100 Miles on the North Country Trail in Allegheny National Forest

The Allegheny 100 Challenge (A-100) is a self-supported endurance hiking challenge with no timekeepers, no aid stations, and no finish line other than the one hikers set for themselves.
The event challenges hikers to traverse 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles along the North Country Trail through the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) in 50 hours, always beginning at 6:00 p.m. on a Friday and ending at 8:00 p.m. the following Sunday. Each year, the starting direction changes (south to north then north to south) to give hikers a chance to see the whole section of Trail.
Each year more than half the participants sign up to attempt the 100 miles, though usually only about 20% are able to reach their goal. But most who fall short of the 100 miles still complete 50 miles. The NCTA Allegheny National Forest Chapter encourages participants to consider time, energy and the possibility of injury. Participants are also encouraged to carefully choose mileage goals, as no transportation is guaranteed except the shuttle from your chosen end point to the starting line. In 2023, 29 hikers completed 25 miles; 88 completed 50 miles; 14 completed 75 miles; and 24 completed 100 miles.

[@davidschmude]

Nice job, Jason. Pretty cool to see so much of the trail that I have covered over the years. I’m kind of surprised you never crossed paths with Jason (Frozen) and Gary. Not sure how you could have missed each other.

[@jasonwish-]

Jason and Gary were sleeping when I passed by them...it has been discussed in the comments several times already. I have plans to go back in early Oct to try again on my own but will be starting at 6am rather than 6pm.....that late start was difficult for me. Hoping to establish an FKT there in under 30 hours. Can't wait to see the trail in the fall! Thanks David!

[@davidschmude]

@@jasonwish- Ahhhhh. I guess I should read clear through first. LOL. Sounds like you passed them up in Kellettville. I was there the weekend after you guys. I’m thinking about going to that area in December to try some colder weather hammock camping. Close to the road and close to home (35 miles) if I can’t hack it.

[@joet371]

I was impressed you were 70 miles into it at 24 hours. Well Done !!!!

[@jasonwish-]

thanks! Made a second attempt on my own in Sept and got sick at mile 83 and had to bail again....I was on pace to go under 30 hours for the 100 miles...hope to try one more time this fall.

[@bernielamont825]

Nice following you on your jaunt through the woods. I did that stretch from your bearhang to up past Redbridge 33 years ago, didn't have the luxury of all those shelters back then though. Didn't have that many bridges either. Good job man!

[@jasonwish-]

Certainly a very beautiful area of Western PA, hope to get back on that section again this fall, thanks for watching!

[@FrozensAdventures]

LOL you did this while me and Gary were just on a normal 50 mile backpacking trip. Didn't even know the challenge was going on

[@jasonwish-]

Several have asked if I saw you. Where did you guys start and end?

[@FrozensAdventures]

@@jasonwish- We ended at the 50 mile point, but did about 56 I think. When you walked past that first car camping area the first night we were camped up-stream a bit.

[@stevereiner3791]

That’s great man! Kit was nice meeting you out there ! Maybe see again next year. 🤙- Steve-o

[@jasonwish-]

Hey Steve! It was great running with you! I’m assuming you finished with Pete?? 30 hours and 30 minutes? I see that you posted a video, I will definitely check it out!

[@jamesosborne5950]

Hell of a job jason . You rock brother

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks James! Not the oucome I was wanting but already planning my return for this October!

[@jacobpoucher]

Nice dude I was hiking this the weekend before this happened, I always leave some trail magic at a certain shelter

[@jasonwish-]

Nice, love me some good trail magic…that Mountain Dew got me at least 10 miles 😁

[@jacobpoucher]

@@jasonwish- I don't think hou would be into this type of green blaze trail magic but hey what do I know ! But I leave stuff regularly at a shelter few miles from 666

[@DMSAdventures]

You're insane!! Haha! Its such a long trek there are so many opportunities and so much time for things to go wrong! To still get a personal best out of it kinda makes not finishing it not a big deal! Well done Mr. Wish! Super impressive! Those pines reminded me of SC as well.

[@jasonwish-]

Haha, maybe a little! That 6pm start just wrecked me! I’m training hard to go back for redemption this October on my own time, but will be starting early in the morning this time 😉 Thanks!

[@ernstdh]

Great job.

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you!

[@anthony_privett]

Great effort. Nothing to hang your head about. You’re still a beast!

[@jasonwish-]

Appreciate the kind words sir. I’m planning to go back in October to try again, but with an early morning start this time ha!

[@andymytys]

Damn. That’s a nice, textbook hang you did there.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks man! And it hung there for two weeks because I forgot to get it on my way home. Thankfully it was still there when my wife and I came back through doing some RV camping.

