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CONTENTS
January 2015 PAGE
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way t a e r g a t Wha r. Our a e y e h t to start isits. v y n a m first of time. t x e n s u Join Love, Virginia
EDWARd yates shares what's on his mind when walking the line.
features After four weeks and over 5,000 votes, the results are in. Readers selected their favorite regional races, faces, and places.
43 MAN ON A WIRE Highliner Edward Yates conquers the Chattanooga skyline.
departments 6 EDITOR’S NOTE BRO celebrates 20 years of you.
8 FLASHPOINT
Land conservation wins at ballot box / Sprinter chases Olympic dream / Bear balancing act / AWOL’s A.T. backstory
Is oil drilling along our coast inevitable?
46 THEN AND NOW
9 THE DIRT
A tale of two iconic outfitters and their evolution
Marathon winner DQed / Four year old climbs 50-foot tree / New A.T. doc /
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RICHMOND VA EDITION • Blue Ridge Outdoors
What's best about life and adventure in the Blue Ridge?
WILL HARLAN
BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
E D I TO R I A L EDITOR IN CHIEF WILL HARLAN will@blueridgeoutdoors.com SENIOR EDITOR JEDD FERRIS jedd@blueridgeoutdoors.com TRAVEL EDITOR JESS DADDIO jess@blueridgeoutdoors.com DIGITAL EDITOR AARON BIBLE aaron@blueridgeoutdoors.com COPY EDITORS JULIA GREEN, ROBERT McGEE CONTRIBUTORS KY DELANEY, DAVE STALLARD, JEFF KINNEY, Charli Kerns, CHRIS GRAGTMANS
ART + PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR MEGAN JORDAN megan@blueridgeoutdoors.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER LAUREN WALKER lauren@blueridgeoutdoors.com
A DV E RT I S I N G + B U S I N E S S PRESIDENT BLAKE DEMASO blake@blueridgeoutdoors.com PUBLISHER LEAH WOODY leah@blueridgeoutdoors.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE MARTHA EVANS martha@blueridgeoutdoors.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES KATIE HARTWELL katie@blueridgeoutdoors.com NICK NOE nick@blueridgeoutdoors.com BUSINESS MANAGER MISSY GESSLER melissa@blueridgeoutdoors.com CIRCULATION MANAGER AVERY SHOOK avery@blueridgeoutdoors.com
D I G I TA L M E D I A DIGITAL PUBLISHER DUSTY ALLISON dusty@blueridgeoutdoors.com ONLINE DIRECTOR CRAIG SNODGRASS webdir@blueridgeoutdoors.com ©2015 Summit Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
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DUSTY ALLISON Ancient mountains. Vintage rivers. Winding trails. Four seasons. Colorful history. Livable towns. Multiple lifetimes of adventure.
LAUREN WALKER It’s pointless for a human to paint scenes of nature when they can go outside and stand in it.
JOHNNY MOLLOY Living here every day. There is more outdoor adventure in these parts than I can do in a lifetime.
NICK NOE It's better than being from Florida or Ohio.
TRAVIS HALL Living in the Blue Ridge is like having a permanent base camp in one of the best natural areas east of the Mississippi.
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Moonshine, bluegrass, and a fall that lasts.
BEAU BEASLEY I can chase rainbow trout in the Smokies, musky in the French Broad, golden trout in West Virginia, or wild brook trout in Shenandoah.
AARON BIBLE A temperate climate and access to seemingly endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.
College students seek out fresh outdoor voices, stories, and adventures from campuses across the region. FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT avery@blueridgeoutdoors.com
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The people who live here. They get it. They all share a love for the mountains, rivers, and woods. JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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NOTES
E D I TO R ’ S L E T T E R
20 Years of You
his year marks the 20th anniversary of Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine. What started as a quarterly insert in a Charlottesvillebased alt-weekly has grown into the largest regional outdoor magazine in the country with over 350,000 readers from Maryland to Georgia. We’ve expanded from a part-time staff of three sorting slides and faxing proofs from a windowless basement office to a multimedia team of 15 generating print, web and video content. I’ve been editor of the magazine for 14 of those years, and I’ve seen a lot of changes. New adventures like stand-up paddleboarding, zip-lining, and obstacle course racing have emerged. The South added Congaree National Park, three state parks in North Carolina, and new wilderness in Virginia. Microbrew madness has swept the South, and several mountain towns have become craft beer capitals. Over 11,000 thru-hikers have completed endto-end journeys of the Appalachian Trail, including a fiveyear-old (with his parents) and an 81-year-old. The 1,000mile Mountains to Sea Trail was just a dream twenty years ago; today it stretches from the Smokies to the Outer Banks. Tourism and recreation have rescued many mountain towns and revitalized regional economies. As the voice of the mountains, Blue Ridge Outdoors has rallied readers to help protect the places where we play. With your help, we’ve been instrumental in safeguarding rivers, clean air, and public lands. We’ll officially celebrate our 20th anniversary in our March issue, but beginning this month, we’re introducing a Then and Now department that reflects on the evolution of outdoor adventure in Southern Appalachia over the last two decades. Blue Ridge Outdoors continues to evolve with our readers, but one thing will always remain the same: authentic storytelling about the people, places, and issues that matter most. Some of those stories may be your own. In 2015, we're hoping to include even more reader voices in our pages. We’ll also be regularly featuring your photos and video. So strap on your helmet cams and start planning big, bold adventures for the new year. •
ill Harlan is the author of Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America, which was recently W named one of Amazon's Best 100 Books of the Year.
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Editor in Chief Will Harlan runs the Shut-In Ridge 17.8-Mile Trail Run in 2000. Shut-In was named one of readers' favorite races in our Best of the Blue Ridge Awards.
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READER FORUM
FLASHPOINT
Is Atlantic Oil Drilling Inevitable? OIL PLATFORMS COULD BE COMING TO A COASTLINE NEAR YOU. FOR EVERYONE - EXCEPT THE OIL COMPANIES by JEFF KINNEY favored torture technique in certain circles (definitely not our government—ahem) is to tie up the victim and assault him or her with a continuous, extremely loud racket. Metallica, Beethoven, Justin Bieber—it doesn’t really matter. A few hours of such treatment is enough to break a lot of people. Now imagine you’re a whale or a dolphin. Without warning, a burst of noise hurls shockwaves through the sea. It’s deafening, bewildering. Ten seconds later, there’s a second blast. Then a third. Escape is impossible. The auditory barrage is constant, 24 hours a day, and nothing will make it stop. Welcome to yet another grotesque effort to extend the fossil fuel era a few more decades at a massive cost to the environment. It’s called seismic airgun blasting, whereby giant sound canons towed behind ships propel compressed air through the water and into the seabed in an effort to locate oil and gas deposits. The resulting din has been measured at a piercing 190 decibels—louder than a jet engine—and it wreaks havoc on ocean fauna; sensitive hearing organs are damaged beyond repair, vital habitats abandoned, mating rituals disrupted, communication rendered impossible. Because various spots along the Atlantic coast have been targeted for offshore drilling, this lovely practice soon could be hitting close to home. While oil companies predictably claim there will be little or no environmental impact, the government says otherwise; it estimates that some 180,000 marine mammals will die and millions more will be injured or disturbed. Many of these animals are endangered, including the Atlantic Right Whale, whose vulnerable nesting grounds will take a direct hit from the sonic assault. Seismic airgun blasting could be the final blow that wipes them out. Perpetuating this travesty just to line oil companies’ pockets is myopic and cruel, and it’s just one of many things that’s very wrong with offshore drilling. The other problems are more obvious, starting with the elephant in the room: climate change. Methane is one of the most destructive greenhouse gases, trapping 25 to 35 times more heat per ton than carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to keep this admittedly cleaner-burning fuel from seeping into the atmosphere when you drill thousands of feet beneath the waves. “There are so many leaks at various stages where gas is drilled, processed, and distributed, that if the accumulated leakage is more than one percent of the total gas handled, you’ve completely destroyed any emissions advantage
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over burning coal,” says David Kyler with the Center for a Sustainable Coast. Methane isn’t all that leaks, of course. Oil does, too, sometimes prodigiously so. The Deepwater Horizon spewed millions of gallons of it into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, decimating untold millions of sea creatures. Fisheries crashed, beaches reeked, hapless birds floundered in black sludge. There’s an oil ring the size of Rhode Island on the seafloor, for crying out loud. The Gulf will probably never be the same. Big Oil says it’s learned from the disaster, but to risk such a thing again is unconscionable. Yes, more drilling would create jobs—at least until the next spill, which would wallop local economies—but so what? Almost anything creates jobs. An economy built on
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sustainable energy, which could employ at least as many people while preserving the planet for our grandchildren, makes far more sense. The perils of ignoring this vital transition are real and looming large. “We on the Atlantic Coast are ground zero for climate change,” says environmental activist Bill Hamilton. “We’re already seeing effects like flooding in places like St. Augustine, and not even at high tides. Pretty much everyone except oil industry—environmentalists, ocean-front homeowners, business owners—doesn’t want off-shore drilling. We all need to take climate change seriously, and investing in new carbon fuel infrastructure is stupid.” So stupid, in fact, that there obviously is another factor at play here: profit. Powerful forces have a lot of money at stake and are loath to walk away from a seabed shot through with black gold, regardless of the environmental and economic damage they cause to extract it. “To take such huge risks when we know we need to do something different than use oil— someone is looking to make a short-term profit and place all of us at risk,” Hamilton says. “There’s no earthly reason to drill for oil in the Atlantic.” As for the tired accusation that renewable energy is comparatively expensive and unreliable, that’s only because we’ve been propping up fossil fuels with giant subsidies and refusing to hold oil companies financially accountable for their rampant pollution. If you stack the deck against renewables like that, fossil fuels look pretty good. But in a fair fight, off-shore wind would beat off-shore drilling every time. Offshore drilling along the Mid-Atlantic coast is currently prohibited. However, there are plans to lift the ban by 2017, and seismic testing to search for oil is scheduled to begin next year. If enough people attend public meetings and otherwise express their displeasure, the Obama administration could yet change course. Hamilton also says he and other activists are trying to get a national marine sanctuary established in the MidAtlantic where all drilling activities are banned by definition. “Drilling extends the era of fossil fuels by making more oil available,” Kyler says. “That doesn’t make sense when you’re trying to move to clean energy. Until the centers of power that make those decisions start thinking in the public interest instead of in the interest of Big Oil, we’re never going to get the serious policy decisions we need to address climate change.” •
OUTDOOR NEWS
Quick Hits CHICKAMAUGA BATTLEFIELD MARATHON WINNER DISQUALIFIED FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA At the finish line of last fall’s Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, Tabatha Hamilton appeared to be the race’s female winner with a respectably speedy time of 2:55:39. The next day, though, co-race director Sheryl Johnson started getting emails that questioned Hamilton’s time. Upon further review, it was revealed that Hamilton crossed the timing mat at the halfway point in 2:06:51. According to a story in Chattanooga’s Times Free Press, race officials determined there was no way Hamilton could have covered the race’s final 13.1 miles in 49 minutes, so she was immediately disqualified. Hamilton talked to the newspaper and insisted the disqualification wasn’t justified, but a little digging revealed that some of her previous marathon times from 2009 and 2011 ranged from 4:25:08 to 4:48:47.
NEW A.T. DOC Sam Hengar started hiking around his east Tennessee home when he was a kid. Now he’s combined his outdoor passion with a filmmaking hobby to make a new documentary, The Appalachian Trail: An American Legacy. The film focuses on the trail’s scenic beauty, hiking culture, and lengthy history, including rare footage of an old interview with trail founder Benton MacKaye. The film was made with the blessing and assistance of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the nonprofit opened its archives to enhance the project. Check it out: atlegacyfilm.com.
FOUR-YEAR-OLD BOY CLIMBS 50 FEET UP TREE
Beyond the Blue Ridge ROCKET-POWERED BIKE BREAKS 200 MPH SOUTH OF FRANCE Back in November, French daredevil Francois Gissy broke his own speed record on a rocket-powered bicycle when he blasted off to an insane speed of 207 miles per hour, which was reached in 4.8 seconds. The previous year Gissy got his rocket bike to reach 177 mph, but thanks to help from Switzerland’s Exotic Thermal Engineering, who helped outfit his standard-looking push bike, he was able to up the ante during his record-breaking run at Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France. Gissy told Gizmag a new design is in the works that should push him to 249 mph.
VOTERS SUPPORT LAND CONSERVATION Based on the results of November’s mid-term elections, it appeared voters were seeing more red than green. But some surprising results revealed big support for land conservation, as a record $13 billion was approved for preservation measures in a handful of states including Florida, New Jersey, and California. The Sunshine State approved a state constitutional amendment that will allocate $9 billion over the next 20 years for conservation efforts that include investments in the Florida Everglades. By a wide margin
THE DIRT of 65-35%, New Jersey voters decided to dedicate $2.15 billion to conservation efforts over the next two decades with a portion of the money coming from corporate business taxes.
BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING VICTIM HAS POSITIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT LOSING LEG RICHMOND, TEXAS Rebekah DiMartino’s life changed forever when she decided to watch the Boston Marathon with her boyfriend and son on April 15, 2013. After the horrific bombing near the marathon finish line, DiMartino had 17 surgeries to repair her leg, but eventually pain and other complications, including a bone infection, proved to be too much. Back in November, a year and a half after the incident, DiMartino had the lower part of her left leg amputated. Despite some consistent struggles, DiMartino has kept a positive attitude about her experience and relied on humor as a coping tool. Just before her surgery, she threw a party called her “Left Leg Last Hurrah.” She told NBC News: "This is a new beginning for me. This is when the rest of my life starts. I've been in a limbo state for so long now that it really is going to be what pushes me forward and what allows me to be able to live my life to the fullest." • —Jedd Ferris
WADE MICKLEY
DOTHAN, ALABAMA Get this kid a harness and some rope. Four-yearold Parker Clark had to be rescued from a tree after climbing up 50 feet on a dare from his older brother. The Associated Press is reporting that the preschooler was brought down in a bucket truck by a tree crew, after realizing he was too high to climb back down. Fortunately he wasn’t hurt, and hopefully his parents will let him try sandstone when he gets older.
JADED DUDE SENDS EX A BOX OF LIVE CHICKS WASHINGTON, D.C. Another odd news item came from the Associated Press in mid November when it was reported that a disgruntled man mailed his ex-girlfriend a box with 15 live baby chicks. When the woman opened the package and found the baby birds, along with a note telling her there are plenty of other chicks out there, she told her mailman the box was headed for the trash. The postal worker decided to save the birds and took them to the Washington Humane Society. The little chicks are now residing at the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, Md., as well as another sanctuary in Winchester, Va.
JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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OUTDOOR NEWS
THE DIRT
Bears
Blue Ridge
It’s a balancing act for two national parks by JESSICA PORTER
reat Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park are two of the most densely bear-populated sections of the trail. Yet very few bear-related incidents occur in these popular parks each year. “We’ve had no human bear conflicts in 30 years,” says Karen Beck-Herzog, public affairs officer and lands coordinator for Shenandoah National Park. But there was one fatal encounter that occurred in the Smokies in 2004. Young bears that are recently away from their mothers’ care are more prone to act predatory, especially in the spring when food can be challenging to find, which was the case in this situation, says Dana Soehn, management assistant of public affairs for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Situations like these are very rare: 9 million people visit the Smokies every year. Though black bears in the Southeast don’t fully hibernate and are active all year, hikers most often report bear encounters in the spring and the fall, says Laurie Potteiger, information services manager of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. In the spring, black bears are just waking up from winter and looking for food. Much of their food is not available
yet, so they are very active foraging. In the fall, they are preparing for the winter and on the hunt for acorns, making sightings common. Improper food storage is one of the most common ways to wind up with an unwanted bear encounter. Hang food from a tree limb approximately 10 feet high and 6 feet from the tree. “If the bag is hung too low, you completely defeat the purpose of it,” says Potteiger. She advises that all food and scented items, including toiletries, should go in the bag. The parks use aversive conditioning—including noisemakers, firecrackers, and pellet guns— to discourage troublesome bears from becoming habituated to humans. “We want to keep our bears wild; we don’t want them to feel comfortable approaching people,” says Soehn. In the Smokies, there are typically about 20 bears per year not deterred by these methods, says biologist Bill Stiver. The park will then capture the bear and remove a tooth to tag it and document its health and age, hoping the process is so unpleasant that it will work as a greater deterrent. If the bear returns after being released, it’s captured again and moved to a more isolated location. •
If a bear gets too close Make noise and spread your arms to look as big as possible. Back up slowly to create space between you and the bear. Don’t look it in the eye. In the extremely rare case that the bear acts aggressively, stand your ground and do not run. If it attacks, fight back using any weapon (like trekking poles or rocks) that you can find.
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OUTDOOR NEWS
Dream Chaser
THE DIRT
Star sprinter dashes onto olympic bobsled team by CHARLI KERNS ever give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about, Winston Churchill famously said. For Natalie DeRatt, that was going to the Olympics. In 2012, the former University of North Carolina–Asheville running star missed that dream for the track and field team for Britain, but the fire to compete for the podium still burned. So when an opportunity for a spot on the USA Bobsled and Skeleton team came, she took it and ran. “Everything was just laid out, and it was an opportunity I saw as my last chance,” says DeRatt. “I’ve come so close before, and I think if I had not followed through I would have regretted it.” Running and racing were in her blood. Both parents competed and still do internationally at orienteering, and like them she had a spirited streak pushing her through high school and into college where she shined. In 2010, she became UNCA’s first and only student-athlete to earn a spot at NCAA championships. After graduating in 2011, she trained for the British team trials in the summer of 2012, but after setbacks and traveling logistics ran her worst race time of the year. She decided that her racing career was over. “I needed a break from track,” says DeRatt. After six months, though, she was already getting itchy feet again, “I soon needed a new goal and a new outlet.” “I don’t think anyone grows up saying they want to race bobsled, though,” says Keith Scruggs, sports performance specialist at Acceleration Sports Institute at Greenville Health System and also DeRatt’s coach. Typically the racers he sees like DeRatt come from previous lives as track and field athletes, football players, softball athletes, and even volleyball athletes. Scruggs and DeRatt’s friendship started back in 2006 when they both competed for UNCA. Scruggs played baseball, but due to multiple injuries, he was about to pack his bags. “She came up to me and said, ‘You should try the hammer,’” recalls Scruggs. “I grew up playing football and baseball, not track and field, so my first thought was hammer and nails.” Regardless, Scruggs tried out, performed well, and joined the team with DeRatt. Scruggs was then able to return the favor last December by suggesting she compete in the Greenville bobsled combine, which he hosted, for August 2014. DeRatt agreed, and then asked him to be her coach. The duo set to work training DeRatt to be ready for her first competition in eight months. Despite the snow and ice aspect of bobsled, most of the actual training is sprint running and weight lifting, both of which are DeRatt’s fortes. “Bobsled is so similar to track and field in training that technically I’ve been preparing my whole life,” says DeRatt. The bobsled track, however, was a
UNC-Asheville sprinter Natalie DeRatt earned a spot on the 2016 Olympic bobsled team.
different story. “The first day was horrific,” DeRatt says. Bobsleds race down mile-long, curving courses and can reach speeds of over 75 mph with up to five gs of pressure. The experience is like riding ‘the Intimidator’ at North Carolina’s Carowinds amusement park—except you first have to help push your 400-lb part of the coaster 54 yards before jumping in and enjoying the ride, which actually means getting bruised from several impacts. “The veteran bobsledders always tell you the start’s horrible and not to quit,” says DeRatt. The rides did get better with each session, and soon she found the sport exhilarating. She also decided it could be another chance to make the Olympic team. To make it onto the team, athletes must compete in a four-part test series that looks at strength and speed. Athletes gain points based on performance, and a specific number and ranking allow them to move to the next tier. The first two tiers have combines all over the region, and the third and fourth have a couple major spots. The regional combine Scruggs hosted was DeRatt’s first stop on the way to national team trials. She needed 450 points to advance. DeRatt killed the competition, earning 532 points and winning overall by 17 points. She won the next two competitions, and by November, DeRatt found herself in Park City, Utah competing for an Olympic spot in bobsled. It felt
eerily similar to being in Britain two years earlier competing for a track spot. “It really brought me back to my track days just to that race scenario,” says DeRatt. “I got really really nervous and really really excited.” Competing against her were athletes such as Lauryn Williams, who was one of only five Olympians to medal in both the Summer and the Winter Games with track in 2004 and 2012 and bobsledding in 2014. Her 2014 teammate Elana Meyers was also there vying for a spot on Team USA. DeRatt reflects, “It was nice to feel those nerves again when racing against those people.” Just a year after she started training, DeRatt put everything she had into that race on the ice. The course was steep and smooth, and when the buzzer hit she and her driver Jazmine Fenlator raced with everything they had. She only had to wait a few hours before the announcement came, and her name finally rang out among the members of the 2014-2015 USA Bobsled and Skeleton Team. “All of those hours I gave in my whole life—every six a.m. and after school/after work workout—felt okay when I heard my name over the intercom,” says DeRatt. There are still many more a.m. workouts and competitions between now and 2018’s Olympic Games, but DeRatt looks forward to it all. “I believe that if you work hard you are going to get what you want,” says DeRatt. “If you have an opportunity you owe it to yourself to take that.” • JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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OUTDOOR NEWS
THE DIRT
THE MAN BEHIND THE MOST POPULAR A.T. GUIDE by ERIC WALLACE hen my partner and I were planning an extended A.T. hike, we stopped by our local outdoor shop and asked the manager what to bring. “Foremost thing you’ll need is this,” he said, reaching for a plain green book which otherwise looked a lot like a high-end car manual: David ‘AWOL’ Miller’s The A.T. Guide. “This guy, David ‘AWOL’ Miller practically lives on the trail.” Who was this AWOL? And how did the little green manual come to be? Back in the late-90s, working as a high-powered software engineer, Miller got turned on to the notion of an A.T. thru-hike via a newly retired, Katahdin-conquering ex-coworker. Miller soon viewed the 2,181-mile adventure as a potentially kickass springboard into his own retirement. But being married, a proud father of three, and not quite 40 years of age, Miller couldn’t conceive of himself as being capable of responsibly hanging up the corporate boots for at least another two decades. However, despite the pragmatic rationale—must
clock the time, take max. advantage of IRA + 401k plans, continue gratingly, monotonously grinding along toward reaping the so-called Golden Years bounty—the A.T. had already infiltrated his system. Miller found himself facing an inconvenient truth: “I remember becoming increasingly aware this thru-hike was something that couldn’t wait. My life had grown precariously normal… It had to be done now.” In the spring of 2001, having procured a greenlight from the familial quintet, Miller quit his nineto-five and lit out for Springer Mountain, the A.T.’s southern terminus. “My wife was actually happy for me to have the break from my job,” chuckled Miller. She and the kids set out to have a memorable summer of their own—beach trips, camping, and visiting relatives. I missed them, but they were aware I was doing something important I had to do for myself, and that was something they wanted to support.” He quickly earned his trail name AWOL after telling his life story to fellow thru-hikers of quitting his job and setting out for the woods. After he completed his thru-hike, he penned a memoir: AWOL On the Trail. A few years later, in 2007, Miller heard Dan “Wingfoot” Bruce was retiring from the business of maintaining his yearly-updated Thru-Hikers’ Handbook. As a software engineer, Miller realized he could present the trail data in a fresh, new way that was both functional and aesthetic. “For the next year, I spent every spare moment available working on the book, to the point of
David ‘AWOL’ Miller at the end of his A.T. thru-hike.
enlisting my wife and kids,” he said. His efforts yielded the most intricate, detailed, and stunningly resourceful trail guide yet produced. The popularity of The A.T. Guide is not surprising. Every year, Miller or a member of his team personally hikes each section and travels to each town to ensure the information is 100 percent accurate and updated. Miller himself isn’t planning another thru-hike anytime soon. “But if one of my kids wanted to do it and wouldn’t mind having me along, I’d definitely go with them.” •
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OF THE
After four weeks and over 5,000 votes, the final results are in. Readers selected their favorite regional races, faces, and places. by JESS DADDIO
DESTINATIONS Hiking Trail
Art Loeb (N.C.) With expansive, treeless balds, steep climbs, and some of the most iconic views of Pisgah National Forest, it’s no surprise that the Art Loeb Trail in western North Carolina took the number one spot here. Though popular among the hiking community and often crowded on fair weather days, if you only have one weekend to spend hiking in the high country, this trail is going to give you the most bang for your buck. Start at the southern terminus just outside of Davidson River Campground near Brevard, N.C., and follow its well-trodden path to the end in Shining Rock Wilderness. Those panoramic views won’t come easy, now—in just 30 miles, expect to traverse multiple 6,000-foot peaks like Black Balsam Knob (6,214 feet) and Tennent
Mountain (6,040 feet). Rich in Cherokee Nation history, the land speaks for itself and beckons to the pioneer in us all. Though it’s possible to knock out the hike in two long days, you might want to play hooky and tack on a third just in case. Runners-up: Old Rag Mountain (Va.), Tanawha Trail (N.C.), Alum Cave Bluffs Trail (Tenn.)
A PPA L ACHIA N TR AIL SEC TION
Max Patch (N.C.)
There’s nothing that can quite prepare you for the jaw-dropping scene that will unfold as you step from the lush canopy of the Appalachian Trail into the open bald that is Max Patch. Situated on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, this mountaintop is certainly not the highest in elevation (reigning in at 4,629 feet), but it is certainly one of the most scenic. What’s more, you can summit Max Patch via a variety of options—take the family
and choose one of two easy-grade loop trails near the top or begin your hike in the nearby town of Hot Springs, N.C., and follow the A.T. south for about 12 miles to the bald. Runners-up: Roan Highlands (Tenn./N.C.), Mount Rogers + Grayson Highlands (Va.)
SWIMMING HOLE
Midnight Hole (Big Creek, North Carolina) Located just inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this swimming hole can afford visitors more than just a cool dip on a hot summer day. Take the Big Creek Trail for almost 1.5 miles until you see Midnight Hole on your left. The trail itself is well established and shaded for the majority of the way, making it a great place to take the kids. You’ll know you’ve arrived at the swimming hole when you see a slew of large boulders nestled JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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DESTINATIONS OF THE
in the creek. This is a great pool to jump into, as it is relatively deep and clear enough to see the bottom. When you’re done swimming, make a day of it and continue your hike a short ways to see the nearby 45-foot Mouse Branch Falls. Runners-up: Blue Hole Falls (S.C.), Turtleback Falls (N.C.)
RUNNING Trail
Shut-In Trail
(N.C.) Originally built by George Vanderbilt in the 1890s, the Shut-In Trail has gained a regional reputation as one of the toughest climbs around. In just over 16 miles, the trail undergoes almost 3,000 feet in elevation change from its start near the Buck Spring Gap Overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway to its end at the base of Mount Pisgah. The trail is so challenging, in fact, that the region’s top runners gather annually in the fall to test their merit at the Shut-In Ridge Run. The trail is now part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and though the trail itself never strays farther than a ½ mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway, there are few day hikers who feel up to the task of retracing Vanderbilt’s ridge walk in its entirety. Runners-up: Greenbrier River Trail (W.Va.), Iron Mountain Trail (Va.), Moses Cone Trails (N.C.)
RIV ER
New River (W.Va.) Despite what its name might suggest, the New River is the oldest river in North America and second only to Africa’s Nile River as the oldest river system in the world. Needless to say, a float down (or should we say up, as this is one of the few rivers in the country that flows north) this iconic waterway is like floating through time. Idling along as a mere trickle of a stream at its headwaters in North Carolina, the New’s calm flow picks up gradient and power as it enters West Virginia. The class III-IV New River Gorge is perhaps one of the most recognized sections of the New and is a favorite among whitewater enthusiasts worldwide. For the non-adrenaline junkies though, a float down any stretch of the New is sure to provide unparalleled beauty, exposed cliff lines, and some of the best freshwater fishing in the region. Runners-up: Chattooga River (Clayton, Ga.), Nolichucky River (Erwin, Tenn.)
Climbing Mecca
Seneca Rocks
(W.Va.) Situated in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest, Seneca Rocks juts from the earth in a towering row of fins made of white Tuscarora quartzite. It’s a surreal sight, and for a moment, you might forget you’re in West Virginia. Chossy, multipitch trad routes and old-school ratings that date back to World War II are found here, and the crag’s diversity in climbing grades makes Seneca Rocks one of the most popular climbing destinations in the East. Beginner trad climbers can summit via the easy grade routes like Old Man’s Route (5.2) while moderate climbers can try their hand at any number of 5.9 to 5.10 routes like Cottonmouth—Venom, a
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The New River attracts paddleboarders as well whitewater kayakers.
200-foot, two-pitch route on the west face. Along the way, be on the lookout for soft steel pitons left over from the days of the United States army’s Mountain Training Group (MTG). Seneca Rocks was the sight of the army’s only low altitude assault climbing school back in the 1940s and 50s, and many of the MTG’s mountaineers were responsible for putting up the area’s first ascents. Runners-up: New River Gorge (Fayetteville, W.Va.), Red River Gorge (Slade, Ky.), Linville Gorge (Morganton, N.C.), Looking Glass Rock (Brevard, N.C.)
Campground
Douthat State Park
(Va.)
One trip to Douthat State Park and you’ll have no doubts about why our readers selected this Virginia campground as the best in the Blue Ridge. Tucked away in the George Washington National Forest, Douthat State Park is the perfect mountain getaway for families and core mountain bikers alike. With a 50-acre trout-stocked lake, ample access to stream fishing, and over 43 miles of multipurpose trails that connect to the surrounding national forest’s trail systems, there’s a little something for everyone in the park’s 4,493 acres. The campground itself offers a variety of options, from secluded primitive sites overlooking the lake to pull-throughs with gravel pads and full hook-ups. With access to hot showers, free swimming and boat launches, and the option to upgrade to any number of the park’s spacious log cabins, a weekend spent exploring Douthat is a weekend well spent.
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up Horse Pen and check out the view of the lake. If you’re trying to punish yourself and earn your descents, you can reverse The Gauntlet and push 1000 feet to the top. Either way, this trail is one of the gems of Carvins Cove, which boasts about 40 miles of singletrack just outside of Roanoke, Va. Runners-up: Greens Lick, Bent Creek (Asheville, N.C.), Plantation Trail (Davis, W.Va.)
Urban Park
James River Park (Va.) For the ultimate multisport, urban life adventure, Richmond’s James River Park tromps all. From mountain biking to climbing, fishing, paddling, and even birdwatching, it’s amazing how much outdoor recreation is available right in the heart of the metropolis. Blessed with a Saturday of glorious weather and can’t decide what to do? No worries. The close proximity of trails and take-outs make it easy to squeeze in the best of all worlds in just a day. Start by kayaking the Lower James, a 2.5-mile stretch of class III-IV whitewater that runs right through the heart of town. When you’re finished paddling, ditch the boat and grab a bike. The park’s Buttermilk and North Bank Trails are pretty awesome given that the total elevation change is only about 50 feet. The XTERRA East Championships are held here every year, a testament to the quality of singletrack available in Richmond. Runners-up: Mill Mountain Park (Roanoke, Va.), Freedom Park (Charlotte, N.C.), Rivanna Trail (Charlottesville, Va.)
Runners-up: Hot Springs Campground (Hot Springs, N.C.), Sherando Lake (Lyndhurst, Va.)
Sk i Run
Biking Trail
(Timberline Four Seasons Resort, W.Va.) Skiing in the East is often overshadowed by the stuff out West, but if there’s one place that gets reliable powder from December thru March, it’s the high country of West Virginia. Timberline Four Seasons Resort is located smack dab in the heart of Canaan Valley, an area notorious for its harsh winters. If you can stick through the cold temps and frequent rainfall though, you’ll be rewarded with a long ski season full of knee-deep powder days and an annual snowfall that averages close to 180 inches. At two miles long, Timberline’s Salamander Run brings downhill skiers and riders every year
The Gauntlet (Carvins Cove, Va.) If you’re looking for a fast and furious descent coupled with the occasional rock garden and a few jumps (and a one-foot drop thrown in for good measure), look no further than The Gauntlet in Carvins Cove. The trail itself is 2.5 miles long and if you’re not too busy watching the trail ahead of you, you’ll be able to catch some amazing views of the Carvins Cove lake. With a gradient of -10%, this beast is a long, technical, pure-screaming-hell type of ride. Once you’re at the bottom, you can jet
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Salamander Run
DESTINATIONS OF THE
for three separate skill levels, a handle tow for more park time, four rail jam events per season, and a local freestyle team, the wintertime scene at Wisp is bumpin'. What’s more, the resort staff keeps the terrain park features fresh and new, completely redesigning the park several times a month so you never get bored with the same flow. Runners-up: Appalachian Ski Mountain (N.C.), Seven Springs Mountain Resort (Penn.)
SUP Spot
Fontana Lake
Wisp offers three separate terrain parks and hosts four rail jams each season.
to get a taste of the longest run in the Southeast. Telemark skiing is big in Canaan country too, and some of the most legendary telemark skiers in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast journey every year to Timberline for its glade skiing and annual Telemark Festival. Runners-up: Cupp Run (Snowshoe, W.Va.), Cliffhanger (Wintergreen, Va.)
Terrain Park
Wisp Resort (Md.) From first-timers to terrain park wizards, Wisp has something for everyone. With three separate parks
(N.C.) Tucked away at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains, Fontana Lake offers visitors more than just epic scenery. At 29 miles along, this 11,700acre Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) lake is home to more than 240 miles of largely undeveloped shoreline awaiting exploration—what better way to do that than by stand-up paddleboarding? Even when TVA draws down the lake from September through November, the waters are still entirely navigable. Bring some fishing gear on your paddle too, as Fontana Lake is said to have some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the country. Record sizes of muskie and walleye have been found here, so keep your eyes peeled and your rod at the ready. Runners-up: Lake Chatuge (Ga.), Summersville Lake (W.Va.)
Blue Ridge Park way SPOT
Peaks of Otter (Va.) For nearly 8,000 years, the scenic peacefulness
and solitude that is characteristic of this little mountain paradise has brought travelers from near and far to soak in its natural beauty. Situated amid the Jefferson National Forest, the Peaks of Otter Recreation Area was initially home to a large population of American Indians and eventually became the site for European settlement in the mid-1700s. The visitor center at milepost 86 gives a more comprehensive glimpse into the past, so be sure to start there before you hit the trails. Sharp Top Trail is a must-do if you’re in the area. Though steep and moderately challenging in nature, hikers who conquer this 1.5-mile trail will be rewarded with a 360-degree view of the surrounding Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Allegheny mountain ranges. Runners-up: Craggy Gardens (N.C.), Rocky Knob (Va.), Graveyard Fields (N.C.)
Waterfall
Crabtree Falls (VA.) For ease of accessibility, stunning vistas, and a moderately challenging hike, head to the heart of Nelson County to Crabtree Falls, the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The key to hiking Crabtree Falls is to take your time—from parking lot to upper falls, the trail is only three miles, but it’s all uphill and well-groomed with stone steps, wooden handrails, and informative signs. Choose your adventure and hike all the way to the top or stop at any of the
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weaves throughout Pisgah National Forest. With more than 20 craft breweries, a sprawl of restaurants ranging from fine cuisine to mom-and-pop diners, and live music practically every night of the week, the downtown vibe in Asheville, N.C., can only be described with one word - bumpin’. If you don’t mind a guy or gal who reeks of wet neoprene, sweat, and Patchouli, then Asheville is the place for you. Runners-up: Roanoke (Va.), Lewisburg (W.Va.), Charlottesville (Va.)
Place to R aise an Outdoor Family
Brevard, N.C. Bent Creek is a mountain biking mecca outside of Asheville, N.C.
four lookouts along the way that afford visitors sweeping views of the surrounding Tye River Valley. Located just six miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 27, a trip to this iconic waterfall can easily be capped off with an evening at any number of the area’s craft breweries along VA-151, fondly referred to as the Brew Ridge Trail. Runners-up: The Cascades (Va.), Triple Falls (N.C.)
Wilderness Area
Shining Rock Wilderness Area (N.C.) Shining Rock Wilderness is the crown jewel of Pisgah National Forest, expanding for over 18,000 acres in the mountains of western North Carolina. One of the first wilderness areas in the country, Shining Rock is named for the white quartz outcropping that bedazzles the crest of its mountain namesake. Popular stretches of the Art Loeb Trail run through the heart of Shining Rock, and section 3 of the trail from Black Balsam to Deep Gap in particular affords hikers the best-of experience. During this 6.8-mile hike, you can summit three 5,000+ peaks, see the actual Shining Rock itself, and soak in the views from one of the region’s most picturesque grassy ridgewalks. Runners-up: Dolly Sods (W.Va.), Linville Gorge (N.C.)
Kid - friendly Outdoor Destination
Virginia Creeper Trail (VA.) This rail-trail is perhaps one of the most recognized in the region and with good reason—running for 34 miles from its beginning near Whitetop Station at the Virginia-North Carolina border all the way through the town of Damascus, Va., and on to its ending terminus in Abingdon, Va., this bike trail is well-maintained and mostly downhill. You’ll barely have to peddle! The most popular section is the 17 miles from Whitetop back to Damascus, a ride that a number of the local bike shops arrange shuttles for daily. Though 17 miles sounds like a hefty ride, remember, you have gravity on your side. What’s more, the trail runs alongside Whitetop Laurel Creek and often crosses the creek via a number of historic trestles. Bordered with thick groves
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of rhododendron, this is a cool and shady ride even on the hottest of summer days. With ample opportunities to hop off the bike and take a side trail down to the creek, the kids are sure to love spending all day exploring this corner of southwest Virginia. Runners-up: U.S. Whitewater Center (Charlotte, N.C.), Discovery Center (Wintergreen, Va.)
Pet- friendly Outdoor Destination
Bent Creek Experimental Forest (N.C.) Established in 1925 as a place to conduct research on forest management, Bent Creek covers nearly 6,000 acres within Pisgah National Forest just outside of Asheville, N.C. It’s the locals’ go-to for a post-work ride or run, so expect crowded parking lots if you’re arriving after 5pm. Although it acts much like the Central Park of Asheville, Bent Creek has over 50 miles of singletrack and doubletrack, making it relatively easy to find solitude on your hike, ride, or run. Pets are technically supposed to stay on a leash, but you’ll occasionally come across a wandering pup out on the trail, so be aware, especially if you’re riding downhill. The wide gravel roads that weave in and around Bent Creek are perfect for walkers or joggers and their canine companions who are looking to escape the heavy afternoon traffic and narrow trails. Runners-up: Coyner Springs Park (Waynesboro, Va.), Pandapas Pond (Va.)
Place for Outdoor Singles
Asheville
(N.C.) This mountain city of more than 80,000 people is well known as a hub of adventure and culture, but what exactly is it about Asheville that has outdoorsy singles flocking to its streets? For starters, the Blue Ridge Parkway is just a ten-minute drive away as is a number of municipal parks, greenways, and trail systems like that at Bent Creek Experimental Forest. Another 45 minutes on the road will get you access to Mt. Mitchell, the tallest peak on the East Coast, as well as the class IV-V Green River Narrows, the Rumbling Bald climbing area, and an impressive system of technical singletrack that
Like its big city neighbor to the north, Brevard offers all of the accessibility and diversity in adventure as Asheville but with the safety and comfort of a small town community. With a population just shy of 8,000 people, Brevard has an impressive array of quality restaurants, nightlife, and art. Because Brevard College is located right in the heart of town, the city has a youthful, energetic vibe that keeps the year-round atmosphere bustling even through the cold, wet, dark months of winter. For young, outdoorsy couples looking to start a family, Brevard is conveniently situated at the base of Pisgah National Forest and is just a short drive from other outdoor playgrounds like DuPont State Forest and Gorges State Park. The area is also home to a number of summer adventure camps and alternative education programs like Montessori establishments and outdoor-focused semester programs for high schoolers. Runners-up: Boone (N.C.), Damascus (Va.), Charlottesville (Va.)
outdoor scene
The Ledges
(N.C.) Maybe you’re not the type to hit the bar after work, but you’d still like to entrench yourself in some sense of a social setting. The Ledges section of the French Broad River is just a quick 15-minute drive outside of Asheville and is a regular hangout spot for local paddlers. Bring your kayak, SUP, inner tube, whatever you have. It’s the perfect place to practice attaining and, if the level’s right, a little surfing. Bring a six-pack of local craft brews and before you know it, you’ll be everyone’s best friend. Runners-up: New River Gorge (W.Va.), James River Park (Va.), Bent Creek Hard Times Trailhead (N.C.)
BUSINESSES Outdoor Shop
Walkabout Outfitter
(Lexington, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Richmond, Va.) A former Eagle Scout and longtime outdoorsman, Walkabout Outfitter founder Kirk Miller always dreamed about hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. In 1999, he decided to quit his day job and do just that. Fast-forward six years to 2005 when Kirk and his wife Tina decided to open up the first JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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BUSINESSES OF THE
Walkabout Outfitter in downtown Lexington. Their mission was to provide quality advice and gear for all-things-hiking, and they’ve stayed true to that in the decade they’ve been in operation. Walkabout has since expanded to five locations throughout the Commonwealth and is a well-recognized outfitter among thru-hikers in particular. Runners-up: Diamond Brand Outfitters (new locations in downtown Asheville and South Asheville, N.C.), Rockfish Gap Outfitters (Waynesboro, Va.), Half Moon Outfitters (various locations)
Running store
Ragged Mountain Running Shop (VA.) When long-time accomplished runners Mark and Cynthia Lorenzoni first opened up shop in 1982, they would have never guessed that their business would grow to the extent that it has in over 30 years. Now, Ragged Mountain Running isn’t just the oldest running store in central Virginia, it’s the oldest one in the state. The shop hosts over 15 races a year, offers specialized training programs, and has raised over 4 million dollars for various causes through its events. “We just wanted to get people involved with running, not to sell shoes necessarily,” Mark says. “That’s why we get up in the morning.” Runners-up: Jus' Running (N.C.), Crozet Running
Washington National Forest, set up protective measures for the endangered species of wild red wolves that live in eastern North Carolina, and provided a voice for local citizens outraged by the Duke Energy coal ash spills. Through the “power of the law,” the SELC is breaking down barriers and pushing toward positive progress for our environment—thank you.
(Va.), Fleet Feet (Va.)
Bik e shop
Blue Ridge Cyclery
(VA.) For four years, Blue Ridge Cyclery in Charlottesville, Va., has offered central Virginia cyclists top-notch advice on all-things bikes. Founded in 2010 by elite ultra-endurance mountain biker Shawn Tevendale, the bike shop serves as a one-stop-shop for all cyclists, from road bikers to beach cruisers. “Built upon the idea that we are ‘bicyclists running a bike shop,’ that is truly where we have come from and where we continue to go,” Shawn says. “We would rather teach you what your options are rather than just hand you an item and say it will work for you.”
Runners-up: Appalachian Voices, WNC Alliance, Wild South, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society
Outdoor club
Appalachian Trail Conservancy Originally founded as the Appalachian Trail Committee in 1922, the present-day Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) may operate under a different name but still promotes the same mission and values as the organization did over 90 years ago—preserve the A.T. and maintain a sustainable future for hikers. Headquartered at the trail’s unofficial halfway point in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., the ATC not only helps organize maintenance of the trail but also educates youth about the trail and environmental ethics, works with local communities to help trail town economies, and actively seeks permanent land protection along the A.T. corridor.
Runners-up: Liberty Bikes (N.C.), Rocktown Bicycles (Washington, D.C.), The Hub (N.C.)
Environmental org aniz ation
Southern Environmental Law Center For nearly three decades, the SELC has been the leading advocate for protecting the South’s air, water, and natural playgrounds. This nonprofit is run and supported entirely by volunteers and foundations who donate their time, money, and energy to everything from setting carbon pollution standards to fighting natural gas pipeline proposals. Recently, the SELC has won a number of environmental battles—in 2014, the organization prevented gas drilling and fracking in the George
Runners-up: Asheville on Bikes, Sierra Club, Carolina Canoe Club, Virginia Happy Trails Running Club
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up.
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BUSINESSES OF THE
Outfitter
Adventures on the Gorge
(W.VA.) Mountain biking, climbing, rappelling, horseback riding, caving, whitewater rafting, ziplining, disc golf, hiking. Whatever adventure you’re after, Adventures on the Gorge can supply it. Located just outside of Fayetteville, W.Va., this conveniently located outfitter is the perfect getaway for single vacationers and families alike. With firewood delivery and an onsite swimming hole and bar, you might never want to leave this mountain oasis. Runners-up: NOC (Wesser, N.C.), River and Trail Outfitters (Md.)
Raft guide company
Nantahala Outdoor Center
(n.c.) The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) has been committed to providing a quality adventure experience for all since its opening in 1972. The original outfitter is located in the heart of western North Carolina on the banks of the Nantahala River, but the NOC currently has a multitude of other locations and outposts, from Mountain Rest, S.C., to Erwin, Tenn. With guided rafting trips down seven of the Southeast’s most notable rivers (like the Nolichucky River in Tenn., and the Chattooga River in Ga.), kayak instruction sessions, bike rentals and repair, and course offerings in wilderness medicine and swiftwater rescue, the NOC truly goes above and beyond your ordinary raft guide company. Runners-up: Wildwater (N.C./Tenn./Ga.), ACE (W.Va.)
Climbing guide company
Fox Mountain Guides
(n.c.) Founded in 2003 by British expat Adam Fox, North Carolina-based Fox Mountain Guides (FMG) has maintained the utmost professionalism when it comes to providing a solid, well-rounded climbing experience. From sport climbing in Sandrock, Ala., to ice climbing in the North Carolina Piedmont, these American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) guides do it all. “We take great pride and satisfaction in showing the Southeast’s treasures to all of our guests and students,” says head FMG guide Ron Funderburke. “North Carolina, especially, is one of the great gems in American rock climbing, and we love to show everyone in the country what they’ve been missing.” Runners-up: Pura Vida Adventures (N.C.), Climbmax (N.C.), Adventures on the Gorge (W.Va.)
Climbing gym
River Rock
(Roanoke, Va.) You may have been climbing at an indoor rock wall before, but chances are, you’ve never seen anything like this. With over 4,500 square feet of bouldering routes, an additional 4,000 square feet of roped climbing with more than 30 routes set up for both top-rope and lead, and the knowledgeable staff to help you train, River Rock is a one-stopshop for beginner and veteran climbers alike looking to learn skills and train hard.
Runners-up: Peak Experiences (Richmond, Va.), Rocky Top (Charlottesville, Va.), Climbmax (Asheville, N.C.)
Sk i resort
Snowshoe Mountain
(W. Va.) One trip to Snowshoe and you’ll see where this resort gets its reputation for quality snow and one helluva good time. Home to 251 acres of powder goodness with three separate ski areas, 57 trails, and two runs in particular—Cupp Run and Shay’s Revenge—with 1,500 feet of vertical rowdiness, Snowshoe’s isolated mountaintop resort is a haven for powder hounds. Runners-up: Wintergreen (Va.), Beech Mountain (N.C.), Wisp (Md.)
Yog a studio
Uttara Yoga
(Roanoke, Va.) Hatha, restorative, power, vinyasa, and prenatal and triathlete-specific yoga classes. Wherever your skillset, whatever your need, Roanoake’s Uttara Yoga studio has a class, a teacher, a workshop, built for you. You can even join the experienced staff from Uttara on a yoga retreat to India, where you’ll be immersed in Sadhana for two weeks. Namaste y’all. Runners-up: Hot Yoga Charlottesville (Va.), Asheville Yoga Center (N.C.)
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PEOPLE OF THE
Navitat
(n.c.) Just 20 minutes north of Asheville, Navitat Canopy Adventures offers tree-based zipline adventures that give visitors a unique perspective on the mountains of North Carolina. Glide side-by-side with your friend or family member and take in the 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains together or race each other to the finish to see who’s the fastest zipper. With the longest, highest, and fastest ziplines in the South, you will not be disappointed with your Navitat tour. Runners-up: NOC Mountaintop Zip Line (N.C.), Treetops Canopy Tour (New River Gorge, W.Va.), The Gorge Zip Line (N.C.)
PEOPLE Local / regional FEM A LE athlete
Adriene Levknecht (Greenville, S.C.) Upbeat, strong, and inspirational to all, this talented lady might as well be dubbed the Queen of Whitewater. With six Green Race wins under her belt (a record she shares with only two other paddlers—Tommy Hilleke and Keith Sprinkle), Adriene has been an icon in the paddling community for over a decade. Despite having traveled around the globe in search of the best whitewater, with a backyard run like the Green
River Narrows (which flows over 300 days a year) in addition to reliable rainfall and a number of damcontrolled rivers, it’s no wonder Adriene has chosen the Southeast as home base. “I love kayaking because it gives me a freedom that I have not been able to experience in any other aspects of my life,” Adriene says. “I can go as fast or as a slow as I want, I can go where I want to go, and if I am overstepping my limits the river lets me know!”
Local / regional M A LE athlete
Ben King (Charlottesville, Va.) Ben King is a beast on two wheels. He’s a twotime Junior National Champion, a two-time U23 National Champion, a two-time U23 Pan American Champion, and a USA professional National Champion (2010). Ben is easily one of the most competitive cyclists in the industry, regularly placing in the top 10 at some of the world’s most challenging multiday stage races. His stomping grounds in central Virginia may seem like an odd choice for training, but according to Ben, there’s no where better in the world to ride. “I have trained and raced all over the world and in my opinion the Blue Ridge offers some of the best terrain, road density, and scenery out there,” he says. “Riding and racing make me feel alive. Even when it hurts, you are aware of yourself.”
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Zip line
Inspiring outdoor person
Bob Peoples (Hampton, Tenn.)
Bob Peoples hosts thousands of A.T. hikers at his Tennessee hostel each year.
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A small man with a solid build, big heart, and a thick Boston accent, Bob Peoples is a legend among hikers. He owns the cozy Kincora Hiking Hostel in Hampton, Tenn., and annually hosts hundreds if not thousands of hikers from around the world. Peoples himself is an avid hiker, knocking off treks of both the Camino Portugués and the traditional Camino de Santiago in the last decade. His love for the hiking community inspired him early on to get involved with trail maintenance. He’s the lead trail maintainer for the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club and the brains behind Hard Core, the largest hiker-fueled trail maintenance event in the country. In an interview with BRO last spring, Peoples explained why the hiker community inspires him: “It’s such a good community because basically age, sex, country of origin, language you speak, money in your bank account, means absolutely nothing. The white blazes don’t care. Everybody’s equal out here.”
R aft guide
Linc Stallings
Elaine Arenz lives, works, guides, and trains in west Virginia’s New River Gorge.
(Endless River Adventures, N.C.) This guy’s been around. From the West Virginia classics like the New and Gauley Rivers to the gorges of Colorado, Linc is a man of whitewater. He’s made the river his life, raft guiding for over a decade and deciding in 2012 to create his own SUP guide service near his home in northeastern Georgia. So what is it that draws Linc to any and all forms of water? Well—we’ll have to wait for
him to get back from paddling through the Grand Canyon to answer that one.
Climbing guide
Elaina Arenz (New River Climbing Guides, W.Va.) From her hometown crags at the New River Gorge to the remote walls of El Potrero Chico in Mexico, professional climber and guide Elaina Arenz knows her happy place is on the rock. She’s the founder and head guide of New River Mountain Guides in Fayetteville, W.Va., and she brings her two decades of climbing experience to every trip she leads and every student she instructs. She’s a sponsored climber for La Sportiva and an Access Fund athlete ambassador. Her numerous first ascents in North America have made her an icon among women climbers worldwide. Despite having traveled around the world to climb, she says she enjoys coming back to West Virginia to guide and share her passion with other people. “I am reminded every day what it was like to discover climbing for the first time,” Arenz says. “I see the psych in the people I teach and it makes me thankful I can help others reach their climbing goals.”
Fly fishing instructor
Reba Brinkman (Hunter Banks, Asheville, N.C.)
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PEOPLE OF THE
Reba Brinkman’s love affair with the river is tangible to the students she teaches every year. She’s been flyfishing since 2001 and says when she first felt the flyrod in her hands all those years ago, she never wanted to go back. “Fly fishing allows you to submerse yourself in a moment,” Reba says. “Being a part of the surroundings and actively trying to emulate nature brings total focus and serenity.” Reba helps newcomers to fly-fishing learn everything from how to read a river to knot tying, fly selection, and even trout habits. She says one of her favorite things about her job isn’t just the actual instructional sessions—it’s the things she learns from her students that keep her inspired. “Every student is different and fly fishing allows oneself to develop their own connection and perspective.”
M A LE A .T. thru - hik er
Matt Kirk
(N.C.) Strong, tough, yet humble, one would never guess that Matt Kirk’s slender frame and quiet resolve were the key ingredients for a lean, mean, hiking machine. He’s the record holder for the fastest unsupported thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, a feat he accomplished in the summer of 2013. The trail, which normally takes hikers anywhere from five to six months, took Matt a mere 58 days and 40 minutes. What’s more, he chose to go southbound instead of taking the traditional
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approach and following Spring north. “The softer we walk on this Earth, the closer we are to flying,” Matt says. Matt is a true minimalist and completed his record setting hike with a homemade pack. He says that “travelling fast, light, and free” is primarily what he loves about hiking, and it’s clear that Matt truly has found a freedom in the woods not unlike the liberties of a bird in flight.
FEM A LE A .T. thru - hik er
Jennifer Pharr Davis (N.C.) “I love my relationship with the A.T. because it has really met me at every phase of life,” says threetime thru-hiker and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Jennifer Pharr Davis. “It allowed me to find out who I was as a 21-year-old in 2005, it allowed me to grow closer to my husband in 2008, and it challenged me as an athlete in 2011. Now it’s the best place to take my daughter and I’ll be happy when I’m older just going and sitting on a rock.” At 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes, Jennifer currently holds the record for the fastest supported thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, a feat she accomplished in 2011. She’s hiked all over the world, from summiting Kilimanjaro to thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, but she says the community, biodiversity, and accessibility of the A.T. make it her favorite trail in the world.
Outdoor legend / pioneer
Payson Kennedy (N.C.)
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Jennifer Pharr Davis is the A.T. speed record holder.
Over four decades ago, Payson Kennedy and his wife Aurelia decided to move from their comfortable home and jobs in Atlanta, Georgia, to the outskirts of Bryson City, N.C. Their reason? Adventure. When Horace Holden approached Payson about starting an outdoor recreational business on a piece of property he’d recently purchased (conveniently located on the banks of the Nantahala River), Payson jumped at the opportunity. The year was 1972 and that business was the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). “We took a total of about 1,200 people downriver,” Payson says. “People came off the river so exhilarated and so excited that I knew we’d be able to see this through the long run.”
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PEOPLE OF THE
Payson’s hunch was spot on. The NOC now takes over 100,000 people rafting on seven different rivers in the Southeast. The center offers more than just whitewater adventures too—from ziplines to mountain bikes, the NOC can provide a wraparound adventure vacation for everyone from families to young adults. “I really believe in the concept of ‘flow’ and that’s what I’ve tried to emphasize in our activities here,” Payson says, “to have people have these experiences when they’re completely focused on the moment and perform beyond their normal ability. These are moments that can last a lifetime.”
Coach
Randy Ashley (N.C.) Running is Randy Ashley’s life. From an early age, Randy always knew that he wanted to run. Inspired by and with the help of his high school coach Richard Westbrook, Randy decided to take his passion for running to the next level. Randy would go on to run competitively after high school, eventually landing himself a spot at the Olympic Marathon Trials in 1996 and 2000. He now trains runners of all ages and has helped his prospects achieve such feats as winning the USATF 50K National Trail Championship and qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials. So what’s a competitive racing veteran with over two decades of experience have to say to up-and-coming athletes?
“Believe in yourself. Remember that training is simply the method to stronger racing. And always keep running in perspective. Failure is part of the process of growth. Running provides a freedom that not all have, so lighten up on yourself.”
Bik e shop personality
Paul Hoover (Blue Ridge Cyclery, Va.) What’s it take to be voted the “best bike shop personality” in the Blue Ridge? You guessed it— personality. If there’s one thing aside from Jedibike-fitting skills that Blue Ridge Cyclery’s Paul Hoover has, it’s personality. Friendly, helpful, and ever-so-patient, Hoover will get you hooked up at the shop, whether it takes five minutes or five hours. “You meet some really enriching, creative, and fun folks working in the bike industry,” Hoover says. “No matter where I've been, I truly believe [central Virginia] is the most beautiful, interesting place in the world.”
Bik e mechanic
Matty Smekowich (The Recyclery, N.C.) Canadian-born Matty Smekowich loves bikes. From mountain biking in the early ‘90s to working as a bike messenger for seven years in Vancouver, Matty’s life runs on two wheels. “Working as a bike messenger, I got a lot of bikes stolen, got hit a lot, so I learned how to build
bikes through necessity just so I could go to work the next day,” Matty says. Matty’s worked at a number of community bike shops across North America, so when he moved to the Asheville area 12 years ago, the first thing he did was get involved with The Recyclery, a volunteer-run bike shop that upcycles old bike parts. “People can come to The Recyclery and learn how to maintain their bikes that they already own, they can build bikes from scratch, or some come down to buy bikes that we’ve already refurbished,” he says. “I think it’s great for folks to get the skills to maintain the things they use. It helps them feel a little more confident about life in the process.”
Sports physical therapist
Amira Ranney (Asheville, N.C.) We all know how frustrating it is to be sitting on the sidelines recovering from an injury while your friends rip it up. That’s why it helps to have a physical therapist who knows her stuff. Amira Ranney certainly didn’t get #1 sports physical therapist for nothing. With over three decades of experience in physical therapy, Amira chose Asheville’s outdoor hub to open up her own practice so she could cater to her own love of the mountains as well as help others get back to the woods as soon as possible. “I love working with people to help them keep and improve their mobility and strength and to play a part in keeping them doing what they want to do,” Amira says. “Our tag line is ‘we keep bodies in motion’ and that is what I love doing.”
OF THE
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FOOD & DRINK OF THE
Outdoor hangout
Brews with Views: Blue Mountain Brewery offers scenic Shenandoah vistas and readers' favorite craft beers.
Miguels, Red River Gorge (Slade, Ky.) Trek all the way to the Red River Gorge only to have every one of your climbing buddies bail last minute? Never fear. One night at Miguels should get you squared away with a climbing crew in no time. A small, gourmet pizza shop located right in the heart of the Red, Miguels turns into a cultural melting pot in the fall. Nearly every weekend in October, this one-room pizza parlor becomes overcrowded with climbers from every walk of life, from amateur college kids to the world’s most elite route setters like Daniel Woods and Sasha DiGiulian. But Miguels also does more than act as a pizza shop—with a selection of climbing gear, cheap camping (we’re talking $2 a night), free WiFi, and an endless amount of climbing beta from the pizza shop employees, it’s no wonder this place has an international reputation for being one of the coolest outdoor hangouts ever. Runners-up: The Hub (Brevard, N.C.), Cathedral Café (Fayetteville, W.Va.)
Piz z a
Sirianni’s
FOOD & DRINK
Riverside pub
Brewery
This is not the uppity private country club your rich Uncle Dan used to go to. With 18 beers on tap, a high quality selection of liquor, a cozy indoor setting, and a large backyard adjacent to the French Broad River that has, among other items, a number of corn hole stations, The Bywater is the place to be when the weather’s nice and the livin’s good. Make a day of it by floating the section of the French Broad upstream of the pub in your inner tube, kayak, or SUP and take out right at the Bywater!
Blue Mountain Brewery (Afton, Va.) Supporting local is a hot ticket item these days, but Blue Mountain Brewery was supporting its local central Virginia farmers before supporting local was “in.” From their hand-crafted food to their quality brewed beer, picturesque mountain setting, and on-site hop farm, this place embodies everything that we love about the Blue Ridge. Runners-up: Wicked Weed (Asheville, N.C.), Devils Backbone (Roseland, Va.), Highland Brewing Co. (Asheville, N.C.)
Restaurant
Pies and Pints (W.Va) Who doesn’t love gourmet, handmade pizza and delicious craft beer, especially after a day of rafting on the New River Gorge or Gauley Rivers? Top off a hard day of play with a grape and gorgonzola pie or perhaps 16 inches of mozzarella caprese goodness. With locations in Charleston, Morgantown, and Fayetteville, W.Va., there’s no excuse to not grab a slice. Runners-up: Clementine (Harrisonburg, Va.), Papas and Beer (Asheville, N.C.), Knife and Fork (Spruce Pine, N.C.), Continental Divide (Charlottesville, Va.)
The Bywater (Asheville, N.C.)
Runners-up: Legends Brewing Co. (Richmond, Va.), The Wedge (Asheville, N.C.), River’s End (Wesser, N.C.)
Coffee shop
Mudhouse
(Charlottesville, Va.) Owners Lynelle and John Lawrence love mud— both the kind you drink and the kind that splatters across your bike chain. Adventure seekers who lived in Alaska, the Lawrences settled in the Blue Ridge and opened Charlottesville’s Mudhouse Coffee Shop, which appeals to the mud lover in us all. Grab your eco-friendly coffee thermos, fill ‘er up, and post up shop in the cozy confines of the Mudhouse café. Free WiFi, edgy artwork on the walls, and delicious brews. What more could you want? Runners-up: Shenandoah Joe’s (Charlottesville, Va.), Sweet Donkey (Roanoke, Va.), Land of a Thousand Hills (Roswell, Ga.)
(Davis, W.Va.) There’s no better finish to a day on the slopes than a pie from Sirianni’s Pizza Café. Founded in the late 80s, this authentic Italian restaurant has been serving up unique, handcrafted pizzas for over 20 years. If you can’t decide what to order, popular pies include The Wedge, Triple X, and the Artery Clogger. Get you some, but bring cash. Runners-up: Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie (Charlottesville, Va.), Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company (Asheville, N.C.), Machiavelli’s (Bristol, Tenn.Va.)
Burger
Citizen Burger Bar (Charlottesville, Va.) Life, liberty, and the pursuit of a good burger. That’s what you’ll find at Citizen Burger Bar in downtown Charlottesville. This burger joint boasts a menu designed around locally sourced products and takes pride in serving burgers (and yes, even vegan burgers, too) that do not contain hormones. Build your own or let the chefs do their magic—either way, you’re bound to go home satisfied and slightly stuffed. Runners-up: Farm Burger (Asheville, N.C.), Secret Sandwich Society (Fayetteville, W.Va.), Universal Joint (Asheville, N.C.)
South - of -the- border fare
Hellbenders
(Davis, W.Va.) Work up an appetite before you head to Hellbenders—you’re going to need it. Burritos here are no joke. Stuffed to the brim with tasty ingredients like cilantro lime rice, olive tapenade, and homemade bleu cheese dressing (not all together, unless you want it that way), Hellbender burritos weigh at least as much as their namesake (~3-4lbs). Need a suggestion? Go with the Goofy Foot. Runners-up: Neo Burrito (Asheville, N.C.), JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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FOOD & DRINK OF THE
Mamacitas (Asheville, N.C.), Loco Burro (Gatlinburg, Tenn.), Mono Loco (Charlottesville, Va.)
Barbecue
12 Bones (Asheville, N.C.) Two barbecue spots tied for this year's crown. Combine traditional-style BBQ with contemporary flavors (like blueberry-chipotle), reasonable prices, insanely long lines, but an all-around homey atmosphere and you’ve got yourself 12 Bones. This place is so good, in fact, that Mr. Obama himself eats here every time he’s in town. The White House seal of approval—what more could you ask for?
Green River Barbecue (Saluda, N.C.) This is about as authentic of a southern BBQ experience as you can get. We recommend the Saluda Stuffer, a ½ loaf of homemade Italian bread hollowed out and stuffed with the famous Green River pork BBQ and a side of slaw. Don’t forget to start off with a stack of fried green tomatoes to complete the southern experience. Your arteries can worry about processing that later. Runners-up: Due South (Christiansburg, Va.), Blues Barbecue (Roanoke. Va.), Moonlite BBQ Inn (Owensboro, Ky.)
SUG A R FIX
The Hop (Asheville, N.C.)
Blueberry kale? Açai pomegranate? The guys at The Hop have literally thought of every possible ice cream flavor you can imagine. Since 1978, this ice cream shop has gone above and beyond the call of duty, making everything from standard dairy ice cream to vegan, sugar free, gluten free, local goat milk, and sorbetstyle ice cream variations. Being bad never tasted so good. Runners-up: Klines Dairy Bar (Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Va.), Dolly’s Dairy Bar (Pisgah Forest, N.C.), Pop’s (Roanoke, Va.), Southern Churn (Bristol, Tenn. / Va.)
Blue Ridge brew
Devils Backbone Vienna Lager (Roseland, Va.) In 2012, Devils Backbone won a gold for the Vienna Lager in the World Beer Cup, and it’s since become one of the brewery’s most popular beers. A chestnut colored lager with subtle notes of caramel-malty-toasty-goodness, this lager is as subtly sweet as the mountains that surround its birthplace. Located in the heart of central Virginia in Nelson County, the Devils Backbone Outpost is where all of the magic happens. Take a tour, try a taste, and while you’re at it, buy a growler and break it in with the Vienna Lager. Runners-up: Blue Mountain Full Nelson (Afton, Va.), Parkway Gent Bent IPA (Salem, Va.), Catawba Firewater IPA (Morganton, N.C.), Starr Hill Jomo
JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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EVENTS OF THE
(Crozet, Va.)
EVENTS Road running race
Blue Ridge Relay (Va./N.C.) Team up and crank out this burly 208-mile relay race, one of the longest running relay races in the United States. With your team of 6-12 people, you’ll begin at Grayson Highlands State Park at the base of Mount Rogers, the tallest peak in Virginia. From there you’ll wind along scenic backcountry roads and experience some of the most iconic spots in the region like Grandfather Mountain, the New River, and Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the East, until you arrive at the finish line in Asheville, N.C. Runners-up: Smoky Mountain Relay (N.C.), Hogpen Hill Climb 18K (Helen, Ga.)
Trail Running race
Mount Mitchell 40M Challenge (Black Mountain, N.C.) As if gaining over 4,000 feet of elevation to the East’s highest peak in the first 20 miles of this race wasn’t demanding enough, try doing that in the dead of winter and starting out at the crack of dawn. The Mount Mitchell Challenge isn’t just a challenge—it’s a test of character, endurance, and strength, the ultimate sufferfest for trail runners yet one that, once under your belt, will make any other
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Run with a view: Panoramic Parkway vistas are a big reason why readers picked the Blue Ridge Marathon as their favorite road race.
trail race seem like a walk in the park. Runners-up: Stump Jump 50K (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Mountain Masochist 50 Miler (Lynchburg, Va.)
M arathon
Blue Ridge Marathon (Roanoke, Va.) For a race that was started just four years ago in 2010, this marathon has already gained a nationwide reputation for being “America’s Toughest Road Marathon” and with good reason—
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over the course of 26.2 miles, you’ll tackle 7,430 feet of elevation change. But don’t worry—there are plenty of stunning Blue Ridge vistas along the way to help keep your mind off the screaming pain in your knees. Runners-up: Shamrock Marathon (Virginia Beach, Va.), Baltimore Marathon (Md.), Richmond Marathon (Va.), Charlottesville Marathon (Va.)
Road bik e race
Blood Sweat and Gears (Boone, N.C.)
EVENTS OF THE Jason Wamsley
Paddling event
Gauley Fest (SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va.) Every year, paddlers from across the country come to West Virginia for one weekend in September to celebrate one of the world’s best whitewater rivers—the Gauley River. Monster waves define both the lower class IIIIV and the upper class IV-V sections of the river, ensuring a rowdy good time for the moderate and experienced paddler alike. After a day on the water, head to the festival for live music and ridiculously good deals on gear. All proceeds from the event help support the non-profit American Whitewater, an organization operated by boaters for boaters. Runners-up: Green Race (N.C.), Lord of the Fork (Elkhorn City, Ky.), French Broad River Fest (N.C.), SUP New River Race (W.Va.)
Sean Spellman, of Quiet Life, ushers in Sunday afternoon on Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion's Piedmont Stage.
Experience the heart of North Carolina’s high country on this annual road bike race. Choose the 50-mile route or put the pedal to the metal and tackle the 100-mile century loop. The century ride is not for the faint of heart, and it certainly does the race’s name justice—with a cumulative climbing elevation of roughly 8,800 feet, you’re going to need to dig deep to get over some of these mountains. The climb up to the gap at Snake Mountain is particularly grueling, reaching an 18-20 percent grade near the top. Runners-up: Gran Fondo (Alpine Loop, Va./W. Va.), Assault on Mount Mitchell (S.C./N.C.), Six Gap Century (Ga.), Wintergreen Ascent (Va.)
Mountain bik e event
Pisgah Stage Race (N.C.) For seven years, the Pisgah Stage Race has attracted some of the country’s premier mountain bikers to the hills of western North Carolina for this five-day, fully supported endurance mountain bike event. During those five days, cyclists will get the sampler platter of Pisgah area trails and will cover 140 miles and gain over 20,000 feet of elevation. Riders will have the option to race individually or as a two-person team. Expect to get pushed to your limits here—the trails in Pisgah National Forest are notoriously rooty, rocky, and oftentimes muddy thanks to the temperate rainforest-like rainfall the area receives, especially during the spring (which, conveniently, is when this race takes place). Saddle up and give it all you got. This is an event you won’t want to miss. Runners-up: Iron Mountain 100K (Damascus, Va.), Transylvania Mountain Bike Epic (State College, Penn.), Shenandoah 100 (Stokesville, Va.)
Climbing event
Triple Crown Bouldering Series Originally designed as a three-part event, the Triple Crown Bouldering Series has since added a fourth location to this increasingly popular competition. From Hound Ears in North Carolina, to Stone Fort in Tennessee, Horse Pens 40 in Alabama, and now Rumbling Bald in North Carolina, this multi-stage competition takes place at the best bouldering areas in the Southeast. Spread out over the course of two months between October and early December, this series of events not only helps promote the sport of bouldering, it unites regional climbers and helps raise money for the Southeastern Climbers' Coalition and The Carolina Climbers' Coalition, two of the most important climbing organizations in the region. Runner-up: AAC Craggin Classic (Fayetteville, W.Va.)
Triathlon
Ironman Chattanooga (Tenn.) Two tris tied for the top spot. Once deemed as one of the dirtiest cities in America, Chattanooga has made a turn for the better. With multiple greenways, parks, and the Tennessee River flowing right through the heart of downtown, the “Scenic City” makes a great location for an Ironman course. Start off with a point-to-point 2.4-mile swim through town before biking two 56-mile loops that take competitors on the outskirts of town through some breathtaking Tennessee countryside.
They’ll finish out the Ironman with a marathon course that weaves through downtown, the South Side, Riverview, and the North Shore. It’s the ultimate tour de ‘Nooga.
SavageMan Triathlon
(Md.) Situated in the rugged Allegheny Mountains of western Maryland near Deep Creek Lake, this triathlon has it all—challenge, beauty, and the ability to bring out the savage in us all. Swim 1.2 miles in Deep Creek Lake before hopping on your bike and tackling some of the steepest road bike climbs in the Mid-Atlantic, including the Killer Miller, a 23-mile stretch of road that climbs an average gradient of 13 percent. Cap off the race with a 13.1mile run through Deep Creek State Park and you just might find yourself questioning whether or not you’re savage enough to finish. Runners-up: Off the Rails Tri (Roanoke, Va.), Outdoorsman Triathlon (Bryson City, N.C.), Allegheny Highlands Tri (Clifton Forge, Va.)
A dventure race
Silverback
(Green River Games, N.C.) This event represents the magnum opus of multisport racing in the region, incorporating three classic adventures into one adrenaline-packed day. Start off by firing up eight miles of the Green River, the class V Narrows section included. Next, ditch the boat and pick up a bike. You’ll be navigating eight miles of technical cross-country mountain bike trails in the Green River Game Lands before hopping off the bike and running those same eight miles. Try it solo or team up with a buddy to conquer one of the hardest adventure races in the Southeast. Runners-up: REV3 Shenandoah Epic Adventure Race (Va.), Odyssey Blue Ridge Bear (Va.)
Mud run /obstacle course race
Mad Anthony Mud Run
(Va.) History, obstacles, and mud all converge together in this classic event, located in Virginia’s Coyner Springs Park. From swampy terrain to 6-foot walls, balance beams, tire pits, and hay bale climbs, you never know what hurdle you’ll have to overcome next in this adrenaline-pumping race. Runners-up: Spartan Race (various locations), Mud on the Mountain (Seven Springs, Penn.)
Music Festival
Bristol Rhythm and Roots (BRISTOL, Tenn./Va.) Nashville ain’t got nothin’ on the border town of Bristol, the birthplace of country music. The annual Rhythm and Roots festival draws some of the biggest names in the roots country industry like Emmylou Harris, Willie Watson, and Billy Joe Shaver. Even the dozens of up-and-coming bands that perform on smaller stages are sure to be spectacular and you’d be wise to take notes—some of today’s biggest names got their start right here on State Street. Runners-up: Pink Moon (W.Va.), Floyd Fest (Va.), JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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EVENTS OF THE
The Festy (Va.)
Sports Festival
Trail Days (DAMASCUS, Va.) Situated in the mountains of southwestern Virginia in Damascus, aka Trail Town, U.S.A., Trail Days embodies the spirit and soul of the Appalachian Trail thru-hiking community. Trail legends like Jennifer Pharr Davis, Warren Doyle, and “Skywalker” can usually be found among the crowds, offering advice and words of encouragement to the year’s current thru-hikers. From the annual hiker parade to the hiker talent show, this festival celebrates all-things-hiking. Runners-up: GO Fest (Roanoke, Va.), Bridge Day, (Fayetteville, W.Va.), Mountain Sports Festival (Asheville, N.C.), Dominion Riverrock (Richmond, Va.)
TIMBERLINE RESORT JESS DADDIO
Pirate hikers parade at Trail Days, held in Damascus each May.
Wildest outdoor event
SlopesW.Va.) Gauley Fest (SUMMERSVILLE, ide Hotel Wet t-shirt contests, keg stands, live music, raft guides, and kayakers. Need we say more?
60,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain (that’s the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest twice), over 100 miles of bushwhacking through thorns, a printed set of directions, no official trail, and a 60-hour cutoff, it’s no surprise that only 14 runners have finished this mad dash since the race was started in 1986.
Runners-up: Shenandoah Mountain 100 Bike Race (Va.), Massanutten Hoo-Ha! Bike Race (Va.)
Runners-up: Bonnaroo (Tenn.), Floyd Fest (Va.), Mo’Town Throwdown (W.Va)
Quirkiest event
Toughest race or event
Road Kill Cook Off
Barkley Ultramarathon (Tenn.)
(Marlinton, W.Va.) What can you fry up with a squished squirrel or a flattened opossum? Surprisingly, quite a bit.
If you can figure out how to sign up for this race, don’t be surprised if you fail. With roughly
Head to downtown Marlinton during their Autumn Harvest Festival and see what these mountain chefs can whip up with the meat you might find under your tire.
THINK
Runners-up: Wooly Worm Festival (Banner Elk, N.C.), Zombie Float / Zombie Walk (Asheville, N.C.)
va-ca-tion va·ca·tion Bike of the Irish—Asheville on Bikes (N.C.) (vā-kā’shen) The concept is simple. Wear green, drink beer, ride Costumed event
bikes. Not necessarily in that order…or maybe. Runners-up: Superhero 5K (Roanoke, Va. and Asheville, N.C.), Zombie Run (Lewisburg, W.Va.), •
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There are many ways for kids and parents to enjoy every day in the Roanoke Valley. Climb on antique trains at the Virginia Museum of Transportation or cheer for the home team at a Salem Red Sox ball game. Don’t be surprised if the world-class mountain bike trails bring out dad’s competitive side. The young and the young at heart will love Virginia’s Blue Ridge. OF THE
TAKE FLYING LESSONS Bath County is an enticing place
Find Someing Remarkae
filled with scenic vistas, local flair and exciting adventures just waiting to be discovered.
Congratulations to these BEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE winners: Best Biking Trail
Best Coffee Shop
Carvins Cove (1st)
Sweet Donkey (tied for 3rd)
Best Urban Park
Best BBQ
Mill Mountain (2nd)
Blues BBQ (tied for 3rd)
Best Place for Outdoor Singles to Live
Best Ice Cream
Roanoke (2nd)
Best Running Store Feet Fleet (tied for 3rd)
Best Climbing Gym River Rock (1st)
Best Yoga Studio Uttara Yoga (1st)
Pop’s (tied for 3rd)
Best Marathon Blue Ridge Marathon (1st)
Best Triathlon Off the Rails Tri (2nd)
Sports Festival Go Fest (2nd)
Costumed Event Superhero 5k (3rd)
visitvablueridge.com | 800.635.5535 #BlueRidgeDay
1.800.628.8092 www.DiscoverBath.com
Snowboarding at The Omni Homestead
REGISTER ONLINE TO WIN A BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS GETAWAY
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APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY
FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT
HIGHLAND COUNTY VIRGINIA
Biennial Conference Shenandoah University July 17-24, 2014 HIKING THROUGH HISTORY
Hundreds of Hikes on Area Trails | Excursions to Exciting Locations | Inspirational Presentations Thrilling Outdoor Activities | Informative Workshops Evening Entertainment
WE ARE MORE THAN MAPLE SYRUP FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER: ATC215.COM
TO FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT, PLEASE VISIT: HIGHLANDCOUNTY.ORG
OF THE
An amazing bridge spans the waters. And the waters bridge the generations.
Congratulations to these winners: Best Campground 1st Place: Douthat State Park
Best Triathlon
3rd Place: Alleghany Highlands Triathlon
Humpback Bridge was built in 1857 so horse drawn carriages could cross Dunlap Creek. Today, families flock to the Alleghany Highlands to kayak, fish, jetski and swim in the clear waters of our lakes, rivers and streams. History over the water, good clean fun on it. It’s uniquely Alleghany.
www.visitalleghanyhighlands.com 540-962-2178 · 888-430-5786 Like us on
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Visit Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia, where you can experience the great outdoors, arts and culture, thrilling racing and more. With so much to offer, we guarantee you and the family will have fun in record time. To learn more, call us at (276) 632-8006. VisitMartinsville.com. no gradients
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The curtain rises on another day
in historic Abingdon.
How will you spend iT? share a candlelit
dinner for two. enjoy live music and
fine locAl wine. Rekindle the romance
At A cozy b&b.
888.489.4144 路 visitabingdonvirginia.com
Experiential LEARNING guide Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies Campers hike, swim, and hunt for butterflies, warblers, foxes and salamanders in this secluded 500-acre Appalachian WV wildlife sanctuary. This unique overnight camp combines nature studies with music, arts, games, and laughter. Knowledgeable, dynamic staff develop a lasting community that promotes challenge and growth. HC 83 Box 38DD Capon Bridge, WV 26711 703-842-0470 | bcws2@earthlink.net | burgundycenter.org
Green River Preserve Green River Preserve is a non-competitive, co-ed summer camp connecting children to nature. Located on a 3,400 acre wildlife Preserve in Western North Carolina, Green River Preserve inspires campers to have a greater understanding of themselves, their environment, and their fellow man. 301 Green River Road, Cedar Mountain, NC 28731 828-698-8828 | info@greenriverpreserve.org | greenriverpreserve.org
Camp Cedar Cliff We offer plenty of outdoor adventure for kids of all ages. Whitewater rafting, climbing wall, zip line, swimming, high ropes courses, archery, group games, overnight camping, and more. Kids will grow spiritually and experience life change. Day camp, one, two, and half-week sessions available. PO Box 9036, Asheville, NC 28815 828-450-3331 | camp@campcedarcliff.org | campcedarcliff.org
Living Waters Outdoor School Living Waters Outdoor School welcomes public and private schools for overnight and day field trips. We tailor our program to fit the goals of individual groups, ranging from an environmental science curriculum to team-building exercises and adventure-based programming. We hope to welcome your group on our mountain soon! 84 Camp Luther Rd. Newland, NC 28657 828-733-5868 | kridenhour@lutherock.com | lutherock.com
Camp Hidden Meadows A summer of fun, adventure, and friendship in the breathtaking Allegheny mountains of West Virginia. One, two, three and four-week sessions for boys and girls age 7-16. Horses, rafting, arts, mountain boarding canoeing, farming, mountain biking, rock climbing, fly-fishing, sports, 1,000 foot zipline and more! 17739 Potomac Highland Trail, Bartow, WV 24920 800-600-4752 | info@camphiddenmeadows.com | camphiddenmeadows.com
Next Level Summer Camps Whether you’re at a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level, LMSC has summer camps, lessons, and instructors who can help you improve! Our facility includes three different areas of progression parks and our campus contains all of the necessary camp facilities from lodging to dining. 4000 Candlers Mountain Road Lynchburg, Virginia 24502 434-582-3539 | snowflex@liberty.edu | libertysnowflex.com
Camp Lutherock Perched on 753 acres near the pinnacle of mile high Sugar Mountain near Boone, NC, Lutherock hosts the ELCA’s adventure-based outdoor ministry program in the southeastern U.S. Lutherock offers week-long residential programs for 3rd grade through 12th grade. Lutherock is accredited through the American Camp Association (ACA). 84 Camp Luther Rd. Newland, NC 28657 828-733-5868 | kridenhour@lutherock.com | lutherock.com
North Carolina Outward Bound As a pioneer and leading provider of experiential and outdoor education, NCOBS offers challenging experiences for all ages and walks of life. These expeditions push participants to step outside their comfort zones, develop their strength of character, ability to lead, and desire to serve. 2582 Riceville Road, Ashville, NC 28805 828-299-3366 | ncobs.org
Eagle’s Nest Camp Eagle’s Nest Camp encourages boys and girls to live and grow simply, rooted by intentional experiences and connection to community. We place emphasis on developing the whole child in a compassionate, encouraging environment. Wilderness, arts, music, and athletics activities; one, two, and three week sessions. 43 Hart Road Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 828-877-4349 | info@enf.org | enf.org Friends of Lost River - Kayak the Cave Tour The serene water inside Lost River Cave is perfect for beginners or experienced paddlers who want to brag they have kayaked a cave! Available year-round, this two-hour, guided-tour is perfect for two people or groups up to 10. All equipment is provided. 2818 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 270-393-0077 | chadwick@lostrivercave.com | lostrivercave.com
Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls A fun-filled sleepaway summer camp for girls located in Brevard, NC— Rockbrook provides an inclusive environment where campers explore the beauty of nature, try new activities, enjoy carefree summer living, and make some of their very best friends. Established in 1921. ACA accredited. 3460 Greenville Highway, Brevard, NC 28712 828-884-6151 | office@rockbrookcamp.com | rockbrookcamp.com
Find out more at: blueridgeoutdoors.com
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Join us for the 53rd Season of Summer Camp
at Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies! in Capon Bridge, WV
Senior Camp: 2-week sessions June-August Junior Camp: 1-week session in August Adult Weekend: July 24-26 Active days full of variety. Explore WV ridges and nature with dynamic and knowledgeable staff. Small groups, non-competitive attitude. Accredited by the American Camping Association.
BCWS 3700 Burgundy Rd., Alexandria VA 22303 burgundycenter.org • bcws2@earthlink.net • 703-842-0470
An adventure-based outdoor ministry program near the pinnacle of mile-high Sugar Mountain. Week-long residential programs for 3rd grade - 12th grade youth.
p Hidden Cam dows mea
Camp Lutherock Newland, NC lutherock.com
1 - 4 Weeks Boys & Girls Horseback Riding • White-Water Rafting • Climbing Tower • Sailing Sports • Mountain Boarding • Canoeing • Backpacking • Swimming Ages 7-16 Arts & Crafts • Organic Farm • Mountain Biking • Rock Climbing
1,000 Ft. Zip Line • Performing Arts & more!
1-800-600-4752
camphiddenmeadows.com
Spend your Summer with uS! outdoor adventureS for kidS of all ageS day Camp, one, two and half-week Sessions available campcedarcliff.org (828) 450-3331 aSheville, nC
BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY
WWW.LOSTRIVERCAVE.COM 270.393.0077
OR
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Living Waters Outdoor School Rock Climbing High Ropes Course Creek Walk Caving Challenge Tower White Water Rafting Forest Ecology
Did you know... Learning through challenging experiences is the best way for kids to discover their strength of character, ability to lead and desire to serve. Changing lives through challenge and discovery.
Mountain Ecology
lutherock.com www.ncobs.org | (800) 878-5258
No snow? No problem! REGISTER TODAY!
SNOWBOARD | SKI | SKATE
www.Liberty.edu/Snowflex | (434) 582-3539 /LMSnowflex
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@LMSnowflex
Man Wire Highliner Edward Yates walks the ‘Nooga skyline by STUART PECK or most people, stringing a piece of webbing over a 100-foot-wide canyon and trying to balance while walking across seems like a bad idea; Edward Yates isn’t most people. “People tell me I’m crazy all the time,” he said. Even Yates admits, when he was first introduced to the sport by his college roommate at Appalachian State, 10 years ago, he thought it was an activity for “circus freaks”. His attitude and enthusiasm quickly changed, and when he jumped on a slackline for the first time he was instantly addicted. Yates has a degree in mechanical engineering and a passion for doing what he loves: highlining, rock climbing, and living a life free of constraints, schedules, and deadlines. Talk to the professional highliner and he’ll be the first to tell you he’s loving life, living in a Chattanooga garage not far from where he grew up on Lookout Mountain. He’s traveled the world in search of great lines, including an Asia tour and a European tour. He’s also one of the few highliners who did the famed Rostrum highline in Yosemite National Park during its early days. Now he says the 75’ line, while still a great highline, is not as trendsetting as it once was. “At one time it was a cutting edge line… back when I did it,” he recalls. “It is still one of the tallest.”
Slacklining and highlining were born out of of the 2014 RiverRocks Adventure Sports Games boredom. They became popular rest day activities which take place in the city each year. Before he for rock climbers. Terms like free soloing and first ever climbed onto the roof of the unique structure ascent have been bridged between the two sports, he says he had to walk a different tightrope, trying and some of the better known highliners are to convince management of the facility to let also rock climbers, like Dean Potter and him pull off the stunt. Ammon McNeely. Yates explains “The aquarium is an extremely that highlining is basically the legitimate organization,” Yates same thing as slacklining said. “I went to them and it except you’re a lot farther was a very long process, let from the ground and me tell you. It was really Three tips for staying calm usually crossing a body a couple months of who and carrying on: of water or a natural gap knows how many emails.
MIND CONTROL
like a canyon—or in Yates’ I actually had to create Shut your mind off completely. case, two peaks on a a lot of intense legal building. documents for liability Focus only on breathing. Breathe... “The Tennessee reasons, procedures, a step... breathe... step... breathe... step. Aquarium is the most iconic safety plan to convince Believe you can do it: "The time structure in Chattanooga,” them. This was so off the is always prime." says Yates. “It made people scale of what people do day realize that highlining is safe. I to day there that it was hard for fell a lot on that line but it’s mind them to even consider.” control over muscle. It is probably the most Eventually after a lot of coercion, extreme event that has happened in Chattanooga.” Yates found himself climbing the glass mountains In October Yates walked a 200-foot-long highline and rigging two lines that he’d cross. It involved between two of the glass peaks of the Tennessee removing several panels of glass and setting up Aquarium in downtown Chattanooga. It was part one of the most complicated rigs he’s ever built for JANUARY 2015 • BlueRidgeOutdoors.com
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a line. After performing the “first walk” as he calls his first ascents, it propelled him into the spotlight as a highliner, and he hopes it leads to other similar events at locations around the region. So what does Yates do when he’s not walking across thin pieces of webbing? He spends a lot of time working to get his slacklining business, CobraPrime Slacklining, off the ground. He also moonlights as a tree climber and trimmer, welder, and artist. Yates is also big into personal sayings and is working to create a line of t-shirts with his quotations. Some of his favorites: Love the whipper, (don’t be afraid to fail); the time is always prime (the best opportunity to try something is the present); and master the mechanism (Yates calls the human body the best mechanism in the known universe). Yates is taking some of that motivation to Chattanooga’s parks department where he’s been in talks about creating a slacklining park in the city. At this point, he says the concept isn’t being accepted by the city and now he’s turning to a petition on the website change.org and Facebook to try and gain support for the idea. “I feel like it should be mainstream,” Yates exclaims. “The beauty of slacklining is that you can do it anywhere. This sport has so much potential to grow, it just takes getting people’s minds open to the idea.” Just like Yates didn’t give up when he first stepped onto a line strung across his front yard in college, he says he’ll continue to push toward bringing this mostly underground sport to the Option 1 MECHANICAL forefront of people’s minds. No time is more prime CP2764_Coldpruf then right now… or something like that. •
4C Garage Branding
What to Wear 11.11.14 2 Skiers Pantone 450U
•
Pants
•
Long sleeve shirt or shirtless
• Longer lines: shoes with flat bottoms (skateboarding shoes); Shorter lines: barefoot Pantone 4625U
4-Color Background
Pantone 453U
• Harness with slings and locking carabiners (called a leash)
Pantone 462U
•
Extra quickdraw
What to Carry ICE STORM. polar vortex. BLIZZARD. we have one word: Yes
We make thermal underwear that brings cold weather to its knees. For fit and warmth. For men, women and children. We own cold.
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Nothing. Yates says he's lost his passport and wallet while walking lines before. (Makes sense... right?)
GEAR
THE GOODS
Deep Winter Gear
NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE FUELING OUR WINTER COMFORT AND BUMPING UP THE FUN METER AT THE SAME TIME. HERE'S THE LATEST AND GREATEST FOR 2015. by AARON H. BIBLE 9
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1. Outdoor Tech Chips
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Riding with tunes can make the day so much more enjoyable, especially if you are solo. High-tech, high-quality Bluetooth speakers have come a very long way to make that experience even better. The new CHIPS from speaker and portable power leader Outdoor Tech slip into a helmet with an audio liner and sync to your smartphone. They are introducing a wired version this year as well. $129.95; outdoortechnology.com
5. RIDE Alter Ego Snowboard
2. Tasc Baselayers
6. Marmot Sidecountry 22
Merino blends are all the rage in baselayers, and for good reason. Up-and-comer Tasc Performance has added the additional element of bamboo to its baselayer blends, giving them a natural viscosity and durability unique to the market, while still tapping into the anti-bacterial, breathable properties of wool. The boxer briefs are a man’s best friend. $24; tascperformance.com
Marmot has introduced a lower profile backcountrystyle pack this year that is perfect for riding chairs yet, at 22 liters, will hold everything a Blue Ridge skier may need for an off-piste adventure. From goggle pocket and internal hydration sleeve to innovative ski and board carry on the outside, this little number should be on your winter wishlist. $129; marmot.com
3. Patagonia NanoAir Hoody
7. ICEdot Crash Sensor
With the humidity and temperature swings of our Blue Ridge Mountains, Patagonia’s new gamechanging NanoAir technology is a match made in heaven for warmth and breathability. The idea is “put it on, leave it on,” with both the stretchy, soft comfort and the climate range of the jacket, featuring Patagonia’s new FullRange insulated fleece and NanoPuff quilting. $299; patagonia.com
Groms riding the terrain park or homemade jump features deep in the woods should consider adding an ICEdot crash sensor to their brain bucket. Linked to your smartphone, major head impacts are sent via text message to the emergency contact of your choice. $119; icedot.org
8. Outdoor Research Stormtracker Heated Glove
You don’t want to look like a gaper with a toy radio. The new pro-level BC Link radio features shouldermounted Smart Mic interface with push-to-talk just like the ski patrollers use and is compatible with all standard Talkabout radios. Range is 2.5 miles line-of-sight with 140 hours of battery life. $149.95; backcountryaccess.com
4. Madshus Empower
Outdoor Research has pioneered what seems to be the best technology yet in heated gloves – 60-percent more powerful with twice the heated surface area than anything else on the market. The Stormtracker is lightweight and dexterous, featuring the company’s ALTIHeat technology coupled with Gore Windstopper, a layer of TPU padding, synthetic insulation, and a supple leather palm. $235; outdoorresearch.com
For a versatile mid-layer, invest in the warm-whenwet MerinoLOFT from Icebreaker. At least 10 percent of each jacket’s loft is made from reclaimed factory scraps. A durable, recycled, water-resistant polyester shell fends off light precip and the woven merino inner lining is supple to the touch. $249.99; icebreaker.com (not pictured) •
Just when you thought your Nordic skis couldn’t get any more techy, you can now perfectly match your skier type and stats to your ski via NFC chip. Nine skate and classic models in the Redline and Nanosonic lines will have the embedded Empower chips this year that can be scanned via smartphone to capture vital skier data and begin the high-tech match up. $475-760; madshus.com
The Ride Snowboards Alter Ego new for this season may solve the one-board quiver problem. It features a freestyle-backcountry shape for maneuverability and a unique “split-tail” design. When clipped together, it rides super stable for jumps and crud; when unclipped, it gives a soft, surfy ride for powder and cream corn snow. $550; ridesnowboards.com
9. DryGuy GreenHEAT Hand Warmers
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Cold hands can ruin a good winter day outdoors whether you’re on the water, trail, or slopes, and have been the source of many fights among couples. Disposable hand warmers are chemical and wasteful. DryGuy has not only solved that problem with the five-hour rechargeable hand warmer, but this little lithium-ion pack can also charge your portable electronic devices while you are out having fun. $40; dryguy.com
10. Helly Hansen Supreme Jacket If you’re still cold, you probably need one of the most technically advanced resort-skiing jackets on the market. The Supreme Jacket features DWR treated four-way stretch fabrics, PrimaLoft Gold down-blend insulation, the new H2Flow mechanical venting system, and zip-out powder skirt and detachable hood—all in a fully insulated, stylish and pocketed winter ski coat. $900; hellyhansen.com
11. Backcountry Access BC Link
Icebreaker Helix Long Sleeve Zip
Blue Ridge Outdoors • RICHMOND VA EDITION
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20 YEARS OF BRO
THEN + NOW
Built With Love
Two iconic outfitters look back on twenty years by JESS DADDIO ast year, two of the Southeast’s outfitters landed among Outdoor USA’s top 100 outdoor retailers in the country: Mountain Crossings in Georgia and Water Stone Outdoors in West Virginia. Amid a world of big box stores and internet behemoths, these two outfitters have managed to keep their doors open for over 20 years. How have these shops evolved over the past two decades?
Mountain Crossings est. 1983 Blairsville, Ga.
The original founders of Mountain Crossings— Dorothy and Jeff Hansen—were no strangers to adventure by the time they arrived in Georgia. Dorothy had thru-hiked in 1979 and Jeff worked within the outdoor education field and had studied under such legendary figures as Paul Petzoldt. He came to Georgia as a requirement for completing his degree in outdoor recreation, but once he got a taste of North Georgia and met his future wife Dorothy, Jeff never left. “That place and that area meant so much to us,” Jeff says. “Our life together was in the outdoors there.” Their love for the area was tangible, as real as the love they shared for each other, but they didn’t fully realize what that meant to them until they were sitting on the terrace of the building at Neels Gap that would later become their shop. The year was 1982, and the place could only be described as, at best, decrepit. “The state of Georgia’s original intention was to bulldoze the place,” Jeff says. “It was out in the middle of nowhere, so it kinda fell through the cracks.” Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s, the original building still remained—but just barely. There were loose tiles, a leaky roof, pipes that were literally tied together, and no running water. But the Hansens didn’t mind. They saw potential, and not just for a business, but for building a home away from home. After assuming ownership of the building in the fall of 1983, the Hansens moved to the gap to live there full time and open up shop. Through brutal weather, a collapsing infrastructure, and the practically unheard-of challenge in raising two children without the convenience of running water, the Hansens persevered. Isolated 30 minutes on either side of the mountain from the nearest town meant growth for the outfitter was slow. Through the tried and true method of providing quality customer service, particularly when it came to decreasing pack weights of thru-hikers, the little outfitter on the mountain gained a reputation that trickled out around the world.
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“I think that maybe the greatest unexpected surprise was how well [the outfitter] was accepted by everybody and the wonderful, extended community that happened in this place that was really not close to anything,” Jeff says. Though the Hansens no longer run the outfitter, they feel that Mountain Crossings is in good hands. Georganna and Logan Seamon of the thru-hiking class of ’09 recently became the new outfitter owners. According to the couple, the future for Mountain Crossings lies in the revival of its roots. “So many people have memories of this place and this building means so much to so many people,” Georganna says. “That’s one thing we’re really working to maintain and preserve.”
Water Stone Outdoors est. 1994 Fayetteville, W.Va.
Though the New River Gorge is now perhaps one of the most iconic climbing destinations in the country, it wasn’t always that way. In fact, when Gene and Maura Kistler first moved to Fayetteville in the spring of 1991, you could count the number of regular climbers on one hand. The Kistlers both had been climbing in the New River Gorge since the early ‘80s and were part of a small, second wave of climbers who journeyed weekly to the then-undeveloped sandstone cliffs. Gene was a carpenter by trade, Maura a teacher. They teamed up with another climber friend, Kenny Parker, to create a climbing shop. Interestingly, Water Stone Outdoors began not as Water Stone, but as Blue Ridge Outdoors (sound familiar?), a Roanoke-based outdoor outfitter with a sister store in Blacksburg, Va. The Kistlers and Parker all found themselves working for the outfitter at some point, but by 1993, Gene was ready to buy
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the business and open up a third store in his new hometown of Fayetteville. For nearly a decade, Gene and Kenny slowly built the credibility of the Fayetteville store while chipping away at the building’s much-needed renovations. Finally, in 2001, Gene sold the two Virginia businesses to focus his efforts solely on his pride and joy, which, he decided, was in need of a new name. “We asked for suggestions and got over 400 of them, but they were all kinda ridiculous,” Gene remembers. “As I was driving to Charleston to incorporate the damn thing, I just said screw it, we’re gonna call it Water Stone, which works. I guess we could get into kayaks if we wanted to.” But they didn’t. They stuck to their climbing roots. Kenny and the Kistlers did more than simply run a business, too. They walked the talk. They organized volunteer-run events like the New River Rendezvous and the Craggin’ Classic. They developed routes, built trails, advocated for access. They got involved with the local planning committee, created environmental committees of their own, and stood on their soapbox when something threatened the place they love. They created the New River Alliance of Climbers and established a working relationship with the National Park Service. They hosted climbers from every walk of life in their own homes, hosted potlucks, slideshows, crag cleanups. They were, and are, the face of climbing in the New River Gorge, and now, 20 years later, Water Stone Outdoors is one of the most internationally recognized core climbing outfitters in the country. “We definitely see our job as more involved than simply selling gear,” Maura adds. “We see it as our job to help climbers connect and to be a welcome wagon for the community. We’re really proud of the vibe here.” •
Winter Escape Starting at
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tel. 866-620-5752
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OF THE