Visit Carson City has announced who it selected for the Carson City to Canada Quest, a 1,600-mile adventure of a lifetime starting at the steps of the State Capitol in Carson City and ending at the Northern Terminus monument on the U.S. and Canada border.
Julianne Mahoney, age 28 and Audrey Payne, age 40, will each get paid $5,000 upon completion of the Quest, which starts this summer all in an effort to bring awareness to Carson City, Nevada, as an outdoor recreation gateway. While a “hike” like this might not be everyone’s idea of adventure, the Carson City to Canada Quest, which was first announced last March, had over 350 people apply.
“We were blown away by the amount of interest and the creative submissions we received from applicants all over the world,” said Lydia Beck, marketing and PR manager of Visit Carson City. “For our selection process, we focused on hikers’ ability to showcase their adventurous side through content creation, along with their qualifications and drive for taking on this Quest.”
To be selected as the first thru-hikers to embark on the trail, both Mahoney and Payne successfully demonstrated the sought-after traits that will ensure they’re successful pioneers of this new thru-hike leading to the Tahoe Rim Trail and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Their video applications are available for viewing here.Â
“I’m honored to be selected as one of the first to mint this new Pacific Crest Trail, and will ensure I’m protecting and caring for it along the route,” said Mahoney. “I’m excited to get outside — just my dog Indy, a Great Pyrenees mix, and me. The most magical moments happen when you’re embarking solo and really focusing on what’s going on around you, and the incredible wildlife sightings that don’t come with a big group.”
“As a lifelong hiker, I’m looking forward to following up my last adventure — hiking the Appalachian Trail,” Payne said. “Many people don’t realize the depth of the friendships you make along the trail, which is one of my favorite parts of a thru-hike. It’s also a personal mission of mine to leave as little impact as possible, while leaving a good impression on the local communities.”
The Carson City to Canada Quest is estimated to take hikers approximately two to three months to complete. In this time, Mahoney and Payne will experience some of the greatest hiking trails in the world. Along with catching picturesque views of historical Carson City and Lake Tahoe after they embark, they’ll also have access to landscape primed for adventure seekers, such as backpackers and mountain bikers. The diverse ecosystem includes beautiful back-country lakes, multiple mountain peaks, and natural wildlife.
“This trail is special to us and the many committed individuals that helped make it happen,” said David Peterson, executive director of Visit Carson City. “This was not an overnight execution — getting the Cap to Tahoe trail carved out and ready for hikers has been eight years in the making, and we can’t wait for our two adventurers to break it in!”
The Capital to Tahoe trail has an IMBA rating of blue (more difficult). Questing thru-hikers will leave Carson City and embark on their adventure in or around June 2025. Exact dates will not be released to ensure hiker safety.
Interested viewers can follow along with the hikers’ adventures throughout the quest on Visit Carson City’s official Instagram page: @visitcarsoncity.
To learn more about Mahoney and Payne, check out their bios and social media handles on the official Visit Carson City website, here.
