2014 marks the 50th anniversary of The Wilderness Act, the legislation that established the National Wilderness Preservation System and set aside an initial 9.1 million acres of wildlands. Congress, through this Act, recognized the importance of Wilderness as a resource for generations to come.
In celebration of this anniversary, The Southern Appalachian Office of The Wilderness Society wants you to get out and enjoy the Wilderness Areas near you!
The Dirty Dozen Wilderness Hike Challenge is a chance for you to visit the wildest places that are preserved by The Wilderness Act. Log 10+ miles in 12 Wilderness Areas in the Southeast, show us and tell us about it, and you could win outdoor swag.
The Challenge? Hike 10+ miles in 12 Wilderness Areas in the Southeast.
Eligible states include: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia (Participants may piece together 10+ miles in a Wilderness Area over several shorter hikes, particularly if a Wilderness Area’s size does not permit a single 10-mile hike. They may consider round-trip mileage toward the 10+-mile requirement.)
How to Join the Challenge:
• Register to participate via the Dirty Dozen Hike Challenge online form at www.southeastwilderness50.org.
• Submit the Hike Experience Submission Form online for each hike you complete. This form must be submitted along with required photo for each of the Wilderness Areas you hike.
• You will be asked to submit one photo for each Wilderness Area hike you complete. Send a photo of your hike: of you on your hike, or something awesome you saw along the trail. You can also submit additional photos with your Hike Experience Submission Form, which will be considered for our best photo prizes at the end of the challenge.
Some hike experiences and photos may be selected for inclusion on the southeastwilderness50.org blog and/or in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine coverage throughout the year.
A list of Wilderness Areas within the Southeast, including maps, and all hike challenge details can be found online at www.southeastwilderness50.org/dirty-dozen
Swag:
Those who sign up for the challenge will receive an official Dirty Dozen Wilderness Hike Challenge sticker. Those who complete the challenge will receive an embroidered patch and may be eligible for additional prizes.
Connect!
Check out experiences from other Dirty Dozen challenge participants, and share your wilderness moments on social media. On Twitter or Instagram, use #dirtydozenhikechallenge and #wearethewild, and like the hike challenge Facebook page to stay connected.
Prize Winners:
In addition to recognizing all of those who complete the Dirty Dozen Wilderness Hike Challenge, additional winners will be recognized in the following categories:
• Finished First
• Hiked the Most Miles
• Hiked in the Most Wilderness Areas
• Hiked in the Most States
• Best Hike Photos
• Most Creative Hike Experience Descriptions
A celebration event will be held to congratulate those who complete the challenge. Some of those who participate in or complete the challenge may also be featured in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine throughout the year. Winner of the best hike photos and most creative hike descriptions will be recognized in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine.
