View Full Version : Five State Challenge
I have heard of "The Five State Challenge," But I do not see quite where it is. Does anyone know exactly where it is? It would help me out if you knew the miles from springer that it starts at.
~Tim
4 state challenge va,w.va,maryland,pa ,i never heard of a 5 state challenge:cool: neo
Lone Wolf
04-30-2005, 08:38
It's really just a 2 state challenge. A few miles in Virginia and the rest in W. Virginia and Maryland, ending at the Pennsylvania state line. It's under 50 miles. No big deal.
I think the big deal is doing it within a specified time...what?...24 hours to do 50 miles...that's the challenge. For me that could be a "big deal" taking into consideration the terrain, of course.
Lone Wolf
04-30-2005, 09:03
50 miles in 24 hours is no big deal. At least the section in question.
bearbag hanger
04-30-2005, 09:07
It's a four state challenge (VA, WVA, MA & PA) and your supposed to do it in twenty-four hours. I know quite a few people who have done it, but it's not something I would even attempt.
Lone Wolf
04-30-2005, 10:01
No hiking is done in Pa. so it's a 3 state challenge.
Brushy Sage
04-30-2005, 10:50
And besides, you'll zoom through several areas of historic interest (right on the trail) without learning anything about them.
Bmillonduhat
04-30-2005, 14:52
I watched that dvd that is out called TREK, and they do the quad state challenge. They go to sleep at 7 p.m., wake up at 2:30 a.m. and hike until about 11:50 the next night to complete it. I think they said it's 42 miles
Pencil Pusher
04-30-2005, 19:53
And besides, you'll zoom through several areas of historic interest (right on the trail) without learning anything about them.
All at a whopping 3mph, eh?
Rain Man
04-30-2005, 20:30
All at a whopping 3mph, eh?
In the dark.
Rain:sunMan
.
Brushy Sage
04-30-2005, 20:47
All at a whopping 3mph, eh?
Maybe "zoom" is not the most accurate descriptor, although a 3mph average is pretty fast. Actually, though, it's all relative. A hiker attempting this "challenge" has to move quickly through the historical areas of Harpers Ferry, has no opportunity to visit the nation's capital city, or appreciate the details of the historic vista from Weverton Cliffs, doesn't have time to learn the meaning and context of the War Correspondents Memorial at Gathland State Park, climb the monument built by the people of Boonesboro at Washington Monument State Park, or even to appreciate the fact that one is hiking in places such as Crampton Gap, Reno Monument Road and Turners Gap that were bloodied by many soldiers from north and south along the South Mountain fields of battle.
Lone Wolf
04-30-2005, 21:13
99.9% of hikers don't give a s**t about the history surrounding the AT anyway. Just getting to Katahdin is the focus. Katahdin is a mediocre mountain too.
hikerjohnd
04-30-2005, 23:29
Would rising to the challenge mean no stop at Harper's Ferry?
Would rising to the challenge mean no stop at Harper's Ferry?
That's the main reason I never attempted it. I wanted to spend some time in Harpers Ferry and visit the ATC headquarters. The tradition to have your picture taken and put in the book was a bigger pull than the "tradition" to do the 4-state challenge. I really enjoyed looking in the 2003 book to see the 47 thru-hikers in front of me, as well as folks from other years I knew.
Maryland is really pleasant and there is a lot to see and enjoy and a lot of history. I'm glad I've had the opportunity to slowly section-hike it before my thru-hike.
Pencil Pusher
05-01-2005, 00:02
Well unless I'm reading this data book wrong, it appears the distance from the VA-WV state line to the MD-PA line is 58 miles. That is one helluva hump :eek: God I love that smiley
The Solemates
05-01-2005, 00:02
That's the main reason I never attempted it. I wanted to spend some time in Harpers Ferry and visit the ATC headquarters. The tradition to have your picture taken and put in the book was a bigger pull than the "tradition" to do the 4-state challenge. I really enjoyed looking in the 2003 book to see the 47 thru-hikers in front of me, as well as folks from other years I knew.
