BUFFALO, N.Y. — Winter isn't usually a time when you think about getting outside, but Outside Chronicles is encouraging Western New Yorkers to get out on the trails.
The Western New York Winter Hiking Challenge is back for its fifth year. Chief Adventure Officer, Mike Radomski says this year's challenge is going back to its roots, including trails featured in the first challenge back in 2019.
It's designed for people of all levels of experience, families and even pets.
"The challenge is designed for both beginner hikers and advanced hikers. There's many easy trails to get families or first-time hikers on the trail and then there's some challenging ones for those experienced hikers. We try to get people to go to new places and always discover something new" Radomski said.
Over 600 people are signed up for this year's winter hiking challenge. Registration is $23 and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Foothills Trail Club, Crescent Trail Hiking Association and NFSAR. You can also register your pet and those registrations will be donated to Sadie's Safe Harbor Canine Rescue.
You can register now and all you have to do is complete eight of 16 trails before March 19, 2024. In order to get a patch, sticker and bragging rights you need to upload a photo of yourself at each trail's Hiking Challenge landmark.
Radomski says, "getting outside in the winter, getting some Vitamin D in the skin helps everybody. We get a lot of people that say they never do anything in the winter, they lock themselves up and stay inside. So being able to have a checklist, going outside and doing things in the winter really helps people get through the doldrums of winter."
This winter you can also sign up for the Finger Lakes Winter Hiking Challenge and the Winter Birding Challenge.