In a rogaine-style format, individuals or teams have a fixed time (3 or 6 hours in this event) to visit as many checkpoints as possible; walking, running and resting as they see fit. The checkpoints are spread over a large area, and are pre-marked on a map issued shortly before the start of the event. Point values for visiting each control vary (and are specified in advance) depending on such factors as distance from the start/finish area, elevation, navigational complexity.

Participants in a Rogaine come from diverse backgrounds: hikers, walkers, cross-country runners, trail runners, adventure racers, ultra runners, orienteers, hashers and family groups. Widely varying levels of competitive intensity are found, going from the casual stroller who wants a little variety added to the weekend hike to the serious athlete. Map reading skill is perhaps the most important technique needed. Route planning strategy is also very important since there won’t be time to get all the controls, so the choice of which to try for is crucial in maximizing scores.

Here is a video of the 2011 event…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Raccoongaine III
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Raccoon Creek State Park
Event starts at 10am, Maps will be handed out at 9am
Click here for complete event details

Related articles

• Messin’ with Sasquatch: The Race of Hope Rogaine Report(team-virtus.com)

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• National Orienteering Day Event at Lake Accotink Park (Springfield VA) This Sunday(prweb.com)

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Bird - Blue Jay (Photo credit: blmiers2)

I would not really describe myself as a birder – but I have a few friends who are – and I have to say the bird watching stuff sort of rubs off on your. My sister and her good friend were visiting in Florida and have gone out of their way to look for certain birds.  I have joined in on a few of these trips – I was more excited about seeing a dolphin than the pelicans.  Last year when we were visiting some family in Florida, we went to the store (aka took a break from the family) – on our way to Target my sister shrieked and I almost ran the car off the road – turn out the elusive crane she had been hunting for just chilling in the Target parking lot.

And if you really, REALLY, really like birds and you find yourself in Venice, FL – you should stop and see the Venice bird rookery.

Anyhow, if you are a bird nerd or tend to hang around with bird nerds – then you might be interested in some of these events for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Just want to check out some birds from your computer screen?

The Audubon Society of Western PA has a Live Bird Feeder Camera here.

Related articles

• PA Game Commission Encourages Participation in ‘Great Backyard Bird Count’ (prnewswire.com)
• Tune in Sunday: Cornell Lab director talks GBBC on Bird Calls Radio (birds.cornell.edu)
• The Great Backyard Bird Count (prairiebirder.wordpress.com)

Image via Wikipedia

The laurel highlands is not just pretty in the fall.  If skiing and snowboarding aren’t your thing – maybe ice sculptures is up your alley.  Head to downtown Ligonier this weekend for the 21st Annual Ice Fest on Saturday and Sunday.

DiMartino Ice Co. of Jeannette will have 6 carvers on hand and there will be more than 40 sculptures on display throughout the weekend.

The fire department is hosting a spaghetti dinner and local businesses will have indoor sidewalk sales.

Read more about the weekends activities here.

21st Annual Ligonier Ice Festival
Ligonier, PA – Around the Diamond, East and West Main streets, North and South Market streets.
Saturday and Sunday. January 21-22, 2012
Information: (724) 238-4200.

Related articles

• Ice sculptors kick off London festival (independent.co.uk)
• VIDEO: Ice sculpture made from river water (bbc.co.uk)
• Snow & Ice Sculpture Gardens in Frankenmuth, Michigan (travelwithjp.wordpress.com)
• The Ice Hotel (scramblerworld.wordpress.com)

I sure hope it snows this week so that they don’t have to cancel this event. Yes, it is the 46th Annual Snow Shovel Riding event.

Photo from VisitBeaverCounty.com

Beaver Country Snow Shovel Riding Championships
Saturday, January 14, 2012
High Noon
Old Economy Park, just off Route 989 in Economy Borough

If there isn’t enough snow the event will be rescheduled for February.

You can read about last years competition here.

Especially because it is the featured album in this weeks iTunes email:

Thanks to Mac Miller for putting Pittsburgh and this park on the map.  While we were excited to see Blue Slide Park gain such national attention – a quick search of google revealed that there isn’t much online about the actual Blue Slide Park. For those of you who are new to the area or haven’t heard of the place – Blue Slide Park is a real park and any kid that grew up in the Sq. Hill area will tell you this is THE BEST playground around.

While Pittsburgh has lots of great parks and playgrounds – I think most people who have been there will agree that Blue Slide Park is the best.  Yes, there is a giant, blue concrete slide that is built into the hillside.  Ok, to an adult, giant might be an exaggeration but it looks giant to kids and yes the slide is blue.

Where is Blue Slide Park? Blue Slide Park is park of Frick Park, located on Beechwood Blvd right by the entrance to the Off-Leash Exercise Area

Here is an image of the Blue Slide from Google Street View:

Please share your stories (and photos) of Blue Slide Park in the comments below.

You can listen to Mac Miller’s song Blue Slide Park on YouTube here – so far no music video for this track yet.

But if you are looking for more Pittsburgh scenery – check out Mac Miller’s video for the song Frick Park Market, which was filmed at the actual Frick Park Market – which is located on the other side of Frick Park from Blue Slide Park.   Th

Like Blue Slide Park, the Frick Park Market is an actual place – check out the reviews on Yelp here.  If you are looking for a sandwich or to pick up some milk – you should definitely stop by the Frick Park Market on Reynolds in Point Breeze.

