Hike the Smokies Challenge

Great Smoky Mountains News Release
Immediate Release
Date: April 19, 2010
Contact: Nancy Gray
865/436-1208

“Reward Yourself – Hike the Smokies Challenge” Launches
on Sunday, April 25, 2010

Do you need a little motivation to get out and enjoy the great outdoors? A new program, “Reward Yourself – Hike the Smokies Challenge” in 2010, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will help visitors reach individual milestones. The Park is distributing mileage record books for free on Sunday, April 25, at Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and at the Cades Cove Visitor Center from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. After April 25, the pocket-size booklets will be available at the three visitor centers for $1.00.

The challenge is to keep track and record the mileage from each trail excursion, even if it is the same trail day after day. As a recreational benefit, when a person has “hiked” 100 miles, 250 miles, and 500 miles, he/she can bring their mileage record to one of the three visitor centers to receive a mileage pin and be recorded in the “Hike the Smokies” 2010 web records.

A video podcast, Day Hiking in the Smokies: Expect the Unexpected will also be launched on April 25 at: http://thegreatsmokymountains.org/hike_smokies_challenge. This 3-minute video podcast will help visitors prepare for the weather extremes that can be found in the Smokies during a day hike. Two additional video podcasts are being developed in this series for release this summer and fall that will provide additional tips on hiking safety in the Smokies.

“Day hiking in the Smokies is a good way to get exercise while also discovering the beauty of this area,” said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. He continued, “With over 800 miles of scenic trails to choose from, the possibilities for day hikes are endless.”

This project was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation through the generous support of The Coca-Cola Foundation, a Proud Partner of America’s National Parks, and in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

-NPS-

[Note from The Dean] Smoky Mountain University would like to show their support for the “Hike the Smokies Challenge”. Earn your Smoky Mountain University Hiking Degree, all you have to do is email us copies of your milage records. We will send you an Associates, Bachelor’s or Doctorate’s Degree for 100, 250, and 500 miles hiked in the Smoky Mountains. Click here for more details on SMU’s Hiking Course.