The Telluride Rotary Hikeathon is a new monthlong challenge for June that aims to motivate people of all ages and abilities to hike while raising much-needed funds to benefit youth and the community.
Similar to a traditional walkathon, but spread over four weeks from June 1 to 28, each participant will set an individual goal for the number of miles hiked and for funds raised. They’ll log miles (using a GPS watch or smartphone app), and ask friends and family to support their effort by making a per-mile pledge or flat donation. The challenge can be done anywhere geographically; hikers need not be in Telluride.
Registration is open through June, but participants should register by May 15 to be guaranteed a T-shirt size. Local businesses have donated several prizes to award at the end of June to hikers for most miles logged, most funds raised, and for categories including Student and Family Team. Register at: https://go.dojiggy.io/telluriderotaryhikeathon2025.
Participants have the option of forming a team, and if a team represents a nonprofit, then half the funds raised by the team will go back to their nonprofit.
Telluride Rotary will host a kickoff event Sunday, June 1, 10 a.m. in Town Park when they will distribute T-shirts and goodies, share some motivating words, and embark on an easy out-and-back group walk along the Idarado Legacy Trail. The event is generously sponsored by the Telluride branch of Alpine Bank and by Jagged Edge Mountain Gear.
Telluride Rotary Club, now in its 80th year, is raising funds to support the Rotary Youth Exchange program, college scholarships for high school graduates, and grants to support mental health, the immigrant community, the environment, and community nonprofit events. The club also makes grants to international Rotary projects; this past year, for example, the club supported a malaria prevention project in Kenya, an indigenous midwife training program in Panama, and a STEAM learning center for the Navajo Nation.
Anyone interested in the Hikeathon should follow @telluriderotaryhikeathon on Instagram for updates and motivation. Participants also have the option of joining a Telluride Rotary Hikeathon group on Strava to share the details of their hikes.