In 2015, I was at the end of a six-year enlistment in the US Army, and more than anything I wanted a total lifestyle change. The bureaucracy and all-encompassing nature of the soldier's life had worn me down. So when I heard my dad was going to hike the Appalachian Trail, I wanted in on this adventure!

Our four months together spent walking from Georgia to Maine was a radically life-changing experience. The meditation of spending all day walking, the simplicity of living out of a backpack and life on the trail fostered a passion for the outdoor world that reshaped the focus of my life. I saw the world in a different way, saw how capable of an adventurer I was, but more than anything I understood the intrinsic value of spending time in nature. 

Funding for Big City Mountaineers will help provide a similar opportunity for youth who don't normally have access. Your donation will help the youth participants enjoy guided experiences from day hikes to overnight adventures. Your donation helps provide the gear, transportation, and funds for this program.

At the end of June, with the help of a stellar crew, I'm going to run the Colorado trail in under a week- the fastest time ever- and an effort dedicated to helping raise funds for BCM. Please consider a donation, maybe $28 for each segment, or $483 for each mile, or even $13,271 for the high point of the route ;)

Thanks for your generosity, 

Kyle Curtin

Update: We did it! Both completing the Colorado Trail in under a week and our initial donation goal. Thank you so much to all who helped on both accounts. BCM will still be accepting donations for this drive for the rest of summer, so if you're still able and interested in donating, please do! Thank you all again!