Blue Ridge Outdoors May 2016 by Summit Publishing

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17 FESTIVAL GUIDE 2016

May 2016 CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

8 QUICK HITS

A.T. fugitive faces sentencing • Mount Mitchell State Park expands • Bat populations decimated by White Nose fungus • Underground 5K • Parks in peril

10 FLASHPOINT

Will electric bikes trash the trails or open them to new riders?

14 THE DIRT

Strive not to drive: use public transit to visit these five public lands and waterways.

www.deuter.com

From big music blowouts to boutique gatherings, there are galas taking place nearly every weekend. Find the best 100 bashes in the Blue Ridge, along with must-see legends and super jams, fests for family and adventure, gear essentials, and 10 money-saving tips for festival season.

53 ROANOKE REINVENTED

Look out, Asheville. Star City is on the rise. With a new mayor and a thriving outdoor community, Roanoke is poised to become the next big mountain town.

67 FORWARD EVER

Tennessee is home to the country’s top paracyclists, including three athletes eyeing the 2016 Paralympics.

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71 ADVENTURE BREWERIES

Craft breweries in the Blue Ridge are often perfectly placed on the doorstep of adventure. Knock back a pint at one of these nine brewery basecamps.

78 OVERLANDING

Extreme, geared-up car campers explore the wilds of West Virginia on wheels and on film.

cover photo by ROGER GUPTA THE I NFAMOU S ST R I N G D UST E RS P L AY T HE 2 015 F E ST Y E X PER IEN CE

North Carolina Appalachian Trail

License Plate Application The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) now has a specialty license tag in the state of North Carolina. By getting your tag today, you’ll help the ATC protect and maintain America’s Facts Favorite Long Distance Trail! The ATC will receive $20 annually for each AT plate purchased or renewed.

 You must already have the vehicle registered in North Carolina.  You receive a FREE ATC Membership with the purchase of your NC AT Tag.  *The $30 or $60 annual fee is in addition to regular annual license fees you have already paid.  Personalized tags may be relinquished to someone else, but once a numerical tag expires without renewal, that number can never again be reissued.  If you change your mind, you can go back to a regular license plate at any time. There will not be a refund of unused portion of special fees.  Additional applications can be found online at

All proceeds received from each state will help manage and protect the Trail. How Much Does It Cost?  $30 Regular Appalachian Trail plate*  $60 Personalized Appalachian Trail plate* You are allowed four (4) spaces for a personalized message. __ __ __ __ 2nd Choice __ __ __ __ 3rd Choice __ __ __ __ 1st Choice

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B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / M AY 2 01 6

BEST FESTIVAL MEMORY? MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL

RANDY JOHNSON When a few friends and I stumbled into the West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville expecting beer-swilling country fans, we got goose bumps listening to craggy-faced Southern highlanders singing discordant sorrowful songs, richly accented voices underscored by dulcimer and fiddle. MASON ADAMS I wish I could relive Fugazi's 2002 show at the Asheville Music Zone. At the time, I remember hoping for certain songs, and feeling some of the disappointment great expectations bring. I listened to a recording of the show last year, hearing it with completely different ears 13 years later.

DANIELLE TAYLOR Some journalists and I met Charlie Daniels on his bus before his show at the 2011 Legends Hot Air Balloon Rally. As a lifelong clogger who has performed to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," I was definitely starstruck. I tried to sneak a photo of him from backstage, but he caught me, grinned and posed with his fiddle, then went onstage and absolutely lit it up. HAYLEY WELLS Panic in the Streets in Athens, Georgia, 1998. At eighteen years old, it was my

first introduction to Widespread Panic shows and the fun that could truly be had in a college town. I've seen many shows since then, but none as great.

JESSICA PORTER Mumford and Sons at Merriweather Post Pavilion a few years ago. A crazy lightning storm rolled in right as they were about to play, but we all embraced it. We were muddy and soaked, but it was a great show.

EVANS PRATER In high school, my three best friends and I took a road trip from Tallahassee to Chicago to see the Chili Peppers headline Lollapalooza. I saw a younger, lesser known band named My Morning Jacket there and they were so loud we actually had to move farther away from the stage. JOHN JETER Having put on 3,000 shows at my concert venue, The Handlebar, in Greenville, S.C., I'd say I'd have to relive two: Joan Baez, a magical presence, and Nils Lofgren, a sublime musician.

JESS DADDIO Pokey LaFarge at the first Red Wing Roots back in 2013. It was my first ever multi-day music festival and Pokey LaFarge is one of my all-time favorite bands. I got a picture with every member of the band. #fangirlmoment

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ADVENTURE WILD, WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA

YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL FIND IT HERE. The springtime swell is here. Come paddle mountain whitewater at its wildest.

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BEYOND THE BLUE RIDGE

SHORTS

UNDERGROUND 5K IN KANSAS In late February, 299 runners ran a 3.1-mile course that’s 650 feet below ground. This took place at the Mine Run 5K, a new race that takes runners through the dark tunnels of the Hutchinson Salt Company Mine in Hutchinson, Kansas. With a wave start in groups of 30, runners used headlamps and followed a rope on the ground that marked the course through the pitchblack darkness. There were also volunteers at almost every one of the course’s 70 turns to help keep runners moving in the right direction. While no one got lost, Mary Grace Clements, executive director of the mine’s museum, told Runner’s World one runner had a panic attack.

BLUE RIDGE BRIEFS by JEDD FERRIS MOUNT MITCHELL STATE PARK EXPANDS ON 100TH BIRTHDAY Mount Mitchell—North Carolina’s oldest state park—turns 100 this year. To celebrate, the state park will more than double in size. Over 2,744 acres will be added to the park’s northern boundary by The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit that has purchased the acreage and plans to transfer ownership to the state. The land was purchased through grants, bargain sales, and private donations. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the East at 6,684 feet, and each year, the park draws over a quarter-million visitors. A.T. HIKING FUGITIVE SET FOR SENTENCING A year ago FBI agents arrested James Hammes at the annual Trail Days festival in Damascus, Va. It certainly came as a surprise to some within the Appalachian Trail community who knew Hammes as a bearded hiker with the trail name “Bismark.” It turns out he was an accountant wanted by the authorities for embezzling millions from the Pepsi-Cola bottling company that employed him in Cincinnati. Hammes spent approximately six years hiding out on the trail, but after being apprehended he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed to pay back $8.7 million. For his cooperation in explaining his scheme that lasted 17 years, authorities dropped another 74 counts of wire fraud. Hammes was scheduled to be sentenced in March, but the date his fate will be revealed was moved to June 1. He could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. 8

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / M AY 2 01 6

CHARLESTON RECEIVES GRANT TO PREP FOR RISING SEA LEVELS The coastal city of Charleston, S.C., received more than a half-million dollars to prepare for rising sea levels. According to an AP report, the federal grant, which came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was awarded so governments in Charleston and additional surrounding towns located near the Atlantic Ocean can make infrastructure improvements to be ready for potential flooding from predicted elevated water levels. BIG MAINTENANCE BACKLOG AT NATIONAL PARKS It’s no secret that national parks are underfunded, but it’s getting even worse. According to a report that came out in March, the 409 units of the National Park Service now have a deferred maintenance list that totals $11.9 billion, a record amount that’s up four percent from the previous year. In an interview with NPR,

illustration by WADE MICKLEY

National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said, "I need about twice as much money as I currently get to address our maintenance backlog." Right now parks get approximately $3 billion annually from Congress, with more funds coming from entrance fees, concession sales, and donations. Some are suggesting the NPS consider private-public partnerships with restrictions to limit commercialization. Nearly everyone agrees that gridlocked Congress should put aside partisan rancor and fully fund our national parks.