You can read more about Mac Miller and his Blue Slide Park …

• Mac Miller Talks Being Independent, Wiz Khalifa, ‘Blue Slide Park’ Album [Video] (hiphopwired.com)
• Mac Miller Rallies Hip-Hop Cognoscenti for Blue Slide Park (blogs.villagevoice.com)
• Mac Miller Breaks Down ‘Frick Park Market’ Video (mtv.com)

Image by robjdlc via Flickr

For those of you looking for a way to celebrate Halloween while getting some exercise – think of it as canceling out the candy – or you really love bicycles and beer – this is the event for you. Its time for the annual Reverse Keg Ride.

What is a Reverse Keg Ride?

A few years ago, End End Brewing decided that the best way to get the first keg of Pedal Pale Ale to the bar was by bike.  And thus the keg ride was born. And each year a few more people decided to come along for the ride.  This spring over 400 people joined the ride to deliver the first keg AND raise money for some local charities.

Since the keg rides have been so popular, in 2009 it was decided that the way to end the pedaling season was with a reverse keg ride back to the brewery – another chance to raise some money, drink some beer and take a bike ride through Pittsburgh with a few hundred people.

Keg Ride, but its Halloween Weekend?

Yes, it is! So the bicycle beer loving folks are holding a costumer contest – and it is a good one. Prizes will be awarded for Best Beer-themed Costume, Best Pittsburgh-themed Costume and Best Overall Costume,

How does this work?

Well, talk about another great example of a Pittsburgh collaboration.  East End Brewing is working with the folks at Venture Outdoors to make sure this is a well organized and safe event.  East End Brewing knows beer.  And Venture Outdoors are experts in organizing large groups of people to do fun things outside.

Reverse Keg Ride Details

• Saturday, October 29th. Rain or shine.
• Breakfast and Check-in at 9:00am
• Depart at 10:00, arrive at 11:00-11:30am
• Cost: $15 for pre-registration (on-line), $20 for Day-of-ride registration. This is a charitable contribution that goes to support “Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders” (aka ABOARD), a non-profit agency, providing a lifeline of support for families and individuals with autism.
• What you get:  a continental breakfast, morning coffee, a fun day of riding your bike in a big group… and this year’s very first SNOW MELT WINTER ALE fresh from the brewery.
• Get all the details and warnings about hills here.  Ready to register – you can do that here.

some more beer reading…

• The Best Beer to Enjoy at Every MLB Ballpark (bleacherreport.com)
• More beer-related news (pittsburgh.metblogs.com)
• Two brewers battle for rights to historic Pittsburgh beer label (philly.com)

The Batcycle – Bicycle Ride

Sunday, August 14, 2011
6-8pm
Meet at Dippy The Dino in Oakland

Image via Wikipedia

To celebrate the new Batman movie being filmed in Pittsburgh, we will go on a Batman themed ride. Dress up like Batman, Robin, or any other Batman character, although costumes are not required. Decorate your bicycle if you’d like. This is a no-drop ride at a relatively slow pace. We will swing by downtown filming locations, and get as close as we can to the road closures. This ride will end at Dippy. Bring your family and of course kids are more than welcome. Rain does not cancel, helmets are required, and our route length will be around 10 miles or less.

Click here for the entire BikeFest Calendar.

Image via Wikipedia

We haven’t heard of any cornhole tournaments in awhile.  While the sport certainly has become pretty popular here in Western PA – if you are new to the game.  Cornhole is kind of like horseshoes but played with bean bags instead of heavy metal objects – probably much safer than horseshoes.

Gilda’s Club is hosting a Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, August 20, 2011 – spend an afternoon tossing some bean bags, meeting some of the great people from Gilda’s Club and supporting a good cause.

Fight Cancer with Cornhole
Saturday, August 20, 2011 @ Noon
Gilda’s Club, 2816 Smallman St., Pittsburgh PA
Register Here - $25
Facebook Event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104632082971337

Looking for a cornhole league?

It looks like there is still space in the PSL fall cornhole leauge – which meets Tuesday nights at the Double Wide Grill (Sept. 13- Nov. – get the details here.

This Saturday is your chance to check out Ambridge with the folks of Urban Hike.  Urban Hike is a group that plans out hikes around different urban areas.  The organizers do a great job of mapping out the hike ahead of time and planning out interesting stops along the way.  Usually local experts join along to share history and info about each area.  There was a great group of hikers for the last Urban Hike in Oakland.  A great way to explore a new area with a nice group of folks.  There is no charge to participate in the hike – just make sure to thank the organizers.

Urban Hike Ambridge

• When: Saturday, July 16th at 10am
• Where: Circle K at 1599 Duss Ave, 15003 – Map
• What: Urban Hike Path to the Past
• Who: Come one and all, and bring friends
• How to get there: drive, take the bus – the 14 bus goes from Downtown to Ambridge, or contact info@urbanhike.org about carpooling.

Schenley Park just added more fun for the summer season – today, June 16 – the mini golf course opens at Schenley Park.

Schenley Park Mini Golf Course Website

• Location: Schenley Park Skating Rink
• Schedule: Tuesday-Friday, 4-9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 1-9 p.m.
• Cost: $4 adults/$3 children
• Information: 412-422-6547

The mini golf course idea was the result of an audit of the Schenley Park skating rink audit from Controller Michael Lamb’s office in 2010.  The idea is to come up with a way for the facility to be used year round.  Read more about the audit from the Post-Gazette here.