Blue Ridge Outdoors January 2016

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Thanks for voting us to the Top 3 in a record 18 different categories in the “Best of the Blue Ridge.” Come discover the people, places and experiences that make Transylvania County, NC such an incredible outdoor adventure destination. Free travel planner and waterfall map at visitwaterfalls.com or call (800) 648-4523.

Rainbow Falls

BEST SWIMMING HOLE Sliding Rock

BEST PLACE TO PLAY HOOKY FROM WORK Pisgah National Forest

BEST FLY FISHING OUTFITTER Headwaters Outfitters

BEST CLIMBING DESTINATION Looking Glass Rock

BEST FLY FISHING GUIDE Kevin Howell - Davidson River Outfitters

BEST CLIMBING GUIDE COMPANY Pura Vida AND Fox Mountain Guides

BEST BIKING TRAILS DuPont State Recreational Forest

BEST CLIMBING GUIDE Joe Moersbacher - Pura Vida Adventures

BEST OUTFITTER Pura Vida AND Davidson River Outfitters

BEST FLY FISHING RIVER Davidson River

BEST POST-ADVENTURE HANGOUT The Hub

BEST BICYCLE SHOP Sycamore Cycles

BEST KID-FRIENDLY OUTDOOR DESTINATION Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education

BEST CLIMBING GYM Brevard Rock Gym

BEST PLACE TO RAISE AN OUTDOOR FAMILY Brevard

BEST BREWERY IN THE BLUE RIDGE Oskar Blues

BEST COSTUMED EVENT Flight of the Vampire 10K/5K AND Halloweenfest BEST BIKE RACE PMBAR - Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race AND Assault on the the Carolinas

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January 2016 CONTENTS

14 GREAT DANE

22-year-old Dane Jackson had a big year. What's on the horizon line in 2016?

DEPARTMENTS

15 BEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE

7 QUICK HITS

Our eighth annual readers’ choice awards highlight your favorite outdoor destinations, organizations, businesses, people, and events.

Richmond plans to build 360-mile trail network • Thief steals same bike twice • Push-up world record • Deer trips runner at cross-country race

39 SEEING IN THE DARK

8 THE DIRT

Four dark-sky parks in Appalachia offer some of the starriest skies in the South.

Coal baron convicted • Cancer survivors conquer whitewater

46 TRAIL MIX

42 IGNITE THE NIGHT

Shovels & Rope's surprise cover album C OVER P HOTO BY JUSTIN COSTNER HI KEM O R E A DV E N T U R E S.COM

FEATURES

/

Explore new adventures after dark by moonlight (or headlamp). Night rides, runs, and paddling trips transform the outdoor experience.

J A N U A R Y 2 01 6 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

5

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TJ KEARNS Travel more by bike.

BETTINA FREESE Treat ‘someday’ as ‘right now.’ Instead of training for future trips and events, I want to focus on self-maintenance and saying YES to fun in the now.

WILL HARLAN See all of the constellations in the night sky visible from our latitude.

EVANS PRATER Practice what I preach.

BRAD STULBERG Eat real food, mostly plants, not too much. Run a lot. Write even more.

ROBERT MCGEE To keep up with my resolutions till Groundhog Day.

JOHN JETER Lose at least 10 pounds and be able to increase my average speed on my bike to at least 15 mph.

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GORDON WADSWORTH To share it more. Share life with family, friends, the guys at the trailhead, whomever. Life, like so many things, is more fun when shared!

JENNIFER PHARR DAVIS Explore more long distance trails in the Southeast, including the Benton MacKaye Trail in 2016.

CHRIS GRAGTMANS Work as hard as I can, but also allow myself to unplug and be happy with my best.

JESS DADDIO Paddle Green Light. It’s time.

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QUICK HITS

01.16

BEYOND THE BLUE RIDGE

SHORTS

BLUE RIDGE BRIEFS

D EER TR IPS R UNNER AT C ROS S C OUNTRY R AC E

by JEDD FERRIS

HOUGHTON, N.Y. Kayla Casaletto was cruising along the National Christian College Athletic Association’s cross-country championship course in Houghton, New York, when suddenly she heard something rustling in the woods. Without time to react she was then tripped by a young deer that ran into her legs and knocked Casaletto to the ground. “The trees and bushes started shaking,” Casaletto, who was racing for Cedarville University, told the Dayton Daily News.

“There were these loud crunching noises. We were thinking, what is that? Then this deer just blazes out of the forest and I had no time to think.”

Fortunately the fawn was small, and Casaletto, while surprised, was quickly able to get up and keep running. She finished her 5K in 18:41, and both the Cedarville men’s and women’s teams won championship titles.

B O LD B I KE T R A I L P L A N PASSE S IN VI RG I N I A

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA. After hosting the UCI Road World Championships in September, the city of Richmond is certainly solidifying its bike-friendly reputation. Now a surrounding county is following suit by green lighting a bold 50-year plan to build a 360-mile network of bike trails.

In late November, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors narrowly voted to enact the plan that will carry an estimated $360 million price tag.

The plan passed by a 3-2 vote after a six-hour public hearing that included spirited debate between cycling and alternative transportation advocates and those weary of the high cost to taxpayers.

M ARY LAN D C A MP E RS F I NE D F OR KI LLI N G A N D G R I L L I N G A SNAKE

CUMBERLAND, MD. Four friends camping in the Green Ridge State Forest thought they scored some free dinner when they killed a timber rattlesnake with a BB gun and proceeded to grill it. It turns out, though, that the meal cost them each $200, after the guys were fined for destroying a state-protected species. After pleading guilty, the four snake eaters, Austin Golas and Travis Luedtke, both 18, and Paul Lafon and Erick Reffitt, both 19, received probation and fines of $200 each. An AP report said a fifth defendant had a trial scheduled in December, after press time.

T HI EF ST E A L S S A M E B I K E TWICE

ALTOONA, PA. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.

That was Brandon Graham’s attitude when it came to stealing a fellow student’s mountain bike at Penn State-Altoona. In the fall, Graham was charged with stealing the bike, valued at $465, twice in less than a

month. Graham first took the bike while parked unlocked on campus on September 14, but the owner retrieved it the next day. He then grabbed it again on October 6 and tried a spraypaint disguise. After a friend of the owner saw Graham riding the bike, police questioned him and he admitted to stealing the painted rig.

FAL L F ORE ST FIRES BURN IN WEST VIRGINIA

CHARLESTON, W.VA. Rampant forest fires in the wild lands of the West have become common headlines in recent years, but last fall the blazes came closer to home in the West Virginia counties of Kanawha, Boone, and Raleigh. In the first half of November a combination of high winds, warm temperatures, and

illustration by WADE MICKLEY

layers of fallen dry leaves caused 202 wildfires that burned a total of 7,631 acres, according to the West Virginia Division of Forestry.

BEA R CUB RES C UED A FTER GETTING H EA D STUCK IN C A N

FREDERICK COUNTY, MD. In late fall a black bear cub was rescued after pulling a Winnie the Pooh and getting its head stuck in a metal milk can. Spotted at Cunningham Falls State Park and documented with a viral Twitter photo, the struggling cub, which weighed an estimated 200 pounds, was quickly assisted by Maryland wildlife officials. After being tranquilized and freed, the bear soon after was able to wander back into the forest.

TH AT’S A LOT OF PUS H UPS

MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Pretty pumped on your pushup workout? Meet the man who will put you to shame. Last year Carton Williams set a Guinness World Record by doing 2,220 pushups in 60 minutes.

Amazingly, the record he beat by doing 37 pushups every minute for an hour was his own. The previous year, 50-year-old Williams knocked out 1,874 pushups in an hour.

J A N U A R Y 2 01 6 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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THE DIRT

01. 16

KING COAL DETHRONED

MINING BARON DON BLANKENSHIP CONVICTED

by MASON ADAMS

I

n early December, a West Virginia jury found Don Blankenship guilty of a misdemeanor count of willfully conspiring to violate federal mining safety rules.

Perhaps you’ve heard of Blankenship—he’s Appalachian coal’s apex predator, who was dubbed the “Dark Lord of Coal Country” by Rolling Stone and who inspired a John Grisham novel about a man who buys a state supreme court election to get the verdict he wants.

During his stint as CEO of Massey Energy, two men died in Aracoma Alma Mine No. 1 of carbon monoxide poisoning after a conveyer belt caught fire, and later 29 men died at Upper Big Branch when sparks from a longwall cutter ignited a massive explosion. In his trial, on charges indirectly related to the Upper Big Branch disaster, Blankenship faced three felony counts worth a potential 30 years. His misdemeanor conviction may result in a maximum year of prison time.

So why are environmentalists, labor advocates and others with a grudge against the coal baron

celebrating the verdict?

It’s because Blankenship has slipped off the hook so many times since the early ’80s that people are desperate for any kind of win. Patton Oswalt once compared George W. Bush and Dick Cheney to the Dukes of Hazzard—always managing to elude the consequences no matter what kind of pickle they found themselves in—and Blankenship has had much the same sort of run.

He grew up helping his single mother run a convenience store and gas station in southern West Virginia.

Blankenship majored in accounting at

“Just a wink. A wink and a nod.”

—Don Blankenship, outside the courthouse after his conviction

Marshall University, then after a stint with the Keebler cookie company, he went to work for a Massey subsidiary 8

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / J A N U A R Y 2 01 6

in the middle of a labor fight with the United Mine Workers of America.

The conflict turned violent— Blankenship kept a television riddled with bullet holes from his office as a souvenir—but ultimately Massey won out, breaking the UMWA in a victory that continues to resonate today.

The battle radicalized Blankenship as a rabid capitalist.

In the documentary “Mine War on Blackberry Creek,” he laid out his philosophy: "It's like a jungle, where a jungle is survival of the fittest. Unions, communities, people —everybody's gonna have to learn to accept that in the United States you have a capitalist society, and that capitalism, from a business standpoint, is survival of the most productive."

Blankenship’s subsequent rise in Massey paralleled the company’s rise to the top of the heap in Appalachian coal, accompanied by an increase in destructive mountaintop removal mining, a jump in safety violations and shortcuts to get around regulations that had sickening

‘DARK LORD OF COAL’: FORMER MASSEY ENERGY CEO DON BLANKENSHIP WAS CONVICTED IN LATE DECEMBER OF CONSPIRING TO VIOLATE MINE SAFETY RULES AFTER A WEST VIRGINIA MINING EXPLOSION KILLED 29 PEOPLE.

consequences—quite literally, in the case of a Massey mine that injected toxic waste into abandoned coal shafts, poisoning the groundwater of nearby communities, including Blankenship’s own neighborhood.

He ran a private water line run to his house from nearby Matewan but didn’t offer the service to others.

When a jury found Massey owed a bankrupt operator $50 million for unfairly putting him out of business, Blankenship kicked in $3 million toward the election of a sympathetic state supreme court candidate, who then helped overturn the decision.

When environmentalists protested coal’s effects on climate change and the damaging impact of mountaintop removal mining, he held a massive Labor Day rally with Ted Nugent and Hank Williams Jr.; Blankenshp himself donned an American flag outfit and railed against the

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BLANKENSHIP AND MASSEY ENERGY PIONEERED THE USE OF MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING IN APPALACHIA.

“greeniacs” who wanted to put miners on the unemployment line.

There was another reason Blankenship’s haters celebrated the verdict, too. This was the first time a jury had convicted the chief executive of a major corporation of a workplacesafety-related charge after a fatal disaster.

So, why didn’t the other charges stick? What happened?

The prosecution’s challenges in charging Blankenship reflect those inherent in going after a high-level executive who rarely visited the site in which the crimes/infractions took place/happened/occurred. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia went after Blankenship using conspiracy—an elastic charge that prosecutors have stretched to cover a huge range of crimes.

Blankenship was charged with conspiring to violate mine safety laws 10

and defraud the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in the years leading up to the UBB explosion, as well as lying after the disaster to Massey stockholders and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to prop up the company’s stock price, which was directly attached to his compensation as CEO ($17.8 million in 2009, the year before the explosion).

Technically, Blankenship wasn’t directly charged for the explosion— the judge ordered it not be discussed by either side—but the case dealt with conditions in Upper Big Branch in the years before the disaster, as well as statements released afterward.

