body
WHEREAS, named after the groundbreaking conservationist, author of Silent Spring, and Pittsburgh-area native, the Rachel Carson Trail opened as a foot path in February of 1975. Today, the trail expands 35.7 miles from Harrison Hills Park to Allegheny County’s North Park; and,
WHEREAS, while most trails contain switchbacks to breakup ascents and descents, the Rachel Carson Trail contains hills that require hikers to travel straight up and down with no plateaus, and the trail climbs 8,151 feet and drops 8,241 feet into a valley, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon; and,
WHEREAS, the trail also includes other intense topographies, such as power line clearances, dense woods, stream crossings, vast gullies, and uneven paths with little directional signage, causing many participants to get lost; and,
WHEREAS, since 1996, the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy has hosted the “Rachel Carson Trail Challenge,” a one-day event which challenges hundreds of runners and hikers to finish the entire trail before sunset; and,
WHEREAS, on Saturday, June 24th, 2017, Makenzie O’Connor, a resident of Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, became the first-ever woman to cross the finish line first in the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge’s 21-year history; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. O’Connor finished the daunting event in an impressive 6 hours and 56 minutes, 20 minutes ahead of the next participant; and,
title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Makenzie O’Connor for her outstanding accomplishment and completing the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge; and,
BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare July 25th, 2017 to be “Makenzie O’Connor Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.