Kevin Morisette, Maine Summits Trek founder, hiked up Lost Valley in 2020 more than 100 times in a 36-hour period attempting to simulate summiting every 4,000-foot peak in Maine. Travis Dow photo
AUBURN — Lost Valley is set to host a fundraiser for Tree Street Youth, based out of Lewiston.
The Maine Summits Trek is the brainchild of Kevin Morissette, who in 2020 solo hiked up Lost Valley over 100 times in a 36-hour period attempting to simulate summiting every 4,000-foot peak in Maine. Although he fell just short of reaching the necessary number of laps, Morissette trekked over 40-mile, 20,000 feet of vertical gain and raised $1,000 for Tree Street Youth.
The Maine Summits Trek returns Saturday, Oct. 16, noon-4 p.m., as a hybrid of the original event, is open to all who can participate, and is raising funds for Tree Street Youth’s outdoor activity programming.
“We are so grateful for Kevin’s vision and creativity to support the hundreds of youths we serve each year to get outside and experience the outdoors. These opportunities are so life changing and meaningful and would not be possible without supporters like Maine Summit Trek and Lost Valley,” said Julia Sleeper, Tree Street Youth executive director, according to a news release from Maine Summits Trek.
The trek will challenge participants to summit Lost Valley as many times as possible over a four-hour period and conquer as many 4,000-footers as possible. Participants can register for $20 and a pledge to raise at least $100 for Tree Street Youth. The registration fee includes a lift ticket that will get trekkers a free chairlift ride down and chance to catch their breath before each summit.
Individuals can register solo or as part of a four-person team and compete with lap totals going towards both their individual total and their team’s total, with prizes for most summits and most fundraising by individual and team being awarded.
Those wishing to contribute to the cause can visit runsignup.com, find the race and donate to the general cause total or to an individual/team fundraising goal.
Spectators are welcome, and the Lost Valley fall Festival will be happening in conjunction with his event. Chairlift passes are available.
For more information or to register for the Maine Summits Trek, visit lostvalleyski.com or runsignup.com, or find Maine Summits Trek on Facebook.
Tree Street Youth is a Lewiston-based community of youth and adults who use their diverse lived experiences and collective empowerment to co-create youth-centered programs and partnerships that encourage leadership, learning, exploration and growth. They are grounded in radical accessibility and relationships rooted in equity and care.
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