SEVERE BAT POPULATION DECLINE IN GEORGIA In the past decade, bat populations have been decimated throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. The cause: White Nose Syndrome, a deadly fungus that grows on the muzzles and wings of bats while they

hibernate. Since the disease worked its way down from the Northeast nearly 10 years ago, it has continued to kill bats at an alarming rate. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources reports that the state is approaching a population decline of more than 95 percent, calling this possibly the worst wildlife loss in recorded history. Bats play an important ecological role, eating large amounts of insects every day. They save agriculture in the U.S. billions of dollars, as farmers count on them to eat certain bugs before they reach fruits and vegetables. Fewer bats could lead to even more pesticide use, which could cause an even greater range of environmental and health problems. Scientists are working on potential White Nose cures, including the use of a bacteria that’s successfully slowed fungus growth on fruit.

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FLASHPOINT

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ELECTRIC BICYCLES ON THE TRAIL? E-BIKES GRIND INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY by ERYN GABLE

magine biking along your favorite trail deep in the forest, zipping among the trees and barreling over the rocky, root-strewn path when you reach that terrible, awful, wonderful hill. As you begin your climb, you can feel your legs burning, chest aching, heart thumping. But this time, just as you reach the point where you feel you can't go on, you get a little extra power—not from somewhere deep inside yourself, but from your ride, because this time you're riding an electric mountain bike. For some, the idea of an electric bike might seem a bit like cheating, taking all the honor and glory out of pushing yourself beyond your perceived physical limits and achieving more than you thought possible. Others feel that motors of any kind don’t belong on trails, and allowing e-bikes could set a dangerous precedent. E-bikes could open the door to more noisy, polluting motorized recreation on public lands. But for proponents, e-bikes enable riders to explore the world in a way they otherwise might not be able or willing to. "It's opened up cycling to a whole broad new group of people, including a demographic of people that maybe haven't ever cycled before," said Chris Cherry, an assistant professor of engineering at the University of Tennessee. E-bikes resemble their conventional cousins, but they have heavier frames and incorporate a rechargeable battery, typically integrated into the frame or located behind the rider. Some have motors 10

ELECTRIC BIKES HELP RIDERS CLIMB STEEP TRAILS. IS THAT FAIR?

that automatically engage as you pedal, while others have a throttle on the handlebar or an interface allowing you to choose how much assistance you want from the motor. "You don't know what it's like until you ride it," said Rick Sathoff, owner of Electric Scooter City in Raleigh, N.C. "The usual reaction we get is 'Woo-hoo!'" E-bikes have become increasingly popular, expanding their reach as more manufacturers get into the game—including well-known brands like Cannondale, Giant, and Trek— and more bike shops start offering them in their stores. From 2012 to 2014, U.S. sales of e-bikes jumped from 63,000 to 193,000, according to the Light Electric Vehicle

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / M AY 2 01 6

Association (LEVA). And their sales are expected to continue growing, with some industry reports predicting sales of up to 350,000 by 2017. WHAT MAKES A MOUNTAIN BIKE? Their rapid ascent, however, has many people worried—including mountain bikers who fear they'll lose access to singletrack and hikers worried about the potential damage to trails. In an essay stating his objections to e-bikes, Pinkbike's Richard Cunningham summed it up this way: "Mountain bikes are a form of human-powered locomotion with which to experience the wonders and the challenges of the natural world. Engines and motors have no place in that equation." Some mountain bikers envision a swarm of not-quite-dirt bikes descending upon the trails, tearing

up the land, disturbing other users, and leading to an outright ban on all bikes—even those without motors—on natural trails. But e-bike proponents are quick to note that they are more closely related to bikes than motorcycles, with most achieving maximum speeds of 20 miles per hour when powered solely by the motor. "The controversy was basically young guys with big quads saying, 'We don't want no stinking motors on our mountain bike trails,' and baby boomers saying, 'Whose mountain bike trails? We're the ones who created those trails,'" said Ed Benjamin, LEVA's founder and chairman. "That's been an interesting conversation." Benjamin noted that many of the original objections to having e-bikes on trails were couched in terms of concerns that they'd tear up

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the trailsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an interesting claim for mountain bikers to make, considering it's the same one many equestrians and hikers raised when mountain bikers were first trying to access trails. There's already some evidence that the concerns about trail damage may be overblown. A study conducted in western Oregon by the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), Bicycle Products Suppliers Association, and People for Bikes found soil displacement and erosion from e-bikes were comparable to mountain bikes, while dirt bikes took a much higher toll. Even so, Mark Eller of the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) cautioned that it only examined a small part of a much larger issue. The impacts could be different in other parts of the country with different soil types, and the study didn't look at other factors related to e-bike use such as impacts to wildlife or social implications. "There's definitely a lot of concern about what it would be like to have [electric mountain bikes] on trails. That came through loud and clear from our members," Eller said. "Basically, they're saying, 'I'm okay if there are minimal impacts, but I'm not ready to share trails with them.'" For now, IMBA maintains that e-bikes should be managed like other motorized vehicles and kept off non-motorized trailsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a position the federal government has largely agreed with so far. At the federal level, many managers are just beginning to grapple with how to handle e-bikes. "It's something that's been brewing for the last year or so," said Chris Sporl, the Forest Service's national travel management program manager. "It's going to take a little bit of time for the forests to wrap their arms around this one." While the Forest Service lumps e-bikes in with other motorized vehicles, Sporl said individual forests can designate special trails for e-bikes or change trail designations to accommodate e-bikes if they choose.

But a new designation would require the Forest Service to conduct an environmental analysis and gather public input before moving forward with such a change, and Sporl said he wasn't aware of any proposals to do so. At the state level, lawmakers are already moving forward with laws to regulate e-bikes. For example, a law that took effect this year in California designates three classes of e-bikes, distinguishing lower speed electric bicycles that have top speeds of 20 miles per hour from higher-powered "speed pedelecs" that can travel up to 28 miles per hour. Proponents hope the legislation will serve as a national model for e-bike legislation in the rest of the country. Morgan Lommele, e-bikes campaign manager for People for Bikes, said her group would like to see access expanded for the lowerspeed, class 1 electric bikes. "Most people who want to ride electric mountain bikes don't want to do so to go faster or destroy the trail faster," she said. "They really want to recreate like everyone else, and we should provide that opportunity to people where it makes sense." Some cyclists also support allowing some electric bikes access to mountain biking trails. "You can have a jerk out there who's causing trouble and it could be a problem and ruining it for others, but I don't think they should be relegated to one spot or we'd be pigeonholing a whole group of people," said Stephen Proffitt, a manager at Shenandoah Bicycling Co. in Harrisonburg, Va. For people with disabilities and injuries, older riders, and those who aren't physically fit enough to bike for long periods without assistance, e-bikes promise to encourage more people to exercise by making it more enjoyable to ride. That's a benefit some say shouldn't be denied. "The more people who are out there enjoying it, the better," said Cassidy Castleman of Pedego Electric Bikes. "Why would you want to exclude people?"

