PAGE 30 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS
APRIL/MAY 2010
By Kay Newman Montana Senior Olympics (MSO) will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary at this year’s games in Kalispell June 10-13 under the leadership of Ron Tjaden, from Rollins. The Summit Athletic Club will be headquarters thanks to Operations Manager, Bob Norwood. These games will serve as the qualifying event for June 2011 National Senior Games in Houston, Texas where some 10,000-12,000 athletes are expected to participate. Most of our medal winners will be eligible to compete. MSO provides athletic competition for men and women who are 50 years of age and older. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded to those who place first, second or third in their respective five-year age groups. All ability levels are encouraged to participate in the friendly competition where fitness is the main objective. MSO offers competition in thirteen sports including: archery, basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, horseshoes, racquetball, swimming, tennis, table tennis, road racing, softball, and track and field. The social events include a pasta buffet on June 10 and a banquet on Friday, June 11 where the attending athletes will be recognized. Competitors from all over Montana, surrounding states, and
Canada will compete. Fitness has become a way of life for all ages, and MSO provides an opportunity to demonstrate your personal abilities in your particular sport with the following objectives: • To provide senior men and women enjoyment and a chance to make new friends through competition. • To focus attention on the importance of regular physical exercise regardless of age and ability. • To improve endurance, strength, and agility. • To provide enjoyment in participation and to add quality to lifestyle. Remember it is important to stay active. Start making your plans now to participate because entries close on May 29 (except softball), so do not delay. For more information or for entry materials, check the website at www.montanaseniorolympics. org. You can call 406-586-5543 or email at kayjn@ imt.net. The mailing address is MSO, 2200 Bridger Dr, Bozeman, MT 59715. The Kalispell Invite 2010 is the Senior Olympics and Open Softball Tournament for teams in Montana, other states, and Canada to be held at the Conrad Complex in Kalispell on June 12-13. There will be a mandatory meeting at 3 pm at the Complex on Friday, June 11. The tournament is under the direction of Bob Tuman, Flathead County Parks and Recreation, (weed1@digisys. net), and Jim Valentino (406-837-9994). Contact them for entry materials or check the web site at http://flathead.mt.gov/parks_rec/. Age brackets are 50+, 60+, and 70+. Softball entries will close on May 21. MSN
Eight Backpacking Trip Essentials By Steve Gillman I have had backpacking trips that included rain, snow, lightning, rockslides, altitude sickness, and twenty-mile days - all in a summer weekend. Wilderness trips can be dangerous, but you can make them less so, by having the following essentials in your backpack. 1. Knowledge. What good is a compass if you do not know how to use it? Play with matches if your fire-making skills are shaky. Learn what to do when you see a bear. Read a little, practice a little - knowledge is more likely to save you than gadgets. 2. Matches and lighter. Bring both, or waterproof matches and a fire starter of some sort. Having two ways to start a fire is much safer. 3. First aid kit. Buy a pre-packaged one or build your own. 4. Foot care. Your first aid kit needs moleskin, and maybe a pin, to treat blisters. Your feet have to be well cared. 5. Water purification. A filter works, but they clog and break so often that you should have a small bottle of iodine tablets or other water purification as back up. 6. Rainwear. One of the biggest killers in the woods is hypothermia, and it often starts when you get wet. Try to stay dry. 7. Shelter. This can be a tent, tarp, or bivy sack. 8. Sleeping bag. Down bags are the warmest for their weight. Make your own list if you take regular backpacking trips. It is no fun when a friend tells us ten miles down the trail that he is allergic to bees and forgot his medicine. MSN