Friday, I told you about an opportunity to make this fall truly epic by taking the Ultimate Hike.

Yes, it sounds like the title of a bad reality TV show (oxymoron?) about five people who go on a hike — and only one comes back. In reality — real reality — it’s an opportunity to test yourself and help a bunch of kids in the process. Ultimate Hike is a fundraiser run by CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. CureSearch promises to put you through a 12-week training program, at the end of which you’re able to hike 28.3 miles in one day. In return, you raise $2,500 to help the fight against childhood cancer. Pretty good deal.

You can read more about Ultimate Hike in Friday’s post. I’m back today to remind you that you can learn more about the Ultimate Hike at our five informational meetings throughout the Triangle, which begin this evening at the REI in Raleigh’s North Hills and run through next week. Here’s a rundown of thoe meetings:

• Tonight, July 30, 6:30 p.m. — North Raleigh: REI, 4291 The Circle at North Hills (Six Forks Road at the Beltline/I-440).
• Wednesday, July 31, 7 p.m. — Durham: Bull City Running, 202 W. NC 54 (just off Fayetteville Street north of I-40)
• Monday, August 5, 6:30 p.m. — Cary: REI, 1751 Walnut St. (off US 64 at Walnut).
• Tuesday, August 6, 7 p.m. — Chapel Hill: Great Outdoor Provision Co., 1800 E Franklin St. (Eastgate Shopping Center).
• Wednesday, August 7, 7 p.m. — Raleigh: Great Outdoor Provision Co., Cameron Village.

Preregistration is encouraged. Make it happen by going here.

I’ll be at each meeting. In fact, I’ll be running each meeting: I’m the hiking coach and local contact for the Triangle Ultimate Hike. We’ll be doing training hikes over the next three months on some of the region’s best trails: Umstead and Eno River state parks, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along Falls Lake, Raven Rock State Park, Hanging Rock State Park, the Uwharrie National Recreation Trail. We’ll also do a night hike or two, as well as a couple of early morning hikes. The program culminates on Nov. 9 with a 28.3-mile hike on the Foothills Trail straddling the North Carolina/South Carolina line. Expect to challenge yourself. Expect to have a lot of fun.

If you’re interested but can’t make the meetings, drop me a line at joe@getgoingnc.com and we’ll talk. Otherwise, I hope to see you at one of our UH gatherings.