Hikers Log 4,656 Miles at Great Smoky Mountains Event

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (January 2009)—Wilderness Wildlife Week, a Top 20 Event in the Southeast according to the Southeast Tourism Society, tallied a cumulative attendance of more than 25,300 in almost 300 classes, presentations, musical programs, hikes and excursions.

The week included 47 hikes, which attracted 1,006 hikers. The hikers chalked up 4,656 miles on trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Jan. 10-17 event was a salute to the national park and related outdoor and environmental topics. This was the 19th year the City of Pigeon Forge presented Wilderness Wildlife Week.

"Wilderness Wildlife Week was the first big public event on the official calendar of Great Smoky Mountains National Park´s 75th anniversary, and it was a real hit," said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

The national park´s anniversary is one reason cumulative attendance exceeded 2008´s total of more than 20,000, according to Downey.

"Wilderness Wildlife Week does not require registration, so cumulative attendance at the sessions is the best gauge of attendance. Hikes do require sign-ups, so we can track those numbers very easily," said Deanna Sorge, special events supervisor for the tourism department.

Hikers came from 18 states. Tennessee´s 144 hikers were the biggest group from one state. Georgia (36), Ohio (26) and North Carolina (17) were next. New Hampshire, New Jersey, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and even Alaska each provided a pair of hikers.

"Our hikes are a huge success. We provide transportation to and from the trailheads and experienced on-trail leaders. In all, hikers walked 4,656 miles. We started keeping hike data five years ago, and our total of hiked miles now is 11,028," Sorge said.

More than 150 outdoor experts, musicians, photographers and National Park Service personnel donated their time to conduct Wilderness Wildlife Week activities. Also, more than 70 area residents volunteered their time.

Dates for the 20th annual Wilderness Wildlife Week in 2010 are Jan. 9-16. Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge is available online at www.MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.

Writer Adkinson hikes in the Smokies and helps Pigeon Forge with its tourism efforts.