Hikers Celebrate Appalachian Trail with Ice Cream Challenge
GARDNERS, Pa. — Sam Cooper, a dairy farmer from Tennessee, found himself at a small country store after an exhausting 7-mile hike through a muddy section of the Appalachian Trail. There, he undertook the infamous ice cream challenge, where hikers consume a half-gallon of ice cream to mark reaching the halfway point of the trail.
After nearly 40 minutes and about 2,500 calories, Cooper, known as Pie Top among fellow hikers, finished with a wry smile. “This is pure misery,” he remarked in good spirits. “I don’t think anyone should be doing this. It’s definitely not healthy.”
The ice cream challenge, which has been a tradition for more than 40 years at the Pine Grove Furnace General Store, welcomes a select group of hikers. Known as “thru-hikers,” they attempt to complete the full 2,197-mile journey in a single trek. With approximately 3 million visitors to the trail annually, only a fraction choose to take on this ambitious challenge.
Stephan Berens, a psychiatric nurse from Germany whose trail name is Speedy, joined in the fun after a long hike. He completed his half-gallon of ice cream in about 25 minutes and shared a laugh about the experience, even though he was still facing another 7 miles that day.
Hiking experts suggest that travelers often require up to 6,000 calories daily due to the physical demands of navigating rocky terrain. Since starting his journey, Berens estimated he had lost around 20 pounds.
Zeke Meddock, known as Petroglyph, also took on the challenge after leaving the Army. He described the experience as one of freedom, saying, “You’re basically walking away from life.” Meddock, who started hiking two months after his military service, enjoyed the thrill of the trek.
So far this year, about 50 hikers have completed the ice cream challenge. Those who finish receive a wooden spoon as a badge of honor along with the satisfaction of joining an exclusive club of fellow adventurers.
Interestingly, while some brave souls tackle the ice cream in one sitting, others like Bruce Thomas, a disability support worker from Canada, chose to forgo the challenge entirely, opting for a more manageable breakfast sandwich instead. Thomas, who humorously referred to himself as Not Lazy, expressed doubt about his ability to take on such a monumental task.
The ice cream challenge is just one of the many unique traditions on the Appalachian Trail. Hikers also encounter various quirky spots, such as a shelter in Virginia that encourages reflections on personal experiences and a famous narrow rock formation known as the “Lemon Squeezer” in New York.
The journey typically lasts about six months, with most hikers starting at Springer Mountain, Georgia, and ending at Mount Katahdin in Maine. The current speed record for the trail is around 40 days, with rumors of a hiker possibly on pace to break that mark.
Despite facing challenges, including discussions about trail damage from recent storms, many hikers, like Thomas, focus on perseverance. “It’s always hard,” he said, indicating his determination not to quit but to find ways to keep moving forward.