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PUBLIC LANDS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT

REACH THESE FIVE FAVORITE TRAILHEADS WITHOUT A CAR by DANIELLE TAYLOR

n the age of Uber, it’s easier than ever to get around without your own set of wheels, but reaching some far-flung outdoor destinations still presents a challenge for carless adventurers. With a little research and creativity, however, you can still get out and about. Check out these options for a few regional public lands you can visit without a car.

WEST VIRGINIA | HARPERS FERRY NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

It’s no coincidence that this town at the intersection of two rivers also serves as a crossroads of transportation, which makes it super simple to access. Each day, Amtrak’s Capitol Limited route stops at the Harpers Ferry station en route from Washington, D.C. and Chicago, and the train offers walk-on bike service as well as educational opportunities about the region's natural and cultural heritage through the National Park Service’s Trails & Rails program. On weekdays, the MARC Train’s Brunswick Line stops in Harpers Ferry as it travels between D.C and Martinsburg, West Virginia. A park shuttle bus connects the Lower Town with the park’s Visitor Center. A short walk from these access points will connect you to multiple trails (including the Appalachian Trail) as well as adventure guide companies that offer rafting, tubing, kayaking, zip lining, and mountain biking.

MARYLAND | ASSATEAGUE STATE PARK AND 14

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

Greyhound offers bus service to Ocean City, Maryland, and a short Uber or taxi ride from there gets you to either Assateague State Park or Assateague Island National Seashore. Both sections of the island offer campsites, swimming beaches, crabbing and fishing sites, nature trails, and feral horses meander throughout. Consider renting a bike in Ocean City (they’re an expensive hassle to transport by Greyhound) so you can explore more of the island.

VIRGINIA | THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY AND ROANOKE’S MILL MOUNTAIN PARK AND EXPLORE PARK Roanoke’s greenways and its placement along the Blue Ridge Parkway make the city an ideal starting point for a variety of outdoor adventures, and since both Amtrak and Greyhound offer bus service to Roanoke, it’s a great option for a weekend getaway from urban centers throughout the region. Several bike shops in town offer rentals, and walkers and bikers alike can take the Mill Mountain Greenway from downtown Roanoke to Mill Mountain Park, which features the city’s iconic star. This 568-acre regional park also offers 10 miles of

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / M AY 2 01 6

multiuse trails, a zoo, a wildflower garden, a playground, picnic sites, a discovery center, two overlooks that provide spectacular views of the city. The Roanoke River Greenway hugs the river on the south side of the city and terminates before it reaches Explore Park, but by continuing along neighborhood streets in the city’s Rosewood Park neighborhood, visitors can access Explore Park’s 1,100 acres, 14 miles of trails, and Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor’s Center. The park is located at milepost 115 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which dedicated cyclists can also access from downtown Roanoke via virtually any major road heading east or south out of the city.

SOUTH CAROLINA | SESQUICENTENNIAL STATE PARK Amtrak serves downtown Columbia, and citybound nature seekers can then walk a few short blocks to catch the city’s Comet 55x bus toward Sesquicentennial State Park. The bus stops at Wal-Mart on Columbia’s Two Notch Road, and parkgoers can then walk or catch a taxi/Uber for the last two miles into the heart of the park. Sesquicentennial sprawls for more than 1,400 acres under the canopy of a pine forest and features 84 campsites, 12 miles of hiking trails, a six-mile bike loop, a dog park

THE A.T. TRAILHEAD IN HARPERS FERRY IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY TRAIN AND BUS.

(although dogs are not permitted on Columbia city buses), a sand volleyball court, a softball field, two playgrounds, geocaches, and picnic shelters. Additionally, the park offers kayaks, canoes, fishing boats, pedal boats and stand-up paddleboards for rent.

GEORGIA | CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

The Chattahoochee River meanders just a few miles north and west of downtown Atlanta, creating plenty of access points, but watercraft rentals and shuttles take a bit more planning. Greyhound and Amtrak both have stations in downtown Atlanta, and once there, river runners can take the MARTA’s Red Line train to North Springs, then transfer to Bus 85 and get off at the first stop (Dunwoody Place). From there, a 20-minute walk will get you to Shoot the Hooch, an outfitter and guiding company that offers half- and full-day rentals and guided trips to get you rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, or stand-up paddleboarding on the Chattahoochee.

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FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016

DO YOUR FEST

CHOOSING THE BEST SOUTHERN FESTIVAL by JEDD FERRIS

We’re living in a Golden Age of festivals. If you love live music and a great outdoor hang, there’s never been a better time to find your ideal fest. From big music bashes to boutique gatherings, there are fun galas taking place nearly every weekend from spring through fall, throughout the Blue

Ridge and beyond. To help you wade through the options, follow BRO’s guide to choosing the right festival, focusing on the best experiences in tunes, brews, and adventures. In the following pages you’ll also find a Festival Calendar, rounding up nearly 100 of the region’s best bashes.

photo by JOSHUA TIMMERMANS

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FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016

WITNESS HISTORY AT THE SUPER JAMS

Since its first year in 2002, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (June 9-12; bonnaroo.com), has become the pace setter for the current explosion of multi-band mega fests, bringing 80,000 fans to a 700-acre farm in the middle of Tennessee for one of the country’s most eclectic, high-profile music extravaganzas. Endure the elements—heat, dust, and crowds—and you’ll be treated to sets from a wide range of artists, this year including Pearl Jam, Dead & Co., a reunited LCD Soundsystem, Jason Isbell, and Death Cab for Cutie. While Bonnaroo has definitely grown beyond its jam band roots, that spirit is still alive with the festival’s annual Super Jam. Usually starting around 1 a.m., the jam has yielded some legendary collaborations between artists who don’t normally play together. In 2007 Ben Harper mixed it up with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, and in 2012 the jam staged D’Angelo’s musical comeback, with the neo-soul icon backed by Questlove and a hand-picked funk band. Last year upped the ante with a themed “80s Throwback Superjam” that turned into a huge dance party led by Pretty Lights, DMC of Run DMC, Metallica’s Rob Trujillo, and Chance the Rapper. This year it hasn’t yet been revealed who will be in the mix, but the festival has also added a Bluegrass Super Jam on Sunday led by banjo-playing comedic actor Ed Helms. Another event that specializes in creating spontaneous onstage moments is the Lockn’ Music Festival (August 25-28; Arrington, Va.), a four-day sonic rager that takes place on the idyllic Oak Ridge Farm in Nelson County, Va. This jam fan’s paradise offers an alternative to the usual festival formula by holding bands on two massive side-by-side stages with no overlapping sets. The fest is also known for orchestrating interesting collaborations between artists, like last year’s mingling of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh with

Santana and Warren Haynes, as well as Widespread Panic’s set with reggae icon Jimmy Cliff. No collaborations had been announced at press time, but the initial line-up is a doozy, featuring Phish, My Morning Jacket, Ween, and many more.

CATCH THE LEGENDS WHILE YOU CAN

Earlier this year, we received sudden reminders that rock legends are not immortal when David Bowie and Glenn Frey of the Eagles passed away within days of each other. Fortunately, many of the old school greats are still on the road, but frankly, a lot of them are a little long in the tooth. Festivals often offer the opportunity to knock multiple legends off your musical bucket list at one time. This spring and summer Greg Allman is hosting his Laid Back Festival (laidbackfestival.com) in five different cities, including Atlanta on

May 7 and Nashville on June 25. The Allman Brothers Band keyboardist is now 68, but since his main group retired in 2014 he’s seemed energized and maintained an active touring regimen, mixing Brothers classics and his own material with his solo band. At the Laid Back opener in Atlanta, Allman is bringing along fellow rock vets ZZ Top and steadily rising outlaw country crew Blackberry Smoke. This summer Allman is also playing FloydFest and Peachfest in Scranton, Pa. Fans of fast picking and grinning should plan a trip to southwest Virginia for Dr. Ralph Stanley’s Hills of Home Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Festival (May 26-28; drralphstanleyfesival.com). Still performing at age 89, Stanley is a pioneer of the high lonesome sound dating back to his days playing with his brother Carter in the Stanley Brothers in the 1940s. He still plays a set every day at his annual festival, a down-home, multi-band traditional bluegrass gala in a beautiful setting

LOCKN' MUSIC FESTIVAL photo by JOSHUA TIMMERMANS

that’s approaching its 46th year.

ADD SOME ADVENTURE

Festivals are much more than multi-band concerts. Sure, the music might be the main draw that lures you through the gates, but these days many festivals offer adventure opportunities alongside the sounds. The Mountain Music Festival (June 3-4; mountainmusicfestwv.com), a two-day bash in West Virginia’s New River Gorge, has a line-up of adrenaline-inducing activities to match its roster of killer bands. Taking place at ACE Adventure Resort, a 1,500-acre spread in the heart of the gorge, the festival site sits next to some of the best whitewater runs and climbing crags in the region. Before you get down to sets by Trampled by Turtles, the Infamous Stringdusters, Lotus, and Galactic,

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Carves Steps out of stones.

The capra bolt

WITH UNIFLY™ MIDSOLE FOR HIKING UP QUICKER AND FLYING DOWN FASTER.

take a rafting trip on the Lower New or bring your mountain bike and ride ACE’s 30 miles of trails. Other activities offered during the fest: Zip lining, paddleboarding, and a mud run. Another popular event that’s recently upped its adventure game is FloydFest (July 27-31; floydfest.com), an eclectic roots music carnival that takes place just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Floyd, Va. Since its inception back in 2002, FloydFest has become known for bridging the gap between Appalachian traditions and the melting pot of independent roots music from the around the rest of the world. On nine stages big headliners like Greg Allman, Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby, Greensky Bluegrass, and Fela Kuti perform alongside up and comers like Head for the Hills and West African music act Selasee & the Fafa Family. Set on a mountain plateau that’s surrounded by some of Virginia’s most scenic terrain, FloydFest organizers now offer plenty of ways to explore this pristine open space. In addition to a 5K trail race, the fest also has a nine-hole disc golf course and onsite singletrack on the Moonstomper Mountain Bike Trail. There’s also an organized off-site 19-mile ride, the Belcher Mountain Beat Down, which features 1,600 feet of climb and offers shuttle service back to the festival, as well as organized paddling trips on the Little River.

PARTY ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

If you love the outdoors and you live in the footprint of the Blue Ridge, Trail Days (May 13-15; traildays.us) is a bucket list festival. Set in the quaint southwestern Virginia town of Damascus, known as Trail Town, U.S.A., the festival is a big reunion for Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and a huge weekend party that lets all outdoor enthusiasts become immersed in A.T. culture. Throughout the weekend, check out gear booths, hear live bluegrass, and watch hikers get goofy in a parade, talent show,

and prom. There are also talks and presentations by A.T. legends of yesteryear. At the fest, mainly set in Town Park but spreading throughout town, it’s also easy to enjoy the surrounding scenery. The A.T. runs right through Damascus, so it’s easy to pick up the trail and take a hike. You can also bring your bike and jump on the rugged Iron Mountain Trail for some tough singletrack or the family-friendly Virginia Creeper Trail for an easy rail trail ride. At night pitch a tent at one of the designated campgrounds on the edge of town. You’ll likely find a hiker to share some old trail stories and sips from a jar of ‘shine.

BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY

Sure, bringing the kids to a huge festival with thick crowds might seem like an overwhelming proposition. But fortunately the Blue Ridge has some intimate musical gatherings that feature top-notch line-ups to please mom and dad while also holding plenty of activities to keep the little ones happy. If you’re inclined to make it a family affair, check out one of these kid-friendly fests. LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival) May 12-15; Black Mountain, N.C. theleaf.org The Lake Eden Arts Festival—better known as LEAF—goes above and beyond when it comes to keeping kids entertained at a multi-band music festival. A few years ago the fest, nestled within the mountainous Camp Rockmont, expanded its offerings for youngsters with the addition of eight Family Adventure Villages that include everything from puppetry and hands-on nature programs to art projects and organized games. Add swimming and paddling in Lake Eden and the kids will certainly be tuckered and ready for some tent slumber. In addition to the family fun, LEAF features one of the most diverse arrays of artistic offerings

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016 of any fest in the region: live music, dance workshops, healing arts, and much more. There’s also the music, which covers sounds from around the globe. Acts this year include Shovels and Rope, Juan De Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All-Stars, Fatoutmata Diawara, and Sarah Jarosz. Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival May 26-29; Martinsville, Va. roosterwalk.com This homegrown festival recently got some new digs, moving last year to the scenic Pop’s Farm near Martinsville. Attendance has increased as fest organizers continue to add bigger national acts to the Rooster Walk line-up, but this is still a relatively small event with plenty of open space and a dedicated kid’s area to keep the kiddos happy. Acts on the bill this year include Lettuce, the Sam Bush Band, Perpetual Groove, and the Revivalists. Bonus: This festival has a heartfelt purpose, created to honor two Martinsville locals who passed away. Proceeds from your ticket dollars go to a high school scholarship program created in their honor, as well as other regional charities.

Merrell and Tough Mudder are teaming up for 2016 to bring you the biggest, baddest obstacle challenge yet. Gear up, grab your team, and get muddy. WWW.MERRELL.COM/TOUGH-MUDDER

2016 EVENTS MID-ATLANTIC & SOUTHEAST ATLANTA - MAY 7-8 PHILLY - MAY 21-22 KENTUCKY - JUNE 11-12 VIRGINIA - JUNE 11 VIRGINIA - JUNE 12 HALF

Red Wing Roots Music Festival July 8-10; Mt. Solon, Va. redwingroots.com Red Wing takes place in the relaxed confines of Natural Chimneys Park, a comfortable campground in the shadow of towering limestone rock formations. The festival, located in the Shenandoah Valley near Harrisonburg, was started by lauded string band and area natives the Steel Wheels, who curate a carefully selected line-up of Americana and acoustic music acts that perform on multiple stages in very close proximity. This year the fest will be M AY 2 016 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

headlined by Dawes, Shovels and Rope, the Lone Bellow, and the Steep Canyon Rangers. “We want music that draws from traditions of old country, folk, singer-songwriter, Cajun and bluegrass—what you would consider the roots of American music,” Steel Wheels front man Trent Wagler said about crafting the festival’s line-up. “We’re working hard to find great music that defines that term for us.” While the festival’s musical ambitions are broad, attendance is intentionally kept relatively small to accommodate families. Red Wing also has an impressive slate of kid’s activities, including a Kinfolk Stage devoted to music for little ones.

DIG INTO COUNTRY’S ROOTS IN BRISTOL

Located on the southwest Virginia/ eastern Tennessee border, Bristol holds great historic significance in the first generation of country music. Back in 1927 a record producer named Ralph Peer working for the Victor Talking Machine Company set up a recording studio in a hat factory on State Street, the small city’s main drag. After placing an ad looking for Appalachian musicians from the surrounding area, Peer organized the now-famous Bristol Sessions, which yielded the first recordings by bluegrass pioneer Jimmie Rodgers and the legendary Carter Family. The legacy of those historic recordings is upheld at the Smithsonian-affiliated Birthplace of Country Music Museum, and it really comes to life every fall at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion (September 16-18; bristolrhythm.com), a bustling street festival that spans downtown and incorporates roots music from a range of generations and styles. Impressively, the festival manages to seamlessly bridge traditional icons with emerging acts in roots rock and indie folk, hosting bands and singer-songwriters along State Street (which straddles the Virginia/Tennessee line) on 22

stages—some outdoors, others inside theaters and bars. At first it may seem like a stretch to see Loretta Lynn on a bill with Houndmouth, but when you consider the evolution and stylistic shake-ups in country music through its near century in existence, this festival’s line-up makes perfect sense. Additional acts on the bill this year include Cracker, Marty Stuart, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Keller Williams, Anderson East, and many more.

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016

PICK WITH YOUR HEROES AT JAM CAMP

Delfest (May 26-29; delfest.com) is a progressive bluegrass and roots music festival hosted by genre legend Del McCoury in the scenic Potomac River Valley of western Maryland. The festival’s line-up mingles top-notch string bands and heavyweights in Americana and roots rock, this year featuring Bruce Hornsby, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Greensky Bluegrass, the Infamous Stringdusters, and Railroad Earth, along with the usual sets by Del and his sons in the Travelin’ McCourys. To make the most of the festival, consider coming early for the DelFest Academy, a four-day bluegrass camp that features instruction for musicians of all skills levels by acts on the fest bill. Starting the Sunday prior to the festival, the Academy offers the chance to learn from pro pickers with specific instruction for guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and bass. In addition to the instrument classes, the camp also includes plenty of group jam sessions, intimate performances by instructors, and Bluegrass Karaoke, which gives students a chance to play a song backed by their heroes. Instructors this year include all of the Travelin’ McCourys, Andy Falco of the Infamous Stringdusters, and mandolin-playing songstress Sierra Hull. Another Jam: Banjo ace Pete Wernick of Hot Rize also hosts a Bluegrass Camp (jamclasses.drbanjo.com) prior to

Merlefest every April in Wilkesboro, N.C.

DRINK THE BEST IN BREW

Last fall, the Brewers Association announced that there are now more than 4,000 active breweries in the U.S. and 75 percent of adults age 21 and older live within 10 miles of a local brewery. It’s hard to predict how big the craft beer boom will get, but as more brewers continue to open new operations their best opportunities to get beers in the hands of new drinkers are at the many craft beer festivals taking place across the country. With Virginia and North Carolina being craft beer hotbeds, it’s no wonder that the Blue Ridge is full of beer fests. Just outside of Charlottesville, Va., in the small town of Crozet, regional mainstay Starr Hill Brewery is getting set to host the IPA Jambeeree ( June 25; starrhill. com), a new fest that will celebrate the best in hoppy brews from the Commonwealth. The Jambeeree will feature a dozen Virginia breweries

FLOYDFEST photo by ROGER GUPTA

pouring more than 40 local IPAs. New varieties have taken hops in many directions, so whether you like bitter, piney, floral, or fruity, you’ll find what you’re looking for at this beer bash. Add live music, food trucks, and brewer exhibits, and you get some serious good times taking place at Hangar Park, across from Starr Hill’s brewery and tap room. Down south, Burning Can ( July 15-16; burningcan.com) is hosted by Oskar Blues Brewery at its REEB Ranch outpost in Brevard, N.C. Taking place at a scenic spot on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest, the fest features more than 50 killer breweries that put their best liquid in cans, as well as plenty of outdoor playtime, including a Beer Relay trail run, group mountain bike rides, a dirtjumping comp, and paddle trips. Plus, there’s camping, so you don’t have to worry about getting home after drinking too many Dale’s Pale Ales.

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13 MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR FESTIVAL SEASON by JESS DADDIO Tis the season for bare feet and bonfires, cold beers and late nights. As spring gets underway, there’s one thing on our minds — music festivals. No summer is complete without one, yet for the majority of families and millennials alike, checking off a music festival from the bucket list is hard to justify. After all, a few hundred bucks can buy a lot of groceries, take a chunk out of student loans, replace those worn-out spheres of rubber you call tires. But with a little planning and preparation, going to a multiday music festival doesn’t have to break the bank. Check out these 13 money saving tips for first-time festivalgoers!

regularly brings in groovin’ tunes from the likes of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and The Primate Fiasco. Take advantage of freebies! You might just discover your next favorite band.

#1 FIND A FREE FEST. DUH.

There’s a reason the saying, “early bird gets the worm,” exists. “Timing is a crucial factor when trying to attend a festival on a budget,” says Jeremiah Jenkins, managing partner for Black Bear Productions, which puts on Red Wing Roots in Mount Solon, Va. “Most festivals have tiered ticketing with prices often raised by 50 percent from the time the tickets go on sale to

Free festivals are more common than you might think, and the line-ups are surprisingly decent, too. Roots artist Woody Pines took the stage in 2011 at Mountain Sports Festival in Asheville, N.C. Big names like G. Love and Jason Isbell have rocked out at the U.S. Whitewater Center’s annual Tuck Fest in Charlotte, N.C. Roanoke’s Go Outside Festival

#2 START SAVING NOW

As in, right now. Or whenever your next paycheck is scheduled. A $350 general admission ticket to Bonnaroo might seem like a lot all at once, but consider this—if you set aside $30 every month for one year, you’d have enough to foot the bill. Can’t bear to miss out on the lineup this year? Some festivals, like Bonnaroo, offer payment plans.

#3 BUY EARLY

the price at the gate.” So when in doubt, buy early. In the event you decide not to go, you’ll more than likely be able to resell your ticket for equal, if not greater, value than what you purchased it for originally.

#4 STAY CONNECTED

More than ever, festivals are utilizing social media as a marketing and ticket sales tool. So how does this work in your favor? “A lot of times we put promo codes out there via Facebook,” says Mountain Music Festival Coordinator and ACE Adventure Resort Special Events Coordinator Chris Colin. “We also have Instagram contests and Facebook photo contests where we give away free tickets.” That’s right—give away. As in, free. If you don’t have Instagram yet, you do now.

#5 DON’T BOTHER LOOKING THE PART There’s absolutely no reason to go out and drop an extra hundred bucks

photo by JOSHUA TIMMERMANS

on a cropped tank, hippy skirt, and leather headband just to go to a music festival. Yes, there will be plenty of people putting on their best Woodstock get-up, but how well do you think those moccasins and flowy white cotton threads are going to hold up when the rain hits?

#6 KNOW THE FORECAST

It’s the Southeast. You can pretty much guarantee that, at some point, it’s probably going to rain, and that means it’s probably going to be at least 10 degrees cooler. Festivals like The Festy Experience, which take place in the mountains, are especially likely to have unpredictable weather. You could buy an overpriced sweatshirt or rain jacket at the event, sure, but why not come prepared to begin with?

#7 HAVE CASH

And more importantly, set a daily budget for that cash. While many vendors accept credit cards, there are

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A Hiking and Backpacking Conference for Women Classes in environmental education, new trails, gear selection, laughter, backpacking adventure, courage, photography/writing, friends, surprises and the view from the top For information: www.traildamessummit.com

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still a large majority of businesses that don’t have that option. Cash is also a friendly gesture to local businesses since it comes with no fees or additional costs. ATMs are usually available onsite, but you’ll have to pay a small fee for the transaction.

#8 BRING YOUR OWN FOOD

This seems like a no-brainer, but in the last-minute hustle to pack for the weekend, you may feel tempted to opt out of hassling with a cooler. Don’t. At the very least, come with breakfast and lunch covered. The vast majority of events don’t allow outside alcohol, but some may even prohibit outside food, so double-check the rules before you’re forced to sustain yourself on $10 cheeseburgers for three days.

#9 SHARE THE LOAD

This applies to food, to camping, to gas, heck even to ticket purchasing. The more people you have splitting the cost, the cheaper it is. According to Across-the-Way Productions, Inc., Director of Marketing Sam

Calhoun, that logic is changing the way festivals like FloydFest view ticket sales. “We want to make it economical to get the festival,” Calhoun says, citing FloydFest’s HOV-EZ Pass, which includes 4 five-day general admission tickets, two kid tickets, two tent tags, and one onsite parkand-camp pass. “You save 25 to 30 percent of what you would pay for those same items for à la carte, so for four people, or two families, you can make it happen.” Even if you can’t rally enough friends to go in on a lump ticket purchase like the HOV-EZ pass, you can still save some green and go green by carpooling.

but FloydFest goes as far as to offer work weekends prior to the festival so volunteers can get their work out of the way before the event even kicks off.

#10 LEND A HAND

#12 SHOP SOBER

This is likely the easiest and simplest solution to avoiding financial ruin while still getting that quintessential summer festival experience. Most festivals require volunteers to work daily shifts (ranging from two to four hours) in exchange for a ticket,

#11 REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Many festivals these days have done away with plastic cups altogether, so if you want to partake in adult beverages onsite, you might be required to purchase a Klean Kanteen or stainless steel pint cup equivalent. The charge is usually minimal, around $5, but every penny adds up. You can also use it at drinking water stations, which are available at most music festivals free of charge. Friends don’t let friends drink and shop. There’s nothing like waking up the next morning to a carful of festival memorabilia and records from artists you only half-remember seeing. Stay strong, stick to your daily budget, and if anything, wait till the

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016 last day of the festival to make your rounds. Vendors will often hold sales at the end of an event, and are thus going to be more likely to make a deal with you. Especially if you’re sober.

#13 DO YOUR RESEARCH

Finally, if none of the above has you convinced you can afford to attend a music festival, take a look at the lineups. Even if you’re only familiar with four of the 100 artists performing over the course of the weekend, you’ll likely get a better deal seeing them play in the festival setting versus individually. Concert tickets nowadays are usually $30 or more, and that’s just to see one, maybe two bands. Plus, if those four bands you really like are playing on the same day, you could purchase a one- or two-day pass and save even more.

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2016 FESTIVAL CALENDAR

FIND YOUR JAM IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE REGION'S BEST BASHES by JEDD FERRIS

FRENCH BROAD RIVER FESTIVAL

HOT SPRINGS, N.C. | APRIL 29- MAY 1

frenchbroadriverfestival.com

NORTH CAROLINA BREWERS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. | MAY 6-7

Started nearly two decades ago as an intimate gathering of a group of paddlers, this fest at the Hot Springs Campground has grown into a regional favorite, featuring an impressive line-up of roots music and plenty of chances to play on the river.

ncbrewsmusic.com

SHAKORI HILLS GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL

LAID BACK FESTIVAL

shakorihillsgrassroots.org

Greg Allman hosts this one-day fest with ZZ Top, Blackberry Smoke, and Michelle Malone.

SILK HOPE, N.C. | MAY 5-8

Shakori Hills brings a stellar lineup of roots acts together for a long weekend of family-friendly revelry. Headliners include the Punch Brothers and Locos Por Juana. A fall version also takes place October 6-9. MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL

A celebration of tasty beer and good tunes, including some of the region’s best craft brews and bluegrass tunes together on Huntersville’s historic Rural Hill. Band this year: Travelin’ McCourys, Della Mae, and Mipso. ATLANTA, GA. | MAY 7

laidbackfestival.com

CHEAT RIVER FESTIVAL

ALBRIGHT, W.VA. | MAY 7

cheatfest.org

This big annual party is filled with arts, boating, bluegrass, food, and fun, all in support of the Cheat River watershed.

LEAF

SWAMPTOWN GETDOWN

theleaf.com

stgdfest.com

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. | MAY 12-15

The family friendly Lake Eden Arts Festival—better known as LEAF— celebrates arts and culture from around the world. GETTYSBURG BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL GETTYSBURG, PA. | MAY 12-15

WAYCROSS, GA. | MAY 13-14

A diverse celebration of roots music in the South, touching on jam, country indie rock, and Americana. Acts this year: Roosevelt Collier, Parker Urban Band, and S.P.O.R.E. SHAKY KNEES MUSIC FESTIVAL ATLANTA, GA. | MAY 13-15

gettysburgbluegrass.com

This serious bluegrass festival celebrates its 72nd running with the Seldom Scene, Rhonda Vincent, Dry Branch Fire Squad, and many more. AIKEN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL AIKEN, S.C. | MAY 13-14

shakykneesfestival.com

The Atlanta indie and roots rock throwdown at Centennial Olympic Park boasts big names including My Morning Jacket, Florence and the Machine, and Walk the Moon. TRAIL DAYS

DAMASCUS, VA. | MAY 13-15

aikenbluegrassfestival.org

This two-day celebration of bluegrass, biking, and beer returns to Aiken, featuring jams from Keller Williams, Larry Keel, and members of Greensky Bluegrass.

traildays.us

With the A.T. running through town, Damascus is the perfect place to host this big festival that’s an annual reunion for Appalachian Trail thru-hikers.

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If we’re this good in black and white See VISIT MARTINSBURG, WV travelwv.com

us in color!

May 6 - 8 Circa Blue Fest Three days of bluegrass, vendors & BBQ circabluefest.com

Martinsburg-Berkeley County Convention and Visitors Bureau

June 4 – 5 North Mountain Arts Festival Orr’s Farm Market

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Martinsburg-Berkeley County, WV

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Moose Acres, Martinsburg, WV

May 28 - 29 WV Wine & Arts Festival Celebrating West Virginia vintners, arts and music at the Boydville Mansion Martinsburg, WV | Travelwv.com

126 E. Race Street • Martinsburg, WV 25401

June 25 – 26 OddFest Weird, Wild and Wonderful

August 20 Martinsburg Bike Night Downtown Martinsburg

mainstreetmartinsburg.com October 8 Martinsburg Chili Cook-Off Downtown Martinsburg, WV

mainstreetmartinsburg.com

October 22 – 23 Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival Martinsburg, WV, msahf.com

Martinsburg, WV

North Mountain Arts Festival

Matinsburg-Berkeley County CVB | App: Visit Martinsburg, WV

27th Annual

C September 22-25, 2016

Call 606-878-6900 for more information or Visit our website at www.chickenfestival.com 30

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SWEET LIFE FESTIVAL

COLUMBIA, MD. | MAY 14

sweetlifefestival.com

Head to Merriweather Post Pavilion to hear tunes from 1975, Halsey, Flume, and Grimes, and chow down on great local food during the show. SUSQUEHANNA BREAKDOWN SCRANTON, PA. | MAY 20-21

susquehannabreakdown.com

Pennsylvania bluegrass group Cabinet hosts this festival at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain. Additional acts on the bill include Railroad Earth and the Infamous Stringdusters. DOMINION RIVERROCK

RICHMOND, VA. | MAY 20-22

dominionriverrock.com

Riverrock is a huge outdoor sports and music festival on the banks of the James River in downtown Richmond. FISH AND PICK

BUENA VISTA, VA. | MAY 20-22

fishandpick.com

A great combination—bluegrass tunes and trout fishing—come together at this fest at Glen Maury Park and Campground. HANGOUT MUSIC FESTIVAL

GULF SHORES, ALA. | MAY 20-22

hangoutmusicfest.com

Hang out for three sunny days on the Gulf Shores of Alabama and listen to top national artists like Weeknd, Calvin Harris, and Florence and the Machine.

celebration of “beer, bikes and bemusement,” featuring a large bike parade, followed by a series of wild shenanigans. The first stop is in Washington D.C. at Yards Park. LAVA MUSIC FESTIVAL

SUFFOLK, VA. | MAY 27-28

lavafestival.com

This Virginia festival features some of the biggest names in indie music. Bands on this year’s bill: The Front Bottoms, Charles Bradley, Dan Deacon, and Minus the Bear. DR. RALPH STANLEY'S 46TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL WEEKEND BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL COEBURN, VA. | MAY 26-28

drralphstanleyfestival.com

Ralph Stanley leads this bluegrass festival at his old home place in southwest Virginia. ROOSTERWALK MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL AXTON, VA. | MAY 26-29

roosterwalk.com

This family friendly festival held near Martinsville continues to raise the bar with its impressive line-up of roots music. Bands this year: Sam Bush, Lettuce, Perpetual Groove, the Revivalists, and many more. PAPA JOE'S BANJOBQUE MUSIC FESTIVAL EVANS, GA. | MAY 27-28

banjobque.com

BRIAR PATCH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Dig into some delicious BBQ and killer tunes from Willie Nelson and Old Crow Medicine Show.

briarpatchpro.com

DELFEST

DAMASCUS, GA. | MAY 20 – 21

The Briar Patch Music Festival boasts exciting underground Southern jams in a rural farming area of Georgia. SHAKY BEATS FESTIVAL

ATLANTA, GA. | MAY 20-22

shakybeatsfestival.com

The electronica sister festival to Shaky Knees, this fest at Centennial Olympic Park will feature Major Lazer, Odesza, and Big Gigantic. TOUR DE FAT

WASHINGTON D.C. | MAY 21

newbelgium.com

New Belgium hosts this traveling

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016

CUMBERLAND, MD. | MAY 26-29

delfest.com

Del McCoury headlines this progressive bluegrass and roots music fest with help this year from Bruce Hornsby, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Greensky Bluegrass, and many more.

Zero, Charlie Wooten, and more. MOUNTAIN SPORTS FESTIVAL ASHEVILLE, N.C. | MAY 27-29

mountainsportsfestival.com

This annual weekend of Olympicstyle competition in Asheville features a tough 10K run, stand-up paddleboard and mountain bike races, yoga, cyclocross, climbing, and a fun duathlon, among other events. Look for great vendors, live music, and kid’s activities at Carrier Park. VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL STOKESVILLE, VA. | MAY 27-30

mtntouring.com

Virginia mountain bikers get together for a big hang at Stokesville Campground throughout a long weekend that includes some great rides during the day and kicking back with a few beers at night. SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA

CHARLESTON, S.C. | MAY 27-JUNE 12

spoletousa.org

For 17 packed days and nights this spring, the Spoleto Festival fills Charleston’s historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces with a variety of music, dance, theater, and visual arts. BEER CITY FESTIVAL

ASHEVILLE, N.C. | MAY 28

beercityfestival.com

Head to Roger McGuire Green to sample beers from more than 30 craft breweries while soaking up some great local Asheville tunes. GRAVES MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

LONG CREEK MUSIC FESTIVAL

SYRIA, VA. | JUNE 2-4

longcreekfest.com

Three days of the best in bluegrass takes place at the scenic Graves Mountain Lodge in the shadow of Shenandoah National Park. Catch sets from Doyle Lawson, Larry Sparks, Flatt Lonesome, and many more.

LONG CREEK, S.C. | MAY 27-29

This mountain rager at the Chattooga River Resort & Campground features plenty of fiddles and funk to support the mighty Chattooga River. Catch the Pine Box Dwellers, Absolute

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NELSONVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL

OBX BREWFEST

nelsonvillefest.org

obxbeerfests.com

With both big names and small-town charm, this festival includes Randy Newman, Gary Clark, Jr., Courtney Barnett, and many more.

Enjoy a huge roster of craft brews from across the nation plus live music from Keller and the Keels, yard games, and a handcrafted soda garden.

SEEDTIME ON THE CUMBERLAND

BONNAROO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

seedtimefestival.org

bonnaroo.com

This annual two-day celebration of Appalachian music, arts, and culture occurs in the tiny, beautiful town of Whitesburg. Enjoy both old-time and contemporary bluegrass tunes, visual art exhibits, and hands-on workshops.

The mothership of all fests returns to Manchester with Pearl Jam, Dead & Co., and LCD Soundsystem.

MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL OAK HILL, W.VA. | JUNE 3-4

mountainmusicfestwv.com

Access some world-class whitewater as well as a top-notch trail network in West Virginia’s New River Gorge at this event hosted by ACE Adventure Resort. Alongside all your outdoor playtime, listen to an amazing line-up of roots music that includes Galactic, Trampled by Turtles, and the Infamous Stringdusters. BLUE PLUM FESTIVAL

JOHNSON CITY, TENN. | JUNE 3-5

blueplum.org

This three-day fest in downtown Johnson City attracts nearly 80,000 people every year for a weekend of Americana music, art, and great food. Bands include the Mavericks and the Steeldrivers.

MANCHESTER, TENN. | JUNE 9-12

CAROLINA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | JUNE 10-12

carolinacountrymusicfest.com

Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Florida Georgia Line lead this huge country bash on the beach. AMERICANA BEER FEST

LEESBURG, VA. | JUNE 11

americanabeerfest.org

A slate of great bands and 60 breweries come together to provide a killer afternoon of drinking and dancing at Morven Park. Acts on the bill include Trampled by Turtles, Wild Child, and Possessed by Paul James. MAD TEA PARTY JAM

ARTEMAS, PA. | JUNE 16-19

themadteapartyjam.com

This big jamtronica summit in the Mid-Atlantic will features sets from Papadosio, Tauk, Twiddle, and many more.

