Steamboat Springs — Steamboat’s annual community scavenger hunt begins Monday, with participants searching for the 25-pound Yule Log, carefully hidden somewhere inside city limits.

The 35th annual Yule Log Hunt is sponsored by the Tread of Pioneers Museum and the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association.

The first of 10 clues will be released Monday, printed in the Steamboat Today and announced on local radio stations.

Clues will be released each weekday, bringing participants closer to the location of the 3-foot log, distinctively printed with the words “Yule Log” in red letters.

The clues will continue through the end of next week, unless the log is found sooner.

The person who finds the log will be awarded a $150 Steamboat Chamber gift certificate.

It’s important to note that while individual clues may reveal information about a specific location in Steamboat, that location isn’t necessarily where the log is but rather a destination on a larger route to ultimately locate the log, according to Candice Bannister, director of the Tread of Pioneers Museum.

Bannister said the event is very popular, and the museum receives numerous calls each year from participants.

“It’s really, really popular,” Bannister said. “We get a lot of calls. Some of the most interesting calls are from grade-school classes that will read the clues and work on it together.”

The clues were created and hiding spot selected by museum staff, and the log was hidden sometime during the weekend, she said.

While someone might stumble upon the log by chance, Bannister said she hopes that the log stays hidden long enough for most or all of the clues to be revealed to the public.

Last year’s winner found the log after only a couple of clues had been revealed, Bannister said.

“He essentially stumbled upon it,” she said. “But we hope at least the majority of clues can be released.”

This year’s hunt begins at the site of last year’s Yule Log hiding place, the rodeo grounds at Howelsen Parkway.

At least a portion of the log will be visible from its hiding place, and it will not be located on private property, inside a building or in an area that charges a fee to enter.

Clues often will include information that refers to community history or past events.

Unless the log is found sooner, the media will release the 10th and final clue Dec. 19.

When the log is found, the finder immediately should call the Tread of Pioneers Museum at 970-879-2214 and ask for Candice or Katie, so they can claim the prize and so that museum staff can call off the hunt.

The log must be physically presented to a staff person before the winner can claim their prize.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow