End-to-End Challenge

The biennial End to End Challenge is a 1-day hike of 30+ miles, with over 7000 feet of cumulative elevation gain over undulating terrain from Berry Pond in Pittsfield State Forest to the northern end of the Taconic Crest Trail at Route 346. Hikers are supported from beginning to end by volunteers of the Taconic Hiking Club. Participants who successfully complete the challenge will receive a Certificate of Accomplishment and a special “TCT 1-Day” patch. Participants who are club members will also receive the “Bloody Foot” patch. Obviously, this challenge is for very fit and experienced hikers!

The next Challenge will be early May, 2026.

End-to End 2024 a tremendous success!

We had another successful End-to-End Challenge on Saturday 5/11/2024! The weather was perfect for doing the hike - cool, dry, and not buggy. All 23 hikers completed the 30+ mile trek. The hikers started off briskly at 5:40 AM, just after sunrise. At check-in points, where snacks and drinks were provided, they all appeared to be moving strongly and with good spirits. The finishing times ranged from 1:59 PM to approximately 7:19 PM. There were some very fast hikers in the group! The participants all expressed how much fun the event was and their gratitude for everything that the Club did to hold the event.

Congratulations to all the participants: Bannish, Christy; Benedict, Sarah; Catallo, Merico; Chinnayakanahalli, Kiran; Finnell, Michael; Fuller, Steven; Gollin, Ed; Hall, Andrew; Hall, Peter; Hodgkinson, Seamus; Lancto, Gregory; Lewis, Scott; Muench, Erik; Parsons, Nate; Sajan, Jonathan; Sanariya, Nora; Schmidt, Chris; Seeloft, Robert; Stofko, Michael; Teal, Peter; Warne, Geoffrey; Witter, Audre; and Xu, Jonathan.

It took twenty-eight volunteers to make this happen, and many volunteers participated in two or more roles to help us accomplish the event. Whether it was planning, organizing, coordinating the participants or various groups of volunteers, clearing the trail and keeping it clear, carrying water up to the Mattison Hollow/TCT junction, sweeping, shuttling sweeps, assisting at Petersburg Pass and Rte. 346, baking goodies, dealing with the finances, making arrangements with Pittsfield State Forest and NYS DEC, greeting and assisting participants at the support sites, and all the other numerous associated tasks, we could not have done it without these volunteers! The Club is fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers!

Volunteers included: Walt Addicks, Bob Armao, George Astle, Mike Boucher, Bill Coyle, Michelle Filiault, James Grady, Cameron Hastie, Claudia Kavenagh, Dylan Keenan, Kathy Kindness, Ted Loukides, Jennifer Morris, Dave Nagengast, Lynne Nagengast, Janice Nissan, Margaret Parks, Dave Pisaneschi, Cliff Prewencki, Karen Ross, Jeff Ross, Abbie Shoobs, Leslie Siegard, Ed Slattery, Chris Simpson Boucher, Paul St. Germaine, Martha Waldman, and Geoff Wilks.

Special thanks go to Martha Waldman for planning and organizing volunteers and to Abbie Shoobs, who stepped forward to do all the participant registration and communication and who graciously managed the hikers and their needs on the 11th from before dawn into the night.

Start your training now for the next End-to-End in May, 2026!

Questions: Email us at taconichikingclb@gmail.com (remember - no “u” in club) or use the “Contact Us Here” button below.