Sports

Hiking In a Heat Wave: They Took the Green Rock Trail Challenge

It's the eighth year for this annual event and booked solid.

Four busloads of hikers braved record high temperatures and the deafening whir of cicadas for the Green Rock Trail Challenge on Saturday.

Participants gathered in the Muckerman Shelter at St. Louis County's  for breakfast treats provided by the city of Wildwood.

The St. Louis Trails Club was well represented with eight hikers and Sunset Hills resident Matt Koppen, taking the challenge.

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Wildwood Mayor Tim Woerther, and many other city officials and staff, welcomed the hikers that morning.

St. Louis region director of the Open Space Council Ron Coleman also welcomed the hikers.

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“The first Green Rock Trail event was held eight years ago, with cooperation from the city" (of Wildwood), Coleman said.

Coleman and two Open Space Council staff members promoted the new  program, where hikers and walkers get a faux passport stamped in area parks when they visit. 

The notion is to encourage visitors to become familiar with all the parks along the trail.

Green Rock's 7- to 8-mile hike over rough terrain began after hikers were shuttled to .

The winding trail is partly in Rockwoods Reservation and partly in Greensfelder Park. It crosses Melrose Road, approximately at the halfway point, and here the city had a courtesy water station and a sag wagon. 

The hike ended back at Shelter for lunch.

Sign-ups for the annual event filled early, and registration was closed weeks ago.

Wildwood residents were given first chance during registration, but many St. Louis area hikers signed up for the perennially popular hike. 


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