Forty-seven years ago this September, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) began as an offhand remark during a speech at a trail conference in Lake Junaluska.

It was 1977, and then Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development Howard Lee had been pushing the establishment of trails + greenways across the state. Lee was asked by Jim Hallsey, the head of the trails division, to propose a trail running from the mountains to the ocean, so he added one casual line to his address. And it got a standing ovation.

Lee hadn't actually gotten clearance from the governor's office to make that proposal and had to return to make his justification. Luckily, though, Gov. Jim Hunt was on board and told Lee to take it on. In the first year, the team pulled together ~400 acres that would become the trail's original segment, but it would be at least a decade before it really took form.

The MST was designated a state trail in 2000, and nowadays, it's 1,175 miles long. When it's finished, the trail will stretch about 1,400 miles, from NC's western border to Jockey's Ridge State Park on the coast.

Bonus: That's just part of the story — read NC Rabbit Hole's interview with Howard Lee.

You've got from Sunday, Sept. 1 to Monday, Sept. 30 to complete the challenge. | Map via NC Trails

Ride, hike, walk, or work

It's been 47 years since the line that launched the flagship state trail, and the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail are telling you to take a hike (in a celebratory way — not a snub).

You can join the birthday challenge by hiking or paddling 47 miles, biking 147 miles, or volunteering 15 hours on the MST during the month of September. Those who complete the challenge are eligible to win prizes.

If you want some company out on the trail, you can also join a group hike, workday, or event throughout the month. Pro tip: Register for the first Asheville hike on Thursday, Sept. 5.