The Maine IAT Virtual Hike is going strong with 35 registered hikers. “What’s a Virtual Hike?” you may be asking. It’s a hike where you walk in your neighborhood (or, if you prefer, hike a section of an actual trail), keep track of your mileage and report it to the Maine IAT. Read more and sign up here.
As of August 8th, we’ve had one hiker, Northwoods Explorer, complete all 138 miles of the virtual Maine IAT. Eight others hikers have completed close-to or more than 50% of the virtual trail. In total, we’ve hiked over 1200 miles – the equivalent of trek from Maine to the tip of Nova Scotia on the IAT. Onward to Newfoundland!
If you haven’t, be sure to check out the #maineiatvirtualhike hashtag on Facebook and Instagram where you’ll see photos and stories of the virtual trail from participating hikers. Hikers have also been sending in short, sometimes intriguing, descriptions of their hikes. A few highlights:
Hiker Riverwalk, who’s recovering from knee surgery, has been walking around her Lewiston neighborhood, the Bates College Campus and the hallways of the Maine Department of Labor.
Rose Pogonia and Northwoods Explorer and been, well, exploring historic locals in northern Maine including the site of a plane crash near the Wassataquoik River and an old logging camp in the Patten area.
Whoopie Pie recorded some big miles in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Baxter State Park and is now getting her miles in as a Census collector.
Sisuphos has been adding miles in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Sewall and Popham Beaches on the Maine coast and other places in between.
And, finally (for now), Turnbill has completed the 60-mile long Northern Rail Trail which runs from Concord to Lebanon, NH. He’s now eyeing the Cheshire Rail Trail which runs about 40 miles from Walpole, NH to the Massachusetts border.
If you want to join the hike there’s still plenty of time. Just go to the Virtual Hike page to sign up.
