Mark Vins created the "Ultimate Cholla Challenge," also known as the "Sharpest Maze in the World," to navigate through a 100-yard maze of spiky plants, primarily cholla cacti, in the Sonoran Desert while blindfolded. The goal was to reach a table with his favorite dessert, a red velvet cake. Mark successfully completed the challenge within the two-minute time limit, despite getting severely spiked by the cacti. Afterward, he demonstrated three methods to remove cholla spines from the skin: using a large-tooth comb, a multi-tool, and sticks. Throughout the challenge, Mark emphasized the importance of not using one's hands to remove cholla spines and instead opting for tools to minimize pain.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The Sonoran desert is one of the harshest environments in the continental United States.
2. The Sonoran desert is home to the jumping cholla, a type of cactus.
3. There are over 30 different species of jumping cholla that inhabit North and South America.
4. The teddy bear cholla is a type of jumping cholla.
5. The teddy bear cholla has spines that point in nearly every direction.
6. The spines on the cholla have small bristles with backward-facing barbs, known as Leucadia.
7. These barbs make it difficult to remove the cholla spines from skin once they have adhered.
8. Each segment of the cholla plant is a potential seed for the next offspring.
9. The cholla plant uses a method called vegetative reproduction to spread.
10. The name "jumping cholla" is a myth, and the plants do not actually jump, but can fall off in strong winds or vibrations.
11. A good way to remove cholla spines from skin is to use a large tooth comb or a multi-tool.
12. It's recommended to carry a multi-tool when hiking in areas with cholla.
13. Using sticks to remove cholla spines is also an option, but a multi-tool is preferred.
14. Mark Vins and his team created a challenge to navigate a maze of cholla plants while blindfolded.