50th Annual One Day Hike

The One Day Hike comprises two concurrent, non-competitive hikes of 100 and 50 kilometers that follow the C&O Canal towpath, and end at Bolivar, WV. The 100 km event (100K; 62.1 miles) starts at 3 AM from the Thompson Boat Center parking lot in Georgetown, DC; the 50 km event (50K; 31.1 miles) starts at 10 AM from Whites Ferry, MD. Both hikes proceed along the towpath, crossing the footbridge into Harpers Ferry after mile marker 60. The ODH has been held since 1974.

During the hike, hikers pass through eight support stations, manned by volunteers (see below to volunteer), where they receive food and drink and, if necessary, first aid assistance. While on the trail, they are monitored by volunteer bike patrols. Hikers must arrive at support stations by cut-off times or are required to drop out, and must finish by midnight. ALL HIKERS MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED.

Photo albums of previous ODH's: bit.ly/MikeODHPix.

REGISTRATION:
Registration costs $95 and is done on-line starting February 1, at 5 pm (5-time finishers may register early on January 26, at 5 pm). Note that registration closes when the 350-hiker limit is attained, which can occur within a few hours. The registration link will be announced via the email list (see below).

UPDATES:
For hot-off-the-press, official updates regarding registration and other information, join the ODH email list by sending a blank email to [email protected]. You can also follow us on Facebook. For general information, check out onedayhike.org.

TRAINING HIKES:
The Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) organizes training hikes in the weeks leading up to the ODH. Although open to all, these hikes are specifically designed to prepare you for the ODH—they become progressively longer, they follow routes with relatively easy trails that are generally flat, and hikers walk at their individual paces. Longer training hikes also allow shorter options for 50K trainees. Doing these training hikes, or following a similar regimen on your own, is the best way to improve your chances of completing the ODH.

Training hikes will be held from the first Saturday after New Years Day until the Saturday prior to the ODH. They are free, and are held at many venues in or near DC, so it’s a great way to explore this area on foot. On these hikes, you will get to meet other ODH hikers and learn their, or share your, tips on long-distance hiking. Each training hike's details will be posted on SCPRO's Meetup page each week, as well as announced on the email list.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
About 100 volunteers are required on hike day to help run the ODH. We need reliable, enthusiastic people to man the support stations, patrol the trail on bikes, and to provide first aid—all while encouraging hikers on their way. People with first-aid or medical experience are especially needed as first-aid volunteers. First-time volunteers receive an ODH T-shirt and the eternal gratitude of the hikers. If you are interested in volunteering, please see this announcement, or contact Mike Darzi ([email protected]).