Army ODR Hiking & Biking Challenge

2026 Cycling & Hiking Challenge: Grand Prize Official Rules and Regulations

Effective Date: 1 April 2026
 

1.0 Introduction

This document establishes the official rules, regulations, and procedures for the Grand Prize Contest, a component of the 2026 Army Cycling & Hiking Challenge. The purpose of this Contest is to recognize and reward the top-performing participants for mileage accumulated and verified during the official challenge period. All participants are bound by the terms and conditions set forth herein.

2.0 Prize Description

Two (2) Grand Prizes will be awarded. The prize categories are as follows:

• One (1) award for the Top Hiker: The eligible participant who accumulates the highest total of verified hiking miles.
• One (1) award for the Top Cyclist: The eligible participant who accumulates the highest total of verified cycling miles.

Each winner will be awarded a prize valid for three (3) consecutive nights of lodging at one of two designated Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) locations: The Dragon Hill Lodge (Sŏl, Korea) or The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort (Garmisch, Germany).

Prize Limitations: The prize is strictly limited to lodging for a standard room for three consecutive nights. All other costs, including but not limited to airfare, ground transportation, meals, taxes, resort fees, and any incidental expenses, are the sole responsibility of the winner. The prize is non-transferable, non-substitutable, and holds no cash value.

3.0 Contest Period

The Contest is active from 01 May 2026 to 31 September 2026. Any mileage logged before the official start date or after 11:59 PM on the official end date is ineligible for consideration.

4.0 Eligibility Criteria

4.1. The Contest is open to all eligible registrants of the 2026 Cycling & Hiking Challenge.

4.2. MWR Staff at any level are ineligible to participate in the Contest.

4.3. AFRC Resort Eligibility: In addition to the above, any potential winner must meet the eligibility requirements to stay at an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) as determined by the Department of Defense and the respective resorts. 

 The winner will be required to present a valid ID card upon room reservation/check-in. Broadly, authorized personnel include:

* Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard members. 

* Armed Forces Retirees (including "gray area" retirees). 

* Current and retired Department of Defense (DoD) and Coast Guard (CG) civilian employees (APF and NAF). 

* Honorably discharged veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, confirmed by the VA. 

* Certain separated service members and their families (e.g., under TAMP, VSI, SSB programs). 

* Unremarried surviving spouses and eligible un-remarried former spouses of military members. 

* Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, or have a VA-documented service-connected disability rating. 

* Primary Family Caregivers of eligible veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. 

For a complete and definitive list of criteria, please consult the official AFRC eligibility pages at:

Dragon Hill Lodge: https://www.dragonhilllodge.com/about-dragon-hill-lodge/eligibility

Edelweiss Lodge: https://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/your-stay/eligibility

5.0 Winner Determination and Data Verification

5.1. Winner Selection: The winners will be determined based on the highest total of verified miles submitted to and validated by their respective Garrison ODR Program Manager who submits the entries to the HQ POC’s, who determine the overall winners based on verified mileage.

5.2. Participant Responsibilities: Participants are required to utilize a GPS-enabled software application to accurately record activity distance and submit verifiable proof (e.g., a screenshot) to their ODR Program. Submissions must clearly show the date, distance, and activity type.

5.3. Verification Authority: The ODR Program Manager at each Garrison is the primary verification authority. These logs are subject to final review by the Challenge POCs.

6.0 General Terms and Conditions

6.1. Final Authority: The IMCOM DFMWR Challenge Points of Contact (POCs) are the final authority on all matters concerning the Contest.

6.2. Data Integrity: Any participant found to have falsified data will be immediately disqualified.

6.3. Prize Limit: An individual may only win in one category.

6.4. Liability: By participating, all individuals agree to release and hold harmless the U.S. Army, IMCOM, MWR, and any sponsors from all liability associated with this contest and prize.

6.5. Publicity Release: Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for MWR to use the winner’s name, rank, and likeness for promotional purposes without further compensation.

7.0 Inquiries

All inquiries regarding local mileage submission and verification procedures should be directed to the participant's local Garrison Outdoor Recreation (ODR) Program Manager.