BAM! (With my regards to Emeril Lagasse)

My new friend Denny Corriveau is a fellow POMA member, and a New Englandah to boot. A New Englander with Arizona connections, mind you - having lived here for awhile… Anyway, I just received this from Denny:

WildCheff Background

For years I have cooked with combination of herbs that have helped me to create wild game dishes that have been featured at deer camps, game dinners and private catering events that feature wild game.

I teamed with a colleague and food industry award winning expert to create gourmet, hand-crafted spice and sausage blends that are compelling – one smell, one taste and sportsmen are generally hooked! They have a common sense approach, and these blends are sure to elevate sportsmen and game enthusiasts cooking abilities to a whole new exciting level they never previously realized were possible.

I’m not sure if you are like me, but I have observed many sportsmen over the years spend 99% of their time focused on how to create a successful hunt, but have virtually ignored any concentration on how to properly prepare their harvest so it can be enjoyed to its fullest potential. It is my goal to create a more defined passion within sportsmen for cooking their game; on a personal, organizational, and national basis through education, inspiration and my product line.

WildCheff products not only provide direction, but help outdoorsmen to develop a comfort level with advancing their wild game cooking skills; by combining herb blends that are realistic, coupled by cooking styles that most people are familiar with and can relate to. The days of canned soup and pouring salad dressing over your game are now a thing of the past due to my products, and I hope to inspire and help hunters and game enthusiasts to develop a new mindset concerning their desire to cook and share their game in a way that become natural to them.

As a courtesy, I have put together a straight-forward online presentation (5-6 minutes in length/great excuse for a coffee break) that will provide you with an overview on my products, as well as a “live” link to my website.

Enjoy my presentation and much success to you in your outdoor endeavors.

You have been invited to view a presentation titled “Cooking Your Wild Game More Effectively“.

Please use the link below to view the presentation: Simply sign the guest book and you can view.

http://www.brainshark.com/federal/vu?pi=201109598

Bon appetite and happy hunting,

Denny Corriveau

President
WildCheff Enterprises, LLC
Amesbury, MA/Sebago Lake, ME
978-388-8868
[email protected]
http://www.wildcheff.com/
“We’re Game if You Are!”
Member: NRA, POMA, New England Outdoor Writers Association, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine

I watched the video, and if you are into cooking wild game, I strongly suggest you watch it too. You have to enter your name and e-mail address; the video is interesting, and made me hungry LOL ! Now I know lots of my readers are great cooks (AzSlim!)

I also perused his website. What a great resource! Recipes, wild game nutritional information, hints and more. The spices and rubs are appropriately priced, and Denny has a great-looking cookbook too. Whether you are a seasoned (no pun intended) chef, or a nervous kitchen rookie - you need to check out Denny and his products!

I’m putting in for Coues again. See if ol Chief and I can scrounge up a big’un…

Fall hunt regulations now available at license dealers, department offices
Fall draw application deadline is June 10; correction period ends May 29

Printed copies of the 2008-09 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations have been shipped to license dealers throughout the state. The regulations and application forms should now be available at a license dealer near you, as well as at any Arizona Game and Fish Department office.

Regulations and forms can also be downloaded from the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Don’t forget: The deadline to apply for the fall draw for deer, turkey, bighorn sheep and buffalo, as well as juniors-only javelina, is Tuesday, June 10, by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. There is no online application process available for the fall hunts – it is a manual paper-permit process again.

Take advantage of the “correction period” by submitting your application by May 29. If your application has been received by the department by that date (postmarks don’t count), and you’ve made a mistake on your hunt-permit application, the Game and Fish Department will attempt to call you three times in a 24-hour period and give you the opportunity to correct the mistake. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected.

From AZGFD:

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release, May 28, 2008

Archery and rifle target shooting leagues for all ages

PHOENIX – Do you need some friendly competition? Do you want to improve your target shooting? If yes, come out and enjoy the comfortable evenings under the lights of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering summer shooting leagues starting in June.

The archery league begins June 11 and meets each Wednesday for eight weeks from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the FITA archery range at Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Leagues will follow the Federation of International Target Archery (FITA), the governing style for Olympic target archery shooting. Targets will consist of 3-spot or 4cm at 20 yards. Both youth and adult divisions are available. Youth is for ages 8-17. Adult leagues are for participants 18 and older.

The cost is $60 for adults and $30 for youths. Loaner bows are available but consist of introductory-type models only. Preregistration is required; contact Mike Raum at (623) 582-8313 or [email protected].