[@redshepherdoutdoors7201]

Great effort man! I admire you for sticking in it as long as you could. That takes grit. Don’t be too disappointed with yourself. You’ll get the next one God willing.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks...that 6pm start time was rough on me!

[@JourneyontheTrail]

Amazing job Jason! I think it can be even harder to quit then finish. I appreciate you sharing and I bet next year you’ll get it. I’d love to get up there and give it a shot as well in the future.

[@jasonwish-]

It was a fun challenge but I did not like the 6pm start, that killed me, especially after a hard week on the farm in the days prior. Under different circumstances I'm pretty confindent I could have finished it without much difficulty. I'm actually going back in early Oct to give it another go on my own and establish an FKT on it. Hopefully you'll get a chance to give it a try someday!

[@jflow53569]

This makes me want to do some long distance hiking in the ANF! I live less than 20 minutes away from it. Also, what watch were you wearing? I have been looking at purchasing a new watch.

[@jasonwish-]

That is the COROS Apex. I absolutely love it and the battery life is unbelievable! Nothing on the market compares when it comes to battery life. I’m planning to come back in early October for another go at it, beautiful place!

[@trailwalker19]

You did such an awesome job Jason... you pushed yourself and you did great!

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks so much! I was definitely dissapointed for not finishing but I went into this a little under prepared and that late start in the day certainly didn't help...I'll get it next time!

[@joelcarminati7822]

Great job Jason. I couldn’t image walking/ running that far.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Joel! It was a beautiful area. Once I conquer that 100 mile section I definitely plan to go back and slowly explore more of that area.

[@stevebednarchik9390]

Solid effort Jason!!! 💪

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Steve! I’m going back this fall on my own to crush this thing, sub 30 hours!

[@jaxcoop1511]

How difficult is it navigating through the darkness just keeping on trail?

[@jasonwish-]

Not hard at all as long as the trail is blazed well. There were several times when I couldn’t find the trail when it crossed roads but I had Gaia and FarOut to help me figure it out. I love hiking in the dark but it’s quite a bit slower that’s for sure.

[@RESTLESSOUTDOORS]

You should've swapped out the Mountain Dew for a pack of Marlboro's... you would've easily finished it...... you got it next year buddy!

[@jasonwish-]

If only I possessed your unique ability to power through the most strenuous terrain as The Marlboro Man I would have surely succeeded!!

[@FrozensAdventures]

@@jasonwish- 😂😂

[@Smokeybeesnatural]

Man 75 miles is no joke! Good job brother! So.... Barkley anytime soon 😁

[@jasonwish-]

Before I started I thought it would be a cake walk because on the Sheltowee when I had 100 miles left it felt like I was in the home stretch 😂. I definitely underestimated what a 6pm start time would do to me!

[@jasonwish-]

No Barkley haha 😂

[@AJKPenguin]

How many completed the Century? Way to traverse Jason. : ) This is pretty funny, though: Jason (Frozen, @Outdoor Adventures) and Gary (@GaryOnTheAT) were out and about on a leisurely 55 miles. That said, I did see you did not run into them. PS: Have you talked with Ricky lately? I confess I've failed to reach out.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Adam! I don’t know the exact number that finished this year but last year 24 finished out of 80 so I’m guessing it was similar this year. Yeah I’ve had several ask if I saw Jason and Gary but never crossed paths with them. I spoke with Ricky last November before my Sheltowee FKT, he was going to help support me for two of the days, but since it didn’t work out, I never had a chance to run with him and have not spoke with him since then. I know he got married and has been on the PCT or CDT, can’t remember which one.

[@AJKPenguin]

@jasonwish- Thank you sir. You're welcome.

[@stephenhiker9807]

You must have passed frozen from Outdoor Adventures at some point

[@jasonwish-]

He musta been in a different area because i never passed anyone the entire time.

[@FrozensAdventures]

@@jasonwish- You would have passed us night one for you right before the the road walk past the campground. Around mile 17ish

[@jasonwish-]

@@FrozensAdventures ah yeah I didn’t even think about you guys being asleep somewhere when I walked by lol

[@Maxspeed1998]

Awesome video Jason.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Tom, glad you enjoyed it!

[@OldPackMule]

Incredible that you did 75 miles. That's days for me at my pace. You must have passed Frozen and his buddy when you were on trail. He's an AT thru hiker and Pa guy who was out there on the same weekend with an amazing KZbin channel called outdoor adventures. @FrozensAdventures is his channel. He mentioned some 100 milers passing them.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks! Yep, I know Frozen well...him, Gary and I have hiked together several times. Never saw anyone the entire time I was out there except a few other participants.