The Rachel Carson Trail has been relocated from Butler Road to a new route west of Springdale. Pay close attention to new blazing after you pass by the Springdale High School track field fence (westbound) and after crossing Tawney Run Road (eastbound).

On Saturday, June 5 at 4:00 PM EDT, Second Chance Registration for the 34-Mile Rachel Carson Trail Challenge will open. At that time, spots will become available through the normal registration system at active.com

Between now and then, we are offering partial refunds to anyone wishing to relinquish their spot in the Challenge. An email broadcast to all registered participants has been sent with instructions on the refund process.

On the morning of June 5, we will post on the home page the number of spots available, and at 4 PM active.com will be updated to reflect this, and registration will again be permitted until those spots are all taken.

If you're unsuccessful at getting a spot during Second Chance Registration, you will have one final opportunity with Standby Registration.

Please note:

• Each spot is filled when the registration process is completed, not when it is started. Thus, it's possible that you will fill in your registration information and submit it, only to find all the spots taken by those who are faster typists. So, have a working credit card number and expiration date ready.
• The fee for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge during Second Chance Registration is $90.
• If you wanted to do the Full Challenge but have already signed up for the Homestead Challenge, you may use this process to try to get a spot in the Full Challenge. If you are successful, your Homestead Challenge registration fee would be partially refundable if the Homestead Challenge sells out. The refund won't happen automatically, you will need to request it.

Continuing this year, any volunteer who contributed at least four hours on or after June 20, 2009 (which includes the 2009 Challenge) will be able to start the 2010 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge at the head of the line or immediately upon arriving at the trailhead.

To qualify, simply attend one of the trail work days that will be posted on this site. Or lead a training hike, or help with promotions, or any way you can. If you have a talent and believe it may be useful, let us know! Email volunteer@rachelcarsontrails.org (be sure to add <notspam> to the subject) or call Steve at 412-512-4544.

Sorry, due to administrative limitations, this reward is inalienable (can't be transferred) and can only be earned on Conservancy trails or projects.

Help make the trail and the Challenge better! Why wait?

Choose from the demanding 34-mile Challenge, an 18-mile Homestead Challenge, or an 8-mile Friends & Family Challenge. For details and to register online, see the Challenge 2010 page.

On Tuesday December 22, the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy will be staffing the gift wrapping table at the LL Bean retail store at Ross Park Mall in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. If you're so inclined, stop in and check out the store and visit with friends and volunteers of the Conservancy! We'll be there all day, from 9 AM to 9 PM.