THC Announces Taconic End to End Hike set for Saturday, May 10th, 2008

The End-to-End, a 29 mile hiking endurance challenge along the Taconic Crest Trail will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008 as announced by the Taconic Hiking Club. A long standing upstate New York hiking event, this day-long endeavor runs along the ridge separating New York, Massachusetts and Vermont. There are views of the Catskills (on a clear day) and Mt. Greylock to the immediate east.

The one-day event rewards those successful hikers with a unique trail certificate and patch for traversing a cumulative elevation gain of 7,836 feet and a corresponding descent total of 9,470 feet. On an unimproved woods trail, the hike is only for the fit and experienced entrant.

The Taconic Hiking Club will set up a campsite on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the Berry Pond start line in the Pittsfield State Forest near Pittsfield, MA, at that time entrants will be briefed on the trail conditions. The hike itself will start on Saturday, at 5:30AM with three support sites en route and sweep parties following the hikers.

Those interested and requiring further details may contact Pam Bailey, at 39 Fane Court, Troy, NY 12182 or pambailey22@yahoo.com. There will be a ceiling enrollment of 25 for this event with entrants listed in the order their registrations are received. An alternate list will be kept for substitutes in the case of cancellations. Those who completed the event in 2006 will not be eligible in 2008. The entry fee for this endurance challenge is $25.00 per entry, with no refund after March 31, 2008.

This event, held almost every other year for over 30 years, has no rain date and will be held regardless of weather. Past events have hikers from New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and all over New York taking part and the trail itself has “appeared” in a least two national hiking magazines.

End to End Hiking Challenge

May 10, 2008 Registration Form

Please include a non-refundable registration fee of $25.00. Checks should be made payable to the Taconic Hiking Club and mailed to Pam Bailey, 39 Fane Court, Troy, NY 12182. Any application received after March 15, 2008 will be refused. All applicants must be 18 years or older.

I, the undersigned, declare myself physically fit and able to participate in the above event. I realize that hiking events such as this are physically strenuous and hereby agree to be solely responsible for my own safety during this 29-mile hike.

I also acknowledge, agree and release the Taconic Hiking Club and any and all of its volunteers from any and all liability claims, losses and/or damages for personal injuries or death which may occur while participating in this event. I also permit these same volunteers to place my camping gear and related items in my designated car, to drive said car to the finish line and to release said volunteers from any liability claims or damages in the course of automobile traffic.

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Name and address of hometown newspaper for press release after the challenge