Gatlinburg streets experienced the annual surge of athletic determination as the town hosted the 2025 Mountain Man Memorial March yesterday with participants threading through the heart of the city, affirming not just their physical endurance, but also the communal spirit that such events evoke. The march, which began at Pi Beta Phi Elementary School and wound its way through the city's arteries, required temporary lane closures and rerouted traffic, much to the attention of locals and visitors alike.
According to a social media post by the Gatlinburg Police Department, the march snaked from the school to Traffic Light No. 6, marched along Parkway to Traffic Light No. 8, from there it hugged Airport Road to Cherokee Orchard Road, then Baskins Creek Bypass to East Parkway—turning into a stride of solidarity and memorial on sidewalks along Roaring Fork Road, affirming once more that the race is less against one another, and more about a collective stride against forgetting our past.
Lane closures were in effect between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., opening once the racers had passed, though motorists were advised to retain a sense of caution beyond this time, as runners remained steadfast on the sidewalks. The half marathon and marathon contenders expanded their footprint beyond central Gatlinburg, venturing into Pittman Center, then looping back to Pi Beta Phi Elementary School, stitching the communities together with every step taken on the shared pathways.
