//NORTH CAROLINA FAMILY COMPLETES MTS 40 HIKE CHALLENGE + BOY MAKES A DEER FRIEND

NORTH CAROLINA FAMILY COMPLETES MTS 40 HIKE CHALLENGE + BOY MAKES A DEER FRIEND

EL-GENK FAMILY OF DURHAM COMPLETES THE FRIENDS OF THE MOUNTAINS-TO-SEA TRAIL’S 40 HIKE CHALLENGE

The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) announced this week that a family of six from Durham, N.C., hiked all 40 of its Great Day Hikes on the MST, completing the 40 Hike Challenge. Hussein and Nashua El-Genk finished all 40 hikes in seven months with their children Zakariyya, Ayyub, Kareema, and Rasheed. 

The El-Genks began their journey last May while looking for a way to combat the increasing screen time that came with the pandemic. No easy task for a family of six with kids ranging from 6 to 12 years old. 

The 40 hikes highlight the many gems along the 1,175-mile MST, crossing through small towns, national parks, state parks, pretty backroads, and historic sites. The challenge welcomes hikers of all experience levels, ranging in difficulty from half a mile to 8.6 miles. The