Registration for 2011 All-Military Wilderness Challenge Opens April 1

By Mark O Piggott, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Public Affairs

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Registration for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department's annual all-military Wilderness Challenge opens April 1.

The Wilderness Challenge will take place, Oct. 6–8, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains and on the New and the Gauley Rivers in West Virginia. The event is hosted and co-organized by ACE Adventure Resort, West Virginia's largest outdoor outfitter.

More than 300 military personnel representing teams from around the World are expected to compete. Only the first 60 teams will secure a spot in the Wilderness Challenge, so teams are encouraged to register early.

"The MWR Wilderness Challenge continues to bring together the best athletes in the armed forces and puts them to the test," said Michael Bond, event coordinator. "The competition gets tougher and tougher every year as more teams battle for the title."

The challenge contains a series of five outdoor adventure races in a team format designed to bring camaraderie, competition and team spirit between all five branches of the Armed Services.

Teams participating in this year's challenge will compete in an 8K mountain run, a 14-mile mountain bike race, a 14-mile forced hike through the mountains, a 13-mile whitewater raft race on the Gauley River and a 7-mile kayak race on the New River. Last year's winner was Team "Amphibia" from the Office of the Chief of Navy Reserve, Washington, D.C.

"It is not an easy competition and only the strong survive, so the winning team will be the best of the best in outdoor recreation and physical endurance," Bond added.

Registration is open to all branches of the military. Teams must be comprised of four active duty military, one of which must be female. Registration can be made online at www.wildernesschallenge.net or by calling (757) 887-7256.