Hike McCreary County

Importance: In a recent health related report McCreary County was in the top tier of health related problems such as diabetes (18% of population), smoking (33.1%, highest in the state), hypertension rate is 52% of adult population, heart related issues (heart disease deaths are 30% than state average), and weight related issues (32% of adults are obese. These reports state that a number of these health related problems are directly related to lack of exercise.  

Educational Programs: 11 hikes, totaling 48 miles were taken over the past year. Included in these was a Hiking Weekend at Carter Caves State Resort Park.  The hikes averaged 15 people per hike and 4.4 miles in length.

Extension Role: Extension Agent worked with a committee in planning, implementing the hikes and secured busses for transportation. The agent lead a number of the hikes, recruited hike leaders for the others,  kept participants informed via a web site, Facebook, e-mail distribution list, and local news media.  

Impact:  

            48 miles of trials were hiked for a total of 722 total miles hiked

Other Comments: 

List some of your most memorable experiences.

When Nancy came back to the group after Lung tumor surgery. 

The list is endless.

Every hike with the group is memorable to me.

Learning all of the fantastic places to hike within McCreary County.

Waterfalls! Great people

Discovering the beautiful area and the wide range of flowers.

More Comments:

I love the program, and it should NOT be discontinued.

I look forward to the hikes and feel this program has helped me in many ways.

Love this group!

I've lost 106 pounds of un-needed fat from my body.

Enjoy meeting all the different people

Evaluation: A written year end electronic evaluation was e-mailed/Face Booked to participants.  Participants went on line and completed the evaluation.