Troy LynnTop Trail Journeys (TTJ) is a Virtual Challenge event format open to all — riders and non-riders, who wish to participate with their non-motorized activity miles tracked via GPS app or device. Activities tracked can be ridden (horse, bicycle), on foot (hiking, jogging, walking) — you can even log your swimming miles in the pool.
A portion of the net proceeds of each Top Trail Virtual Challenge will be donated to Back Country Horsemen of America.
The objective is to get out and move — and earn a medal for your efforts.
How do Top Trail Members Sign Up?
Top Trail Horse members can join Top Trail Journeys with their Top Trail Horse member account email and password — allowing Top Trail Horse members to join TTJ virtual challenges at a discounted rate. It also allows TTH members to import their ridden tracks already posted to TTH into their TTJ activities.
NON-RIDDEN ACTIVITY TRACKS:
* DO NOT POST TO TOP TRAIL HORSE
* DO POST TO TOP TRAIL JOURNEYS
FAQs
Journey Challenge Timing
For starters, you will have at least 4 months to get your activity mileage posted for our first Virtual Challenge Journeys: Snowbird 150 and Snowball 150. For future virtual challenges, we may tweak the mileage & event length based on any feedback we get. The parameters should be a challenge, but not so difficult that it’s unattainable. If you start a virtual challenge after it has started yet have tracks you have recorded prior and within the challenge period, you may log those tracks. For example, you want to join the “Snowbird 15 Virtual Challenge” which begins January 1, 2021 and ends April 30, 2021. You join the event on February 1, 2021. If you logged any tracks from January 1 through January 31, you are allowed to post those tracks after you join the event.
How do Top Trail Horse members post activities to Top Trail Journeys?
Ridden Tracks
For the Top Trail member, if it’s a ridden track eligible for and already posted to Top Trail, your miles will transfer over to your Journeys event by tapping the “Import from Top Trail Horse” button.
> My Journey
> Add Activity
> Import from Top Trail Horse
Non-ridden tracks:
- upload tracks as GPX or TCX file exported from any number of GPS apps
>My Journey
>Add Activity
>Upload Activity - manually enter the date, and mileage, time
>My Journey
>Add Activity
>Manual Entry
You can enter your activity tracks as frequently as you wish: immediately after each recorded, weekly in batches, random batches, or sit down and enter all at the same time after you’ve reached the challenge mileage. We’re flexible.
How do I see my progress?
Your My Journey page will show your progress.
What type of activities are eligible?
Our primary trackers are equestrians. However, equestrians do more than ride — some of us hike, walk, jog, bicycle, swim. Sometimes we hand-walk our horse or take our dogs for a walk. Many of us have a spouse or friend who may not ride but this is a fun social activity so we include them in our journey. With that in mind, horseback riding & driving, walking/hiking, jogging, biking, swimming— if involves legs & feet but no motors—if it’s part of your journey we encourage you to track those activities.
Will this format allow cheating?
It’s possible, but because it’s not really a competition — it’s a PERSONAL challenge so, if someone decides to cheat, they’re only cheating themselves. Let’s do this to challenge ourselves and our friends and finish with integrity!
When can I register for a Journey event?
As soon as possible! If it’s Listed on the Events Tab with a “Join, Register, Signup or Enroll” button, you can register. Watch for new Journey events as the year progresses.
When do Journey events close?
Event entries will close at the virtual challenge timeframe midpoint. So if it’s four months long, entries will be taken for two months. If it’s 3 months in duration, entries will be taken for 1-½ months.
When will I get my Saddle Tag or Dog Tag?
After entries are closed for each Virtual Challenge, we’ll get busy on Saddle and Dog Tag awards. If you’re a Top Trail member, you will get a Saddle Tag. Non Top Trail members will receive Dog Tag awards on a ball chain. The tags are identical but the attachment method is different. As soon as Tags are etched and complete we will ship them out to you pronto.