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Hike for Youth benefits nonprofits

Noncompetitive event geared toward all types of abilities

Janet Reese, Special to the News

Published June 6, 2006 at midnight

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Are you eager to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails? Consider the Hike for Youth, a hike-a-thon Saturday at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, located 16 miles northwest of Golden.

You don't have to train for this noncompetitive event, which is designed for all ages and abilities. A desire to have fun in the outdoors is the only requisite.

Hike for Youth benefits six Denver/Boulder area youth agencies: Butterfly Hope, cityWILD, Colorado Mountain Club - Youth Education Program, FrontRange Earth Force, Mile High Youth Corps and Thorne Ecological Institute.

"We help six small, grass-roots agencies through this one event," said Shanda Vangas, development director for Mile High Youth Corps. "Proceeds will be divided among the benefiting agencies to support their youth programs."

Since the first Hike for Youth in 2004, the event has grown, with more hikers, volunteers and refined hikes, Vangas said.

"This year, our goal is to register 500 hikers and raise about $50,000," Vangas said. "We are making this a very family friendly event and hope to have parents, children, youth groups, corporate teams and hikers of all ages involved."

Philip Ferranti founded Hike for Youth. He funds this annual event through the Ferranti Foundation, which he created to support nonprofit groups. Ferranti lives in Palm Desert, Calif., and spends summers in Boulder.

An investor, avid hiker and author of several hiking books, Ferranti said, "I began donating money to nonprofits that help kids in the Boulder/Denver area. The more organizations I found, the more I wanted to support. I called an informal meeting of the groups, and said I would like to help. I had a good idea of a hiking-oriented event that would work, and pitched it to the group."

Before starting Hike for Youth, Ferranti initiated Hike for Hope, an event in Indian Canyons of Palm Springs to support women's cancer research at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif. "The hike-a-thon concept has universal appeal as a fundraising event," he said.

Hike for Hope raised more than $1 million in eight years. Ferranti wanted a similar event for Colorado, and Hike for Youth was the answer.

"In its third year, I would like to see Hike for Youth expand along the Front Range and the Western Slope," he said.

Proceeds from the event help to maintain trails, benefiting all hikers. Urban youths from Mile High Youth Conservation work on trail maintenance at Golden Gate Canyon State Park as part of its conservation-service projects.

"Money raised helps to purchase project tools, crew transportation, environmental training classes and habitat restoration," Vangas said.

An added value of Hike for Youth is the health benefits it offers participants. Ferranti discussed the benefits of hiking in his book, Hiking! The Ultimate Natural Prescription for Health and Wellness.

"Hiking helps reduce stress and clarify thinking. Hiking can help you dramatically lose weight, firm and tone, build cardiovascular and aerobic conditioning, strengthen muscles and energize your body at a very high level," he said.

Hike for Youth celebrates youth and the outdoors and creates public awareness for outdoor youth programs, Ferranti said. "It's an affirmation for helping young people."

Hiking trails in Golden Gate Canyon State Park wind through green mountain meadows, lush aspen groves and pine-covered hills with great mountain vistas.

Hikers can register for easy (2.75 miles), moderate (4 miles) or difficult (6.7 miles) hikes on the Burro and Mountain Lion loop trails. All hikes start at the Nott Creek Trailhead/parking lot at the east end of the park.

An easy hike is offered on a quarter-mile interpretive trail at the visitor's center. Specialty hikes are available for hikers with dogs, small children or accessibility needs.

Check-in time for those registered for easy hikes is 9:30 a.m.; moderate hikes, 9 a.m.; and difficult hikes, 8 a.m. All hikes end at noon for an after-hike party at the Red Barn group picnic area.

"Bring extra clothing, water, sunscreen, a hat and snacks," said Brenda Porter, CMC education director. "Hike volunteers who know the trail will be available to lead groups of eight to 10 hikers."

Hike for Youth registration

• Cost: $25 for adults; $10 for ages 5-17; free for 4 and younger.

• Registration: Online by credit card. Mail-in forms are available at .

• Deadline: Thursday. Limited on-site cash or check registration is available from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on event day, Saturday.

• After registering: Hikers will receive confirmation and detailed directions to Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Volunteers will greet hikers as they arrive at the entrance booth and provide parking information. The Colorado state parks visitors' fee is waived for participants. All hikers will receive a gift bag and are invited to an after-hike party. Hikers are encouraged to raise $100 or more in pledges for any of the six benefiting agencies. Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers.

• Information: E-mail Golden.Gate.Park@State.CO.US.