It is the end of the semester, the last week of classes. There is a look of tired teeth-gritting despair on many faces and zen-like complacency on others. Final projects and exam schedules have become the great, unforgiving determiners.
But today is the end of classes. It is a bench mark all students can appreciate — an evening for celebration.
The Hillsborough Hike has become a traditional manner of celebrating the last day of classes for many students. It is a bar crawl that starts at one end of Hillsborough Street and ends at the other.
“It is long, but it is so much fun,” Kristen Olsen, a senior in Spanish, said. “It’s like a reunion. You see friends you haven’t seen in weeks, or sometimes semesters.”
According to Mitch’s Tavern owner Mitchell Hazouri “the Hike,” as it is known, has been going on for about a decade.
“At first we didn’t know what it was,” Hazouri said. “A group of fraternity brothers showed up and took shots, and then they were gone.”
He said another group came by a little while later, and after that groups kept coming.
“The bar was busy all night. Now we anticipate it,” Hazouri said. “Hike night is, by far, the busiest night of the year.”
Mitch’s and many other bars on Hillsborough Street take precautions against crowds and underage drinking.
There are employees at every door and police scattered about, ready to give tickets to students who are unruly, underage or drinking in the street.
Many bars also take on additional supplies, such as grocery store-bought beer in aluminum cans that they sell for $1 to $2 each.
Some people take the tradition seriously. The stars of the hike are the graduating seniors.
“This is my last hike as a State student,” Julian Taylor, a senior in sociology, said. “I was going to dress up in full hiking gear, with a walking stick and a map of Hillsborough and everything. But instead my girlfriend is flying up from Florida to join me, so I’ll probably tone it down a bit.”
Other students see it as a right of passage.
“I’ve held out until my graduating semester to do the Hike,” Adam Badders, a senior in textile engineering, said. “I feel like it’s a graduation ritual. I plan on going out with a bang.”
Regardless of whether they like to drink, students and alumni said they feel the Hillsborough Hike is a special night that brings the N.C. State community together.
“I would highly recommend that every student go,” Sean Casey, a 2004 alumnus in biochemistry, said. “I look back and laugh at the stories that friends and I have from our State traditions, like camping out for tickets and tailgating, Brent Road parties.”
According to Casey, Hillsborough Hike seems to be one of the NCSU traditions that has lasted.
“Students should take advantage of it,” Casey said.
However, moderation is important for a successful Hike.
Hazouri recommends drinking only one light beer at every bar, and staying hydrated. Casey recommends starting early.
“Remember, most places start serving alcohol at noon. Pace yourself,” Casey said. “Also keep in mind that anything could happen. I have a friend who met his wife on the Hillsborough Hike.”