Tellingly, most of the potential prison time was attached not to mine safety, but to manipulating Massey’s stock price. Think Martha Stewart and Enron CEO Kenneth Lay. To link Blankenship to working conditions within Massey’s mines, prosecutors relied on millions of pages of documents and hundreds of hours of recordings that were made

by Blankenship himself. Jurors heard

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / J A N U A R Y 2 01 6

him scold a subordinate for holding the phone incorrectly, complain to his girlfriend that stock options don’t buy groceries, and freak out over an internal memo about bad safety practices.

Blankenship’s defense attorney, Bill Taylor, responded with hundreds of documents of his own, much of it introduced during the marathon, five-day cross-examination of Chris Blanchard, former president of the subsidiary company that managed Upper Big Branch for Massey.

For the prosecution, Blanchard was integral in linking the micromanaging Blankenship to safety violations in the mine—which included calling ahead to warn miners when MSHA inspectors showed up, hanging dust monitors in spots so they’d give clean readings, massive accumulations of coal dust, and a wonky unreliable ventilation system. But Blanchard clearly was torn between lingering loyalty to his old boss and an immunity deal that protected him from criminal charges in exchange for his testimony. During

cross-examination, Blanchard went wobbly and helped the defense build its case.

After nearly six weeks of testimony from 27 witnesses, mostly former Massey miners, managers and executives, the prosecution rested its case. The defense didn’t even both to put on its own witnesses, having introduced much of its evidence during cross-examination. The unusual move also saved Blankenship from the possibility of having to take the stand.

A jury of eight women and four men deliberated for more than 40 hours, at least twice sending notes to the judge to indicate they were deadlocked. Finally they emerged with a guilty verdict on only one of the three charges, and only on a misdemeanor level at that. The “not guilty” verdicts on two counts related to lying to investors and regulators perhaps reflect the relatively little time the prosecution spent probing that part of its case. Or, it’s possible that the jurors have come, like much of America, to accept that a business lying about its commitment to safety after a disaster may reflect a corporate culture of spin more than a criminal act.

Blankenship will be sentenced in April. His lawyers have promised an appeal, and they definitely applied wedges and objections at every step of the trial in the attempt to create grounds for a reversal.

Still, his conviction—even on a misdemeanor—marks the first time that a coal CEO has been held accountable for what happened in his company’s mines. Other executives may write this case off as a fluke given Blankenship’s micro-managerial tendencies and outsized political profile, but the precedent has now been set.

Blankenship only made one statement about his conviction. Asked for comment outside the courthouse, he winked. "Just a wink. A wink and a nod," he said. Then he laughed.

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THE DIRT

01. 16

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

CANCER SURVIVORS TACKLE WHITEWATER—AND THEIR FEARS

by CHRIS GRAGTMANS

T

his year, 590,000 Americans will die from cancer, and another 1.6 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed. Even scarier is that these numbers are going nowhere but up.

When I was 11 years old, my Uncle Derek was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and was given seven months to live. He gave me a life-altering final gift: two unforgettable weekends whitewater kayaking on the Ottawa River in Canada. On the river, he was a strong, confident superhero, doing things I never thought possible. But at the end of the day and away from my sight, he was receiving blood transfusions to have the strength to paddle.

Later, I also had my own scare with the disease when a tumor was found in my brain. It turned out to be benign.

But cancer’s shadow ultimately led me to learn more about First Descents, which gives young cancer survivors healing and confidence through outdoor sport. First Descents promotes the holistic idea that community, good food, and rewarding experiences can help combat the disease just as drugs and surgery do.

A few months ago, I volunteered as a camp photographer for a weeklong First Descents program. As the participants arrived, the staff encouraged each one to come up with a nickname. For so long, these young adults have been defined by cancer. They are in the prime of their lives, and cancer throws everything into chaos. Instead of developing

careers, meeting life partners, and buying homes, they suffocate under a mountain of medical debt and are unsure if the treatments will save them. Life-altering procedures that permanently change their bodies occur. But this week isn’t part of that life, and they aren’t the same people here. It’s time to simply live—without medical bills, pain, or pity. It’s a rebirth into a new world alongside people who understand. And we don’t know each other’s real names.

Our crew consisted of Mr. Myagi, Grasshopper, Calypso, JMo, Magic, MIA. After a bit of discussion, we landed on “Flow” for me. (I am always seeking flow on the river, and definitely love to hit the dance flo’!)

The next day, our participants got their first upside down experience in a kayak. They were guided one by one onto the water and calmly instructed on how to escape from their kayaks when upside down. Each grappled with claustrophobia and the very normal human fear of drowning.

Magic provided the day’s highlight: in spite of clear visual terror, he steeled up, flipped over, and kicked his way out of the boat. As soon as he broke the surface, his response was equal parts shock and celebration. Battling cancer since the age of 12, Magic had just overcome a huge milestone, the first of many throughout the week.

That night, one of the others summed up the sentiment of everyone there: “I’ve been afraid for a long,

long time. I’m afraid of cancer, afraid of the treatment, afraid for my children’s future. I’ve been afraid so much in my life. I’m done being afraid. I’m ready to hit these rapids.”

The next day, as we piled out of the vans beside the river, Instructor Patch led the group in one of the greatest First Descent traditions: the dance party warm up. Top 40 Pop blasted from the speakers, and we all took turns showcasing our moves.

On the river, everyone stepped up their game. After some practice eddy turns, the groups yipped and hollered through their first whitewater rapids.

Each participant had a different style: some liked to charge through the waves full speed with a look of determination in their eyes, and others preferred the more relaxing approach, floating sideways and “rafting up” by grabbing instructor boats. But everyone was allowing the beauty and power of the river to cleanse their spirits and their bodies.

Our ride home was quiet as the afterglow of sunshine, laughter, and sore muscles settled in.

The motto of First Descents is “Out Living It,” and that is exactly what these participants did. On the last paddling day, we pulled over on a rock beach just below a large rapid.

Patch asked everyone to find one

CANCER SURVIVORS PADDLE DOWNRIVER TOGETHER. photo by CHRIS GRAGTMANS

river rock they liked, and another one that they didn't. Everyone was given markers and asked to list the best and most beautiful aspects of their lives on the positive rock, and the things that they’d prefer to let go of on the other rock.

Then, on Patch’s cue, they hurled the negative rocks into the river while holding the positive rock over their hearts. Some yelled triumphantly, while others looked silently into the distance.

I don’t have cancer, but I realized that all of us get to conduct our own daily rock ceremonies. Each of us has the choice to keep all that brings us joy and happiness, and let go of any pain, sadness, and hatred. Each of us has the opportunity to rise and convert negative energy into positive.

That's what I learned from Uncle Derek—and this amazing group of paddlers.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Check out Chris Gragtmans’s First Descents experience video at BlueRidgeOutdoors.com

J A N U A R Y 2 01 6 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

13

GREAT

Q&A WITH PADDLING WORLD CHAMP DANE JACKSON

by CHARLI KERNS

DANE JACKSON has had one epic year. The 22-year-old pro-kayaker from Tennessee won more events in 2015 than most do in a lifetime, interspersing the races and freestyle comps between a first descent in Mexico and other expedition adventures.

Jackson also continues a legacy set forth by his father, world-renowned freestyle champion and kayak company founder Eric Jackson. Alongside him on the family tree is his sister Emily, also a longtime dominant force in women’s rodeo.

As he was driving home to Rock Island, Tenn., from a family vacation, Jackson took the time to explain what factors made his 2015 season the strongest one yet and his plans to make 2016 even better.

SUMMARIZE HOW THIS SEASON WENT FOR YOU.

Best season ever. Normally, I’d win just a few events, but this year I had only three results out of the 15 or 20 this season that I didn’t come out on top.

Obviously, winning the ICF Freestyle Canoe World Championship on the Ottawa this season was the cherry on top. Besides that, at the GoPro Mountain Games, I won both the Men’s Freestyle and the downriver Steep Creek Championship. No one has done that before.

14

HOW MUCH DO YOU DEVOTE TO TRAINING?

Not any, really. Kayaking is fun. As soon as you’re stressing, you’re never going to do as well. When it comes to Worlds, I definitely get a little stressed because I want to do as well as I can.

But I don’t let that stress take away from that week of fun and paddling.

My mentality for upcoming events is I have to relearn stuff, and that helps with my results.

HOW HAS THAT APPROACH HELPED YOU IN COMPETING?

I feel strongest and am most known for freestyle, but the last couple of years, I’ve been trying to make a name in racing. That year was the Whitewater Grand Prix in Chile, and I didn’t think I had a chance to win because there wasn’t freestyle, so I didn’t have an edge. I also realized that my forward stroke was not as powerful as the others. Mostly it was less sprinting, and more like I needed to learn the forward stroke. So I worked on it, and that helped me in all the races since.

WHAT’S IT LIKE COMING FROM A FAMILY OF CHAMPION PADDLERS?

My dad is the reason I’m a kayaker. He won his first World

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / J A N U A R Y 2 01 6

Championship title in 1993 and was a full-time kayaker when I arrived.

From the beginning, he made it very clear he wanted it to be fun, a mentality he was really good at living by. I wanted to be like him. Instead of this being his sport that he does, he made a point to teach us and make it a family event. So we all paddled together and grew together. That’s the way he raised us, and my mom, too, because she was always there and supported him. I don’t know where we’d be if it weren’t for all they did.

WORLD CHAMPION KAYAKER DANE JACKSON PADDLED UNEXPLORED RIVERS IN MEXICO LAST YEAR.

WHAT ARE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY?

It depends on what I’m feeling. Boxers probably? It’s hard for me to go for tight stuff. My dad thinks Speedos are making a comeback and has Speedo Thursday where he’s in a Speedo.

My sister and I pretty much just had each other growing up. Emily and I have a great relationship. Growing up, we paddled together, watched movies, played games. We’d play a dice game or Settlers of Katan; we used to play Life a lot, too, when we were kids. I guess I was more of an annoying little brother to her husband Nick, who’s been traveling with the family since he

photo by JOHN RATHWELL / RED BULL CONTENT POOL

was 15.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF GOING?

The next season, I plan to win even more races and head back to Veracruz and Chiapas. There’s possibly something in Hawaii, too.

BOXERS OR BRIEFS?

ARE THEY?

No, no, they’re not making a comeback. My dad doesn’t care what people think, and that’s probably how he got where he is. But that also means he wears Speedos.

With 10 states in our coverage, we know there are hole-in-the-wall restaurants, off-the-beaten path views, and treasured local events that slide under our radar. That’s why we asked you, the reader, to help us in finding the best destinations, personalities, events, outdoor businesses, and après-adventure fuel in the Blue Ridge! Here are the 87 bests from Georgia to West Virginia.

by JESS DADDIO photo by CHRISTIN HEALEY

J A N U A R Y 2 01 6 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

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DESTINATIONS HIKING TRAIL

Greenbrier River Trail, W.Va RUNNER UP: APPALACHIAN TRAIL HONORABLE MENTION: ENDLESS WALL TRAIL, W.VA.

Stretching for 78 miles along the Greenbrier River, this rail trail is a scenic glimpse into West Virginia’s storied past. Along the way, hikers can get a taste of the wild and wonderful state’s most remote gems like Watoga State Park, Seneca State Forest, and the Monongahela National Forest.

A.T. SECTION

McAfees Knob, Catawba, Va. RUNNER UP: GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, N.C. AND TENN. HONORABLE MENTION: THE PRIEST & THREE RIDGES, VA.

Arguably the most iconic spot along the Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail, you’ll want to bring a camera with you during your hike to McAfees. From the parking lot off of VA311, it’s a burly 4.5mile climb of 1,700’ to the cliffs, but the effort is well-worth it, especially if you can motivate before sunrise.

SWIMMING HOLE

Blue Hole, Charlottesville, Va. RUNNER UP: SLIDING ROCK, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: CASCADES, VA.

One glimpse at the sparkling blue waters of this swimming hole will make this hike-to-dip an instant classic in your adventure repertoire. Often less crowded than nearby swimming holes, Blue Hole is just 1.5 miles down the Moormans River Trail.

RUNNING TRAIL

feat was accomplished was the summer of 2014.

Lewisburg-based runner Jim Moore ran the length of the trail in just under 19 hours. Can you top him? If 78 miles is a little (or a lot) too much, check out the Great Greenbrier River Race, a mini-triathlon held each year on the last weekend of April.

