The D&L Blog

30/30 Winter Challenge Wrap Up

As Henry Rollins once said, “In winter, I plot and plan. In spring, I move.”   

For those of us who utilize the trails of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, this is often true. To combat that urge to hole up and hibernate in the dead of our Pennsylvania winters, Get Your Tail on the Trail (GYTOT) hosts the 30/30 Winter Challenge. This year, we held two kickoff events for our two chapters – D&L and NEPA.

One event was held at Hugh Moore Park in Easton on a balmy January 28. We offered guided walks around the park; one was a 1-mile loop, the other a 2-mile loop. There were snacks, free giveaways, and even a sweatshirt raffle. Well over 100 people attended! It was a wonderful example of people’s desire to get out, move their bodies, and socialize.  

The following weekend of February 4, on a much colder, near frigid day, a smaller group of very dedicated people showed up for the NEPA chapter at the D&L Trail: Black Diamond Trailhead to enjoy a similar hike. Although the group was smaller, those participants proved that when we’re dedicated, not even the weather will stop us.   

And even though the kickoff event is a fun way to spend the afternoon, GYTOT is a program about personal growth; at your own pace and in your own time. That is the beauty of the program. 

Overall, we’ve had a large increase in folks who completed the challenge. In 2021, 317 people completed the challenge. In 2022, that number went up and 815 people were awarded the virtual badge. This year, 1,091 have earned the badge and can expect a health incentive to be mailed to their homes soon. Hopefully, they’ll be able to use it when logging miles for the next challenge. 

This is GYTOT’s 10^th year of operation.

In celebration of this milestone, we are looking for people to share their stories to help us celebrate.

If you have been involved with this program since 2013, logged a large number of miles, OR used the program to help you achieve a goal you are proud of, please reach out to us. We are looking to highlight folks who can be an inspiration for others. Maybe exercise helped you fight depression, maybe you lost a lot of weight walking away those pounds, perhaps you connected with a new group of friends, or found a hobby you love since your kids flew the nest.

Whatever your story we would love to hear it.

Reach out to Whitney Davison at [email protected] so that we can get your story.   

Written by Whitney Davison, DLNHC Education Manager

Whitney oversees all DLNHC educational programming, at the National Canal Museum for both schools and communities, as well as the Get Your Tail on the Trail program and the Adopt a Section school program.