The rimfire rifle league (.22/.17) begins June 10 and meets each Tuesday for eight weeks from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on the Small Bore Range at Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Participants will shoot at 25, 50 and/or 100-yard target distances. Scoped and open sights are permitted. All ages are welcome and encouraged.

The cost is a $10 league fee and $5 per night per distance. Youths, ages 17 and younger are half price. A limited selection of loaner rifles is available. Preregistration is required; contact Nancy Hays at (623) 582-8313 or [email protected].

To learn more about target shooting or the Ben Avery Shooting facility, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.

From AZGFD:

Archery deer hunters: Be aware of new permit requirements

Some popular hunting units no longer open to over-the-counter tag holders

Archery deer hunters are advised that some game management units formerly open to over-the-counter archery permit-tags will now require a permit issued through the big game draw application process for the 2008-09 hunting season.

Pursuant to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission hunt orders approved on April 19, 2008, archery deer hunts in the following units are now allocated through the big game draw:

• 1 – White Mountains / Big Lake area
• 3A and 3C – Heber-Overgaard, Show Low, Snowflake and Holbrook areas
• 7 – Areas north and west of Flagstaff
• 12A – North Kaibab
• 12B – North Kaibab
• 12B West – North Kaibab
• 13A – Arizona Strip
• 13B – Arizona Strip

Archery hunters interested in hunting deer in these units will need to apply through the big game draw application process. The deadline to apply is June 10 by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. Applications will be accepted by mail or may be hand delivered to a department office – there is no online application process.

“The reason for this significant first-ever change is to allocate the harvest among deer hunters that is proportionate to the demand for that weapon choice. In some management units, the harvest proportion for certain weapon types exceeded the demand,” states Brian Wakeling, big game management supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

“Under the new formula, in game management units where there is a single archery season and if the archery harvest exceeds 20-percent of the combined total harvest by both firearms and archery hunters, the commission established the need to allocate archery tags through the big game draw process to keep harvest by weapon type proportionate with demand,” Wakeling added.

Hunters who purchased a 2008 archery season nonpermit-tag in the fall of 2007 are reminded that you are now required to adhere to the new 2008-09 hunting regulations, which will eliminate these units from your available hunting areas (although these tags are valid in many other open units). Hunters are also advised that some season structures (dates) have changed, which includes the lengthening of seasons in some units.

To download a copy of the 2008-09 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations and to learn how to apply through the draw process, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw. If you have additional questions, call your local department office.

Archery deer hunters should adhere to the following guidelines regarding harvest reporting:

Nonpermit-tag holders: Mandatory harvest reporting is still required by archery deer hunters with an over-the-counter nonpermit-tag. Please call (866) 903-3337.

Permit-tag holders: Archery deer hunters with hunt permit-tags obtained through the draw process are NOT required to call the harvest hotline. However, you will receive a hunter questionnaire in the mail. Please return your questionnaire.

Regardless of hunt permit-tag type, all successful archery hunters are encouraged to participate in the voluntary chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling program. Hunters who are successful in Game Management Unit 12B are especially encouraged to submit heads. Because this unit borders Utah, deer from this area of the state have the greatest potential for initial detection of CWD. To submit a sample, heads can be brought to any Game and Fish Department office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You will be notified of the results of this test and there is no charge for this service. Lab tests from the sampling during the 2007-08 season found no presence the disease in Arizona.

There isn’t a single one of us who doesn’t “ooooo” or “ahhhh” over little baby critters. That being said, picking up little ones can do more harm than good. From AZGFD:

Don’t pick up baby birds and other young wildlife

Good intentions can do more harm than good

You may be tempted to pick up a baby bird or other young wild animal that appears to be on its own, but Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists warn this is not a good idea.

This is the time of year young wildlife can be seen throughout the state, and the department typically receives an increased number of calls and visits from good Samaritans who are trying to do the right thing by “rescuing” baby animals thought to be abandoned.

That can cause more harm than good.

“If you see a baby bird, rabbit, fawn or any young animal on its own, don’t assume it’s orphaned and in need of your help,” says Randy Babb, information and education program manager for the department’s Mesa region. “Usually, the parents are not far away. They may be out gathering food, taking a short break from their young, or you may have scared them away. If you remove the baby, then its odds for survival diminish.”

For example, baby rabbits, if removed from the wild, will almost certainly die. Newborn rabbits require virtually 24-hour care for any hope of survival, but even then the odds are slim.

