Pocono Mountains Proclaims Itself "Outdoor Adventure Capital of the East"

Pocono Mountains, PA, March 15, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Pocono Mountains (800poconos.com) is on its way to becoming a Mecca for outdoor adventure sports as a destination with 12 adventure/endurance races already booked for the remainder of 2012. A complete list is at 800poconos.com/events/adventure-sports/.

The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) has proactively been branding and promoting the recreational use of its 2,400 square miles encompassing Pennsylvania’s Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, as a region home to rolling mountain terrain, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, thriving woodlands and 170 miles of winding rivers. Over 190,000 acres of state and federal land and 261 miles of marked groomed trails offer lots of excitement, endless exploring and unbelievable fun in the Pocono Mountains.

“Outdoor adventure sport is the name of the game for 2012 in the Pocono Mountains,” said David Jackson, Director of Sales for the PMVB. “With names like Ironman, Hero Rush, Warrior Dash, Ragnar Relay and Tough Mudder, a total of over 57,000 athletes and 114,000 guests are scheduled to visit the Pocono Mountains between the months of April and October. This is a significant trend and cause for excitement.”

The Pocono Mountains prides itself in some signature events with recently hosting the biggest brand in triathlon, the Ironman 70.3 event during fall, where athletes traveled from 40 U.S. States and 14 international countries to compete. Tough Mudder, a hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle course, on April 28-29, 2012 in Pocono Manor, expects to attract more than 20,000 competitors from multiple states to test their all around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie. The Warrior Dash, a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme 5k run, is back for a second consecutive year in the Pocono Mountains and will attract outdoor enthusiasts from all over. The event will take place on June 16, 2012 at Pocono International Raceway.

These events are very popular, bringing in thousands of outdoor enthusiasts. Many compete in their sport and stick around to enjoy the post-event activities with their families and tour the region. These popular events have also grown in the last years and the Pocono Mountains plans to continue adding more each year.

“This new classification will give the Pocono Mountains an outdoor identity beyond skiing and golf and allow us to position ourselves as a true four-season destination,” said Carl Wilgus, President/CEO of the PMVB. “The spring and fall are great times of the year to access the multitude of outdoor recreation offerings.”

With the highest point found in Wayne County at Mt. Ararat towering in at 2,654 feet in elevation to the lowest valley, 340 feet, located in Pike County’s Bushkill, the Pocono Mountains is already a popular winter ski destination. Now, the region is readying itself for an influx of runners, mountain bikers, kayakers and orienteers to hit the ground running.

For more information on the adventure sport events and activities in the Pocono Mountains, visit 800poconos.com and follow on Facebook at PoconoTourism.