Category Archives: Outdoors

Raccoongaine III – Orienteering Scavenger Hunt

The Western PA Orienteering Club sent us an email about the upcoming scavenger hunt at Raccoon Creek State Park on March 25. I know there are quite a of our readers who have participated in previous scavenger hunts, the Urban Hike folks organize one every fall. This looks like a neat way to check out Raccoon Creek state park and patricipate in a scavenger hunt. Raccoongaine III is limited to 150 entries – according to the facebook group for the event – 115 have registered thus far so there is still room to enter.

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…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zeuf2KEu_8[/youtube]

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

Messin’ with Sasquatch: The Race of Hope Rogaine Report(team-virtus.com)
National Orienteering Day Event at Lake Accotink Park (Springfield VA) This Sunday(prweb.com)

Are you a Bird Nerd?

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.

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)

Ice Is Nice – 21st Annual Ligonier Ice Fest

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.

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)

Beaver County Snow Shovel Riding Championship

UPDATE: the Snow Shovel Riding is postponded to Saturday, January 21, 2012.

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.

Blue Slide Park = BEST PLAYGROUND EVER

You may have noticed some buzz on the internet about Mac Miller and his new song and album Blue Slide Park. Mac Miller is a hip hop artist who is from Pittsburgh and has recorded a few songs about the area.

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 …