Five friends start out on foot in the pre-dawn, ready to challenge 35 miles of rugged trail through blazing heat, more than 7,000 feet of grueling climbs and descents, stream and rail crossings to reach their goal.

These brave trail runners risk exhaustion, dehydration, insect bites and any injury imaginable to earn a coveted finisher’s t-shirt.

It sounds like an exotic episode of Survivor, but in reality, this adventure takes place in the wilds of Allegheny County no more than 15 miles from the city of Pittsburgh.

It’s the Rachel Carson Challenge, a hike/ fun run/ adventure held annually on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice.

Not only was the Rachel Carson Challenge, held this year on June 18, the longest running event I’ve completed. It was without a doubt the most difficult. Fortunately, I was the only rookie in my group.

My skilled trail running friends held me back in the early and easy stages of the run and kept me going through the toughest climbs and descents later in the day, offering advice that only comes with experience.

I knew we’d start out slowly and walk up the hills to conserve energy. But the Rachel Carson Challenge is a hike as well as a run and I hadn’t planned for the logistics of maneuvering around queues of hikers in an effort to maintain at least a jogging pace. My friends warned me of the risks of being impaled or blinded by wayward hiking poles.

My friends also kept me from wandering off the course. Although the Rachel Carson Trail is well marked, it’s sometimes hard to keep an eye out for yellow blazes and watch for roots and rocks, too.

In addition to wooded singletrack, the suburban trail also follows roads, driveways and railroad tracks and is crisscrossed by other official and unofficial trails.

The Rachel Carson Challenge began in 1996 with 90 hikers and trail runners starting in North Park. Butler’s own John DeWalt, experienced trail and ultra runner, was first to reach Harrison Hills.

Only four people managed to complete the whole distance with little support on that hot day. It’s reported by event founder Jim Ritchie that DeWalt said the run “might be the hardest effort he’s ever made in any event.”

Despite or because of its difficulty, the Challenge gave the Rachel Carson Trail much needed publicity and support. Volunteers have adopted portions of the trail and keep it well marked and maintained. And an army of volunteers provide support to runners and hikers on Challenge day.

I’m not used to eating during my runs, so it took a little effort to down half a peanut butter sandwich, a banana and a handful of M & Ms at the first checkpoint at seven miles.

By midday, I appreciated the buffet of sweets (cookies and candies) and salty snacks (pretzels, chips and crackers) along with more substantial fare of more peanut butter sandwiches and my favorite —- chunks of boiled red potatoes.

Thankfully, several unofficial aid stations offered water by the roadside. And a beer stop at mile 30 in a Natrona Heights neighborhood was an oasis.

Popularity of the Challenge has soared in the past few years, but there’s limited space on the narrow trail and a finite time limit to complete the entire route.

Registration begins in February with a limited number of spots released monthly. Those who don’t get in may sign up for the waiting list or register to complete the 17-mile Homestead Challenge or the 7-mile Friends and Family Challenge, all of which end together.

This year, 552 participants began in North Park with 432 reaching the finish in the allotted 15 hours, four minutes. A few hundred more completed the shorter distance events. Next year the event will run in the opposite direction —- the easier way, I am told.

If you’d like to sample some of the gentler Rachel Carson Trail terrain, try the Full Moon Hike, July 15, 9–11:45 p.m. in Harrison Hills Park. The 4-6 mile hike begins at the Environmental Learning Center, concludes with drinks and snacks and is free. Bring a flashlight or headlamp. Call Steve Mentzer at 412-512-4544 or e-mail rct@rachelcarsontrails.org for details.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 9 a.m: Heritage Day 5K, Greenville. 724-589-2086

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Ledger 10K, Ellwood City. Starts at Ewing Park, 31st year for this classic race. 724-752-1583 or www.smileymiles.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Ford City Heritage Days 5K, Ford City. Flat and fast through downtown. 724-763-3986 or jsolak@iup.edu

Monday, 8:30 a.m.: Race for Virginia and Friends 5K, Cranberry Township. Popular race with good post race food and random drawing prizes starts in Cranberry Community Park. 724-772-7429 or bmarkovich@zoominternet.net

Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Community Center 5K Run/ 2 Mile Walk, Punxsutawney. Unique Punxsy Phil awards. 814-938-1008 or punxsyacenter@gmail.com

July 9, 8 a.m.: Cross Country Crusade 5K, Saxonburg. Run on Knoch High School cross country course. First in Saxonburg Distance Series. 724-586-6941 or mlkletzli@embarqemail.com

