Blue Cross Vermont Mountain Days Starts in May
Our annual Mountain Days event invites neighbors to hike their way to a healthy summer.
Berlin, Vermont — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont invites our neighbors to come together to enjoy Mountain Days, a fun annual event that brings people of all ages and abilities out to hike a mountain or favorite trail, or to roll along next to a friend on our many accessible trails in the state. The idea for Mountain Days was sparked by the energetic Blue Cross Windham County Community Advisory Board in 2001, when they invited their community to join them in what became an annual hike up Mt. Wantastiquet. It has become a true tradition and has inspired several spring hiking events across Vermont.
“After a long Vermont winter, taking a hike with a friend can truly be the best medicine,” said Megan Peek, Community Relations and Health Promotion Director at Blue Cross VT. “Mountain Days kicks off spring for me every year, connecting with the same friends—and making new ones—on the trail up Mt. Wantastiquet.”
Blue Cross VT is inviting Vermonters across the state to get a healthy start to the warmer months by recruiting a friend or family member to hike a mountain together. Exercising together with friends offers an easy camaraderie through conquering a shared goal, which has tremendous benefits for emotional and physical wellness.
The in-person event is on Saturday, May 11th from 10 AM – 2 PM at the site of our first-ever event on Mt. Wantastiquet (Mt. Wantastiquet Mountain Nature Area Trails), West Chesterfield, NH). This mountain serves as the beautiful backdrop of Brattleboro’s downtown, outlined behind the Connecticut River. We will provide free Mountain Day t-shirts, healthy snacks, and water for participants. No RSVP is required, and the event is open to all. Invite a friend and mark your calendar.
If Brattleboro is too far of a trek, join our virtual challenge that will run from Saturday, May 11th – Saturday, June 1st. During that time, we invite people from across the state to post a photo of themselves conquering a mountain or a nature trail on the Blue Cross VT Facebook or Instagram pages for a chance to win a $250 gift certificate to a Vermont outdoor store. Help us give back to our community: For each photo shared Blue Cross VT will donate $5 to Vermont Parks Forever Access Fund, which grants free park passes to hundreds of Vermonters each year.
If you’ve sworn off social media, you are still welcome to participate by submitting your photo the old-fashioned way by snail mail to the attention of our Community Wellness team or you can email us at events@bcbsvt.com.
“Make a plan with a friend to get outside and enjoy our beautiful state,” says Peek. “Having someone with me creates accountability and I follow through with my plan to get moving. I get the extra mental wellness from the social connection, and the physical and mental wellbeing from getting my heart rate up and my lungs working harder. Mountain Days is a win-win!”
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is a local, not-for-profit health plan. For over 40 years, the company has been enhancing the health and well-being of the Vermonters we serve by offering innovative plans to individuals, older Vermonters, and businesses. Our employees are dedicated to developing new ways to support high-quality care, programs, and events that promote wellness.
