Dash For The Darter

After recently writing about the clean-up efforts for the Monday Creek Watershed, it was exciting to learn about the return of the orangethroat darter to Sunday Creek as result of clean-up work in the Sunday Creek Watershed. This colorful little fish nearly disappeared entirely from Sunday Creek, a 27 mile long stream that runs south through Perry County to Chauncey and into the Hocking River.

This past Saturday, April 12, the 4th Annual Dash for the Darter 5K Trail Run served as a fundraiser, as well as a celebration of the fish’s reappearance in Sunday Creek. The Trail Run raised funds that the non-profit Rural Action uses for restoration efforts in the Sunday Creek Watershed area. Beginning at Burr Oak State Park Lodge and Conference Center, participants ran the trails and helped fund environmental clean-up at the same time.

Michelle Shively, the Watershed Coordinator for Sunday Creek was pleased with the turnout of the event. “We had our 4th Annual Dash for the Darter Trail Run at Bur Oak State Park. There were about 45 runners, and we were able to have sponsors. The runners themselves made close to 1,000 dollars to support the watershed and its actions. Burr Oak is actually in the watershed area, so you’re able to be surrounded by this beautiful area and support it while running.” Because they are more sensitive to the pollution from the coal mines that dot the Monday Creek Watershed than some other species, the orangethroat darters were casualties of the poor water quality from acid mine drainage, improperly treated wastewater, and illegal dumping that preceded mine cleanup regulations. “But we get really excited because the darters mean that the water is becoming cleaner, and we’re seeing lots of different fish too,” said Shively. So, if you want to celebrate the darter’s return and support the watershed cleanup, visit the Rural Action website to see how you can become involved in their projects.

Can You Compete? 15th Rockstar Competition

This Saturday, February 15, climbers will be heading to Athens, Ohio, for an awesome climbing competition.  The 15^th Annual Rock Stars Climbing Competition is expected to attract advanced, intermediate, and beginner climbers at the Ohio University’s Charles J. Ping Recreation Center.  Not only does the Ping Center have a great rock wall, but their Outdoor Pursuits Program has put together a team of route setters who are going to change things up for the competition participants.  The route setters are working hard to create challenging climbing routes, having started their changes when the wall closed Monday night.  So, in case you are tired of climbing the same routes or watching others climb the same routes, get ready for a change!  On Saturday, participants will experience a different climbing challenge that shakes things up.  No competitors will have access to the new routes until the competition, making it a fresh experience for each climber.

Louie Allen, Ping’s Climbing Wall Manager, has been planning the event with the competition staff and is ready to get it underway. “We’ve been planning this event, its formative stages starting late last semester, and then the heavy stuff happened about 2 to 3 weeks ago.” Allen also thinks that the competition will be a great way to get climbers ready to head back outside. “First and foremost, it’s a great way to get the community together in the off season, when it’s too cold to climb outside. It’s a great way to get people ready to go outside and work on their projects. And I really like to think of it as a way to celebrate spring too.”

As an added incentive to participate in the competition, prizes are offered for first, second, third place for the three levels of climber skill, as well as a raffle for everyone in the event.  This makes it a great opportunity for people to test their skills on the crux (climb) and, maybe, snag some gear.  Sponsors are helping out with the prizes, so that first and second place participants could walk away with gear from Black Diamond, BlueWater, Mad Rock, and more.  Hoping to win a climbing harness, ropes, and decals may sound a little unusual, but these are important items in the rapidly growing sport of climbing.

The competition has divisions for both men and women in the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Caitlyn Tetterton, an Ohio University sophomore, will be competing in the women’s advanced group. Although competitors don’t have access to the wall until this Saturday, Tetterton is keeping herself busy with a little preparation. “I’ll be running and eating a lot of bananas the day of. But, I have a finger injury too that I’m nursing as well, so I’m trying not to injure it too much during the comp as well.” Tetterton also competed last year at the Rock Star Climbing Competition and is hoping the event goes well.

Even if you have never tried climbing and, by now, are wondering if you might feel out of place at a climbing competition, come and learn.  As an added feature, the Outdoor Pursuits staff is making this a potluck event.  Bringing a dish to share, whether you climb or not, offers you great food, an up-close opportunity to see climbers compete, a chance to learn more about climbing, and a social setting where you can meet and get to know others.

I asked followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to tell me their thoughts, here’s what they had to say about their training and how they were feeling about the event.