraries, which are available at iceagetrail.com.

The itineraries provide trail maps and showcase the exceptional restaurants, attractions and historical landmarks in the 17 official Trail Communities.