Young birds on the ground may be learning to fly or may have fallen from a nest. Birds that have fallen from a nest will not be neglected; the parents will continue to care for them. However, if the young birds are in immediate danger, it is OK to place them back in the nest. Contrary to popular belief, human scent will not concern the avian parents.

Moving deer and antelope fawns and elk calves is not only bad for the animal, it is also illegal. Regulations prohibit possessing and moving native deer and elk due to concerns over the potential transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) to Arizona’s deer and elk populations. CWD, a wildlife disease fatal to deer and elk, has not yet been found in Arizona but is in several neighboring states.

The best rule of thumb if you see young wildlife on its own is to resist the instinct to help, and leave the animal alone. Humans are often the threat that scares away the adult, so the sooner you vacate the area, the quicker the parent will return to care for its young.

“There is almost never an occasion when you should remove a baby wild animal from its natural environment, as that may doom it from being able to survive in the wild in the future” says Babb. “However, on those rare occasions where a young animal is obviously injured, you should call a wildlife rehabilitator who can assess the animal and decide whether to move it.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has a list of wildlife rehabilitators and their phone numbers available at the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife. This section of the department’s Web site also contains details about how to deal with truly injured, sick or orphaned wildlife.

If the injured animal is a large game animal or potential danger to handlers, such as a deer, javelina or coyote, call the closest Arizona Game and Fish Department office or Radio Dispatch at (623) 236-7201.

Darren Choate is up in Flagstaff, and it looks like he is off to a great start with his blog. He’s a great writer, and his photography is out of this world! I just wanted to wish him all the best of luck, and welcome him aboard Skinny Moose.

Drop by and visit About The Hunt today!

FIELDLINE® INTRODUCES THE COOL CREEK HYDRATION PACK™

New Hydration Pack Features Advanced Materials and Functionality Designed for
Hunters and Outdoor Enthusiasts

Fieldline®, a premiere worldwide hunting gear manufacturer and distributor, is proud to introduce its new Cool Creek Hydration Pack™ especially designed to keep hunters and outdoor enthusiasts hydrated and organized. The Fieldline Cool Creek Hydration Pack makes any outdoor adventure safer and more
enjoyable by providing refreshing water in a lightweight, portable backpack. Dehydration is a major concern for anyone enjoying the outdoors, and the Fieldline Cool Creek Hydration Pack is the perfect way to carry a plentiful amount of water on every outing, whether on a week-long hunting expedition or a leisurely day trip. Following the Fieldline philosophy that hydration should also be easy to maintain and never interfere with the activity at hand, its new Cool Creek Hydration Pack includes adjustable shoulder and sternum straps, a bungee compression system and Fieldline’s quality, 2 liter hydration bladder.

Constructed of high grade polyurethane that protects the water and keeps it “tasteless,” the hydration bladder features an 11 mm wide screw-on water delivery hose and bite, a last-drop design to ensure no water is wasted, and a heavy-duty cap grip for easy closure when wet — all designed to keep hunters well-hydrated and healthy while trekking in any type of terrain.

With a slim, portable design, the Fieldline Cool Creek Hydration Pack also includes a zipper front pocket for carrying ID, keys and other items, enabling the user to maximize what he or she can bring while on outdoor adventures. The pack itself is constructed with superior materials and craftsmanship, and is built to withstand the harshest of outdoor conditions.

At 215 cubic inches, this unique pack measures 17.5” H x 8” W and is available in a camouflage pattern that is suitable and adaptable in a wide variety of natural outdoor environments. And, like all premium quality Fieldline products, the Cool Creek Hydration Pack comes with a Lifetime Guarantee – the hunter’s assurance of performance over the long run.

For more information about the Fieldline® Cool Creek Hydration Pack™, or any of the company’s extensive line up of hydration products, specialized backpacks, waist packs, duffels and accessories for hunting enthusiasts, contact Fieldline at 1919 Vineburn Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90032 • Telephone:
(800) 438-3353 • Or visit www.fieldline.com.

For Immediate Release
May 27, 2008

SCI Files Lawsuit to Reverse Ban on Polar Bear Imports

Washington, D.C. — On May 23, 2008, Safari Club International (SCI) filed a federal lawsuit challenging the ban on the import of polar bear trophies from Canada. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) claims the import ban was required when the Service listed the polar bear as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). SCI’s lawsuit asks the Court to confirm the right under current law of U.S. hunters to import polar bear trophies into the United States under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Sustainable sport-hunting of polar bears and subsequent importation by U.S. citizens advances polar bear conservation and supports remote native communities in the Canadian arctic.

