Monday wrap: Outdoor feats, bears and local competition
Part of attaining the Seven Summits includes going up this.
Seems like I’ve neglected the blog lately. So I’ve got a lot of ground to make up.
AN OKLAHOMA FIRST?
Hopefully, everyone got a chance to read David Zizzo’s piece on Edmond doctor Douglas Beall’s successful completion of the Seven Summits.
This is a major accomplishment; huge props to Dr. Beall. Worldwide, the number who have done it is pretty small. To recap, Beall has reached the summits of the seven continents’ highest peaks, finishing this year with a trip to the top of the Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia (same continental plate as Australia). Completing the Seven Summits includes topping out at places like Mount Everest, Aconcagua and Denali, among others. The amount of time, training and money to do this is no small matter. Definitely check out the photo of him doing a Tyrolean traverse on the Pyramid.
Beall may in fact be the first Oklahoman to have completed the Seven Summits. Other Okies have climbed the 8,000-meter giants in the Himalaya (including Everest), but I’m not sure anyone else has finished the Seven Summits circuit. If that’s the case, double congrats to Dr. Beall on a job well done. If someone can tell me differently, I’d love to hear it.
COULD THIS HAPPEN HERE?
Folks in Anchorage, Alaska, have long dealt with bears wandering around their city. But as of late, it’s gotten a little out of hand. Check out this story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_anchorage_bears
I’m wondering, with the growing bear population in southeastern Oklahoma, if we’ll one day be reading about black bears causing mischief on the streets of Poteau or Wilburton. Rural residents there have had some encounters, but I’m not sure of the bears have been as bold as those Anchorage grizzlies. At least not yet.
TEST YOUR METTLE
The Great Plains Family YMCA in Weatherford is hosting a triathlon on June 20. It includes a 450-meter swim, 11-mile bike ride and a 5k run. The swim will be a “snake course” in an outdoor pool, so if you’re squeamish about open water swims, this might be for you. There are fees and entry requirements: For more information contact The Great Plains Family YMCA at 580-772-0202 or Cindy Jackson or email cindy@gpfymca.com.
Kayaking demonstration Wednesday…
Get on the water!
Another cool learning opportunity from the folks at OKC-ON. Check it out!
Kayak Demo
Wednesday, May 6
6:00 – 9:00 PM
at Lake Hefner’s Hobie Beach
at no cost to you !!!!
Heavy rains causing closures at state parks
Bad news, folks. It looks like the steady rains we’ve been getting for the past several days are causing closures at some state parks. It’s nice to have a drought-buster, but this might put a damper on some of your plans for the next few days. I lifted this text off the state Tourism Department Web site:
Due to high water, the following State Parks or areas are closed:
Spavinaw State Park-Spavinaw Lake
Snowdale State Park-Lake Hudson
Cherokee Riverside at Cherokee State Park-Grand Lake
Beavers Bend SP-Several areas in the Stevens Gap and Carson Creek areas have been closed due to rising lake levels on Broken Bow Lake. Coyote, Blue Jay and Eagle areas in Stevens Gap and Firefly area in Carson Creek. The lower Marina road (houseboat area) is partially under water.
The following parks have limited campsites available due to high water:
Sequoyah and Sequoyah Bay State Parks on Fort Gibson Lake-50% of campsites available.
Walnut Creek SP on Lake Keystone-25% of campsites available.
Sequoyah Golf Course-Play is limited to 9 holes only.
Bernice State Park on Grand Lake-Very limited (15%) campsites available
Please call ahead if you are planning to visit these parks, and check this website for further updates on high water closings.
You can also see the link here: http://www.touroklahoma.com/
– Bob Doucette
Discovery’s ‘Alaska Experiment’: What do you think?
We’re in season two of the Discovery Channel’s “Alaska Experiment” reality TV show. Actually, I think the title of the show is “Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiement.” Nice play on the Krakauer book title, by the way.
Anyway, the show takes a group of strangers from the Lower 48, gives them some basic supplies and gear and then sends them out on an overland trek across the wilds of Alaska. I enjoyed last year’s show, and this one has its interesting moments as well.
So what do you think? Have you seen it? Do you like it? Do you think you could be on the show and succeed? I’d like to think I could, but really can’t say with confidence that I’d make it. Anyway, send me your thoughts here or e-mail me at bdoucette@opubco.com.
If you haven’t seen the show and want to learn more, check out this link: http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/out-of-the-wild/bios.html
Bob Doucette
