TOWNSEND, TN — “Part celebration, part mad scramble, and totally fun” is how organizers describe an event that highlights the history, diversity and culture of the Great Smoky Mountains in an effort to connect people and nature.
More than 30 teams are expected to compete for prizes on Saturday, March 12 in the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont’s 9th annual scavenger hunt. Competitors will take on challenges scattered throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Team size is measured as a safely filled “car-load,” and the scavenger hunt is limited to 200 participants total. Registration costs $50 per team. Proceeds benefit Tremont programs. The event will take place over a 25-hour period, beginning with teams receiving hunt questions via email by 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 11. Responses must be returned in person no later than 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at the Tremont campus. Competitors will be served a light dinner while Tremont officials tally results.
“Teams usually begin with a planning session Friday afternoon, followed by start of the search that evening and continuing through the next day,” said Tremont education director John DiDiego.
“Some teams have competed every year, and there are always newcomers. Participants range from school-age children to senior citizens and all ages in between. Since it is illegal to remove items from the park, each team will need a digital camera with a blank memory card to document and submit their findings.”
Tremont faculty compile a set of questions each year. Typically, about 75 questions are developed, based on a wide variety of facts related to the park. Point values for correct answers vary according to degree of difficulty. The object is to answer as many questions as possible toward achieving the highest point total.
Past questions have ranged from, “How many chimneys are on the Sugarlands Nature Trail?” (10 points) to “The first viewpoint to the left of the walkway in the highest observation tower faces which direction?” (35 points). Or, “How many miles of visibility would be required to see Tellico Lake from Look Rock Tower?” (25 points). Maximum point value for a question in 2015 was 200 points—for a team photo shot that day in front of LeConte Lodge.
Register by calling 865-448-6709 or online at www.gsmit.org/hunt.html.
