Retailers: Lead a hike on National Summit Day
Hikers of all ages are invited to BACKPACKER's national celebration of mountains and summits.
Stephanie Jacobson
No matter what size mountain you scale on August 3, it counts for the second annual National Summit Day.
BACKPACKER magazine is encouraging everyone with a pair of shoes and a nearby summit to get outside and hike to the top. Everyone, of all abilities, is invited to join the magazine, the nonprofit Big City Mountaineers, and thousands of people across the country.
"We created National Summit Day to celebrate all mountains, big and small, and all the people who climb them—whether for a record or for a picnic," BACKPACKER Editor-in-chief Dennis Lewon said. "And by partnering with Big City Mountaineers, we hope to bring the summit experience to a new generation and help expand the community of mountain lovers."
To grow the movement, BACKPACKER is recruiting specialty outdoor shops to lead hikes throughout the U.S.
Here's how your store can host a hike:
1. Sign up here by entering some information, including the name of the route you want to hike.
2. Spread the word about National Summit Day in your shop and on social media, and encourage customers to join your hike.
3. Receive a summit flag for participants to wave in triumph at the top and to use in photos.
4. Enter BACKPACKER's gear giveaways as well as an Instagram photo contest by tagging #nationalsummitday and @backpackermag. Editors will choose photos from the day to repost.
Just want to join in to bag a peak near you? Start with this list of hikes by state and check back regularly for new group hikes you can join.
