[outdoors]
MOUNTAIN HIGH
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kydiving is a pretty classic thing to have on a bucket list (besides going 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu). If you’ve always wanted to give it a try, there’s no better time than the Skydive Lost Prairie Jump Meet, coming up Aug. 2-10. One of the biggest meets in the northwest, it brings together 400-500 adrenaline junkies every year to leap out of planes at 9,000 feet. This year, there’s a $9 jump special—yes, that’s $9, in U.S. silver dollars dated before 1936. If you don’t have any of those on hand, it’ll be $250 regular U.S. dollars. Some tips for your first skydive, according to the wisdom of a Buzzfeed article by Dan Oshinsky: One’s first dive is in tandem with an instructor who’ll be experienced enough to guide you through the whole process. Once you jump out of the plane, there’s not much more to physically do—although I’d wager you
probably want to be in good cardiac condition. The harnesses can be snug in the crotch region, too, which is something for dudes to keep in mind. And after the terrifying free fall, once the parachute opens, it’s pretty amazing. Oshinsky writes, “The view is astonishing, so you might as well skydive someplace with a truly great view.” Sounds like northwest Montana is just about the perfect setting to cross skydiving off your bucket list.
—Kate Whittle The 47th annual Skydive Lost Prairie Jump Meet takes off about 34 miles west of Kalispell Aug. 2-10. $250 to tandem jump. Beginners can sign up to dive with an instructor. Check out skydivelostprairie.com.
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A spectacularly messy, fantastically fun made-in-Missoula mud run
SATURDAY, SEPT 6, 2014 MISSOULA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS BENEFITING
REGISTER AT
photo by Cathrine L. Walters
THURSDAY JULY 31 Thursday Night Race League is more about the beer than it is about the winner, bless it, with 65100 racers competing in all sorts of categories on the lower mountain bike trails at Whitefish Mountain Resort, July 10-Aug. 21. Visit skiwhitefish.com.
FRIDAY AUGUST 1 The Great Burn Backpack Trip with Montana Sierra Club ventures along the Montana/Idaho border in remote parts of the Bitterroots, Friday through Sunday. 15 miles of fairly strenuous hiking and some bushwhacking involved. Contact John for more info at yodelingdog@hotmail.com. The Great Burn Study Group hosts citizen science backpacking junkets into the Great Burn Proposed Wilderness Area, lasting 3-5 days each. You gotta supply the gear and supplies, but trip leadership is provided and it’s free to join in. Trips run July 24-27, Aug. 1-3, 7-10, 20-24 and 28-30. Visit greatburnstudygroup.org to learn more, or call Val at 978-831-2373.
SATURDAY AUGUST 2 Don’t lose your lunch during the HURL Elkhorn Endurance Runs, which feature a 23K, 50K and 50-miler on scenic dirt roads and singletrack in the Elkhorn Mountains. Limited to 200 runners, so hustle over to hurlelkhorn.com. The 11th annual Bob Ward’s Shooter’s Weekend brings demos of rifles, shotguns and handguns for the whole family to try out at the Deer Creek Shooting Center, 10 AM-4 PM. Free for spectators, but there is a charge to shoot. Proceeds benefit Operation Valor and its programs for combat veterans. Call 728-3220 for more info.
I bike, you bike, we all bike for ice cream when the Missoulians on Bicycles host a 35-mile roundtrip ride on the bike path from the Lolo Conoco to Stevensville for the Creamery Picnic. Meet at the gas station at 10 AM. Visit missoulabike.org.
MONDAY AUGUST 4 I don’t want a pickle, just wanna ride my motorcycle over to the Flat Track Motorcycle Racing where daredevils face off at speeds up to 90 miles an hour. Billings Motorsports Park, 10 minutes’ drive north of town on Roundup Road in Shepherd. Grandstands open at 6 PM, start at 7. Visit ridethebigsky.com/mt_flattrack.
TUESDAY AUGUST 5 The always down-to-earth Montana Dirt Girls host a hike or bike ride every Tuesday at 6 PM. Check out the Montana Dirt Girls page on Facebook for ride info.
montanamucker.com OR IN-STORE AT BOB WARD’S
KIDS 17 & UNDER RUN FOR ONLY
$10.00
THURSDAY AUGUST 7 Thursday Night Race League is more about the beer than it is about the winner, bless it, with 65100 racers competing in all sorts of categories on the lower mountain bike trails at Whitefish Mountain Resort, July 10-Aug. 21. Visit skiwhitefish.com. The Great Burn Study Group hosts citizen science backpacking junkets into the Great Burn Proposed Wilderness Area, lasting 3-5 days each. You gotta supply the gear and supplies, but trip leadership is provided and it’s free to join in. Trips run July 24-27, Aug. 1-3, 7-10, 20-24 and 28-30. Visit greatburnstudygroup.org to learn more, or call Val at 978-831-2373. calendar@missoulanews.com
missoulanews.com • July 31–August 7, 2014 [37]