Maryland is really pleasant and there is a lot to see and enjoy and a lot of history. I'm glad I've had the opportunity to slowly section-hike it before my thru-hike.
Same here. It was fun milling around HF for most of the day and spending 3hrs or so at the ATC HQ before heading back out. I think we were #s 3 and 4 thru in 04.
OK, I got it, four states. Where? I don't have my maps yet. I have heard that it is just over 40 miles.
L. Wolf... What are you talking about? There is a lot of the trail in PA.
According to the Data Book, it is 43.4 miles from the VA/WV border where the current AT and the Loudoun Hts. Trail (old AT) intersect--to the MD/PA line. Technically, a few feet either side of these two points would be a "four-state" challenge, though almost all steps taken would be in WV and MD.
But since hikers don't typically camp (or start their "challenge" hike) right at the VA/WV border, nor camp (or end their "challenge") at the precise MD/PA border, the actual distance covered would be more than 43.4 miles. I'm thinking it would be more like 45 to 50 miles in reality, based on where folks would likely camp at either end, unless of course they have someone meeting them near Pen-Mar which would cut out additional mileage at the north end. (Assume you can't camp anymore at Pen-Mar; when I went through there no-camping signs were posted near the Pavilion. If this is incorrect it would alter my suppositions.)
In any case, I'd have to take two zeroes to recuperate!
Good explanation Skyline. LW is right too...I took much more time in this historical section during my "shakedown" hike in '02 than I did in my thru of '03. A-Train also knows what he's taliking about. The Headquarters is a great stop and many hikers from the midwest, such as myself, meet their significant others in Harpers Ferry for zero or two.
Lone Wolf
05-01-2005, 10:56
What I'm talking about Echo, is you don't do any actual hiking in PA. on the so-called "challenge".
Pencil Pusher
05-01-2005, 20:35
But then it's more just semantics. Take two steps in either state and you've 'hiked'. Just like the old farts want you to mosie on up whilst taking your time reading all the fine print in all the museums. But 43 miles in 24 hours? With no significant elevation changes, y'all are selling yourselves short thinking you could not enjoy such a push. I suppose you could just stealth camp if you didn't want to add any more miles.
LIhikers
05-02-2005, 20:28
The only problem with this 3 or 4 state challenge thing is that if you try it you'll probably have to skip the 1/2 gallon icecream challenge at the store in that state park in PA. Sorry I can't remember the name of the park right now.
Given the choice I'd choose the icecream challenge any day! :banana
Pencil Pusher
05-02-2005, 20:41
Well after checking out the data book and Companion, Pine Grove Furnace State Park is 38ish miles from the state line. I don't think you'd have to choose between the whatever-number-state challenge and a half gallon unless you really enjoy pain.
Brushy Sage
05-04-2005, 11:31
This was posted to trail maintenance workers in Maryland today, May 4, 2005:
Also this Saturday, there is an organized Hike Across
Maryland, with 110 participants attempting to hike the
entire 41-mile Maryland Appalachian Trail in one day.
This was posted to trail maintenance workers in Maryland today, May 4, 2005:
Also this Saturday, there is an organized Hike Across
Maryland, with 110 participants attempting to hike the
entire 41-mile Maryland Appalachian Trail in one day.
So much for leave no trace and keeping group size down.
This was posted to trail maintenance workers in Maryland today, May 4, 2005:
Also this Saturday, there is an organized Hike Across
Maryland, with 110 participants attempting to hike the
entire 41-mile Maryland Appalachian Trail in one day.
Egads! Sounds more like the Boston marathon
SavageLlama
05-05-2005, 00:16
Real thru-hikers finish the Half-Gallon Challenge while doing the 4 State Challenge.
Anything less is for yellow-blazers.. :D
Real thru-hikers finish the Half-Gallon Challenge while doing the 4 State Challenge.
Anything less is for yellow-blazers.. :D
Half Gallon Challenge is at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. That's 38 miles into PA. I have not heard of hikers doing 80 miles non stop.