Second annual Hit the Trail Challenge kicks off Friday

Walkers, hikers and bikers have been hitting the Whitefish Trail with new enthusiasm this spring, but doing so for the month of May can also result in money to support the trail.

The second annual Hit the Trail Challenge returns beginning Friday with every mile logged by users on the Whitefish Trail for the month of May earning $1 in donations to support the trail and public recreation. The challenge has the opportunity to raise $20,000 in matching funds for Whitefish Legacy Partners for the trail.

Alan Myers-Davis, Director of Development, Whitefish Legacy Partners, says the challenge is about promoting health and wellness for the community while connecting with the local trail system. He notes that amid the coronavirus pandemic there’s been a sharp increase in trail usage and trailheads have been noticeably busy as people utilize the Whitefish Trail system.

“We all knew before that it was super important as a community, but now, even as an individual, I’m seeing just how important it truly is,” he said. “Local trails are one of our greatest free health and wellness resources, and our Hit the Trail Challenge encourages the community to exercise outside and live happier, healthier lives.”

Sponsors BlueCross BlueShield of Montana, North Valley Hospital, Kalispell Regional Medical Center and Tailwinds Charitable Foundation have made the matching funds available for the challenge.

Participation is free for individuals, workplace teams or community group teams. Miles are logged with an online form by joining the Hit the Trail Challenge Strava Club, or by paper log sheet. Sign up at www.whitefishlegacy.org/hitthetrail

Last year’s challenge included almost 1,500 individuals and 17 workplace teams.

For the challenge last year, the early goal was to raise $10,000 with 10,000 miles and participants accomplished that within the first few weeks, so sponsors stepped in to add additional funds.

Last year the community logged a total of 20,062 miles, thus raising $20,062. Participants spent an estimated 4,041 hours outside on the trail during the challenge.

Myers-Davis says it was inspiring to see the community get involved in the challenge.

“People really got behind it,” he said. “We had one biker who put in 90 miles in the last couple of days and was really excited to be able to raise that money for the trail by riding.”

For the inaugural challenge, there were 614 fifth-graders who participated. The Whitefish School District this spring remains closed due to the coronavirus, but Legacy Partners has provided information about the challenge to teachers to share with their students. The Whitefish Middle School teachers are planning a grade level challenge to see who can log the most miles this year between the entire fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade levels.

“We’ve already seen kids and families getting out on the trail who have never been on it before,” Myers-Davis said. “In the end this is about connecting the community with the trail and public lands and the challenge is just one more way to do that.”

This year’s challenge likely won’t include any community events, but awards will still be given for teams and individuals who logged the most miles.

Whitefish Legacy Partners is also reminding trail users to follow public health and safety guidelines for social distancing while enjoying the Whitefish Trail — wash your hands before and after visiting the trail, keep 6 feet between you and other trail users, don’t congregate at trailheads, and don’t visit the trail if you are exhibiting symptoms. It is also recommended that if a parking lot at a trailhead is full, to seek out one of the other trailheads.

The Whitefish Trail includes 43 miles of trails accessed from 14 different trailheads.