Locals host adventure race on Snoqualmie Ridge
September 17, 2009
By Laura Geggel
Snoqualmie Ridge has more than 20 parks, a jumble of bike trials and a multitude of people eager to use them. Two Ridge residents, Brian Dickinson and David Heyting, hope to push people to the edge of Snoqualmie Ridge and to everywhere between for an adventure race.
David Heyting biking near Bozeman, Mont., in an adventure race in 2007. He and Brian Dickinson are organizing an adventure race on Snoqualmie Ridge. Contributed
Adventure races challenge people to answer a list of clues spread across a geographic area. In the Snoqualmie adventure race, people will bike and hike around the Ridge as they solve clues and find checkpoints.
The free race starts at Snoqualmie Community Park, 35016 S.E. Ridge St., Snoqualmie, and lasts from 8-11 a.m. Sept. 26. Participants should bring a bike, helmet, water and snacks.
The event kicks off with an adventure race orientation, which will be held rain or shine. Everyone will receive a map of the Ridge accompanied by a set of clues. Adventure Race clues are vague, but teams familiar with the Ridge and map reading should have no problem finishing the race. For example, a clue might ask for the third word on a sign at a playground. Other clue checkpoints might have participants get a special stamp to prove they solved the clue.
The race targets people middle school age and older. Inexperienced navigators will be paired with people who are more comfortable with map reading. Volunteers will help teams find their way to checkpoints if needed.
To volunteer or to learn more about the race, e-mail Brian Dickinson at brian@sponsor7summits.com.
With it’s interconnecting parks and mountain bike trails, Snoqualmie Ridge “is a really good place for an adventure race,” Dickinson said.
He and Heyting are no strangers to adventure. Dickinson, Heyting and their families met at The Church on the Ridge and became fast friends. Dickinson spent six years in the U.S. Navy, working as a helicopter rescue swimmer. These days, he aspires to climb the world’s seven summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents.
In May, Dickinson climbed Mount McKinley in Alaska’s Denali National Park. Next summer, Heyting plans to accompany Dickinson up the 18,510-foot tall Mount Elbrus in Russia.
Heyting did his first adventure race in 2002 — a 12-hour race at Lake Tahoe — and has competed in them ever since. He said he enjoyed the surprises associated with adventure races.
“Part of he fun is you never know what’s going on until you actually get there,” Heyting said. “You know you’re going to be biking, trekking and kayaking, but you don’t know the order.”
Amid his adventures, Dickinson started the Extreme Adventures group, which meets monthly and takes people rappelling down Mount Si and hiking up Mount Rainier.
Heyting said the adventure race should help people become more familiar with the Ridge. “With all of the trails and parks up there, it’s a fun way to get people to check it out and to see a little more of what’s up there,” Heyting said.
Laura Geggel: 392-6434 ext. 221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
Comments
One Response to “Locals host adventure race on Snoqualmie Ridge”
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Keri Kliemann and Keri Kliemann. Keri Kliemann said: RT @UltSurvivalTech: Adventure Race at Snoqualmie Ridge this weekend! Hey- I know that guy in the photo! http://bit.ly/14KGIw [...]