This past weekend, more than 300 UVM students hiked Vermont's Long Trail, which stretches the length of the state. Brought together by the Catamountain Classic, an event honoring the life of the late UVM student Avi Kurganoff, the students split into groups to tackle the trail in sections. UVM Outing Club members led each group, and altogether, 50 student groups were represented.

 

Not just an opportunity to experience the beauty of the state during peak foliage, the Catamountain Classic is also a fundraiser. The $30 fee to participate will be donated to finance a Burlington youth's Hurricane Island Outward Bound trip. This year's event raised more than $2,000.

 

Kurganoff, who died in March 2012, was passionate about outdoor education. As a member of UVM's Dewey House for Civic Engagement, he conceived of a plan to provide opportunities for underprivileged Burlington youth to experience nature. "He created this plan, but he was never able to implement it," said Hillary Laggis '14, one of the organizers of the first Catamountain Classic. Read more about Laggis and the inaugural event in this story, "In Avi's Memory."

 

See images from this year's Catamountain Classic shared on Instagram: