What is the Crescent Challenge ?
The Crescent Challenge is a completely fabricated event, given a legitimate-sounding name so that the participants can put it on their calendars with some level of authority, and won't be questioned by their wives and/or significant others, or whoever else might be so bold as to question them. They would be seriously questioned if they called it what it really is, which in loose terms is the hanging out in the mountains, beer-drinking, bike-riding, rock-climbing, trail-running, general cutting-up and goofing-off Challenge.
Who is eligible to participate in the Challenge ?
Participation in the Crescent Challenge is by invitation only, and it is a lucky man indeed that receives that much-anticipated email every Fall. For those of you that have yet to be invited, please, do not waste your time in some vain effort to impress the Sponsors and/or any Alumni that you might know. The qualities that define a Challenge invitee are hard to define, and can't be checked off like items on a grocery list. Don't worry, when you are ready, you'll get the call.
Origins of the Crescent Challenge
The term "Crescent Challenge" was coined by Gaines Huguley one night over beers with Andy Roberson and Calhoun Clark at the Davidson River Campground in Pisgah in November, 2003. The trio were in the midst of a camping/mountain-biking weekend that was originally conceived by Gaines as a long-distance trip, linking trails from Jocasee over to Caesar's Head. In fact, part of Gaines' plan was to have a Support Vehicle driven by a chef (no kidding) arrive at pre-determined camping sites ahead of them, set up camp and cook dinner.
It's good to dream, but sometimes reality gets in the way, which is why they found themselves at the Davidson River campground that night, sans chef, probably eating Mac & Cheese. At least one of them did dine on some very tasty sushi. I digress. Anyway, legend has it that Gaines promptly proposed a toast to the "Crescent Challenge", explaining that he figured the original link-up of trails was going to form a crescent-shaped line when traced over a map. Such were the humble beginnings of the event.