BEECH MOUNTAIN'S TERRAIN PARK REGULARLY UPDATES FEATURES SO YOU CAN SLIDE AND GRIND EVERY WEEKEND AND NEVER GET BORED.

PADDLING RIVER

Gauley River, W.Va. RUNNER UP: NEW RIVER, N.C., VA., W.VA. HONORABLE MENTION: JAMES RIVER, VA.

Celebrated every fall, the Gauley River has it all—big water, stunning clifflines, and just enough challenge to keep even the pros stoked. The Upper and Lower sections both are a playboater’s wet dreams come true.

CLIMBING CRAG

New River Gorge, W.Va. RUNNER UP: PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: WINTERGREEN RESORT, VA.

place to base yourself than Bear Den Campground. Located just past milepost 324.8, you can rough it out in your tent or spend a luxurious weekend in a cabin.

Warning—some cabins may feature an indoor Jacuzzi. If you quit your job and go missing, we’ll know where to look.

BIKING TRAIL

Carvins Cove Trails, Roanoke, Va. RUNNER UP: DUPONT STATE FOREST TRAILS, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: JAMES RIVER, VA.

If you don’t already live out of your car, the New River Gorge will make you want to. With over 3,000 established sport and trad routes and hundreds more boulder problems, you can camp (at the American Alpine Club Campground) and climb to your heart’s content for an entire year and still barely scratch the surface of Nuttal sandstone goodness.

Just eight miles from downtown Roanoke, Va., lies Carvins Cove, the second largest municipal park in the country. Aside from killer views of the 800-acre reservoir, mountain bikers can expect over 60 miles of singletrack fit for any skill level.

CAMPGROUND

RUNNER UP: URBAN WILDERNESS, TENN. HONORABLE MENTION: GREAT FALLS PARK, MD. AND VA.

Greenbrier River Trail, W.Va

Bear Den Campground, Spruce Pine, N.C.

RUNNER UP: VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL, VA. HONORABLE MENTION: BENT CREEK EXPERIMENTAL FOREST, N.C.

RUNNER UP: GREENBRIER RIVER CAMPGROUND, W.VA. HONORABLE MENTION: ACE ADVENTURE RESORT, W.VA.

At 78 miles, the Greenbrier River Trail is perfectly poised to be an ultra runner’s FKT. The last time such a

If exploration of the Blue Ridge Parkway is what you’re after, there’s no better

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URBAN PARK

James River Park System, Richmond, Va.

Boat, bike, climb, or just saunter your way through this 550-acre urban gem.

The James River itself features class II-III+ rapids and can become especially rowdy at higher water. The intricate singletrack system that runs the length of the river offers runners and riders

alike countless opportunities for loops.

SKI RUN

Oz Run, Beech Mountain, N.C. RUNNER UP: CUPP RUN, SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN, W.VA. HONORABLE MENTION: LOWER SHAY’S REVENGE, SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN, W.VA.

What makes this intermediate-level run so great? Could it be that it sits on the backside of the resort, with its very own quad chair lift? Could it be the stunning view you get of western North Carolina mountains rolling along the horizon?

Could it be that there’s a literal yellow brick road awaiting you on this magical cruise through Oz? The answer is yes.

And then some.

TERRAIN PARK

Beech Mountain, N.C. RUNNER UP: APPALACHIAN SKI MOUNTAIN, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: SEVEN SPRINGS MOUNTAIN RESORT, PENN.

Stay mellow with Beech’s Meadows Freestyle Terrain beginner-friendly boxes and rails or step it up with the more advanced jumps and kickers of Powder Bowl Freestyle Terrain.

Powder pending, you can even link the two terrain parks together to make one helluva freestyle ride down the mountain.

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SUP SPOT

James River, Richmond, Va. RUNNER UP: SUMMERSVILLE LAKE, W.VA. HONORABLE MENTION: NEW RIVER, VA., N.C., AND W.VA.

With five SUP outfitters in and around Richmond, the James River is quickly becoming a hotbed for standup paddlers. Learn your strokes on the quiet stretches of the Upper, or cruise downstream past Reedy Creek to the class III+ whitewater that awaits. Or, maybe floating’s more your style, in which case, might I recommend one of the city’s plethora of SUP yoga classes?

FLY FISHING RIVER / CREEK

Mossy Creek, Va.

RUNNER UP: DAVIDSON RIVER, N.C HONORABLE MENTION: WATAUGA RIVER, N.C. AND TENN.

If not for the tough-to-catch, yet worththe-sweat brown trout fishing, the picturesque farmland alone is worth a visit to Mossy Creek. Even the most experienced angler will meet his/her match on the banks of the Mossy, as no wading is permitted and the fish here are exceptionally observant. Yet for those with the skill, and the patience, tales of 25-inch brownie bites should be enough to stifle the frustration.

BEST FLATWATER

Summersville Lake, W.Va. RUNNER UP: SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, VA. HONORABLE MENTION: FONTANA LAKE, N.C.

Built by the Army Corps of Engineers in photo by JUSTIN COSTNER EXPERIENCE BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY.

the mid-‘60s, Summersville Lake offers visitors over 60 miles of shoreline for exploring. The stunning rock formations that burst from the lake’s surface are popular among deep-water soloists while the habitats those same boulders create are ideal for small mouth and large mouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, and walleye.

SPOT ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Grandfather Mountain, N.C. RUNNER UP: HUMPBACK ROCKS, VA. HONORABLE MENTION: CRAGGY GARDENS, N.C.

Situated amid arguably the most iconic miles of North Carolina’s portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the views of Grandfather Mountain here are simply incomparable. Popular with leaf peepers during the autumn season, the curves of the Linn Cove Viaduct hug the mountainside and are truly emblematic of the spirit of the parkway. This is a must-do Sunday drive if you haven’t ventured yet.

WATERFALL

Cascade Falls, Pembroke, Va. RUNNER UP: LINVILLE FALLS, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: CRABTREE FALLS, VA.

Nestled in the Cascades Recreation Area of the Jefferson National Forest, this 69-foot waterfall is a gem year round. Hike the Upper and Lower Trail for a four-mile round trip outing that showcases not only the falls but also the moss-covered boulders, dense

rhododendron thickets, and the crystalclear waters of Little Stony Creek that make this area almost otherworldly.

WILDERNESS AREA

Dolly Sods Wilderness, Davis, W.Va. RUNNER UP: LINVILLE GORGE WILDERNESS, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: CRANBERRY WILDERNESS, W.VA.

Take one step onto the burly trails of Dolly Sods and you’ll know you’re somewhere special. The Sods consume over 17,000 acres of the Monongahela National Forest and feature ferns, spruce, and bogs typical of ecotypes found in southern Canada. The Sods are often muddy, cold, and wet, but if you can hold out for a break in the clouds, you may just witness the most spectacular sky of your life.

KID-FRIENDLY OUTDOOR DESTINATION

ACE Adventure Resort, Minden, W.Va.

RUNNER UP: BEECH MOUNTAIN, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: PISGAH CENTER FOR WILDLIFE EDUCATION, N.C.

At ACE Adventure Resort, families don’t have to fret about finding ageappropriate adventures for their young'uns. Be it a float down the Upper New or an onsite Kids Camp session at the ACE Adventure Lake, parents will find more than enough activities to keep the kids busy for an afternoon or week.

PET-FRIENDLY OUTDOOR DESTINATION

U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte, N.C. RUNNER UP: RIVANNA TRAIL, VA. HONORABLE MENTION: (TIE) BLACK BALSAM KNOB AND BENT CREEK EXPERIMENTAL FOREST

Play for a day at the USNWC and bring Fido, too. The facility hosts over 20 miles of trail that weave along the Catawba River, and all of it is open to the enjoyment of your furry four-legged friends.

PLACE FOR OUTDOOR SINGLES TO LIVE

Roanoke, Va.

RUNNER UP: ASHEVILLE, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.

Though just two years ago, the Huffington Post listed Roanoke as one of the six best places to retire in the U.S., the city is undergoing a transformation. With in-town trails and greenway systems, vibrant farm-totable and craft beer movements, not to mention a low cost of living, what young professional wouldn’t want to relocate to this mid-sized mountain town?

PLACE TO ENGAGE IN ILLICIT AND NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES

Fayetteville, West Virginia RUNNER UP: HOME HONORABLE MENTION: ASHEVILLE, N.C.

On the surface, Fayetteville may appear like any summer rafting town, but dig a little deeper, and you may just find yourself walking under the New River Gorge bridge at night with a bellyful of PBRs from Charlie’s Pub. We call that character building.

PLACE TO RAISE AN OUTDOOR FAMILY

Roanoke, Va.

RUNNER UP: FAYETTEVILLE, W.VA. HONORABLE MENTION: BREVARD, N.C.

Considering Virginia's school systems rank among the best in the U.S., it should come as no surprise that many are choosing to raise their families in the heart of the Old Dominion. What’s more, Roanoke’s big city amenities and small town feel make life in the Star City safe, convenient, and far from boring.

PLACE TO PLAY HOOKY

New River Gorge, W.Va. RUNNER UP: PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: WINTERGREEN RESORT, VA.

At least if anyone phones to question your “sickness” or that “appointment” you scheduled months ago, you probably won’t have enough service for the call to come through. When the winter blues have you down and out, keep an eye on Fayetteville’s forecast.

The area is known to have bizarrely warm and sunny winter days.

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PERSONALITIES ADVENTURER OF THE YEAR

Gordon Wadsworth LUXURY DESTINATION

The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. RUNNER UP: BILTMORE ESTATE, N.C. HONORABLE MENTION: THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN, N.C.

The lavish halls and plush rooms of the historic Greenbrier are fit for royalty.

Enjoy carriage rides and massages, golf rounds and poker games, all in the setting of West Virginia’s majestic mountainscape.

STATE IN THE SOUTHEAST / MID-ATLANTIC FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Virginia

RUNNER UP: WEST VIRGINIA HONORABLE MENTION: NORTH CAROLINA

Virginia is for lovers…of adventure, that is. No matter the season, whatever the weather, Virginia literally has it all. Surf the beaches to the east, explore the swamps to the south, or boat, bike, and hike your way throughout the rugged mountains to the west.

RUNNER UP: HEATHER “ANISH” ANDERSON HONORABLE MENTION: SCOTT JUREK

Were you to meet 28-year-old Gordon “Quadsworth” tomorrow, with his trunks-for-calves and life-crushing quads, you might find it hard to believe that he didn’t come out of the womb on a singlespeed. In fact, Wadsworth barely rode at all until college, though he did dabble a little in racing during his last years of high school.

“I was kind of a chubby kid, so I didn’t do that great at it,” says the now two-time National Ultra Endurance (NUE) Single Speed Champion.

Wadsworth’s late-blooming cycling career started in 2010. Having just graduated college with a double major in economics and the classics, he made the dive into pursuing competitive cycling at the urging of Blue Ridge Cyclery in Charlottesville, Va. “They were the catalyst for when I started to buckle down. Having them fuel that fire was huge,” he says of the team at Blue Ridge Cyclery.

WHEN GORDON "QUADSWORTH" ISN'T RIDING HIS BIKE, HE'S USUALLY THINKING ABOUT RIDING HIS BIKE. OR GROOMING HIS 'STACHE.

Wadsworth went on to race 43 weekends that year up and down the East Coast, racking up enough results to earn his pro mountain bike license. In 2012, he put that economics major to use by picking up a part-time gig with Suntrust Bank, which afforded him the time and energy to put in 20-25 hours of training every week.

Those long hours in the saddle paid off. In addition to earning the 2014 and 2015 NUE Single Speed Championship, Wadsworth’s racing resume is chock full of podium results—in 2015 alone he won the USA Cycling (USAC) Marathon Single Speed National Championship, first place single speed in Costa Rica at the Rincon de la Vieja Challenge 100, first place single speed at the Lumberjack 100 and Hampshire 100, and first place single speed and overall (only the third to do so in ultra endurance single speed history) at the Cohutta 100 in Georgia.

While his racing repertoire continues to gain momentum, Wadsworth says his greatest accomplishment of 2015 wasn’t any one race or time. It was the change in mindset that occurred after friend and fellow single speed competitor AJ Linnel lost his life in a plane crash.

“AJ reminded me that racing’s not worth much unless you’re really cherishing these experiences,” he says.

“You can have results, you can have a resume that is better than all, but at the end of the day, what resonates with people and gives you the fuel to do more is that lust for life. It’s that attitude of adventure and excitement and friendship that sometimes produces the best results.”

Wadsworth is now based in north Georgia where he lives with his wife Emily and their Schnauzer trail dog Pippy. When he’s not riding his bike, he’s thinking about riding his bike.

REGIONAL ATHLETE

Steven Reinhold, Waynesville, N.C.

RUNNER UP: SOPHIE SPIEDEL HONORABLE MENTION: MICHAEL WARDIAN

Steven Reinhold lives and breathes

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Appalachia. Having grown up at the base of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Reinhold acquired a fine taste for the outdoors and the adventures therein. He’s an ambassador for Big City Mountaineers, an organization that helps underserved urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions. As part of the brand’s Summit for Someone program, Reinhold has summited peaks across North America—Whitney, Shasta, Langley, Grand Teton—to raise money for the organization.

Reinhold recently partnered with UCO, launching a #trashtag campaign, making this outdoor enthusiast message about the natural world clear: it’s more than just recreation.

“The outdoors is where I find my center. I feel like the best version of myself while on an adventure. That's why I keep going back and strive to help provide outdoor opportunities for others.”

OUTDOOR LEGEND

David Horton, Lynchburg, Va. RUNNER UP: SHANE BENEDICT HONORABLE MENTION: ERIC JACKSON

Revered throughout the ultra trail running community, David Horton is a master of pain. Amid a running career that spanned more than four decades and included well over 100 ultra starts (nearly 40 percent of those he won), Horton set speed records on the Appalachian Trail in 1991 and again on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2005. He also holds the third-fastest time for a transcontinental crossing, which he achieved in 1995.

While Horton’s running days are mostly over, his involvement with the ultra community is not. Nowadays, his pride and joy are the annual races he organizes—the Holiday Lake 50K, Mountain Masochist 50-Miler, Promise Land 50K, and Hellgate 100K are considered some of the toughest in the region.

“I still love directing the ultras,” Horton says. “I can’t imagine not directing [them].”

At the core of this dedicated and steadfast relationship to running? For Horton, it’s quite simple.

“I just love being in the woods and mountains, whether on foot or on a bike.”

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MOST INSPIRING OUTDOOR PERSON

Pete Eshelman, Roanoke Outside RUNNER UP: NATHAN BURRELL HONORABLE MENTION: GIL ADAMS

Though Pete Eshelman is largely known for his role in fostering outdoor opportunities in Roanoke over the last five years, his relationship with the natural world has been a lifelong one. Raised on the slopes of Canaan Valley and White Grass, Eshelman has teleskiied, snowboarded, kayaked, biked, and hiked his way across the country. For over a decade he led kids on outdoor excursions to Alaska, Panama, and Ecuador. Now, Eshelman’s position as Director of Roanoke Outside has allowed his love for getting others passionate about nature to come fullcircle.

“My goal is to get more people… connected with the outdoors,” he says.

“Nothing makes me more happy than seeing people connect with Mother Nature.”

A.T. THRU-HIKER

Heather “Anish” Anderson RUNNER UP: CHRIS PECKHAM HONORABLE MENTION: KATHRYN HERNDON

At 34 years old, Anish (or “The Ghost” as she is known on the trail) has logged more miles by foot than most of us will in a lifetime. A triple-crowner with the fastest-known times (FKTs) for unsupported thru-hikes of both the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013 (60 days, 17 hours, and 12 minutes) and the Appalachian Trail in 2015 (54 days, seven hours, and 48 minutes), her eyes hold a wisdom gained only through quiet battles with self-doubt and the relentless quest for purpose.

A pace averaging more than 40 miles a day inherently lends itself to physical difficulties, like dehydration and hematuria. Yet, despite her intimacy with suffering, Anish also knows beauty, humility, and gratitude, especially for the small stuff.

“One of the main things I love about the A.T. is how much wildlife there is,” she says. “There were so many beautiful moments—listening to owls, having bats brush my shoulders while swooping in to eat insects in my headlamp beam, seeing a black bear perched in an Ash tree, watching sunset from Tinker Cliffs.”

49, spends less time in the shop and more time on the trails.

“If I don’t ride, I get irritated. It brings out the best in people,” he says, adding, “unless you’re struggling up a mountain and you’re out of shape.”

COACH

Chris Herndon RUNNER UP: SONNY DYER HONORABLE MENTION: NORM BLAIR

GETTING PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE ROANOKE'S OUTDOOR ASSETS IS PETE ESHELMAN'S JOB. photo by SAM DEAN

When asked why hike?, specifically, why hike fast?, Anish had only this to say: “Because it’s what I was born to do. It [chasing the FKT] felt like the epitome of what I was meant to do in life.”

BIKE MECHANIC

Mike Palmeri, Cartecay River Bicycle Shop, Ga. RUNNER UP: CHRIS HESLIN HONORABLE MENTION: TIM RICHARDSON

Picture a 13-year-old kid from New York City. He’s six feet tall with an afro and a mustache. Though he’s one of five kids in a poor Italian family, their passion runs rich. That passion was bikes and that teenager was Mike Palmeri.

The year was 1979. Palmeri had just raced his first BMX event and placed fifth. Only a few months later, he raced again, this time in the Schwinn Southeastern Championship in Powder Springs, Ga. A five-part competition, the championship brought the biggest names in BMX to the Southeast. To the surprise of many, Palmeri won every event. His performance, and humility, caught the eye of the Schwinn team. By the end of the year, Palmeri had signed a five-year contract to be part of the Schwinn Factory BMX Team.

“My life was turned around from rags to riches,” Palmeri says. “I was travelling all over the world racing BMX, but it wasn’t just racing bikes. We had public appearances and research and development on all different types of products.”

By 18 years old, Palmeri was a seasoned bike mechanic and rider. He took his love for riding to New York City, where he raced road bikes in Central Park to pay for his tuition at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

“You know Project Runway? That’s kinda what I was doing,” says Palmeri, “but I was terrible at it.”

In the 30 years since, Palmeri’s worked as a farmer, trained with (and been humbled by) Belgium’s most elite road racers, and served as a firefighter for 27 years. Amid all of that, he opened up a bike shop in his barn with $163. At the time, that was every penny he had to his name.

“There was no lighting, no heat, nothing,” Palmeri remembers of the shop’s early days. “I just worked and [the bike shop] just started growing.”

Now, six locations later, Cartecay Bike Shop sits at the core of the Mountain Bike Capital of Georgia in downtown Ellijay. These days, Palmeri,

Former National Champion and World Cup competitor Coach Herndon’s approach to mountain bike training doesn’t just involve reading lines, interpreting terrain, and strengthening the body. As a cyclist for 26 years, 24 of which he spent racing, Herndon says athletes, more than anything, need to train their mental attitude.

“At the high end of most sports, the athlete is [his] worst enemy. I was my own enemy when I raced and could talk myself into being slow quicker than anyone. Being able to identify with what the riders are going through and the thought process that causes these thoughts is incredibly valuable.”

Herndon has served in the USA Team coaching position for USA Cycling since 2011 and continues to work with up and coming youth in the sport.

FLY FISHING GUIDE

Colby Trow, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing RUNNER UP: KEVIN HOWELL HONORABLE MENTION: FORREST MARSHALL

In 2003, Colby and his brother Brian opened up Mossy Creek Fly Fishing as a business, sure, but more importantly, as a means to fuel their passion for fly fishing. For nearly two decades, Trow has spent every day of his life fishing.

When he’s not on the river, he’s tying flies, a craft he’s maintained since the ripe age of 13. He’s fished throughout the Shenandoah Valley and beyond, to the Bahamas and Belize and back.

If you’re looking for experience, this guide’s got plenty to go around.

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RAFT GUIDE

Linc Stallings RUNNER UP: SHANNA CROMPTON HONORABLE MENTION: SCOTT OLIVE

CLIMBING GUIDE

Swis Stockton, Granite Arches RUNNER UP: JOE MOERSCHBAECHER HONORABLE MENTION: STUART COWLES

As owner and guide for Granite Arches, Swis Stockton has the best of both worlds—not only does he climb for a living, but he also gets to introduce others to a way of life that has defined him since college. Stockton has climbed in Canada, South America, and all across the western United States, so it’s hard for him to pick a favorite crag.

“They’re ultimately all near and dear,” he says, “but without being specific, the granite in North Carolina is the backbone of what I think of when I hear climbing in the Southeast.”

Florida born and bred, Linc Stallings has been pushing rubber in the Southeast for two decades. As a guide for Southeastern Expeditions on the Chattooga, Endless River Adventures on the Ocoee, and Adventures on the Gorge on the New and Gauley Rivers, Stallings says that the secret to being a badass raft guide isn’t in the jokes or the moves. It’s in the relationships he builds with not just his guests, but the river as well.

“I'm humbled every day on the water by the river, my guides, and clients,” he says. “The river goddess is finicky. She kinda works hand in hand with karma,” which might explain why, in his second year of guiding, Stallings lost his board shorts to the river during a trip down the Upper Ocoee.

Fortunately, Stallings was able to borrow a pair of Umbro shorts from his boatful of soccer girls, but not without shredding a piece of his dignity.

“Once a client experiences the river with me…[t]hey are no longer a number in the masses,” he says. “They are friends and family, and I've got a big family.”

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Tracy-Lynn Schuster, Schuster Physical Therapy, N.C. RUNNER UP: ERIC MAGRUM HONORABLE MENTION: TYLER BOWERSOCK

If there’s anything Tracy-Lynn Schuster loves more than trail running, paddleboarding, and mountain biking, it’s her job as a physical therapist.

“It is a privilege to be invited into peoples’ lives, normally at a vulnerable time, and being able to help them get their function back,” she says.

“Whether it is an athlete getting back to their sport or a farmer getting back to the field, I try to help them realize their full potential and assist them to reaching it.”

When she’s not in the office, Schuster likes to frequent the Shut-In Trail and the New River for some oneon-one time with Ma Nature.

SPORTS DOCTOR

Robert Wilder, M.D., Chair, University of Virginia Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation RUNNER UP: JAY JANSEN, BLUE RIDGE BONE & JOINT HONORABLE MENTION: AARON VAUGHAN, MOUNTAIN AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER

When we think of doctors, we normally see lab coats, stethoscopes, prescription pads. Though Dr. Wilder certainly dons the white coat from time to time, you’d need to toss in a pair of running shoes and a 20-year-old Rockhopper to get a more accurate portrait of this one-of-a-kind doc. An athlete himself, Dr. Wilder created the UVA Runners’ Clinic in 1998, modeled after a similar clinic he had founded in Dallas. For Wilder, the pairing of sports, especially running, and medicine just made sense—athletes need an athlete to understand the big picture of an injury.

“The goal is not just to heal and mend,” Wilder says, “but also to get [athletes] back to their chosen activity and to get them back safely. It’s not just

With winners in 22 categories in this year’s Best of the Blue Ridge voting, the Roanoke Region of Virginia is the best outdoor town on the East Coast. Come see for yourself.

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an understanding of a particular injury or illness but also the sport and how that injury will impact their level to participate.”

Dr. Wilder has been practicing sports medicine for 22 years and says the number one cause of injuries he sees in athletes is overuse. He recommends making changes slowly to your routine to avoid injury.

OUTDOOR CLUB

Charlottesville Area Trail Runners (CATs), Va. RUNNER UP: SHENANDOAH VALLEY BICYCLE COALITION HONORABLE MENTION: CAROLINA MOUNTAIN CLUB

This non-profit doesn’t just talk the talk—they walk and run it, too! At CATs, inclusion and stewardship are key. Members train, volunteer, promote, and protect any and everything to do with trails around Charlottesville.

The next time you’re soaking in the views of Shenandoah National Park, thank these CATs!

BUSINESSES OUTDOOR START-UP

HikeMore Adventures, N.C. RUNNER UP: YAMA MOUNTAIN GEAR HONORABLE MENTION: BLUE RIDGE BICYCLE TOURS

Founded in 2014 by Curt Teague and Justin Costner, HikeMore Adventures was inspired by the pair’s weekly excursions into the western North Carolina backcountry.

“We wanted to share our passion for the outdoors and to be able to show folks these wild places who normally wouldn't have the confidence or opportunity to explore the wilderness on their own,” say the team. HikeMore offers everything from waterfall tours to fly-fishing and landscape photography classes.

ADVENTURE VEHICLE

Bicycle

With hundreds of miles of gravel Forest Service roads, greenways, rails-to-trails, backcountry roads, and trails galore, we think everyone should ditch four wheels for two!

APP FOR THE OUTDOORS

Waterfalls of Western North Carolina RUNNER UP: STRAVA HONORABLE MENTION: (TIE) VIEWRANGER GPS AND ALLTRAILS

For just $2.99, you can have first-hand experiences, stunning photographs, and accurate trail descriptions for western North Carolina’s most scenic waterfalls right at your fingertips, thanks to nature photographer and app developer Todd Ransom.

Fruits, veggies, crafts, non-profits, homemade donuts. This farmers’ market is a one-stop shop, with over 100 vendors every Saturday. You can easily spend an entire afternoon browsing the tents and stocking up for the week ahead.

OUTDOOR JOB

Raft guide

RUNNER UP: PARK RANGER HONORABLE MENTION: SKI PATROL

Imagine if your 9-5 was playing around on whitewater, your desk a rubber raft, and your only required dress code was sandals and a PFD. Rough life, right?

RUNNER UP: SUBARU OUTBACK HONORABLE MENTION: HONDA CRV

FARMERS’ MARKET

ZIP LINE

Cheaper than a car, faster than a pair of boots, the bicycle is yours (and our) number one choice for adventuring in the Blue Ridge.

RUNNER UP: ASHEVILLE CITY MARKET HONORABLE MENTION: HARRISONBURG FARMERS’ MARKET

RUNNER UP: ADVENTURES ON THE GORGE HONORABLE MENTION: ACE ADVENTURE RESORT

Charlottesville City Market

The Gorge, Saluda, N.C.

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studio’s annual pilgrimages to spiritual hotbeds like Varanasi, India, and Tiber Valley, Italy.

SKI RESORT

Snowshoe Mountain, W.Va. RUNNER UP: BEECH MOUNTAIN HONORABLE MENTION: WINTERGREEN RESORT

As you fly above the Green River Gamelands, you might be able to hear the roaring of the Green River Gorge in the distance…unless that is, you’re screaming your face off. Dropping 1,100 vertical feet from start to finish, this zip line features not only hair-raising speed but also killer views of old growth forest, three monstrous rappels, and a sky bridge.

YOGA STUDIO

Uttara Yoga, Roanoke, Va. RUNNER UP: KULA YOGA STUDIO HONORABLE MENTION: WELLNESS YOGA (BRISTOL)

Find your center at Uttara Yoga, where balance and calming focus are integral components of the studio’s multitude of class offerings. While beginners may be satisfied with bhakti and hatha flow, more advanced yogis may look to the

For fresh pow in the South, look no further than West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain. Aside from well-maintained ski runs and facilities, the mountain’s high elevation makes it likely that the resort will get one good dumping (if not more) a year. In February of 2015, for example, Snowshoe got nine inches one Saturday, and 26 the next. Grab your skis and get ready. Old Man Winter is on his way.

CLIMBING GYM

River Rock Climbing, Roanoke, Va. RUNNER UP: BREVARD ROCK GYM HONORABLE MENTION: PEAK EXPERIENCES

Interested in learning the ropes but don’t know where to start? Thinking about embarking on a training regimen in the off-season? River Rock can help.

The gym regularly hosts youth training programs in addition to a variety of skill-based clinics and competitions throughout the year.

OUTDOOR HANGOUT

Parkway Brewing, Roanoke, Va. RUNNER UP: DEVILS BACKBONE HONORABLE MENTION: ACE ADVENTURE RESORT

Celebrate craft beer, and the outdoor lifestyle, at Parkway Brewing. On a weekly basis, the brewery holds events that honor the personalities, history, and music of the Blue Ridge.

RIVERSIDE PUB

Wasena City Taproom, Roanoke, Va. RUNNER UP: THE BYWATER HONORABLE MENTION: LOST PADDLE LOUNGE

Located just a short walk from the Roanoke River and Greenway, the Wasena City Taproom not only has a gourmet pub-style menu, but also 31 beers on tap.

RESTAURANT

Secret Sandwich Society (SSS), Fayetteville, W.Va.

RUNNER UP: STARDUST CAFÉ HONORABLE MENTION: PIES AND PINTS

Let’s face it. The secret is out. Anyone who has ventured to the small town of Fayetteville for a summer vacation has likely made a stop at the SSS for lunch or dinner. If you haven’t, do it now.

“We don't really follow fads,” says SSS co-founder Tashia Bailey, “we follow our taste buds. We try to create flavor combinations that are uncommon, but only if they work together,” like, for instance, roasted pork loin with peach jam and Swiss cheese (the Ulysses), or fried eggplant with cherry peppers and roasted garlic mayo (the Fillmore).

Our mouths are watering, especially given the news of a new SSS location in Richmond opening in 2016.

BLUE RIDGE BREWERY

Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, Va. RUNNER UP: BLUE MOUNTAIN BREWERY HONORABLE MENTION: OSKAR BLUES

Nothing says “Blue Ridge” like mountains, trails, and good beer.

Fortunately, at the Devils Backbone basecamp, there is all of that, and then

wispresort.com 855.990.0102 Deep Creek Lake, MD

Forecast: Heightened Chance of Adventure this Winter

Retreat to the mountains of Western Maryland to disconnect from everyday life and reconnect with what’s important to you - nature, family, relaxation, adventure!

Midweek Madness Lodging Package Starting at $84 pp* 1- Night’s lodging at the slope-side Wisp Resort Hotel 1-Day Lift Ticket *Based on availability, advance reservation and double occupancy. Valid Sunday thru Thursday, non-premium.

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BlueRidgeOutdoors

GoOutAndPlay

BlueRidgeOutdoors

some. Run, ride, or walk the trails by day, and then hunker down at the brewery for a night of fine dining and delicious beer.

FLY FISHING OUTFITTER

Headwaters Outfitters, Rosman, N.C.

RUNNER UP: MOSSY CREEK HONORABLE MENTION: CURTIS WRIGHT OUTFITTERS

Learn the basics of fly fishing at Headwaters Outfitters, where experienced guides can teach you everything you need to know about casting techniques, fly choice, and reading North Carolina’s mountain streams.

CLIMBING GUIDE COMPANY

Pura Vida Adventures, Pisgah Forest, N.C.

RUNNER UP: (TIE) SENECA ROCKS GUIDES AND FOX MOUNTAIN GUIDES

WHEN IT COMES TO WHITEWATER, ACE'S MOTTO IS GO BIG OR GO HOME.

Situated just outside of Brevard, N.C., at the base of Pisgah National Forest, Pura Vida is your go-to guiding company for excursions to Looking Glass Rock, Cedar Rock, and Pilot Rock. Learn to climb, or step up your game, with tips from the experienced staff at Pura Vida.

RAFT GUIDE COMPANY

ACE Adventure Resort, Oak Hill, W.Va.

RUNNER UP: ADVENTURES ON THE GORGE HONORABLE MENTION: RIVERSIDE OUTFITTERS

First time on whitewater? Take a mild ride down the Upper New River. Want a little more action? Go wild on the New River Gorge, wilder on the Lower Gauley, and WILDEST on the Upper Gauley. Whatever your flavor, ACE has an adventure for you.

ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION

James River Association (JRA), Richmond, Va. RUNNER UP: SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER HONORABLE MENTION: MOUNTAINTRUE

Did you know that more than one-third

SURRENDER TO BEAUTY.

NOT TO COLD. THANK YOU BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS READERS FOR VOTING US BEST OUTDOOR RETAILER!

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BIKE SHOP

Blue Ridge Cyclery, Charlottesville, Va. RUNNER UP: SYCAMORE CYCLES HONORABLE MENTION: HILL & HOLLER BIKE WORKS

of all Virginians rely on the James River and its tributaries for not just water but also recreation and commerce? The JRA is committed to protecting the James and educating its users on the importance of conserving this special waterway.

No matter your skill, stoke, or shred level, BRC has a team member who can help you achieve your personal goals.

The bike shop is heavily involved in the regional biking scene and has served as one of the leading advocates for trail access in the area. Give them a shout for all of your biking needs!

RUNNING STORE

Crozet Running, Crozet, Va.

OUTFITTER

Pura Vida Adventures, Brevard, N.C.

RUNNER UP: FLEET FEET SPORTS—ROANOKE HONORABLE MENTION: RAGGED MOUNTAIN RUNNING

RUNNER UP: DAVIDSON RIVER OUTFITTERS HONORABLE MENTION: ACE ADVENTURE RESORT

Thru-hike the Art Loeb Trail, rappel down 70-foot waterfalls, or learn to kayak. Whatever adventure you want to bite off, Pura Vida can help you chew it. Owned and operated by Joe Moerschbaecher, Pura Vida is unique in that it was the first outfitter in the Southeast to offer canyoneering under the instruction of American Canyoneering Guide Association certified guides.

Founded by avid runners John and Michelle Anderson, Crozet Running aims not just to help runners stay geared and fueled, but also to get people outside and back to fitness, no matter the level of intensity.

to get a hipster cotton tee with a motivational mountain quote etched across the front, keep on looking. At Walkabout Outfitters, quality is key.

The knowledgeable staff at each of Walkabout’s locations can offer you tried and true advice on gear, trails, and all-things-outdoors.

OUTDOOR COMPANY TO WORK FOR

ACE Adventure Resort, Oak Hill, W.Va. RUNNER UP: HUNTER BANKS

HONORABLE MENTION: BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT

You’d be surprised how many people work behind the scenes of an adventure resort—video boaters, ropes course facilitators, kayak instructors, zip line tour guides, climbing guides, bus drivers, mountain bike mechanics, reservationists. Plus, what better way to end your day than by playing in the New River Gorge surrounding your “office,” if you can even call an adventure playground that.

OUTDOOR SHOP

Walkabout Outfitters, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Va. RUNNER UP: ROCKFISH GAP OUTFITTERS HONORABLE MENTION: WATER STONE OUTDOORS

If you’re looking for somewhere

EVENTS FLY FISHING EVENT

Blue Ridge Marathon, Roanoke, Va. RUNNER UP: BARKLEY 100 MILE ULTRA RUN HONORABLE MENTION: SHENANDOAH MOUNTAIN 100

There’s a reason they call this beast “America’s Toughest Road Marathon.”

Start at 7:30 in the morning and huff and puff your way over 7,430 feet in elevation change. But don’t worry — the views make up for the sufferfest.

ROWDIEST FEST

Gauley Fest, Summersville, W.Va. RUNNER UP: MOUNTAIN MUSIC FEST HONORABLE MENTION: GO FEST

Held the third Saturday of every September, Gauley Fest is the largest annual fundraiser for the non-profit American Whitewater, so party, keg stand, and wet t-shirt-contest all weekend long in the name of river conservation and access!

RUNNER UP: MOSSY CREEK INVITATIONAL HONORABLE MENTION: VIRGINIA FLY FISHING FESTIVAL

RUNNER UP: MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL HONORABLE MENTION: THE FESTY EXPERIENCE

This two-day fly fishing event allows anglers the chance to connect, learn new skills, and test the latest innovations in gear and technique. With over 70 vendor and angling organization booths, this annual expo is the Southeast’s largest fly fishing event.

For a jam-packed weekend of outdoor activities, demos, and live performances, head to The Star City in mid-October. This event is a must-do for any Blue Ridge lover, and with free bike shuttles and on-greenway access, there’s no excuse for you to not go outside and play.

Go Fest, Roanoke, Va.

MUD RUN

Bring out the superhero in you and your entire family with this all-inclusive race. Fun for every age, this 5K course weaves throughout some of Asheville’s up-and-coming neighborhoods like the South Slope and River Arts District.

(tie) Totally ‘80s Retro Weekend, Beech Mountain, N.C.

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / J A N U A R Y 2 01 6

TOUGHEST RACE

BLUE RIDGE FESTIVAL

(tie) SuperHero 5K, Asheville, N.C.

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RUNNER UP: FLIGHT OF THE VAMPIRE 5K/10K @ HALLOWEEN FEST

WNC Fly Fishing Expo, Fletcher, N.C.

COSTUMED EVENT

THE BRIGHTER THE NEON THE BETTER AT BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT'S TOTALLY '80S RETRO WEEKEND.

fellow shredders on the mountain for a weekend of throwback music, vehicles, and an overall totally tubular snowsports experience.

Mad Anthony Mud Run, Waynesboro, Va. RUNNER UP: GRITTY CHICX MUD RACE HONORABLE MENTION: SPARTAN RACE

Hay bales and tire pits, wall climbs and balance beams, swamp terrain and tunnel crawls. Is this boot camp?

Put your big girl panties on, ladies and gentleman. You’ll need to dig deep in this annual mud challenge.

The brighter your neon, the better! Whip out your best vintage ski gear and join BlueRidgeOutdoors

GoOutAndPlay

BlueRidgeOutdoors

ADVENTURE RACE

RUNNER UP: TOUR DE VALLEY HONORABLE MENTION: ASSAULT ON THE CAROLINAS

RUNNER UP: SILVERBACK, GREEN RIVER GAMES HONORABLE MENTION: (TIE) EQUINOX TRAVERSE ADVENTURE RACE, REV3 ADVENTURE SHENANDOAH EPIC, AND SPARTAN RACE

Two riders, four checkpoints, and somewhere between 9,000 and 15,000 feet of climbing. Beautiful, yet rugged, this course showcases the best of Pisgah but be forewarned: there are no aid stations along the way. Prepare to suffer…and have fun.

Wild Gear Chase, Roanoke, Va.

Part navigation, part time trial, this treasure hunt takes you everywhere within a two-mile radius of the Roanoke Go Outside Festival grounds. Race the clock to win free gear!

TRIATHLON

Captain Thurmond’s Challenge, New River Gorge, W.Va. RUNNER UP: ON THE TRAILS TRIATHLON HONORABLE MENTION: LAKE LOGAN TRIATHLON

A triathlon unlike any in the region, this longstanding multisport event showcases the classic trails and whitewater of the New River Gorge.

Bike for 15 miles to the put-in of the Lower New, paddle seven miles through the gorge, and run six-and-a-half miles up 1,100 feet back to Fayetteville.

CLIMBING EVENT

Cosmic Climbing, Adrenaline Climbing, Suwanee, Ga. RUNNER UP: CRAGGIN’ CLASSIC HONORABLE MENTION: DOMINION RIVERROCK

Held every Friday night from 8-10 p.m., Adrenaline Climbing shuts off its lights and pumps up the jams. Routes and boulder problems are backlit in funkyfluorescence, making for an out-of-thisworld climbing experience you won’t want to miss.

PADDLING EVENT

Green Race, Saluda, N.C. RUNNER UP: THE ANIMAL, GAULEY FEST HONORABLE MENTION: BRIDGE TO BRIDGE, GREEN RIVER GAMES

It’s a gem and a beast of a race all at the same time, held the first Saturday of November each year. Over 200 paddlers flock to the Green River Gorge to test their mettle and spank the monkey (or, as it sometimes goes, get spanked).

Join the thousands who hike or boat into the gorge to witness this impressive feat of part-whitewater athleticism, partcarnage fest.

BIKE RACE

Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race (PMBAR), Pisgah Forest, N.C.

some of the area’s most iconic hikes, Devils Backbone is a perfect place to end your adventure-filled day.

BREAKFAST

Vandal’s Kitchen, Fayetteville, W.Va.

RUNNING EVENT

Blue Ridge Marathon, Roanoke, Va. RUNNER UP: ASHEVILLE HALF MARATHON/10K HONORABLE MENTION: BLUE RIDGE RELAY

Beginning and ending in downtown Roanoke, this marathon is a force to be reckoned with. Physical endurance aside, you’ll want a good attitude for the many burly climbs that await, including the ascent to Roanoke Mountain, which takes racers up 780 feet in just two miles.

FOOD + DRINK LATE NIGHT EATS

Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, Va. RUNNER UP: TEXAS TAVERN HONORABLE MENTION: ASHEVILLE PIZZA AND BREWING COMPANY

Taste the best of field, forest, and stream at Devils Backbone’s Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows. Executive Chef Frank Debons knows how to whip up a mean late-night snack.

BREWHOUSE / PUB

Irish Pub on Washington Street, Lewisburg, W.Va. RUNNER UP: APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BREWERY HONORABLE MENTION: CATAWBA BREWING COMPANY

Weekly Irish tunes, traditional hearty meals, and cold draft beer. What more do you need? How about $1 Bloody Marys every Sunday at 1pm?

POST-ADVENTURE HANGOUT

Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, Va.

ORDER UP! THE SECRET SANDWICH SOCIETY OFFERS MORE THAN JUST GOURMET SANDWICHES. PICTURED HERE: THE GENERAL BURGER. photo by ELIZABETH MORTON

RUNNER UP: CATHEDRAL CAFÉ HONORABLE MENTION: SUNNY POINT CAFÉ

It’s hard to be unhappy when you’re eating homemade biscuits. For a homestyle, hearty breakfast, Vandal’s got you covered.

LUNCH

Secret Sandwich Society, Fayetteville, W.Va.

RUNNER UP: THE HUB HONORABLE MENTION: CATAWBA BREWING COMPANY

RUNNER UP: DEVILS BACKBONE BREWING COMPANY HONORABLE MENTION: STARDUST CAFÉ

Grab a beer and cozy up by the bar, or grab a chair around the newly revamped outdoor space. Just a short drive from

The only danger in eating lunch at the SSS is you may get so full on orzo salad and salted caramel chocolate tart that

you decide to play hooky for the rest of the day. And by play hooky, we mean nap off your food-coma.

COFFEE SHOP

The Wild Bean, Lewisburg, W.Va. RUNNER UP: SWEET DONKEY HONORABLE MENTION: CATHEDRAL CAFÉ

At The Bean, good coffee and good company are the pillars of success.

Check out the vibe at this West Virginia coffee shop, which serves breakfast and lunch in addition to a top-notch coffee collection.

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RUNNER UP: THE HOP HONORABLE MENTION: CHAPS

Established in 1943 by John Kline, the dairy bar serves up ice cream that is nothing short of divine. With seasonal flavors, and ice cream made in-house daily, you’re guaranteed to have a one-ofa-kind ice cream experience at Kline’s.

VEGETARIAN

Laughing Seed Café, Asheville, N.C.

BURRITO

RUNNER UP: GILLIE’S HONORABLE MENTION: HOB KNOB FARM CAFÉ

RUNNER UP: DEL SOL CANTINA HONORABLE MENTION: NEO BURRITO

Organic, local, farm-to-table, gourmet vegetarian food with an international twist. The tempura-battered sweet potato tacos are unreal.

Stardust Cafe, Lewisburg, W.Va.

A paddler’s paradise, this burrito joint names its burritos after the best rapids on the Upper Gauley! Affordable prices, large portions, and incredible sunset views of the New River Gorge, make this a popular post-paddle stop in the summertime.

RUNNER UP: THE LOCAL HONORABLE MENTION: HARVEST TABLE

BURGER

FARM-TO-TABLE

For over a decade, Stardust Cafe has been committed to sourcing locally. The restaurant’s beef, pork, and lamb are within 10 miles of the kitchen, and the vegetable, fruit, and herb farmers are just two counties away.

Burrito Bar, Lansing, W.Va.

Jim’s Drive-In, Lewisburg, W.Va. RUNNER UP: SECRET SANDWICH SOCIETY HONORABLE MENTION: JACK BROWN’S BURGER JOINT

Chateau Morrisette, Floyd, Va.

Serving road-bound Americans since the early ‘50s, this drive-in style restaurant still does the old fashion curbside service deal, which, come on, how cool is that.

Get your hot dog cravings and onion ring fixings all from the comfort of your car.

RUNNER UP: KING FAMILY HONORABLE MENTION: (TIE) BARBOURSVILLE AND VERITAS

BARBECUE

VINEYARD

Located at milepost 171.5 along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a visit to Chateau Morrisette isn’t just spectacular for its wine. The surrounding views of the New River Valley and Buffalo Mountain make this vineyard a unique destination that embodies everything we love about the Blue Ridge.

BLUE RIDGE BREW

Vienna Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Company RUNNER UP: MOTHMAN IPA, GREENBRIER VALLEY HONORABLE MENTION: FULL NELSON PALE ALE, BLUE MOUNTAIN BREWERY

Smooth, malty, amber-chestnut goodness packed into a deliciously drinkable lager. It’s no wonder this beer won gold at the Great American Beer Festival in 2015.

ICE CREAM

Kline’s Dairy Bar, Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Va.

12 Bones Smokehouse, Asheville, N.C. RUNNER UP: DEVILS BACKBONE HONORABLE MENTION: (TIE) BBQ EXCHANGE AND PAULIE’S PIG OUT

Made from scratch and smoked to perfection on select hardwoods, the ribs at 12 Bones will surely spoil your rib palette. Get funky with rib flavors like strawberry jalapeño and blueberry.

Sounds weird. Tastes great.

PIZZA

Farm to Flame Food Truck, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Boone, N.C. RUNNER UP: HILL & HOLLER RESTAURANT HONORABLE MENTION: PIES & PINTS

The wood-fired pizza at Farm to Flame doesn’t just taste great—it makes you feel great about your environmental impact. The food truck itself runs on biodiesel and solar panels, and the eating utensils and containers completely decompose within 50 days!

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B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / J A N U A R Y 2 01 6

AT DEVILS BACKBONE, YOU CAN SPEND THE DAY ON THE TRAILS AND KICK BACK AT THE BREWERY AFTER. BlueRidgeOutdoors

GoOutAndPlay

photo by TOM DALY

BlueRidgeOutdoors

SHENANDOA H

PLAY. EAT. STAY. SHENANDOAH.

Load up your brand new backpack and get ready for a weekend of adventure in Shenandoah County, Virginia!

PLAY

Two free passes to Bryce Resort— Choice of Bike Park or Ski Passes

AWAY!

& WIN THIS P ACK! RONDANE 26 BACKPACK

EAT

Buy One Tasting, Get One Free at Swover Creek Brewery

Two free passes to Shenandoah Caverns

Buy One Tasting, Get One Free at Woodstock Brew House

$10 Gift Card to All Things Virginia at The Farmhouse

Free bag of locally roasted Cabin Creek Roasters Coffee with visit to store

Two free passes for a 3-hour kayak trip with Route 11 Outfitters

VALLEY GIVE

Free Brunch at Joe’s Steakhouse

STAY

Two-night stay at the Comfort Inn in Woodstock*

*certain blackout dates may apply on lodging

SIGN UP FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AT BLUERIGDEOUTDOORS.COM

S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

The curtain rises on another day

in historic Abingdon.

How will you spend iT? Catch a performance at

bArter theAtre. pedal along the scenic

VirginiA creeper trAil. sample the cuisine including

locAl beer And wine.

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T

he mountains of Virginia offer endless beauty in every season. The vibrancy of Autumn turns serene under a fresh blanket of snow. From fun on the slopes to sipping wine by the fireplace, the County of Bath is a winter playground that rejuvenates visitors of all ages.

Make your winter wonderland dreams come true in the County of Bath

DiscoverBath.com

800-628-8092 #CountyofBathVA

S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

More Campsites than condos.

The natural beauty of Mecklenburg County can’t be experienced within four walls. Get outside and gather your familyaround the campfire. Enjoy the fresh air and starry skies with someone special.

More of what matters. More Mecklenburg. visitmeckva.com | #moremeck

for the weekend You work hard! So make the most of your time off. With our incredible

Ski & Indoor WaterPark Getaways, you can take a vacation that won’t break your pocketbook! Massanutten Resort features 6,000 acres of mountain fun at its very best. Unique in both its size, variety of amenities, and outstanding condo & hotel accommodations, Massanutten has secured its spot as the premier all-seasons, family resort destinations on the East Coast.

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S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

Nothing is ordinary here.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge is

a new day. a new

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home to unspoiled natural views like McAfee Knob along the famous Appalachian Trail. The region is also the largest metropolitan area in Virginia’s Mountains, which means you’ll find great dining, award-winning craft beer, events and nightlife.

exploRe it all at youR pace – on Blue Ridge standaRd tiMe.

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A battle awaits you at Coyner Springs Park with the 5th Annual Mad Anthony Mud Run! Expect new obstacles, local brews, and a few surprises!

S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

THANK YOU!!

FISH. BOAT. GOLF. DINE. SHOP. STAY.

Year-round appeal!

HISTORY & WINE ANYTIME. 50 Years of Making Memories at Smith Mountain Lake!

For a list of 50th Anniversary SML events: visitsmithmountainlake.com/sml50

DOWNTOWN

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e water h t er v o

Humpback Bridge is one of the most cherished landmarks in Virginia. Enjoy a picnic in the park and find the right angle for a perfect photo.

Then, jump in for swimming, paddling, fishing and even camping on the rivers and lakes of the Alleghany Highlands Blueway.

on the w ater

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undeveloped shoreline are waiting to be explored.

Discover the one blueway that includes three rivers and two lakes.

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S P E C I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! ADVENTURES & CAMPS IN THE BLUE RIDGE Join us for the 54th 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 29-31 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.

P Hidden CAM dows Mea

1 - 4 Weeks Boys & Girls Ages 7-16 Horseback Riding • White-Water Rafting Climbing Tower • Sailing • Sports • Mountain Boarding Canoeing • Backpacking • Swimming • Arts & Crafts Organic Farm • Mountain Biking • Rock Climbing 1,000 Ft. Zip Line • Performing Arts & more!

1-800-600-4752

camphiddenmeadows.com

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING BURGUNDY CENTER FOR WILDLIFE STUDIES CAPON BRIDGE, WV Campers hike, swim, and hunt—for butterflies, warblers, foxes and salamanders—in this secluded 500-acre Appalachian wildlife sanctuary. This unique overnight camp combines nature studies with music, arts, games and laughter. Knowledgeable, dynamic staff create a lasting community that promotes challenge and growth.

BurgundyCenter.org

CAMP HIDDEN MEADOWS BARTOW, WV Boys and Girls, Ages 7-16. 1, 2, 4 and 4-week sessions. Activities include horseback riding, yoga, sports, rock climbing, backpacking, mountain boarding, archery, performing arts, GoPro Video production, organic gardening, white water rafting, culinary arts, 1,000 foot zip line and much more. 0ACA accredited camp.

CampHiddenMeadows.com

ROCKBROOK KAYAKING CAMPS BREVARD, NC In addition to its general overnight camp program, Rockbrook offers specialty 1-week-

SOMETIMES THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS NOT A ROAD.

long sessions that focus on whitewater kayaking for girls ages 12-16. These kayak instruction trips are perfect for girls who have enjoyed kayaking and want to do more. Go paddling every day!

RockBrookCamp.com

NORTH CAROLINA OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL ASHEVILLE, NC 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.

NCOBS.org

Find your path with Outward Bound | (888) 756-2627 | www.ncobs.org

SEEING IN THE DARK

DARK-SKY PARKS THROUGHOUT APPALACHIA OFFER SOME OF THE BEST ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVING CONDITIONS ON EARTH

by DANIELLE TAYLOR

H

igh beams blinding you from your rear-view mirror.

A sea of streetlamps on every parking lot and roadway. Neon lights advertising everything from beer to ice cream to auto parts.

Sometimes, you just want to get away from it all.

As the landscape glows ever brighter, it gets harder and harder to find quiet refuges away from artificial illumination. Overabundant outdoor lighting obscures the night sky, making it impossible to see any but the brightest of stars. The nighttime canvas freckled with a million pinpricks of light gets reduced to a boring backdrop when seen from an urban vantage point. East of the Mississippi River in particular, dark areas are rapidly vanishing due to the country’s disproportionate population distribution and increasing urban sprawl.

Usually when we want to draw attention to something, we shine a light on it, but when it comes to the night sky, the literal stars of the show are already plenty bright. It’s only by darkening our vantage point that we can see the heavens in their full glory Fortunately, concerned public land managers and engaged citizens have begun advocating for unobstructed night skies and preserving landscapes, known as dark-sky places, where curious visitors can still see the heavens as nature intended.

Additionally, these sanctuaries offer havens for wildlife, particularly nocturnal animals whose biological

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rhythms rely on the daily transition of day to night, and migratory species that depend on the moon and stars to guide their passage.

In Appalachia, four parks have been recognized as dark-sky places by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). At these areas, professional astronomers and amateur stargazers alike can cast their eyes and telescopes to the skies for a much more spectacular array than they can find at home.

CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK COUDERSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA

“It’s funny,” says Angela Anderson, a former NASA employee who grew up a few miles from Cherry Springs State Park. “I was always fascinated with the night sky and didn’t realize how much of a luxury it was to live in such a remote place.”

Indeed, even the nearest medium-sized city of Harrisburg is more than 100 miles away. In 2000, Pennsylvania declared Cherry Springs the first dark-sky park in the Commonwealth, and in 2008, IDA awarded it top Gold-Tier status and designated it as the second international dark-sky park in the world.

Anderson’s colleagues at NASA in Cleveland would make the 250mile drive to Cherry Springs for its unparalleled nightscapes. Last summer, she introduced her husband to the park’s dazzling skies. “We had a great time taking pictures and seeing the Milky Way with just our naked eyes,” she says. “The long exposure photos came out even better.”

The park also offers dome observatories, available to rent for $25 per night. The Cherry Springs Star Party occurs each June, followed by the Black Forest Star Party each September.

PICKETT-POGUE STATE PARK AND NATURAL AREA JAMESTOWN, TENNESSEE

Pickett State Park and Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area in

Tennessee received their Silver-Tier IDA certification in 2015. Public land managers for the joint property recognized their area’s rare dark skies a few years back and began working to reduce light pollution in and around the park.

“We first did several measurements throughout the park to determine the amount of artificial light in the night sky,” says Park Ranger Monique Hodge. Staff assessed each park light fixture for IDA compliance, and they are now replacing dozens of installations. By this summer, they expect to have replaced all of their non-compliant fixtures to improve sky quality for visitors.

With the help of Nashville’s Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society and Paul Lewis, director of the University of TennesseeKnoxville’s Space Science Outreach program, Pickett-Pogue has developed dark-sky programs to engage and educate the public year-round. Even nearby towns are committing to install dark skyfriendly lighting.

“There are few remaining dark sky areas left in Tennessee, and we are one of those few areas,” says Hodge.

“It’s important to preserve the night sky for future generations.”

BLUE RIDGE STAR PARK AND OBSERVATORY SPRUCE PINE, NORTH CAROLINA

Twice last year, the Blue Ridge Star Park hosted a group of visually impaired people to give them an unusual opportunity to observe night-sky phenomena. Most of these visitors were not totally blind, and the absence of light pollution in this part of the North Carolina mountains allowed many of them to view brighter celestial objects, like the double star Albireo. A person with good vision may not be able to see this pairing from within a brightly lit city, but the ideal conditions offered by this park allow even people with poor vision to see distinct objects in the night sky.

Mayland Community College, which has managed the Yancey County-owned site since 2013, worked with the Blue Ridge Astronomy Group to develop a dark-sky compliance plan, ultimately achieving Silver-Tier certification for the park in 2014. Last fall, the different stakeholders broke ground on a new observatory. When finished, it will feature a 34-inch Newtonian telescope, which will be the largest in the Southeast dedicated for public use.

STAUNTON RIVER STATE PARK SCOTTSBURG, VIRGINIA

Every year, for a week, a group of about 200 people quietly watch the sky into the wee hours of the morning beside the Staunton River. Small red lights glow here and there across the wide field.

“Red light helps so you don’t lose your dark adaptation,” explains Gabe, a thoughtful 13-year-old observer and member of CHAOS, the Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society, which organizes the biannual event with the park.

An astronomy buff since preschool, Gabe has learned to appreciate the rare conditions this park offers. “It’s great that one of the few dark-sky places on the East Coast is accessible from so many places, and that the park recognizes what they have and tries to make a point of preserving the dark skies here.”

Park Manager Adam Layman credits the park’s 2015 IDA designation as a Silver-Tier park to CHAOS and specifically CHAOS President Jayme Hanzak. When Hanzak pored over a light pollution map a few years ago and realized a state park sat in a dark area less than two hours from Chapel Hill, he reached out to Layman to start talking about how they could collaborate.

The club held the park’s first Star Party in 2011, and they worked with park staff to meet IDA requirements for dark-sky certification. Staunton River now serves as the model the state park system plans to use to

UPCOMING ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA AND EVENTS — Quadrantids meteor shower (peaks January 3-4)

JANUARY 1-5

— Mercury at greatest western elongation

FEBRUARY 7

— Staunton River Star Party: Staunton River State Park, Scottsburg, Virginia (chaosastro.com) MARCH 9-13

— Jupiter at opposition

MARCH 8 MARCH 23

— Penumbral lunar eclipse

— Astronomy Weekend: Pickett-Pogue International DarkSky Park, Jamestown, Tennessee (tnstateparks.com/parks/events/ pickett) APRIL 1-3

— North Carolina Statewide Star Party: 35+ events statewide (ncsciencefestival.org/starparty)

APRIL 8-9

— Lyrids meteor shower (peaks April 22-23)

APRIL 16-25

— Mercury at greatest eastern elongation

APRIL 18

APRIL 19-MAY 28 — Eta Aquarids meteor shower (peaks May 6-7) MAY 9

— Transit of Mercury across the sun

MAY 22 JUNE 3

— Mars at Opposition

— Saturn at Opposition

— Mercury at greatest western elongation

JUNE 5

implement dark-sky-friendly lighting in all of their parks. Throughout the year, CHAOS and the park co-host astronomy programs, and visitors can borrow telescopes donated by the club for independent observing.

At last fall’s Staunton River Star Party, Hanzak recalled his first spark of interest in the night sky, which came during his childhood on an early-morning paper route.

Cloaked in darkness but dazzled by stars, he remembers thinking, “Wow, we are pretty little,” he says. “Now, coming out here helps keep things in perspective.”

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IGNITE THE NIGHT ADVENTURES AFTER DARK STAND TO GO AGAINST REASON, BUT NIGHT RIDES, RUNS, AND PADDLES ARE GROWING IN POPULARITY.

by JESS DADDIO

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he sound of car doors slamming shattered the still night. My eyes strained to decipher the outlines of people walking toward the beach, but in the heavy darkness, there was nothing. No shapes, no motion. As I pulled a PFD over my head and buckled my helmet, I thought there very well could be a bear beside me for all I knew. Or a werewolf.

I felt like a werewolf.

The night was still young.

A shiny sliver of moon was just beginning to glimmer above the trees. While the rest of the world slept, I was gearing up to kayak the South Fork of the Holston River.

Despite the sultry summer air, goosebumps tingled my forearm.

A chill ached at the base of my skull. Someone, or something, was watching me.

I couldn’t shake it.

Probably because I couldn’t use a headlamp. We had vowed to guide ourselves downstream by the light of the moon, a romantic idea, no doubt, but one that seems downright foolish when you’re barely able to make out the bow of your boat.

I stood on shore staring blankly at nothing or no one in particular.

It wasn’t that I was scared, necessarily. I had paddled this river enough times to navigate it in my sleep. But what if I paddled right up under a strainer and got stuck? Or what if someone swam and I had to rescue them? Or what if a werewolf leapt from shore and gouged out my eyes?

Okay. Maybe I was scared.

When I finally lowered myself into the cockpit, my apprehensions subsided. A fierce calm washed over me, as if the roaring of the, albeit benign, class II rapid downstream beckoned to me like some unmet challenge, some unexplored territory destined to be conquered.

Emboldened, I scooted the stern from land, taking one purposeful photo by TJ KEARNS

stroke after another into the velvet black current.

My fears and bravado were hardly warranted. The higher the moon rose in the sky, the deeper my monsters retreated and the smaller the rapids became. A headlamp and paddle were the sole victims that night, the latter of which was later recovered. But it was partly that mystery of the unseen, a tango with the unknown, which has kept me coming back full moon after full moon.

Of course now, nearly seven years since that first night paddle, I’ve heard tales of evening excursions that put my full moon floats to shame. Take Astral Designs Marketing Department Assistant Ty Caldwell for example.

Caldwell’s one of an elite group of Asheville boaters who take to the class V rapids of the Green River Narrows by night.

“Some might think it sounds crazy, but we know the river like you know how to make it to the fridge in the dark for a midnight snack,” Caldwell says, which might be comparable, were there an 18foot drop between the bedroom and the kitchen.

In the 10 times he’s nightpaddled the Gorge, though, Caldwell’s never had any close calls, which he attributes to a combination of strong skills and choice in crew as well as an intimate familiarity with the river. Yet even he will be the first to admit that adventures at night, though awe-inspiring and magical, often tread that thin and unforgiving line between risk and reward.

“An out of boat experience could end up dangerous and potentially deadly,” he says.

Professional ultrarunner Krissy Moehl can speak to the dangers of nighttime and the elements that come with it. On December 9, 2006, just before midnight, Moehl and nearly 60 other runners toed the line to Hellgate 100K, a notoriously grueling ultra in Fincastle, Va. With temperatures

in the low teens, and a wind chill factor to boot, the racers set off down the leaf-strewn trail, eager to keep moving forward.

Moehl was near the front of the pack, nearly seven hours in, when she started to notice some irritation in her right eye. As the sun crested over the trail, Moehl stopped at the nearest aid station and asked the crew to assess her eyes.

“It felt like I had a lot of eye boogers,” she remembers. “I kept wiping at them, which probably aggravated it.”

She continued on, chalking up the discomfort to a scratch or microscopic piece of dirt. But just 13 miles from the finish, Moehl’s eyesight went completely blurry.

“It was like looking through foggy goggles,” she says. “I couldn’t stay on the trail. My field of depth was gone and fear was setting in, but I had to keep going forward.”

Then the hallucinations started. Stands of trees turned to people cheering alongside the trail. Construction signs became photographers crouching to snap a shot. Still, Moehl stumbled forward, managing to set the women’s course record at almost 13 hours even.

Though she didn’t know it then, Moehl had suffered from a case of “Hellgate Eyes,” which is common in runners who find themselves out at night in the cold and wind for hours on end.

Which begs the question, why do it? Why run, or paddle, or bike or hike, at night? What is it that makes those like Moehl and Caldwell forgo the security of the sun for the thrill of the night?

For Asheville-based rider Daniel Sapp, the answer to that question might not be as poetic as you’d expect.

“I ride at night because it’s dark, not necessarily because I enjoy it more,” Sapp says. “Days are short.

If you’re working during the day, and you’re trying to ride, sometimes you just gotta get shit done.”

Sleep, eat, work, bike. That

ADVENTURES BY NIGHT

Unsure about venturing alone at night?

Check out some of these nighttime events in the region!

INTO THE DARKNESS 4-MILE NIGHT TRAIL RUN

Roanoke, Va. // mountainjunkies.net NIGHT OF LIGHT 5K & FUN RUN

Morganton, N.C. // facebook.com/ NightOfLightRoadRace RUNNING OF THE LIGHTS 5.5K

Clemmons, N.C. // runningofthelights.com LANIER UNDER THE LIGHTS

Lanier, Ga. // lanierunderthelights5k.com HALF-MOON OUTFITTERS MOONSHINER NIGHT TRAIL RACE

Greenville, S.C. // halfmoonoutfitters.com KANAWHA TRACE MOONLIGHT MADNESS

Ona, W.Va. // wvmtr.org NIGHT RIDE CRABTREE

Morrisville, N.C. // facebook.com/SORBA. TORC WEEKLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIDES

The Bike Farm, Pisgah Forest, N.C. // facebook.com/TheBikeFarmPisgah MOTION MAKERS TUESDAY NIGHT RIDES

Motion Makers Bike Shop, Asheville, N.C. // facebook.com/motionmakers RUN AVL

Carrier Park, Asheville, N.C. // ashevilletrackclub.org FOOT RX MONDAY NIGHT RUN

Biltmore Park, Asheville, N.C. // footrxasheville.com JUS’ RUNNING WEDNESDAY NIGHT TRAIL RUNS

Bent Creek Experimental Forest, Asheville, N.C. // jusrunning.com DIRTY MUSTACHE RIDE

Atlanta, Ga. // fastermustache.org BOONE AREA CYCLISTS DAILY NIGHT RIDES

Boone, Blowing Rock, N.C. // boonebike.com TUESDAY NIGHT BEER RIDES

Transportation Museum, Roanoke, Va. // brbcva.org FLEET FEET SPORTS PUB RUN

Wasena City Taproom, Roanoke, Va. // fleetfeetroanoke.com TUESDAY NIGHT RUN

Charlottesville Area Trail Runners, Charlottesville, Va. // cvilleareatrailrunners.org WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUNS

Difficult Run, Great Falls, Va. // vhtrc.org RAMBO NIGHT RIDES

Roswell, Ga. // rambo-mtb.org 3K MOON WALK

Kingsport, Tenn. // werunevents.com

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about sums up Sapp’s existence.

When he’s off the clock, he’s on a bike, no matter the weather or time of day. Of course, Sapp can’t help admitting riding at night can be fun on occasion, assuming you’re not caught in the woods 10 miles from your car without a headlamp.

“It brings a different element to things,” he says. “[Riding at night] allows you to be pretty focused on what’s ahead of you instead of everything that’s in your peripherals.”

Unless, that is, you’re riding under a full moon in the Sedona desert, surrounded by nothing but low-lying shrubs and open air. For Sapp, and co-ripper “The Mangler,” that night under the big western sky ranks high on their list of best rides ever. Because even those like Sapp, steadfast in dedication to their sports, ride, or walk, or paddle, or run, because it brings them closer to the natural world and the mysteries therein, no matter the time of day.

SAFETY FIRST Even adventures by day can be risky business. Take away the sun, and situations can go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds. If you’re going to ignite the night, do it right with the following seven tips from Ty and Krissy!

3. KNOW YOUR CREW It’s not enough that you are in the company of others. Feel confident in the skills and abilities of those you journey with. If you don’t, try outings during the day to build that trust.

Nighttime is not the time to find out how people react to adversity.

1. BE CONSERVATIVE Thinking about a 50-miler? Scale it back. Want to paddle class IV? Try class III. Especially if it’s your first night outing ever, better to play it safe than sorry. A short five-mile hike may seem easy during the day, but there’s no telling what you’ll encounter when the sun sets.

4. BRING EXTRAS Extra layers, food, water, light, batteries. It may be more weight, yes, but a few simple items can make all of the difference in the event of an emergency.

2. TELL SOMEONE Don’t be Aron Ralston. Inform a friend or family member as to when and where you’re going and what time you expect to be back. This is a smart idea for any adventure, be it day or night.

5. SCOUT BEFORE YOU GO Night adventures aren’t for getting your PFD (personal first descent).

Know the river or trail before you go, and know it well. Make sure you’ve had a visual on the area, too, in the event recent storms have caused downed debris or missing signage.

6. FORMULATE PLAN B Even our best-laid plans often go awry. Have escape routes, backup plans, shuttle drivers on standby, and a flask of something waiting to celebrate when you’re safe and sound and the sun is rising.

7. BRIGHTER IS BETTER The better you can see, the better you can move. Even if you’re using the light of the moon, there’s no avoiding the green tunnels of Appalachia.

Invest in a solid headlamp and you won’t be disappointed.

8. BE ONE WITH THE NIGHT Even if just for a minute or two, go deep into the woods, turn off the light, and just be. What’s the point of recreating in the night if you’re just going to illuminate it anyway?

EXPLORE THE ELLIJAYS OF NORTH GEORGIA

Come play where the mountains meet main street.

Just an hour north of Atlanta, come explore north Georgia’s best hiking, biking, romantic cabin rentals, shopping and more. Beautiful rivers, lakes and majestic mountains are just a few of the reasons we say: “Gilmer’s Got It!”

Small Town. Big Views.

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ExploreTheEllijays.com

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JANUARY MEMBERSHIP SPECIALS!

From all of us at the River Rock, Happy New Year!

Thank you for voting us Best Climbing Gym in the Blue Ridge two years in a row.

We appreciate the opportunity to serve the community and climbers of all ages and abilities.

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TRAIL MIX

01. 16

DIGGING INTO THE PAST

SHOVELS & ROPE’S NEW GUEST-FILLED COVERS ALBUM

by JEDD FERRIS

A

cross a range of genres, there’s been a noticeable surge in recent studio albums dedicated to cover songs.

Most notably, Ryan Adams tackled Taylor Swift’s 1989 in its entirety, Bob Dylan sang Sinatra as part of his take on old pop standards, Shadows in the Night, and metal icon Danzig offered interpretations of ZZ Top, Aerosmith and the Everly Brothers on the all-covers set Skeletons.

Another emerging trend last year was the surprise LP: bands dropping fresh releases with little or no warning. Coldplay’s new A Head Full of Dreams was released less than a month after being announced, and Wilco’s latest, Star Wars, suddenly appeared on the band’s website as a free download last summer. Let’s also not forget U2 slipping Songs of Innocence into all iTunes accounts, only to apologize for it later.

It’s all part of the music industry’s evolving playbook, as record sales become even more negligible but studio output becomes even more plentiful. With advanced technology, albums are relatively easy to crank out and don’t require access to a fancy studio. In addition to being artistic statements, they’ve also become, which sounds somewhat sad to say, necessary marketing tools for bands that live on the road and mostly depend on ticket sales to pay the bills.

This all comes to mind when listening to Busted Jukebox, Volume 1, the latest release from South Carolina duo Shovels & Rope. The album was announced four days before its release in late November and posted for a 46

free streaming preview on NPR with no warning.

Like the title suggests, it’s a collection of random covers done in the group’s raw acoustic style. While it would have been cool enough to just hear the hard-touring country-punk outfit’s hair-raising harmonies anchor twangy takes on tunes by Neil Young, Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails, and Lou Reed, the group, comprised of married couple Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, took it a step further by enlisting a talented cast of friends to join them on all but one of the new effort’s 10 tracks.

Shovels & Rope emerged from Charleston five years ago and quickly became Americana darlings, touring relentlessly in a Winnebago, quickly packing clubs, and opening for the likes of Jack White and Jason Isbell.

The band’s sound is unhinged and infectious, characterized by ragged minimalist delivery that’s propelled by powerful emotion and gutbucket tenacity. Hearst and Trent often trade off between an acoustic guitar and a bare-bones drum kit, stomping and hollering through fist-pumping anthems. There’s some of that vintage country male-female vocal

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chemistry—think Johnny and June or Graham and Emmylou—that can only come from genuine under-thesheets passion.

Prior to its latest, the band released three albums, including 2012 breakout O’ Be Joyful. That album was made with some true independent grit, pieced together during lengthy tours with parts of some tracks cut in dive motels and even the back of a van. The same spirit, and at times method, prevails on Busted Jukebox. The album serves as both an experiential tour log and a snapshot of the vastness of the widely encompassing Americana scene, all while paying tribute to a diverse lot of influential predecessors.

Hearst and Trent recorded some of the covers that often rile up crowds during their raucous live shows, and the guest musicians—mostly contemporaries met on the road through shared bills and festival appearances—add the spontaneity of a front-porch sing-along to many of the songs. It took some diligence to coordinate schedules with the musicians they wanted to help. They pulled Shakey Graves into a hotel room to knock out a dusty barroom

take on Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend,” and recorded a reverent version of Reed’s dirge “Perfect Day” with help from the venerable Preservation Hall Jazz Band during an on-stage rehearsal in New Orleans.

The album moves between the familiar and somewhat obscure— both in songs and cast—and runs through a wide range of roots music styles. JD McPherson leads the garage soul revamp of Toussaint McCall's "Nothing Takes the Place of You," while upstart singersongwriter Caroline Rose helps out on Nine Inch Nails’ “Last,” an interpretation perfectly described by the band as “a psychobilly hoedown from hell.” Richmond rocker J. Roddy Walston also adds some husky wails to a vintage pop version of his own “Boys Can Never Tell.”

The most surprising resurrection is a retro folk reading of Guns N’ Roses’ acoustic ballad “Patience,” which juxtaposes Hearst and Trent’s edgy vocal frays with the smooth Simon & Garfunkel-style revivalist singing of the Grammy-nominated Milk Carton Kids. It turns the song into a gentle lullaby until it peaks with an impressive imitation of Axl Rose’s infamous original vocal crescendo— fun preservation of power-ballad fireworks.

The album closes with Hearst and Trent going guest free on a gospelswamp version of Emmylou Harris’ “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” adding a little extra vigor to the line “that old highway goes on forever,” and proving they can do just fine when they’re not getting by with a little help from their friends.

CHECK 'EM OUT!

Shovels & Rope will start the year with three hometown shows at the Charleston Music Hall on January 14-17. After some big city dates opening for Jason Isbell in Chicago, New York, and Boston, the band will be back in the South at the onset of spring, at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, N.C., on March 20, the Harvester in Rocky Mount, Va., on March 22, and the Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., on March 23.

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