Hike the Rachel Carson Trail

PHOTO BY ANDREW GEE

Every year, on the Saturday nearest the summer solstice, the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge invites adventurous souls to embark on a 37-mile endurance trek. Taking place from sunrise to sunset, the hike covers nearly the entire length of the rugged, geographically diverse Rachel Carson Trail, which runs north and east of Pittsburgh and includes a cumulative elevation gain of close to 7,000 feet.

Tory Mather, a local outdoor adventure enthusiast, content creator (@torytalkstrails) and author of a new book, “Scenic Natural Wonders of Pennsylvania,” is a regular on the trail and says it’s a boon to the region, whether you’re planning to take on the RCT Challenge or not.

“When I’m training for a hard backpacking trip, it’s convenient,” says Mather, who estimates she hikes 300 to 400 miles a year in Pennsylvania and has also traversed the West Highland Way in Scotland and the Trans-Catalina Trail in California.  “A lot of sections are only 20 to 30 minutes away.”

One of her favorite things about the trail, however, is the ability to turn off her brain while finding peace in the serenity of nature.

“In a world where we are constantly doing things that aren’t finished, when you do a hike, you can walk from point A to point B and check that box,” she says.

After moving to Pittsburgh in August of 2021, Mather says she suffered a bad leg injury. As she began to recuperate, she knew she needed to set a goal for her recovery; hiking all the sections of the RCT seemed an ideal way to regain her strength. After winning entry to the RCT half-challenge in June 2022 — participation is limited and determined by a weighted lottery system — she participated in the full challenge the following year.

She notes that completing the RCT Challenge is not for the faint of heart.

“I’m a Division I athlete who trained to make the national team in my sport [of rowing],” Mather says. “I think the RCT Challenge is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

It also led to a feeling of accomplishment she never felt before, she adds.

Despite its challenges, Mather still calls the RCT a great beginner trail, noting that most people already own the gear they need to start hiking.

“Start small, start local,” she says. “You can learn as you go.”

Built along land easements and power lines, some stretches of the trail are more practical than picturesque, according to Mather. Instead of having lofty switchbacks, there are often steep cut-throughs, and there’s not much shade in certain parts. Still, Mather calls it a great place to train because the trail is incredibly well marked, maintains cell phone service throughout and is populated by other hikers, especially in months leading up to the challenge.

Named for Rachel Carson, who is credited with launching the environmental movement with her 1962 book “Silent Spring,” the trail fittingly passes by Carson’s childhood home in Springdale. Locals may also recognize Carson’s name as that of one of Pittsburgh’s three yellow Sister Bridges, which is named in her honor.

Mark Eyerman, a longtime RCT volunteer and trail manager, says the trail is all about the city’s history and heritage.

“The trail also passes landmarks from our past: the Nike Missile Site in Indiana, the Harwick Mine, the clay mine that fueled the brick industry in Creighton, as well as an old surface coal mine site a short distance away,” he says. “In addition to the great views and vistas, it reminds us of what built this region.”

Eyerman adds that for anyone curious about the RCT, his advice is to simply get out there and explore.

“Every mile is a new sight to see, another challenge to overcome and another damned hill to climb. What’s in your backyard will amaze you,” he says. “People travel the country and the world to see the sights and great nature, but they don’t realize the incredible beauty we have right here.”