The first PATH step challenge for 2021, Appalachian Trail, was also PATH’s first PDRMA-wide step challenge where individuals and teams of up to five competed, tracking their steps to move virtually along the epic Appalachian Trail. A total of 669 PATH participants on 161 teams tracked 143,118,285 steps!

The actual Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,180-mile path along ridge crests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in northern Georgia. The trail passes through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.

The PATH challenge ran March 1 through March 21, during which the top three teams and top three individual steppers earned additional PATH points toward their first-quarter point goal. If challenge participants averaged at least 7,000 steps per day during the three-week challenge, they also earned additional PATH points!

If you missed out on this challenge, don’t worry — PATH will have more quarterly team challenges. The next one is in June (spoiler alert — it’s another step challenge!) and you can Step It Up to a Better You! It’s a great way to learn about different health topics as you “step” through the five stages of Activity, Nutrition, Sleep, Stress and Productivity. Registration begins May 25, and the challenge runs June 1 through June 21. In this challenge, you can once again participate individually or as part of a team of up to five. Watch for emails for more information about this challenge!

Remember, you accumulate PATH points each quarter this year, so your PATH account resets to zero points and all earned incentives are banked on April 1, at the beginning of the second quarter. Keep aiming for the quarterly 15,000-point goal to earn up to $100 each quarter to reach your maximum $400 incentive for the year!