With cream-colored hair flowing in the wind and long legs striding on the trail, Lucy and Linus and their shorter buddy Kolaczki were on a mission recently as they walked the path at McKinley Woods preserve.

The two English golden retrievers sniffed delicious scents along the path while their corgi companion preferred a roll in the snow. The low-20s temps didn't seem to bother the furry trio a bit.

The canines and their "moms" are participants in the winter session of the Forest Preserve’s new Be a Trailblazer challenge, which kicked off Jan.16, and runs through March 1. The year-long challenge features $10,000 in randomly awarded prizes. The spring session begins April 10, so there is plenty of time to join the almost 1,000 people who are currently trailblazing their way through the forest preserves in 2025. 

Soaking in the scents

Cindy Abel, owners of retrievers, Lucy, 8, and Linus, 6, said without the Trailblazer challenge she would most likely be sitting on the couch during these cold winter days. Instead, she is braving the wind, snow and ice with her dogs to work on a list of 76 missions that are part of the winter Trailblazer experience.

The retired Oswego nurse said she normally would take her dogs for a walk at a local park.

"It's just one or two loops on a paved path around some baseball fields with not that much vegetation," she explained. 

But now she takes her pups with her on Trailblazer missions in the forest preserves where she's soaking up more sunlight and is thrilled to see animals in the wild. 

"It's been good for all of us because the dogs sleep better at night, which means I sleep better at night and they're just calmer. They love it. They love the sniffing and meeting different animals and people on the trails. It's been really a lot of fun." 

For Lucy, it's all about the smells, Abel added. 

"She gets her nose in something and you cannot budge this dog until she's decided she's decoded the entire universe," Abel said. "She just puts her feet down like they have suction cups on them and doesn't move until she's ready." 

In contrast, Linus wants to speed through the preserve, she added. She uses a no-pull leash to keep him from dragging her down a path. 

"It's my speed regulator," she said. 

Abel met Linda Trzesniewski of Channahon and her 1-year-old corgi Kolaczki while completing missions and now the women and their dogs are buddies. 

"It's like my second life," Trzesniewski said of the challenge. "When you don't want to bug your kids to entertain you, you go out onto the trails. And I've met so many nice people that keep showing up. When I come out to any preserve, there are people I know. And I'm waving at people and talking to people. It's very nice." 

Sign up today

While the first Trailblazer seasonal challenge is nearing the end, you can still join now and be eligible for prizes for just competing. And you will be ready to roll when the six-week spring session begins on April 10. A summer session is set for June 5 to Aug. 9 and the fall experience will be from Sept. 25 to Nov. 8.

It’s easy to get started. Download the free Goosechase app to your smartphone, search for the Be a Trailblazer experience, sign up and head outside. Each completed mission earns 10 points and there is a leaderboard, but prizes will only be awarded randomly and not for placing first, second or third. Some prizes are tied to completing certain missions, but anyone can win.

The challenge is possible due to generous funding from The Nature Foundation of Will County, which also is sponsoring items in the prize pool that will help people explore nature further, including sleds, kayaks, Fitbits, a Yeti cooler, tent and sleeping bag packs, fishing equipment, hiking poles, picnic packs and more. 

Area restaurants and shops have donated dozens of gift cards, Wild Birds Unlimited donated gift baskets and Ken Woody Sports donated quarter zip pullovers embroidered with the Be a Trailblazer logo. Forest Preserve prizes include: three half-day boat rentals and three family packs at Monee Reservoir. 

For a list of all the prizes and challenge rules, visit the Be a Trailblazer info page. 

Perfect push

Abel said that she likes the format where people earn points for completing missions but anyone can win a prize.

"There are no winners, there are no losers, it's go at your own pace," she said. "But there are still specific tasks which are getting me out into nature and on the trails. I wouldn't be out this winter if it wasn't for this. It just becomes addicting." 

One of her favorite memories so far this season has been completing the "Slippery Slope" sledding mission with Trzesniewski at Forked Creek Preserve – Butcher Lane Access area.

"You should have seen us sliding down Forked Creek on our sleds," she said. "We were hysterical. It's just been so much fun."

Abel admitted she's not really a winter person, though, and credits the Trailblazer experience with pushing her out the door.

"I wouldn't be out and about if it wasn't for this," she said. "I'd be buried under the covers getting fatter."