Portsmouth Abbey School is challenging its community to “hike” the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails this spring.

The Abbey athletics department hopes to foster teamwork, friendly competition and connection among classes and the larger Abbey community by asking each Abbey student as well as staff and faculty members to log in 30 miles over the course of six weeks, averaging about five miles per week. 

Hikers are broken into two teams: Forms III and IV along with faculty and staff are taking on the Appalachian Trail, and Forms V and VI are logging their miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. Walking, running, and biking can all be counted as hiking. Athletic Director Al Brown also created a circuit-training option for those who cannot easily go outside during this time. Participants are entering their miles on a Google form, and the progress is being tracked each week. 

The competition runs until May 15th. Go Ravens!

Read more about the challenge here.