SAFETY DISCLAIMER: While this challenge provides trail recommendations, it is important that you only hike trails within your skillset for your safety and the safety of others. Appropriate clothing and gear is required when recreating in the outdoors. You must always check trail and road conditions, as different locations may not be accessible or safe due to weather, forest fires, etc. and may vary by season/year. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any fitness related challenge.
 
DESCRIPTION
This selection is for the MSSOA Trail Queen Challenge: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE. See descriptions below for different challenge options.
 
Use this tracker to build the endurance and muscle needed to meet your hiking goals, while getting practice planning your own outdoor adventures!
 
Please note that these challenges are guides - you can start, stop, and swap hike goals at any time - depending on weather, accessibility, or your personal preferences.
 
OPTIONS
Level 1: 
STARTING HIKE: Bus Trail (less than 1 mile)
GOAL HIKE: Rattlesnake Ledge (4 miles).
This challenge is great to take the kids on, and for beginner hikers who would prefer to start with lower mileage and elevation gain.
 
Level 2: 
STARTING HIKE: Twin Falls (2.4 miles, 940 ft elevation gain)
GOAL HIKE: Mailbox Peak Loop (7.7 miles, 4009 ft elevation gain).
This is a moderate level challenge for those that want to be able to complete more challenging, but rewarding hikes. Not so sure about the infamous Mailbox? We've got Mt Si and a few other epic hikes in here that you can also build up to!
 
Level 3:
STARTING HIKE: Heather Lake (5 miles, 1034 ft elevation gain)
GOAL HIKE: Mt St Helens (10 miles, 4500 ft elevation gain), with alternate bonus option: Camp Muir (8 miles, 4640 ft elevation gain)
This is an advanced level challenge for those that want to get the heart pumping with more difficult, physically demanding hikes.
 
Choose your own Adventure: 
This challenge does not have a starting or goal hike - you get to choose your own hikes, with the tracker as your guide to help keep you on track of your goals!
 
NOTE: Due to the limited accessible trail options during the training hike season, some trails will be repeated across the different challenge levels, as these trails will help push you to your end goal. These trails may escalate in difficulty at a faster rate, the higher the level.
 
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Monthly tracking sheets for January to September (your suggested goal month) as a digital PDF file download, so that you can print these trackers at home.
3 recommended hikes per month that will increase in miles and elevation gain leading up to your goal
Each recommended hike comes with a QR code that you can scan that will direct you to the hike details on either WTA or Alltrails where you can get trail information, directions, weather, photos, and trip reports
1 blank hike where you get to choose and practice researching and planning via a WTA hike finder QR code that you can scan with your phone's camera
Every hike on your tracker allows you to record:
Your Adventure Friends
How you felt after/during your hike
Your personal star rating of the hike
A daily Fitness Tracker to ensure fitness between your hikes, to help you reach your goal
4 additional blank tracking sheet to accommodate tracking any hike adjustments, or to continue tracking your hikes for an additional 4 months.
A simplified tracker (2 sheets) which allows you to track up to 5 months of hikes per sheet. These will also contain the recommended hikes for the challenge level you choose.
A guide that explains the Key Terms & Icons found within the tracker
Challenge Guidelines
A one page 'BEFORE EVERY HIKE' Safety Guide to follow when planning every hike which includes:
An Emergency Contact checklist
A GPS list checklist
A Conditions checklist
The 7 Leave No Trace Principals with QR link to details
A detailed 10 Essentials Checklist
NOTE: The 'Choose your own Adventure' tracking sheets will contain all of the above, except for the recommended hikes with QR codes linking to the corresponding hike details.
 
 
RECOMMENDED HIKE LOCATIONS
At this time, this challenge is limited to Western WA. All recommended hikes are located in or around these areas:
Snoqualmie/Issaquah (i90) region
North Cascades/Bellingham region
Mt Rainier region
Olympic Penninsula region
Stay tuned for expanded options in the future!