2016 Top Hikers
The hiker who raises the most from a 2015 hike will receive a prize package of brand-new, top-quality gear donated by generous supporters at Leki, Kelty, Vasque, Lightheart Gear, Point6, Princeton Tec and ZPacks. Click to see the leaderboard.
Read more...PCTA recognizes HIKE for Mental Health
We wish to thank the Pacific Crest Trail Organization for listing HIKE for Mental Health among its major sponsors, alongside Leki, North Face, Gregory, and other great outdoor companies. As a small, all-volunteer non-profit organization, we are honored to be listed in such great company. With Cheryl Strayed’s movie Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon, in theaters now, the load on the PCT is expected to be at record levels. We are grateful to be able to provide the PCTA with resources to help them preserve and manage that breath-taking treasure this year.
Read more...HIKE for Mental Health awards $60,000 for mental health research and trail preservation
A big thank you to all the hikers, hike leaders, walkers, sponsors and supporters that made 2014 a record year for HIKE for Mental Health!! 2014 drew a dozen new hike leaders, nearly 200 hikers and more than 80 walkers, along with more than 1,000 sponsors and supporters, to participate in HIKE for Mental Health’s effort.
Read more...Kroger shoppers: An easy way to support HIKE for Mental Health
Did you know that the Kroger supermarket stores give you a great way to support HIKE for Mental Health, and it doesn’t cost you a penny? … Read more…
Texas Walk for PTSD Awareness Raises $5,400 for Veterans
HIKE for Mental Health is proud to award more than $5,400 to Texas veterans groups from its 2014 Veterans Day Walk for PTSD Awareness in Pearland, TX. We presented more than $2,400 in workbooks and treatment materials to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, and we awarded $3,000 to Pearland VFW Post 7109 to increase services.
Read more...Illinois hike raises $1,200
On October 11, volunteer hike organizer Josh McLaughlin led our first-ever HIKE for Mental Health in Illinois. Along with his Matthiessen State Park hikers and all their supporters, he raised $1,200 for mental health research and trail preservation with his Matthiessen State Park hike.
Read more...Hooray for Sunfish Pond Hikers
On a clear autumn day, 17 hikers came from as far away as Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina to hike with Susan “jackrabbit” Letcher. As usual, Susan hiked barefoot and paused to read a passage from Southbound on a rest break near the pond. The hike, however, was not a revisiting of the past but a celebration of a glorious fall day, a great HIKE for Mental Health, a time to meet new friends in a gorgeous, natural setting, and a statement that we will overcome the stigma associated with mental illness.
Read more...Colorado Springs Rocks Red Rock Hike
More than 30 hikers, some as young as 2 years old, came out for the first annual Red Rocks HIKE for Mental Health near Colorado Springs, CO, last weekend. And before the hike was even over, co-organizer Dixie Snyder texted us, “Sign us up for next year! Our people want to do it again! Amazing time! …Next year we all agreed that we’re going to wait till Casey (“Aquaman” Owen) gets back to do the hike again. So October, I’ll make sure to bring hot chocolate…. Casey did a great job! This was a great, fun, easy-going experience that wouldn’t of happen without him & all of your support! Thank you!
Read more...Spirits and Funds Reach New Heights Atop Mt. Washington
More than 40 hikers scrambled to the summit of the highest mountain in the northeastern U.S. en route to eliminating the stigma of mental illness and raising more than $12,000 in the Third Annual Summit Mt. Washington HIKE for Mental Health.
Read more...Team California Rocks a Great Hike and Raises $2,500
Our first HIKE for Mental Health in California was a smashing success! Many thanks go to volunteer hike organizer Laura Skorich and to the 22 … Read more…
Lake Shore Trail Photo Album
“Such beautiful smiling and laughing faces. Happy wagging tails of our dogs. (And some of us humans!) Such a perfect day, for all! I will do a HIKE for Mental Health hike again!!” So says volunteer hike organizer Joanna Davis about her hike on Lake Norman in March. To hear more about the hike and how much they raised…
Read more...Fun for One and All on Our 2013 Veterans Day Walk
With glorious autumn weather and a great collection of hiking friends, old and new, the 2013 Veterans Day walk was a rousing success. We completed the hike in record time, thanks to our newest – and youngest – hike director, eight year old Charley.
Read more...“2,185 percent done!” Chipmunk Becomes Youngest Solo Thru-Hiker
204 days after setting forth from Springer Mountain, Georgia, Neva “Chipmunk” Warren became the youngest person to complete a solo thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and declared herself “2,185 percent done!” Neva is an amazing person, and we are thrilled and humbled by her accomplishment.
Read more...A perfect day for the Sunfish Pond hike!
With a mystical fog draping the autumn landscape, fourteen HIKE for Mental Health hikers experienced some of the best that Sunfish Pond has to offer. … Read more…
Photos from Summit Mt. Washington 2013
Thanks for all the photo submission from our 2013 Summit Mt. Washington hike, more than 800 in all! Be sure to give a thumbs up to your favorites. If you have photos from the hike that aren’t included here, just put them in a Facebook album, let us know where they are and we’ll be glad to add them.
Read more...This path can never grow old – Tom’s account of hiking with Chipmunk
Recently I had the pleasure of spending some time with chipmunk, a 15 year old on a quest to become the youngest solo thru hiker of the Appalachian Trail. And to tell you the truth, it was magical. The following is my story of the time I spent with her.
Read more...15 year old on track to solo hike 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail
“Chipmunk” is on pace to become the youngest solo thru hiker of the Appalachian Trail. Four months and 1,200 miles into her journey from Georgia to Maine, she will pause Friday near the PA-NJ border to speak of her trail experiences, adolescent depression and HIKE for Mental Health.
Read more...Meet our first HIKE for Mental Health AT thru-hiker
In 2013, a record number of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers – three dozen – signed up with HIKE for Mental Health. On July 13, the first of our hikers crossed the finish line. Here is his story.
Read more...Thank you, Dartmouth women of Kappa Kappa Gamma!
Many thanks to hike organizer Phoebe Kurtzman and the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma of Dartmouth College. With your hike you raised $1,314 for mental health research and trail preservation. With more than 30 registered hikers, the hike surpassed its fundraising goal by more than 30%!
Read more...HIKE for Mental Health At Trail Days
2013 was the first year HIKE for Mental Health went to Trail Days. As luck would have it, on the same weekend we scheduled a … Read more…