Black Mesa
Oklahoma
March 2013
Just 137 miles east of Black Mesa as the crow flies, or 161 miles as the crow drives, but still in the Panhandle of Oklahoma, is a town called Beaver. Beaver is — did you know this? — the Cow Chip Throwing Capital of the World. It is here in Beaver, Oklahoma, that the World Championship Cow Chip Throw is held each April. It is truly international as “Chippers,” as I like to call them, come from all over the world to hurl. The contest has several mascots. One is King Cow Chip, a cow chip wearing a crown. The more famous Beaver town mascot, Big Beaver, is perched in the downtown area, holding a cow chip, getting his picture taken by thousands of tourists.
I think it unfortunate that Lisa and I are unable to visit this attraction on this particular Highpointing trip. I’m not sure.
In Beaver, there are roughly 16 times as many cows as humans. You don’t need to ask how this competition got started. Imagine sixteen cows for each one of you and everyone you know, and imagine how many cow chips they can produce. You can’t just leave those things lying around.
We roam around at the high point of Oklahoma, on the high plateau of Black Mesa. It appears that cows, too, have roamed this land, if you know what I mean.