Dennis Anderson, President of SCI, said, “Fourteen years ago Congress determined that permitting the importation of sport-hunted polar bear trophies from Canada promoted conservation. Congress built safeguards into the Marine Mammal Protection Act to protect the species. For an import to be permitted, the animal must have been hunted from an approved population, meaning that the FWS has found that the hunting is sustainable. This finding ensures sound management of polar bear populations. The FWS’s recent listing of the species as threatened — based on reports that attempt to predict speculative impacts 45 years from now — should not be used to undermine Congress’ plan to support polar bear conservation.”

SCI’s lawsuit explains that the MMPA specifically provides for the import of sport-hunted polar bears from approved populations. The “threatened” listing does not change this authorization. In fact, the ESA itself allows for the continued importation of sport-hunted polar bears, even if they are listed as threatened.

SCI expects to prove to the federal court for the District of Columbia that the Service’s position is wrong. The import ban in the MMPA applicable to “depleted” species does not override the specific authorization of polar bear imports. In addition, the Service has not made the requisite findings necessary to even arguably trigger this import ban.

The groups that petitioned the Service to list the polar bear under the ESA have admitted that their ultimate goal is to change U.S. climate policy. SCI President Anderson said, “Sustainable hunting that benefits the conservation of the polar bear, and helps the local people who must live with the polar bears, should not be a casualty of this abuse of the ESA.”

Contact:
Nelson Freeman
Governmental Affairs
and Public Relations
Safari Club International
[email protected]

From AZGFD:

Camping season is here: Be bear aware

Prime camping season is arriving in the high country, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds people heading to the great outdoors to be “bear aware” and keep a clean campsite.

Bear activity is up this time of year, as yearling bears leave their mothers and begin roaming more in search of food sources and to establish their own territories. Bears have a keen sense of smell and can be drawn to food in campgrounds.

“The root cause of most conflicts between bears and people, especially in camping areas, is food,” says Bruce Sitko, information and education program manager in Game and Fish’s Pinetop region. “Bears can’t change their behavior, but people can. Protect yourself and protect a bear—take a few minutes to secure your food items.”

Wildlife officials say it is prudent for all outdoor recreationists to take the following precautions to minimize potential conflicts with bears and other wildlife:

Never intentionally feed wildlife.
Secure all garbage.
Keep a clean camp.
Do not cook in your tent or sleeping area.
Store all food, toiletries and other scented items well away from sleeping areas and unavailable to bears.
Wash up, change clothing, and remove all scented articles before retiring to your sleeping area.
Walk or jog in groups. Pay attention to your surroundings when hiking, jogging or bicycling.
Supervise your children and keep them in sight.
Keep your pets on a leash—don’t allow them to roam free. Or better yet, leave them at home if you can. Pets can easily get into conflicts with a wide range of wildlife.
If you are confronted by a black bear (the only bear species in Arizona), don’t run. Stay calm, continue facing it, and slowly back away. Try to make yourself look as big and imposing as possible; put young children on your shoulders. Speak or yell and let it know you are human. Make loud noises by clanging pans, using air horns, or whatever is available.

If you encounter a bear in a developed campground, notify the campground host. If you have a problem with a scavenging bear in the forest, notify the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife.

From AZGFD:

Urban Fishing Bulletin
For the weeks of May 27 to June 7, 2008

Manager: Eric Swanson (623) 236-7263
Specialist: Joann Hill (623) 236-7268

Call 1-800-352-0700 to report fishing violations

Behind the scenes with our Arkansas catfish contractor
Urban Fishing Program Manager Eric Swanson took a journey to Arkansas and back with catfish contractor, Mr. Fish, to get an in-depth, behind the scenes look at the entire catfish delivery operation. The trip started with a one-way ticket to Little Rock, Arkansas and included visits to some of the top aquaculture companies and facilities in the world. Swanson witnessed the gathering up of over 15,000 pounds of catfish from a 20-acre pond, the sorting process to remove all smaller catfish, and the loading and weighing out of up to 500 pounds of fish into each of 35 tanks on two hauling trucks. Hard work, organization and professionalism were evident by all people responsible for the raising, handling and hauling of the catfish. The fish tanks were flushed with cool, clean water and salt and ice was added to make the journey more comfortable and safe for the fish. Swanson rode with Mr. Fish owner/operator Roger Coffman in one of two large bob trucks the entire 1600 mile, 34 hour non-stop journey to Arizona. The catfish were checked and monitored throughout the journey and treated with the best of care to ensure they stayed cool and calm and were given ample oxygen. On Friday, May 16 all but 2 of the 8,600 strong, healthy catfish had survived the marathon journey and were ready for a 12-hour day of stocking into 19 lakes. “I know without a doubt that Mr. Fish is one of the best, if not the best, fish hauler and transporter in America. We are fortunate to have a long-term contract with them to deliver catfish and sunfish to our Urban Fishing waters for many years to come,” boasted Swanson.

