Nifty 50 Hiking Challenge
Nifty 50 Hiking Scavenger Hunt Challenge by Kathryn Ruiz
NEW FOR 2022 hiking challenge by co-organizer of San Diego Ladies Hiking, Walking & More group! This challenge is meant to be accessible to all of our ladies in the group, posing both a challenge and a fun way to discover new hikes/trails, make new friends, increase fitness and most of all, have fun! All challenges are optional and you do not need to participate in one to join any of our hikes!
Start Date: July 29th, 2022
End Date: July 29th, 2023
The premise of this challenge is to do many different types of hikes and check them off on your scavenger hunt list. In contrast to the 52 Peaks Challenge, the hikes won’t all be physically challenging hikes, but rather include many different types of hikes: beach hikes, desert hikes, mountain hikes, forest hikes, waterfall hikes and yes, even peak hikes. There will be 10 categories and hikers are to hike 5 trails in each category to complete the scavenger hunt. Another contrast to the 52 Peaks Challenge is that if you wish, you can repeat hikes as often as you wish and/or use a single hike to serve multiple categories. For example, the hike to Maidenhair Falls in Anza Borrego State Park could meet the Desert hike, Waterfall hike and Peak hike categories and you would have 3 of the 50 required hikes in the scavenger hunt completed on that one hike.
Please go here for detailed information on this challenge, there is a list of suggested trails in each category as well as a set of guidelines and a tracking sheet. The goal is to complete the 50 trail scavenger hunt in a year or less (from July 30, 2022 to July 29, 2023). If you do it, you will win a prize for your achievement! To achieve the reward, you have to hike at least half of the 50 hikes with the San Diego Ladies Hiking, Walking & More group by the end date. No registration is required, just start hiking and tracking, then email your tracking sheet to Kathryn R. (Kathy): Kathalmoc@gmail.com. Look for hikes on our event page; qualifying hikes will be tagged with the Nifty 50 hike label and category. If you have questions, use the meet up app messenger to contact Kathryn, or send an email.
52 Peaks Challenge
San Diego Hiking Ladies 52 Peaks Hiking Challenge by Kathy Ruiz
The "52 Peaks Challenge" in our hiking group derived from Kathryn (Kathy) Ruiz to challenge herself after completing a virtual Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) journey in July 2021. She thought she had come up with a completely unique and clever idea (52 weeks in a year, so 1 hike a week), until she saw the "52 Hikes Challenge" a few weeks after she outlined her own "52 Peaks Challenge"! The 2 challenges are similar, but unique. The San Diego Hiking Ladies 52 peaks challenge goal is to get hikers to hike 52 different trails with an elevation gain of at least 700 feet and 3 miles. There is a list of suggested trails for hikers as well as a set of guidelines and a tracking sheet, which can be found here. For Kathryn, the goal was to hike the 52 trails in a year or less from 7/30/21 - to 7/29/22 (i.e. 52 peaks in 52 weeks). But you can set your own time limit to fit your lifestyle! To achieve the prize, you have to hike at least half of the 52 hikes with the San Diego Ladies Hiking, Walking & More Group, and repeat no hike/peak more than 10 times (full details in the guidelines), but other than that, it’s pretty much up to you how and where you complete the challenge!
All challenges are optional and you do not need to participate in one to join any of our hikes!
Follow these Steps to complete your own 52 Peaks Challenge with SD Hiking Ladies:
- Hike at least 52 Hikes (within any time frame) within these guidelines
- Track & submit your list of hikes to the group organizer on our meetup page.
- Receive a free 52 Peaks Challenge pin for completing!
The first challenge participants (Kathy's original challenge) will finish on July 29, 2022, and there will be a celebration for that distinct group. If you were not in that group, you can start your own 52 peaks challenge whenever you like with the group or friends.
Visit our Meetup Page to see current and upcoming 52 Peak Challenge hikes (just look for the "52 Peaks" call out:
https://www.meetup.com/hikingladies/events/
To find out more about Kathy's journey, check out her blog at: https://kathjourney57.wordpress.com/
Monthly Birthday Celebrations
Birthday Celebrations Every Month in 2022 by Antoinette
Join us for one of our monthly birthday celebrations, planned by one of our San Diego Hiking Ladies organizers, Antoinette. Every month she organizes either a hike and lunch or just a dinner to celebrate the birthdays of our ladies for that month. Birthday ladies who are at the event will get a signed card by all in attendance and small gifts from the group. Any member can attend this event (even if it is not your birthday month!). There is usually a cake or cupcakes involved and a nice happy birthday serenade from the group.
Visit our Meetup Page for upcoming Birthday Events:
Clean Up Walks
San Diego Hiking Ladies Clean Up Walks
Come join us to help keep San Diego trails clean! These hikes were started by one of the San Diego Hiking Ladies organizers, Kathryn, in 2022 to give back to the environment that gives so much to us. Each month, Kathryn (and other organizers) will host at least one clean-up walk/hike, usually on a weekend. We typically vary the sites to give all areas some love. If you have an idea for a location, let Kathryn know! Participants bring their own pick up stick, bag(s) and gloves and then we pick up trash. You choose what you are comfortable picking up and of course DO NOT pick up anything dangerous looking or what you would consider to be hazardous. These walks are always labeled “clean up” walk/hike. There are rewards for participants and a specific challenge will be coming soon.
Visit our Meetup Page for current and upcoming clean up walks/hikes and message Kathryn (or current host) directly on the event for any questions!:
