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| Photo: Lisha Newman |
I always wondered if my buddies in the service who jumped out of airplanes for a living had some sort of chemical makeup that attracted them to the job. Fear is just one of those emotions that doesn’t strike some people: not jumping out of a plane, not rappelling down a rock wall, not plummeting over rapids, not anything at all. Are you one of those people – looking for a way to rescue yourself from cubicle coma? Oklahoma is the fix for adrenaline junkies.
Skydiving
The Oklahoma Skydiving Center at the Cushing Regional Airport employs United States Parachute Association-rated staff, which is good to know when you’re about to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. But thanks to the training and preparation Oklahoma Skydiving Center provides – including a series of lectures, videos and practical exercises – you’ll know exactly what to do when you begin your freefall. The airport’s 350 acres provides a large, unobstructed landing area, as well.
OSC requires reservations, and all the necessary equipment is provided, including jumpsuits, goggles, helmets and parachuting gear. Skydivers must be at least 16 years of age and courses begin at $175/person.
Rock Climbing and Rappelling
With its many rock faces and good quality granite, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge offers excellent opportunities for rock climbing and rappelling. Mount Scott is especially popular, in part for the many crags found along its northern walls. Contact the Wichita Mountains Climbers Coalition to learn more about climbing in this area. Need a little instruction before you scale the mountains? Tony Mayse of Guide for a Day will meet you in the Wichita Mountains and give you one-on-one instruction to help you on your way.
Popular rappelling spots include Robbers Cave State Park, in southeast Oklahoma, and Red Rock Canyon State Park, just west of Oklahoma City near Hinton.
If you’re new to climbing, you may consider visiting one of the state’s indoor gyms, such as Oklahoma City’s Rocktown Climbing Gym. Here, for a small fee, you can rent the necessary equipment and receive instruction on climbing techniques. Climb inside former grain silos on routes up to 145 feet, or the really adventurous can even climb the outside of the building.
All-Terrain Vehicles
There is no doubt that Little Sahara State Park, near Waynoka, is Oklahoma’s favorite playground for off-roading enthusiasts. With 1,600 acres of sand dunes, some of which reach 75 feet in height, Little Sahara is the place to bring your dune buggies and dirt bikes.
Oklahoma is the fix for adrenaline junkies.
Beaver Dunes Park, near Beaver, is another good choice. Known as the “Panhandle Playground,” Beaver Dunes features 300 acres of sand hills for dune buggies, ATVs, motorcycles and Jeeps. The park has recently opened a new campground with dune access, which makes hitting the dirt easy and convenient.
If you’re in southwestern Oklahoma, try the ATV area at Quartz Mountain Nature Park. This 50-acre park on the north shore of Lake Altus-Lugert is a designated ATV area. During summer months, you can park your four-wheeler on the beach and go swimming in the lake.
In south central Oklahoma, the massive Cross Bar Ranch Park in Davis offers 6,500 acres of rideable terrain and is Oklahoma's largest dedicated ATV area. Don't have your own ATV but want to try this adrenaline-pumping activity out? Call Thrills and Chills on Wheels and they'll deliver ATVs to Cross Bar Ranch and help you get started on your adventure. Nearby Lake Murray State Park in Ardmore also offers an ATV area with plenty of trails to be explored.
Kayaking
The Tulsa Wave Park is a section of rapids on the Arkansas River near 31st and Riverside in Tulsa. Parking is on the east side of the river and folks generally put in at the boat ramp there and paddle across the river to the 500 feet of rapids. These rapids, triggered from water releases upstream at the Keystone Dam, are produced courtesy of a rock jetty that initiates a funneling effect on the water. If you go, take a buddy and wear a helmet.
For a wilderness kayaking experience, Big Eagle Creek, in far southeast Oklahoma, near Octavia, is quite the experience. After a heavy spring rainfall, this little creek offers serious kayakers a challenge thanks to its narrow, twisting channels and ledge drops. Due to the technical nature of this creek and its remote location, only experienced paddlers should tackle this stream.
Hang Gliding
Wide Open Sky Hang Gliding near Geronimo says that hang gliding captures the essence of bird-like flight. To convince you, they offer a variety of hang-gliding lessons, ranging from an individual introductory course to tandem flights, where an instructor flies with the student. And with no motors and noise – other than the wind, you’ll be at peace as you glide above the Oklahoma landscape.
The great thing about hang gliding is that you’ll be able to fly from the very first day you take up the sport. And anyone can do it, but perhaps the best way to start is with that tandem lesson.
