POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam wilderness education students will climb Mount Azure with 50 pounds of rocks inside their backpacks to raise money for an expedition to Gila Wildeness in New Mexico.

The Azure expedition takes place Saturday, April 11, where students will attempt to climb the mountain as many times as possible in one day.

The students have been preparing for the Mountain-A-Thon throughout the semester, by repeatedly climbing the eight flights of stairs in Raymond Hall with loaded packs. On April 11, they will haul 50-pound loads of rocks multiple times up the 1-mile trail, with a 1,000-foot elevation gain.

Students and faculty members will take part in Mountain-A-Thon. They have set a goal of each making a minimum of four trips to the summit of Azure, bringing a total of 200 pounds of rocks to the top, and completing eight miles of climbing and 4,000 feet of elevation gain. In sum total, the group hopes to carry more than 2,000 pounds of rocks to the summit in a day.

The students are seeking pledges for the Mountain-A-Thon, to raise funds for their summer wilderness trip. They are currently $2,000 shy of their goal to fund the trip. By making this experience possible, donors can help students achieve their dreams of becoming successful wilderness leaders.

The challenge will closely mimic the rigors of the group's upcoming expedition to the 3.3 million-acre Gila Wilderness in Southwestern New Mexico. The Gila covers eight mountain ranges, including the Mogollon range, which rises out of the Gila river canyons to mountain summit elevations of over 10,000 feet. The expedition to this remote area will be resupplied via pack stock halfway through the 20-day expedition. A typical day in the Gila will involve up to several thousand feet of elevation gain, while carrying backpacks over rugged terrain that has been recently ravaged by floods and fires, and will at times lack a trail. This expedition is the capstone experience for students who are enrolled in the Leadership Track of the SUNY Potsdam Wilderness Education Minor.

The event will serve multiple purposes. Students will not only raise funds and train their bodies and minds for their expedition through the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico, they will also help with erosion control at the summit of the Adirondack peak.

The Friends of Mount Azure have for years maintained a pile of rocks at the base of the mountain, so that hikers can carry up loads to help with erosion control at the summit. The group also leads stewardship for the fire tower and trail.

To make a donation, visit secure.potsdam.edu/giving, and designate donation to "Wilderness Leadership."

To follow the students' journey, visit www.facebook.com/leadership2gila.