St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, continues a decades-old tradition requiring all incoming freshmen to complete a challenging wilderness experience as part of their orientation.

The mandatory program involves a five-day, 55-mile hike along sections of the Appalachian Trail. The tradition has been maintained for 53 years at the preparatory school.

According to school officials, the hiking requirement serves as a rite of passage for new students entering the institution. The multi-day trek takes place over approximately one week and covers significant terrain along the well-known trail system.

The program represents one of the longest-running mandatory outdoor education requirements among American high schools. St. Benedict's Preparatory School has maintained this tradition since the early 1970s, making it a defining characteristic of the freshman experience at the Newark institution.

The school has not indicated any plans to modify or discontinue the hiking requirement, suggesting the tradition will continue for future incoming classes.