May 26-31 catfish stocking status and lake monitoring
All urban lakes will be stocked with catfish the week of May 26-31, with the exception of Water Ranch Lake in Gilbert (see golden alga article below). Cool, favorable weather last week helped to slow biological activity that elevates lake pH levels. Biologists will continue to monitor lake water quality every two weeks to ensure conditions are suitable for catfish stockings. If pH levels exceed 9.5 or golden alga blooms occur, biologists will not stock a lake and will instead reroute the fish to other, nearby urban waters.

Golden alga flares up at Water Ranch Lake – no fish stocking

On Friday, May 24 anglers at Gilbert’s Water Ranch Lake began noticing odd behaviors in fish and a few dead ones. Catfish were observed swimming slowly in the shallows oblivious to human activity. The Town of Gilbert’s lake management consultant had the lake tested for golden alga and the results were positive. The timing over the holiday weekend caused an unfortunate delay in the algaecide treatment of the lake leading to higher fish mortalities. Water Ranch Lake will be aggressively treated May 26-27 to control the problem golden alga before it can take out more fish. Recent water quality tests for conductivity and alkalinity showed that Water Ranch Lake had higher values than most other lakes, making it more susceptible to golden alga blooms and fish kills, but also explaining why the golden alga problem here is worse than any of the other five affected lakes. Biologists and lake managers are working to put a stop to the reoccurring algae blooms and fish kills, and are determined to win this battle. There will be no catfish stockings the week of May 26-31, or until the golden alga can be brought back under control and further tests are negative.

Urban fishing report
Fishing for catfish continues to be good to excellent the week of stocking. The top bait for the 14-20 inch channel catfish are stink baits fished on the bottom. Other baits such as shrimp and worms have worked well. Anglers are catching good numbers of sunfish on small worms or mealworms. Cats have been biting best mid morning and in the evenings. Recent stockings have included some big catfish in the 3-5 pound range. At Green Valley lakes (Payson) fishing is good for trout with most fish biting bait such as worms or PowerBait. Bluegill, crappie and bass are biting well on small jigs and worms fished under a bobber at Green Valley.

Stocking updates:

Phoenix Area Lakes - May 16 stocked catfish. Next stocking, catfish the week of May 26-31.
Tucson Area Lakes - May 16 stocked catfish. Next stocking, catfish the week of May 26-31.
Green Valley Lakes (Payson) - May 9 stocked trout (double stocking, last of season) No further trout stockings until mid October.

View the Urban Fishing Bulletin on their web site.

My friend Amanda Moors is a wildlife biologist and runs the extremely informative and popular site CouesWhitetail.com which is about as good a website as there is, about Coues Deer.

Anyway, Amanda just helped with some deer research and made a very cool thread about it on her message board. You can read the full thread and view photos HERE.

A snippet of the thread:

Hi All,

Yesterday I spent the day helping on a research project that is partially funded by the AZ Deer Association. Many of you are familiar with the three-bar enclosure. Deer within the enclosure have been the subject of much study. Well, those mule deer reached a density of 87 deer in that square mile and the AGFD finally decided they wanted to let them out so the fence was put down. Some of you may remember that last year I helped out with deer drive to push the deer out of the enclosure. Well, anyway, there are still many radio collared deer out there and there is still research going on even though the deer are outside the enclosure now. Jim deVos (who recently retired from AGFD as the head of the research branch), the AGFD, Texas Tech University (Dr. Warren Ballard and Dr. Mark Wallace and grad students) and the AZ Deer Association have partnered up to do a study of fawn survival on those deer. Starting last spring, several does were captured and a radio transmitter was put in their reproductive tract such that when they gave birth to their fawns, the transmitter comes out and let’s researchers know that fawns are on the ground to be found. Then the fawns are collared and studied to determine survival (or lack their of and causes of death). Last year only 2 of 20 fawns survived. This year they are capturing about 25 does and doing it all over again. Yesterday was the day for capture, checking for pregnancy and inserting the transmitter. We captured and processed about 18 does yesterday. I think all were pregnant and most had twins.

