Goal Training Hikes

This series of training hikes is intended to prepare you to take on the Challenge on ${mediumdate}. These hikes not only help you build your endurance, but they also allow you to field test your gear. Your new shoes or pants may seem fine on your ten mile hikes, but only when you approach 20 miles over hilly terrain do previously imperceptible problems become incapacitating.

• Everyone is welcome on these hikes; you do not need to be entered into the Challenge to participate.
• These hikes are strenuous. The objective is to train you to be able to complete the Challenge within the allotted time, so leaders will be maintaining an average pace of about 2.4 miles per hour, or a little over 25 minutes per mile.
• There's no need to notify the hike leader of your plan to attend. Simply show up on time.
• Please bring at least a quart of water (more if the temperature will be warm) and some energy snacks (e.g. Powerbar).
• Minimum unaccompanied age is 12.
• All hikes will meet at the hike start. It is your responsibility to arrange a car shuttle with safe friends or family members beforehand so that you can be at the hike start at 8:15 AM.
• Although dogs are wonderful, please don't bring them on these hikes.
• All hikes meet at the start at 8:15 AM. Plan for later hikes to take up to nine hours (including sign-in, announcements, car shuttling, and so forth).
• The hikes are free. A suggested donation of $$3 per person may be given to the hike leader on the day of the hike.

${when} ${name}	${leader}	${distance} miles ${duration} duration	Climbing ${ascending} ft Descending ${descending} ft
${description}		${meet_finish}