How do you sustain a world-renown trail with state and government funding down 70 percent? Ask the community to help support the trails they cherish.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association did just that with its Tahoe Rim Trail Challenge starting in 2013. This year more 2,300 miles were traveled by 452 participants.

Participants paid for a membership that helps support the 165-mile loop, and joined friends and co-workers to see who could travel the most miles throughout the year.

During the summer, sponsors of the challenge hosted a trail day on a designated section of the loop which helps support the challengers by giving them a little bit of extra love. In the first year membership to the TRTA increased by 20 percent.

TRTA on Sept. 22 will honor the 16 sponsors and celebrate the 33-year anniversary of the completion of the Tahoe Rim Trail loop. This event is also recognized as an official Nevada sesquicentennial anniversary celebration.  The celebration will be at Coffeebar, 682 Mount Rose St., Reno at 4:30pm with light food and drinks.

For more info, call Shannon Skarritt at 775.298.4490.