Challenge history of simulated hiking themes (hiking in AZ) and how the
Challenge Awards are earned and distributed.
Challenge history of simulated hiking themes
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge I,II, and III: A GRAND Challenge – Hike the
CANYON
Dorothy Garske Center’s Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge kicked off with senior adults
hiking in and out of Grand Canyon. If you didn’t go north to Grand Canyon to see
these hikers, don't worry, --they could have been "hiking" right in your
community. At Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona, three popular hikes below the
rim are 23, 23, and 28 miles long. Participants were challenged to exercise
between 23-74 days before the program’s end in May. Each day participants
exercised, they logged about one mile of simulated canyon hiking. The three
hikes are accurately illustrated on a full-color, 29" x 23" poster, embellished
with trail highlights and Grand Canyon history and geology. (poster no longer
available)
Hike #1: 23 miles North Rim to South Rim along Bright Angel Fault.
Hike #2: 23 miles Hermit’s Rest to Bright Angel Trailhead (south rim).
Hike #3: 28 miles Yaki Point to Grandview Point (south rim).
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge IV: A GRAND Challenge – Hike the CANYON or Go
for the Gold – Hike the Superstition Wilderness, in search of the Lost
Dutchman’s Gold Mine.
Challenge IV, participants could choose to continue to hike in and out of Grand
Canyon (simulated hiking) or take a (simulated) hike in the Superstition
Wilderness.
Starting at Peralta Trailhead, Challenge takers crossed the Superstition
Wilderness in a northeasterly direction toward Roosevelt Lake, connecting into
many trails along the way. As folklore goes, the “Dutchman” was German immigrant
Jacob Waltz. Waltz began prospecting in Arizona in the early 1860’s. Just before
his death he told two friends of the location of his gold mine. Neither they nor
the legions of true believers that followed during the next 100 years ever found
“the dutchman’s gold mine”. We challenged our participants to Go for the Gold in
an active lifestyle, but if they happened to find the dutchman’s mine along the
way…
The trails illustrated on the 28" x 22" full-color Go for the Gold- Hike the
Superstition Wilderness, in search of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine poster
include Superstition trail highlights, photographs, legend, folklore, history,
and geology.
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge V and VI: The Arizona Trail, --border to
border to better health! Challenge V and VI participants were getting fit and
staying fit by exercising their days on a “simulated hike” along the Arizona
Trail, --750 non-motorized miles being built to link the landscapes, history,
and people of Arizona. The Arizona Trail is the product of a unique
collaboration between public agencies and private organizations. Conceived by
Flagstaff school teacher, Dale Shewalter, the Arizona Trail will extend over 750
miles and pass through seven life-zones. Stretching from the border with Mexico
to Utah, the Arizona Trail was called “a path that’s close to paradise...” in a
feature article of Backpacker magazine. Each “exercise day” credits the
participant with 10 more miles along the Arizona Trail. A participant needed to
complete all 75 exercise days (or units) to go “border to border to better
health.
The Challenge 24" x 24" three-color banner illustrates the 750 mile trail as it
passes through some of the most wild and scenic mountains, forests, deserts, and
riparian areas of this state including Coronado National Park, Mount Lemon, the
Superstition Wilderness, Four Peaks and Mazatzal Wilderness areas, Walnut
Canyon, the San Franciscan Peaks, and Grand Canyon. The trail provides access to
the storied history of the Southwest --passing old mining ghost towns,
stagecoach routes, Indian sites, and trails used by early explorers. (banner not
available)
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge VII …movin’ into the new millennium.
As we began to move into the new millennium (sometime between 1999 and 2001,
depending on what expert you spoke to), the Challenge participants were
challenged to “keep movin’”as we moved into the new millennium! Each exercise
day credited the participant with 1 unit, which was equal to 30 millennium
minutes. The challenge was to keep movin’and exercise 75 days, which was 2000+
millennium minutes. The Challenge 18" x 36" three-color banner included the
Challenge logo and as all the community banners, --this is where all
participants sign their name as they take the Challenge! (banner not available)
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge VIII: (brought back by popular demand … ) Go
for the Gold- Hike the Superstition Wilderness, in search of the Lost Dutchman’s
Gold Mine. Yep, we sent our participants back out to the Superstitions looking
for the gold, --and maintaining regular exercise!
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge IX: Go for the Gold - Hike the Highline Trail.
Challenge IX’s simulated hike had the Challenge participants hiking along the
Highline Trail. The name “Highline” reflects the trail’s course along the ridges
of the base of the Mogollon Rim. (pronounced MUGgy-own) Pine Trailhead Sign
marks the beginning of the 51 mile Highline National Recreation Trail. Parts of
this trail were used by the earliest native inhabitants and settlers who began
to occupy the area in the 1870’s. The Mogollon Rim was named after Juan Ignacio
Flores Mogollon, the Spanish Governor of New Mexico from 1712 to 1715.
Geologically, the Rim is a vertical fault comprised of Coconino sandstone and
the Supai Group of Grand Canyon fame. The Rim marks the southern edge of the
Colorado Plateau and extends from Sycamore Canyon, northwest of Sedona, east
into New Mexico.
Along the trail and just off the trail, you will pass by many locations that
have historical value, including Shoofly Village. The Village was built and
occupied between 1000 and 1250 AD by inhabitants with close ties to the Hohokum
and Salado people. The village contains 87 rooms built at various times over the
life of the community. The trail has beauty as well, including a waterfall near
Ellison Creek and Alligator Junipers. (the tree we photographed for the banner
could be up to 500 years old) The 13" x 19" full-color poster includes
photographs and history of events and places along the trail. (poster no longer
available)
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge X: Tenth Anniversary Celebration!
The 24" x 36" Challenge Banner depicts the Get Fit-Stay Fit theme.
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge XI: celebrating eleven years of taking the
Challenge!
The 24" x 36" Challenge Banner depicts the Get Fit-Stay Fit theme.
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge XII: celebrating
twelve years of taking the
Challenge!
The 24" x 36" Challenge Banner depicts the Get Fit-Stay Fit theme.
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge XIII: celebrating
thirteen years of taking the
Challenge!
The 24" x 36" Challenge Banner depicts the Get Fit-Stay Fit theme.
Get Fit-Stay Fit Challenge XIV: celebrating
fourteen years of taking the
Challenge!
The 24" x 36" Challenge Banner depicts the Get Fit-Stay Fit theme.
History of Challenge Awards
The Group Competition is a fun way for communities to take part in a healthy
challenge for all members and involving the communities in promoting personal
fitness. Participants exercise three or more days each week (walking, jogging,
biking, swimming, etc.) while participating in the community's effort to "Get
Fit and Stay Fit". The Challenge Awards offer an incentive, a “challenge” for
all communities to try to better their exercise/fitness participation as a
whole, as their team for their community. As stated earlier, one of the kindest
things you can do for others is to encourage them to be physically active.
The Challenge Awards:
Gold 20; Gold 10; Gold; Silver; Bronze; and Recognition.
Special Awards:
Challenge 10 Carat Award (one-time-only Tenth Anniversary Special Award)
Challenge DoubleMint Award
Challenge Tryathlon Award
Challenge Encore Award