Deer are captured by a net shot over them from a helicopter. Then the deer have their legs tied together and they are transported to the workup area where we had two vets, grad students, professors and such there to work them up. It was definitely a traumatic day for these deer. But I guess they are tough enough to go through all this and still maintain their pregnancy. I don’t know the time between capture and getting them to us, but we averaged about 9-10 mins of working on them once they were dropped off. Primarily I helped out by spraying the deer down with cold water to keep them cool. This was a challenge as there is a narrow range of temperature where the deer are safe. If they get over 105, everyone gets worried. Most of the deer came in at 103-104 and their temps were climbing. By the time we cooled them down and released them they were at 101-103. One deer required cool intravenous fluids and packing with ice to bring her temp down fast and keep her safe. Any wounds from capture were treated as needed. Mostly they were abrasions, but some cut their lips or nose or foot bad enough to need stitches.

Now this is a cool story. Well done to this teacher, and good luck! From the Outdoor Wire.

Denver Schoolteacher To Climb Summits Of 50 States In 50 Days

WICHITA, KANSAS - How do you top a successful expedition to the top of the world - Mount Everest - that was closely monitored by thousands of schoolchildren on the Web? Climb another mountain? How about climb to the highest point of each of the 50 states - and do it in 50 days or less.

Compared to the Coleman Everest 5.5 Challenge last year, Denver schoolteacher Mike Haugen’s new project, 50 States in 50 Days Adventure, is even more challenging. More days, more climbing, more travel. Infinitely more complicated logistics. Yet his quest takes place right in the nation’s backyards.

Haugen, 31, hopes to combat increasing rates of childhood obesity due to poor eating and exercise habits by hosting an online virtual challenge with his next climb to all 50 U.S. highpoints, which begins June 9. The public can follow along in real time during June and July on Coleman’s Web site.

Posted online will be photos, videos and a blog about his route, equipment, the people he meets, and the nature surrounding each summit.

Information about the American highpoints collected by Haugen will help update the Highpoints display at the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum in Golden, Colo. (www.bwamm.org), which hosted Haugen’s media kick-off event on May 20.

After Haugen physically completes the Adventure in July, Coleman’s 50 States in 50 Days Challenge will launch with dozens of activities - from bicycling and jogging to hiking and camping - that kids can undertake as they earn their way from one state’s virtual highpoint to another. What’s more, teachers will be encouraged to include the challenge in their curricula so that entire classrooms can participate together as a team. The online challenge will continue through December.

Mountains and Molehills

These highpoints are an interesting collection of summits. The Delaware highpoint (448 feet) in Wilmington is located in the center of a road. Britton Hill (345 feet), the highpoint of Florida, is situated just 20 feet from a parking lot near Florala, Ala. The toughest, Alaska’s Mount McKinley (Denali), starts the 50-day clock the minute Haugen tags the top.

Haugen will summit by any means during his 24,000-mile journey this summer, even if by car. Such is the nature of the variety of America’s highpoints. Regardless of its height, each highpoint will allow Haugen to tell a different story involving flora and fauna, geography, fitness and the simple pleasures of being outdoors.

Haugen’s goal is to finish on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, less than 50 days later, on approximately July 25. Ben Jones, from Lynnwood, Wash., set the current record of 50 days, 7 hours and 5 minutes in 2005.

Fighting Nature Deficit

For years, The Coleman Company, Inc. has been concerned about the growing number of children who spend more time indoors with electronic devices than they do exploring the outdoor world, coupled with the increasing rates of childhood obesity due to poor eating and exercise habits. “Nature deficit” is considered a threat to the health of American children. Studies have shown that exposure to nature and being active outdoors may be just the right antidote to an epidemic of obesity and many other problems kids face today.

Through this project, Coleman and Mike Haugen hope to encourage kids to discover the outdoors and remain physically active both at home and at school.

Accompanying Haugen on his adventure will be Zach Price, 30, an architect and climber from Seattle, and Lindsay Danner, a social work major residing in Denver.

Mike Haugen’s 50 States in 50 Days Adventure is supported by Coleman, K2 Skis, Marmot, and SPOT Satellite Messenger. Additional help provided by Highpointers Club.

Media Contact:
Dawn Harmon (316) 219-7537 Jeff Blumenfeld (203) 655-1600
[email protected] [email protected]