July 9, 8 a.m.: Sandy Lake Fireman’s Fun Days 5K, Sandy Lake. 724-376-2714 or slvfdsecretary@yahoo.comJuly 9, 9 Aa.m: Reece’s Round-Up East Coast 5K Run/ 1 Mile Walk and Roll, Beaver. Strollers and pets welcome. 724-630-9653 or reeceround.upeastcoast@gmail.com

July 9, 9 a.m.: Emlenton Festival Duathlon, Emlenton. Run 5K, bike 10.5 miles starting at Hughes Park. 724-867-6881 or smorrison@central.coop

July 10, 7:30 a.m.: Trailblazer 15K and 5K, Meadville. Out-and-back on paved Ernst Trail. Ziegler4@zoominternet.net

July 10, 6 p.m.: Hoodlebug 5K Run and Fun Walk, Homer City. 724-541-0013 or fulmer_ed@yahoo.com

July 13, 7 p.m.: Fredonia Fireman’s 5K, Fredonia. Out-and-back with gradual downhill finish. Second race in Mercer County Twilight QUAD. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

July 16, 8:30 a.m.: Raider Maze 5K Run/ Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run, Harmony. Run on Seneca Valley High School campus benefits cross country team. www.raidermaze.org

July 17, 7:30 a.m.: Presque Isle Half Marathon, Erie. Run on Presque Isle State Park peninsula. 814-881-0060 or davecomi@erie-runnersclub.org

July 19, 7 p.m.: Quality Life Services 5K, Apollo. Third in series. www.5k.qualitylifeservices.com

July 23, 8:30 a.m.: Stampede in the Park 5K Run & Walk, Plum Borough. Run through Boyce Park benefits Hillman Cancer Center and Plum Mustangs Cross Country scholarships. 412-795-6902 or register online at www.active.com

July 23, 9 a.m.: Freeport International Baseball 5K, Freeport. 724-295-5511 or freeport5k@hotmail.com

July 30, 9 a.m.: Walker’s Run 5K and 2 mile fun walk, Ellwood City. Fast finish on Ellwood City Track. 724-622-9705 or jwalkerjohn33@gmail.com

July 31, 8:30 a.m.: Junkyard Jaunt 5K and One Mile Fun Run, Natrona Heights. Benefits Highlands Cross Country teams and scholarships. 724-991-3003

