Local endurance hike, The Crucible, raises $10K for Blue Star Service Dogs

by Clyde Whitaker

A grueling all-day endurance hike beginning and ending at the Waterloo/Pinckney Portage Lake trailhead was held Saturday, May 7, in honor of our disabled veterans. The author’s wife, Mary, and daughter Angela Adiska participated in the event, along with Kim Williamson, Erin Clifton and Steve Higgs from the area.

Juston and Carrie Schotte are responsible for organizing The Crucible, starting in 2019. It is now the largest organized endurance hike in Michigan—a 22-mile trek over rough and hilly terrain. Endurance hiking is defined as any day hike of at least 20 continuous miles along backcountry trails.

The thing that sets The Crucible apart from other events is that ALL proceeds from this hike go to charity. In 2019, more than $7,000 was donated to the Semper Fi Fund. Due to the COVID pandemic, The Crucible could not be held in 2020 and 2021.

This year, The Crucible donated $10,828 to the Blue Star Service Dogs.

A crisis in this country that no one talks about very much is veteran suicide. More of our veterans now die from suicide than from combat. On average, that number is about 22 people every day, which is why The Crucible chose 22 hiking miles.

Blue Star Service Dogs is an amazing organization that rescues dogs from Michigan animal shelters. Then after training, each dog is paired up with a veteran suffering from a physical disability. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are disabilities that affect our veterans.

There also are two prison training programs for service dog cadets. Both facilities house selected dogs for four to six months prior to pairing them with a veteran. Training of the dogs is continued so that they become service dogs. Blue Star Service Dogs is located in Pinckney, Michigan, and its theme is “Rescuing one to heal another.”

This year’s endurance hike started off at about 7:45 a.m. under a clear blue sky, with the temperature a cool 43 degrees. According to Schotte, more than 200 people had applied to hike in the event. Walking around prior to the hikers taking off, you could feel the anticipation for the big event.

All participants completed the hike within the allotted 12 hours. It was a great day for a great charity, and everyone went home tired but with smiles on their faces.

All photos provided by Clyde Whitaker.

Sign welcomes participants and onlookers to The Crucible all-day endurance hike at the Waterloo/Pinckney Portage Lake trailhead.

This year, The Crucible raised $10,828 for the Blue Star Service Dogs.

Crucible founders Juston (left) and Carrie Schotte.

Some of the local Crucible participants (l-r): Erin Clifton, Kim Williamson, Angie Adiska and Mary Whitaker

Steve Higgs, left, and Erin Clifton hike The Crucible.

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