Hey, watch where you’re putting that arrow: Hunting/fishing guide Garrett Thompson will compete in the 2006 Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge, Sept. 8-9 in Nashville, Tenn., giving the Marion local a chance to win the first-place prize of $4,000.
During the competition, would-be Total Outdoorsmen must prove their mettle at seven different outdoor skills: fly-casting, bait-casting, air rifle, shotgun, endurance, archery and ATV handling.
In an inspired move, the Jack Daniels Distillery will host the event, which takes place at Long Hunter State Park, 20 minutes outside of Music City. (One hopes they’ll hold off on dispensing their product to the finalists until the archery competition is finished.) The event is free and open the public. Portions of the Challenge will air on the Outdoor Life Network. Visit www.fieldandstream.com/fieldstream/totaloutdoorsman for more information.
Cragging rights: Like climbing? Give a little back to your favorite face this month by joining one — or all — of several local “Adopt A Crag” events coordinated by the nonprofit Access Fund. On Sept. 16, the Boone Climbers Coalition and volunteers will re-route a trail at Hawksbill, beginning at 9 a.m. Call Ron Dawson at (828) 733-1334 for details and directions. On Sept. 23, REI Pineville will host trail work at the North Carolina Wall in Linville Gorge, starting at 10 a.m. Contact Joey Norman at jnorman@rei.com with questions. The same day, volunteers will gather at Looking Glass Rock in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard for an Adopt A Crag event hosted by the N.C. Outward Bound School. Work begins at 9 a.m. Contact Matthew Bennett at MBennett@ncobs.org. For the big picture, visit www.accessfund.org.