Race results

Freeport Flash 5K June 4: Ryan Kennedy, 1st Overall M, 16:37; Morgan Klieber, 1st Overall W, 20:03; Luke Snyder, 1st 25-29 M, 17:09; Cory Steinhagen, 1st 20-24 M, 18:25; Timothy Wyant, 1st 40-49 M, 18:40; Kevin Keppel, 2nd 16-19 M, 18:45; John McCullough, 1st 50-59 M, 19:50; Mike Shaeffer, 2nd 30-39 M, 20:08; Stephen Hepler, 2nd 50-59 M, 20:13; Colin Meehan, 1st 12-15 M, 20:41; Rebecca Dudek, 1st 12-15 W, 20:55; Kayla Zboran, 2nd 12-15 W, 21:04; Melissa Shaeffer, 1st 30-39 W, 21:11; Zach Will, 21:09; Jared Kapustik, 3rd 12-15 M, 22:24; Ken Long, 3rd 40-49 M, 22:28; Malique Nadzam, 1st 11 & Under M, 21:49; Jason Swartz, 2nd 20-24 M, 22:46; Tracy Newman, 2nd 30-39 W, 23:14; Kyrene Haynes, 1st 16-19 W, 23:39; Linsey Stonebraker, 2nd 25-29 W, 23:49; Hayley Davis, 3rd 12-15 W, 24:02; Andrea Ferko, 3rd 20-24 W, 24:03; Kevin Hughes, 3rd 20-24 M, 24:15; Dan Crytzer, 1st 60-69 M, 24:18; Ken Tack, 2nd 60-69 M, 27:21; Buddy Turner, 3rd 60-69 M, 27:21; Jack Codispot, 2nd 11 & under M, 24:54; Julie Codispot, 3rd 40-49 W, 24:59; Laura Will, 2nd 16-19 W, 25:11; Stacey Bowen, 3rd 40-49 W, 25:51; Nicole Miller, 3rd 16-19 W, Dez Csizmadia, 1st 70+ M, 27:44; Joseph Molloy, 3rd 11 & Under M, 27:55; 25:53; Patricia Wyant, 61 st 60-69 W, 28:10; Lurena Stewart, 1st 11 & Under W, 28:26; Debra Kuminkoski, 2nd 50-59 W, 30:04; Elizabeth Green, 2nd 60-69 W, 30:17; Aiana Clark, 3rd 11 & Under W, 30:23; JoAnn Crytzer, 3rd 60-69 W, 40:33; Rosita Codispot, 1st 70+ W, 48:36; Jack Bowser, 2nd 70+ M, 48:48; Beverly Bowser, 2nd 70+ W, 58:42; Dorothy Wyant, 3rd 70+ W, 1:04:30; Alan Peters, 22:10; Kiran Bhat, 22:10; Kyle Zboran, 22:58; Larry Hall, 23:00; Jeff Parks, 23:04; Kristopher Keppel, 23:07; Noah Bowser, 23:10; Ryan Miller, 23:11; Jimmy Mansmann, 23:15; Cliff Brison, 23:24; Derell Nadzam, 23:58; Jim Meehan, 24:00; Nick Milliron, 24:39; Owen Parks, 26:07; Judy Keppel, 26:08; Brandon Hochbein, 26:18; Tyler Long, 26:29; Dylan Hochbein, 26:39; Ken Keppel, 27:28; Melissa Evans, 27:56; Beth Zboran, 27:28; Frank Prazenica, 28:05; Joe Zboran, 28:13; Jen Lichtentels, 28:24; Charlie Flach, 28:31; Danielle Weber, 29:01; Jessica Resek, 29:14; Gabrielle Anthony, 29:42; Christina Winters, 29:59; Bryan Pavlina, 30:02; April Pavlina, 30:02; Jeffrey Will, 30:44; Maggie Ward, 30:52; Alan Wright, 30:54; Rachel Sadecky, 30:58; Rhonda Meehan, 31:05; Madison Meehan, 31:06; Zoe Reitz, 31:16; Heidi Wolanin, 31:40; Penny Ward, 31:40; Cindy McCrea, 31:47; Susan Affrica, 31:50; Brian Kepple, 32:02; Joshua Rearick, 32:06; Ben Goldinger, 32:27; Jesse Allen, 32:28; Adrienne Lewis, 32:35; Logan Ziemkiewicz, 32:38; Sara Lewis, 32:42; John Nicholas, 33:32; Kaitlyn Nicolas, 33:34; Glenn Lang, 33:58; LeeAnn Venturini, 34:22; Anne McCormick, 34:37; Pam Ferko, 34:37; Kelly Bess, 34:39; Kerri Huff, 35:00; Joy Foust, 35:00; Alain Louis, 36:51; George Meehan, 37:18; Philip Narcisse, 37:43; Sophia Reitz, 39:11; Emily Huff, 39:33; Jake Huff, 39:34; Mark Warren, 40:34; Victoria Hochbein, 41:11; Brian Hochbein, 41:12; Teresa Hollobaugh, 41:54; Kailyn Ziemkiewicz, 42:14; Soloman Narcisse, 42:17; Kristen Ziemkiewicz, 42:28; Donna Wyant, 42:28; Andrea Wyant, 42:30; Zoe Fair, 42:32; Judy Fair, 42:33; Sue Bowser, 43:20; Carlo Venturini, 43:55; Jeffrey Ziemkiewicz, 46:55; Ryan Foust, 47:02; Judy Meehan, 52:09; Rhonda Horneman, 52:26; Mary Bowser, 52:36; Megan Foust, 57:08; Chris Foust, 57:10; Amanda Huff, 57:27;Tammy Milliron, 1:00:26; Donald Vigliotti, 1:04:32; Mark Wyant, 1:04:35

Paul Richey Memorial Half Marathon, June 11: Jeff Nelson, 1st Overall M, 1:24:04; Brian Forester, 3rd Overall M, 1:26:26; Leslie Kramer, 1st Overall W, 1:31:47; Jeff Lynn, 1st 40-49 M, 1:33:25; John Armstrong, 3rd 40-49 M, 1:40:17; Bob Clark, 1st 60+ M, 1:51:51; Jeff Hans, 1:45:14; Robert A. Mars, 1:49:37; Michael Bruno, 2:04:57; Andrew Ryan, 2:06:00; Jeff Syphrit, 2:07:06; LouAnn LoDico, 2:14:01

Paul Richey Memorial 5K, June 11: Ian King, 1st Overall M, 17:31; Michael Dreves, 2nd Overall M, 18:12; Leah Ahlin, 1st Overall W, 18:23; Susan Dreves, 2nd Overall W, 20:31; Greg Schiller, 1st 50-59 M, 21:21; Robert Gramley, 2nd 20-29 M, 21:25; Amanda Cagno, 3rd 30-39 W, 26:43; Debra Kuminkoski, 3rd 50-59 W, 30:25; Cierra Lawrence, 2nd 14 & Under W, 30:32; Zachary Best, 21:46; Deana Maxwell, 27:12; Jesse Allen, 32:01; Seth Thompson, 40:22; Gary Thompson, 40:23

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle