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CT Blue Trails Challenge
Board: State: Connecticut
Jan 7, 2019 1:30pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Is anyone interested in doing CFPA's Blue Trails Challenge? I'm looking for some off-season hiking motivation. They have 200 miles, 400 miles and 800 miles (!). It's not the total mileage you walk, but the miles of trails covered. So if you hike a five-mile section twice, it counts as five miles, not ten. There is no time limit. I'm wondering if anyone else is doing that and if it would be worthwhile carving stamps for the 200 or 400 miles. Maybe 600. I suppose I could carve an 800 one for Wanda and Pete. Anyone else think they're going to do 800 miles?

A lot of the "blue trails" are not actually blazed blue, they are just part of the CFPA system. Such as all the trails at Sleeping Giant (that's 27 miles right there) and Ragged Mtn. If you did the Q-series, that's 20. The T-Series is another 20 or so. Most CT letterboxers probably have logged significant mileage as a byproduct of boxing. Out of curiosity, I added up my mileage, most of it from boxing, and came to 380 miles. A lot more than I expected. I put together a spreadsheet that corresponds with the latest edition of CFPA's walkbook in case anyone wants to use it to calculate mileage. I just had to go through the Walk book page by page to figure it out.

Here's CFPA's description:

Blue Trails Challenge
Hiker on a Blue Trail
Need an excuse to check out a new trail? Looking for a new adventure? The Blue Trails Challenge invites you to discover the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System and do something good for your body and mind! Hike any of the trails in the trail system and accumulate miles and memories as you go. With three challenge categories (200, 400, or 800 miles) you can stitch together a hiking challenge on the trails that is right for you. There’s no time limit, you can complete a challenge category in a single season or across your hiking lifetime. Keep track of your mileage on this log form.

Challenge Categories:
200-miler: CFPA t-shirt

400-miler: CFPA water bottle

800-miler: CFPA fleece vest

If you're new to the trails, the Blue Trails Challenge is a chance to discover the many health benefits of hiking. And if you're already a hiker, it’s another way to keep active and explore new trails outside your immediate region or in different seasons. Hike on your own, with your dog, with family, with friends, or with your hiking/outing club. Pass the word and encourage others to take the challenge! Be inspired by meeting our current 800-Milers!

When you’ve completed a challenge, stop into our office and let us know, sign our logbook, pick up your award and let us take a photo of you with your favorite hiking boots!

Visit our interactive trails map for up-to-date trail information, driving directions to trailheads, and current trail notices.

Share your stories and photos!
Re: CT Blue Trails Challenge
Board: State: Connecticut
Reply to: #970125 by Trailhead Tessie
Jan 7, 2019 3:45pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Why does CT have all the cool stuff? It's so close that I could do it, but so far that I end up never going.

(Any point on the RI/CT line is an hour away, I-91 is 2 hours, the NY/CT border is 3-4 hours each way)
Re: CT Blue Trails Challenge
Board: State: Connecticut
Reply to: #970125 by Trailhead Tessie
Jan 8, 2019 4:16pm
Thread (disabled) Board
it sounds so tempting...
but first I would spend forever trying to figure out how many miles I've done already and I may never get out on the trail!
tunxis done
quinnipiac done
mattabassett mostly done
giant done
naugatuck done
regicides done
metecomet not all done yet
Henry Buck! done
hmmm, what else....
I'd love to use your spreadsheet!
Re: CT Blue Trails Challenge
Board: State: Connecticut
Reply to: #970125 by Trailhead Tessie
Jan 9, 2019 3:52am
Thread (disabled) Board
I was literally just looking at this program again the other day. I really want to do it, but I know I'll always be distracted by non-blue trail boxes, so I just put the papers back into the folder.
Re: CT Blue Trails Challenge
Board: State: Connecticut
Reply to: #970125 by Trailhead Tessie
Jan 9, 2019 8:04am
Thread (disabled) Board
Yes, I have been keeping track of this. I have a Google Sheet.
Re: CT Blue Trails Challenge
Board: State: Connecticut
Reply to: #970154 by SherlockMiles
Jan 9, 2019 8:10am
Thread (disabled) Board
I have clue piles of paper, years old of places I’ve wanted to get to, some used in Sky challenges over the years, I’m just too lazy to keep track of mileage on trails on top of everything else.
Re: CT Blue Trails Challenge
Board: State: Connecticut
Reply to: #970125 by Trailhead Tessie
Jan 9, 2019 3:53pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Too much going on for me. Someday after retirement.