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It has been raining cats and dogs, and even elephants for days now. The ground is soaked and swamp like. This weather is not friendly to a fun outdoor adventure. Mother nature has decided that you are staying inside for a weekend of great outdoor adventure flicks! Grab the popcorn, candy, soda and hit the couch with the remote in hand. It’s time for the Girl vs. Wild’s top six outdoor adventure movies.

•Into the Wild: Directed by Sean Penn and based on author Jon Krakauer’s true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who gives up all his worldly possessions and his life as he knew it to trek into the deep Alaska back country to live in the wild and become Alexander Supertramp. This film is my all-time favorite film and has the honor of Girl vs. Wild’s top pick. (R)

•Out Cold: Epic adventure comes to mind when I think of Out Cold. I have spent many a night watching this one, dreaming of my days as a snowboard town thrill-seeker. I spent several years working at Wolf Creek Ski area, all for the treasured employee mountain pass. Out Cold is a hilarious film that captures exactly what it is like to be a mountain town snowboarder, while also telling the tale of the town’s beloved Bull Mountain being in jeopardy when corporate tycoon Lee Majors attempts to move in. (PG-13)

•A River Runs Through It: A fly fishing classic that tells a nostalgic story of a father and his sons as they grow up fishing the Montana waters. As the brothers near adulthood, they choose different paths as they struggle to live up to their father’s high standards, but both always come back to the waters they loved with their father. (PG)

•Aspen Extreme: This is a classic ski adventure. Two snow-struck friends from Detroit chase the ski-bum dream of being Aspen ski instructors. The guys soon realize the Aspen ski scene is cutthroat, and through several challenging turns the friends are tested with money, temptation, and fame nearly tearing their friendship apart. (PG-13)

•Alive: This true story is the account of 35 rugby players whose team plane crashes in the Andes mountains on a barren glacier. Stranded with no food, no water, and no rescue coming, the 35 athletes must decide how far they will go to survive. (R)

•Vertical Limit: Siblings Annie and Peter grew up climbing with their father until a split-second decision ends their father’s life and tears the siblings apart. Years later they are reunited at the K2 base camp and must face the life and death decision to survive the dangers of K2. (PG-13)

This past weekend I attended Mark Patton’s fly fishing school on the Illinois river. It was amazing. Mark and his crew made everything regarding fly fishing absolutely understandable and exciting. I had been fly fishing for a few years now, but was still blown away by all that I did not know prior to this class. We started the day with an early rise and shine of in class sessions. We covered fly gear, knot tying, working the water, and fly to leader ratios. I loved the science behind it all. I now can tie knots like a ninja.

After lunch we headed to the MarVal resort area and had a hands on casting session and then took our casting to the river. The instructors were great. I had some of the best casting instruction I have ever received and really feel like I can cast with finesse now. Casting truly decides if you will catch or not catch. Fish are skidish so if your cast doesn’t hit just right you have no chance at a strike. The weather was perfect sunny with a light breeze and I waded in for a little river action.

I can say with a the biggest grin of excitement Mark Patton’s fly fishing school in the best around.

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

I am headed to lake Tenkiller to do some fishing. I am not a worm and bobber fisher, but a fly fisher. Don’t get me wrong, a good worm and bobber off a pond dock brings back memories of my childhood in Maud, OK. I spent many a weekend fishing on what was called the Duck Pond with my little tackle box and Snoopy pole to match. Those were sunny days on the ranch dangling my red cowboy boots over the edge. My Dad and I fishing is one of the greatest memories I have.

But with age, a ripe 26, I have passed on the Snoopy pole and am in the calm waters of fly fishing. I remember my first fish caught. I was behind my house in South Fork, Colorado on the Rio Grande. It was early August, and the river was perfect. I could see the fish rising all around me. Waste deep I had been casting for awhile and finally tracked one straight to a strike. I hooked that brown and was pulling him in. Beyond excited I wished badly for someone to see it was true. I had finally hooked a fish all by myself. No one around I ran up river to fetch my camera from the house while the fish flopped on the bank. I get back slipping twice in the mud, grab the fish and try to snap a photo. At the very second I push the shutter he swan dives out of my grasp.To this day my friends tease and joke that it never really did happen. I swear that fish was mine. That is no fish tale.

Girl vs. Wild,

Jacquelyn Farris

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Before the next Christmas carol turns you into the Grinch, hit the stream. This is something you will regret not doing when you are up to your eyeballs in wrapping paper. I know lives are busy and swept up in the frenzy of last-minute Christmas shopping, but take a day.

I took the load off your shoulders and did the leg work for you. All you have to do is pack the car and hit the river. That’s right winter fishing.

Get your road map out and circle the Mountain Fork river. This amazing Oklahoma river has some of the best fishing in the state and not a lot of people know you can fish in the December. Put on your winter waders and wade in.

Located in the Ouachita Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma north of Broken Bow this river is stocked with Rainbows and Browns with an average size of 9 – 12 inches, but take note that if you fish downstream of the park: The fish are bigger and the water is wider. That’s a good thing!

I know some of you are still caught on the fact I said fishing and winter in the same sentence. You can do it I swear. Make sure though you are wearing good waders with thermals on underneath. I am a big fan of the Patagonia Capolene line. Head to Backwoods on N. May Ave. in OKC. The Backwoods staff knows how to layer you up right.

Practice the buddy system. Be sure to let someone know where you are headed. Very few people frequent the Ouachitas in the winter and you would hate to be hurt or lost with not a soul looking for you. With that said, why not take a friend and you can show off your fishing prowess?

Here are last-minute closing notes if you are looking to fish amazing Oklahoma waters. Maybe even try out the new rod Santa brought you. Head to the Ouachita Mountains and fish the Mountain Fork River. With 12 miles of tail-water it is sure to not disappoint. If that didn’t get you, a 2-pound fish is not uncommon!