ZELIENOPLE — Tom Nesbitt never fashioned himself as much of a baseball, football or basketball player.

“But I'm a good hiker,” the 74-year-old Zelienople resident said.

He's proven that — time and time again.

Nesbitt completed the Rachel Carson Challenge — a recent single-day hike that connects Harrison Hills Park in Harrison Township to North Park, Allegheny County — for the 14th consecutive year.

Nesbitt completed the 36-mile trail from age 61-64. He's done the 18-mile trail each year since.

He belongs to two hiking clubs in the area, one in Zelienople and one at Moraine State Park “that keep me pretty active,” Nesbitt said. “You have to be active and in good shape to complete the Carson Challenge.

“A lot of people who start that hike don't finish it.”

Nesbitt hiked the trail this year with fellow Zelienople resident and hiking club member Kim Bridge, 56.

There are numerous trails around Zelienople. Nesbitt does more than just hike those trails.

He helps to maintain them.

“He and (longtime senior runner) Tom Murray maintain those trails and talk about the history of them while we hike them,” Bridge said. “They know all about this town. It's educational hiking with them.”

But the Rachel Carson Trail is no ordinary trail. It is presented as a challenge of endurance.

“The Carson Trail connects the five parks in the North Hills together,” Nesbitt said. “You hike up and down numerous ridges, some as big as 500 feet, and they can be steep.”

Most hikers doing the Carson Challenge carry backpacks with snacks and water. Rest stops are set up every eight miles along the trail — manned by volunteers — offering plenty of food and water.

“I couldn't do this if it wasn't for those (rest stops),” Nesbitt said.

Nesbitt finished the 18-mile challenge in seven hours, 30 minutes.

Bridge described him as “an amazing guy.

“He's an example of how important it is to be active,” she said. “A lot of the people in our club look up to him in that sense.”

She added that climbing up the ridges isn't quite as treacherous as coming down them.

“I fell a few times. I was all dirty when we were done,” Bridge recalled. “I looked at Tom and he didn't have a speck of dirt on him. He didn't fall once.”

Nesbitt decided to begin doing the Rachel Carson Challenge after turning 60 because he had gotten “bored” with his hikes through Moraine State Park and McConnells Mill State Park.

“I wanted to challenge myself,” he said.

He had plenty of company with this year's challenge. The event took place June 19 and there were 1,000 people participating.

Many of his neighbors were among them.

William Huber, 36, of Zelienople was the first-place finisher in the 36-mile portion, completing the course in six hours, 23 minutes. He is now hiking the Appalachian Trail and could not be reached for comment.

Huber beat the second-place finisher, Makenzie O'Connor, 27, of Pittsburgh, by 20 minutes.

Christine Edmiston, 36, of Harmony finished 23rd with a time of eight hours, 26 minutes.

Other Zelienople residents completing the 18-mile hike within the eight-hour time limit were Sarah Bray (age 35), Chris Van Schepen (37), Avery Lawson (44), Troy Snyder (49) and Bridge.

While in his 50s, Nesbitt did a dozen MS-150 bicycle rides for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Those rides went from Pittsburgh to Erie.

He switched to hiking after that.

“Having so many local trails around really helps,” he said. “I belong to the Butler Outdoor Club, also, which involves hiking, biking and kayaking.

“Between that and the Zelienople club, it keeps me busy.”