The Santa Clarita Valley Search and Rescue Team is inviting you to join them on the trails – not to find missing hikers, but to appreciate the great outdoors and raise a little money to help them continue their mission.

The 12 Weeks-12 Hikes Challenge starts March 12 and goes through May 29 and includes a complete schedule of various trails that you can customize or challenge yourself to finish. Included in the $50 participation fee is a T-shirt, dinner at an awards barbecue on May 29, bragging rights backed up by a certificate of challenge completion and fellowship, great exercise and new hiking experiences.

The SCV Search and Rescue is comprised of local volunteers who work under the direction of the SCV Sheriff’s Station. They have chosen some of their favorite local trails to create a fun and fitness adult challenge for everyone. Over a 12-week period, participants will be challenged to complete a minimum of 10 local hikes, depending on personal schedules.

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The challenge has both a long distance component where participants track their miles and different trails and the hike challenge where participation alone is acknowledged. The event is not just a physical contest, but also an opportunity to learn about local hiking opportunities in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Tracking individual accomplishments is on the honor system and can be achieved either through individual hikes or participation in team or corporate-sponsored hikes. The hikes vary between 2-9 miles in length. Many hikes can be shortened by turning back prior to the turnaround points.

Finish time is not a factor; accomplishing the hikes and having a fun time in the objective. Many of the hikes are out and back hikes, easy to convert to a longer or shorter hike for weather or personal choice.

The $50 is a fully tax-deductible donation to the SCV Search and Rescue team and will support team equipment and training expenditures in 2011. The trail challenge will kick off at the first pay parking lot at Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon on Saturday, March 12 between 8 and 10 a.m., with registration and the first challenge hike. Over the next 12 weeks, participants will complete their clannege hikes. The trail challenge will end on Sunday, May 29 with a barbecue and awards ceremony hosted by the SCV Search and Rescue Team and sponsors of the event.

In addition to the individual awards for Corporate team members completing the long distance challenge or general hike challenge, there will be a corporate award for which Corporate Sponsor can log the most overall miles and which has the highest average miles per participant.

Trails include those found in Towsley Canyon, East and Rice Canyons, Placerita Canyon, Weldon Canyon, Pico Canyon and Whitney Canyon. For complete details on routes, hikes and to sign up, contact Ken Wiseman at 661-775-0611 or email Ken@scvsheriffsfoundation.org.