ON THE TRAIL, YOU’RE SURROUNDED BY BEAUTY AND WONDER.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA SUMMER BREWFEST CENTREVILLE, VA. | JUNE 18-19

novabrewfest.com

A deep roster of breweries coupled with local music, food, and arts makes this annual fest a summer staple in the area.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, SO ARE YOUR FEET.

ROMP: BLUEGRASS ROOTS & BRANCHES FESTIVAL

OWENSBORO, KY. | JUNE 22-25

rompfest.com

This three-day fest aligns seasoned bluegrass veterans like Del McCoury and Sam Bush with progressive favorites including the Infamous Stringdusters and Old Crow Medicine Show. IPA JAMBEEREE

CROZET, VA. | JUNE 25

starrhill.com

Star Hill Brewery hosts this new fest that will feature the best in hoppy brews from the Commonwealth. FLOYD FANDANGO

FLOYD, VA. | JUNE 25

atwproductions.com

Taking place at the same site as FloydFest, this one-day boutique festival features live tunes, craft brews, and plenty of outdoor fun, including a 5K race, disc golf tournament, and a mountain cross bike race.

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WHITESBURG, KY. | JUNE 3-4

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NAGS HEAD, N.C. | JUNE 5

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FRANKFORT RIVER BLAST

FRANKFORT, KY. | JUNE 25

visitfrankfort.com

The waterfront of Kentucky’s Capital City comes alive with music, craft beer, an art market, and paddling. FESTIVAL FOR THE ENO

DURHAM, N.C. | JULY 2 AND 4

enoriver.org

Last year’s event featured over 65 acts on four stages, along with great food and art—a big celebration of the great Eno River. Line-up TBA. MASTER MUSICIANS FESTIVAL SOMERSET, KY. | JULY 8-9

mastermusiciansfestival.org

This fest is all about variety, bringing a big range of multi-cultural music— blues, bluegrass, Celtic, rock, jazz, country, and Americana acts—to the stage. Lineup TBA. RED WING ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL MOUNT SOLON, VA. | JULY 8-10

redwingroots.com

An intimate roots music festival hosted by the Steel Wheels with an impressively growing line-up at Natural Chimneys Park in the Shenandoah Valley.

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016 National Historic Landmark. Headliners: Ryan Adams, Death Cab for Cutie, Ray Lamontagne, the Flaming Lips, and Ben Harper. THE BIG WHAT FESTIVAL

MEBANE, N.C. | JULY 21-23

thebigwhat.com

Three big nights of camping and jams in central North Carolina. Big Something, the Werks, and Turkuaz lead an impressive lineup. FLOYDFEST

FLOYD, VA. | JULY 27-31

floydfest.com

FloydFest is a multi-stage musical blowout on a beautiful 80-acre mountain plateau right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Headliners this year: Greg Allman, Bruce Hornsby, Leftover Salmon, and Warren Haynes with his acoustic Ashes and Dust Band. VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS FESTIVAL

ARTSCAPE

ABINGDON, VA. | JULY 29 – AUGUST 7

artscape.org

Arts and culture collide at this festival in historic Abingdon.

BALTIMORE, MD. | JULY 15-17

Over 400,000 people regularly attend Artscape, America’s largest free arts festival. Situated in downtown Baltimore, the fest spans 12 city blocks and features a bevy of exhibits, music, dance, theater, and film.

vahighlandsfestival.org

WILLS MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL BEDFORD, PA. | AUGUST 5-7

wmfest.com

FORECASTLE FESTIVAL

This three-day roots fest sits along the scenic Appalachians in Bedford County. Lineup TBA.

forecastlefest.com

BLUE GRASS VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL

LOUISVILLE, KY. | JULY 15-17

Forecastle has become one of the premiere music festivals in the country, taking place every summer at Louisville’s scenic 85-acre Waterfront Park. Bands: Alabama Shakes, the Avett Brothers, Ryan Adams, and many more. SLOSS FESTIVAL

BIRMINGHAM, AL. | JULY 16-17

slossfest.com

Birmingham gets its own big band bash downtown at the Sloss Furnaces

BLUE GRASS, VA. | AUGUST 12-14

bgvmusicfestival.com

Set amid the remote beauty of Highland County in the mountains of western Virginia, this festival on the rise features a great line-up of roots music acts, including Whiskey Shivers, Big Daddy Love, Chamomile & Whiskey, and the Rondo Rigs. Taking place at Potomac Farm, the family friendly fest also offers local food, kids’ activities, and onsite trout fishing in the Potomac River. M AY 2 016 / 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 PEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL

SCRANTON, PA. | AUGUST 11-14

thepeachmusicfestival.com

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016

Greg Allman leads this fest originally started by the now-retired Allman Brothers Band, playing solo alongside Trey Anastasio and the String Cheese Incident.

LOCKN’

STAUNTON MUSIC FESTIVAL

locknfestival.com

STAUNTON, VA. | AUGUST 12-21

stauntonmusicfestival.org

This annual event will feature an extended program of world-class chamber music in a quaint historic town in the Virginia Blue Ridge. MICROFESTIVUS

ROANOKE, VA. | AUGUST 13

microfestivus.squaresociety.org

Situated at Elmwood Park in the heart of downtown Roanoke, Microfestivus offers nearly 130 beers for your sampling pleasure, along with great music and local food. SMITH RIVER FEST

AXTON, VA. | AUGUST 13

visitmartinsville.com

Celebrate the Smith River with a full day of paddling, fishing, running, and biking, along with vendor booths, live music, and fun for the whole family. The fest takes place at the Smith River Sports Complex near Martinsville. HOT AUGUST MUSIC FESTIVAL

COCKEYSVILLE, MD. | AUGUST 20

hotaugustmusicfestival.com

Soak up that hot August sun with the best of rock, folk, and bluegrass. Lineup TBD. CAMP BAREFOOT

ELKINS, W.VA. | AUGUST 18-20

campbarefoot.org

Camp Barefoot returns for another year of hot jams and beats in the Mountain State, this year at a new site in Elkins. This year’s lineup features Ghostland Observatory, the New Deal, and Keller Williams. VIRGINIA CRAFT BREWERS FEST ROSELAND, VA. | AUGUST 20

vacraftbrewersfest.com

Over 50 Virginia breweries make their way to this annual festival at Devils Backbone Brewing Company.

ARRINGTON, VA | AUGUST 25-28

The ultimate jam band festival takes place on the scenic grounds of Oak Ridge Farm in Nelson County. The huge line-up this year includes Phish, My Morning Jacket, and Ween. RTE. 23 MUSIC FESTIVAL WISE, VA. | AUGUST 27

rte23musicfestival.com

This killer little fest on the rise features a great line-up at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. FRONT PORCH FEST

STUART, VA. | SEPTEMBER 2-5

frontporchfest.com

Produced by some great friends and family in Patrick County, this relaxed weekend campout sits on the picturesque Spirit Haven Farm. Big Daddy Love, Laura Reed, Dangermuffin, and more will take the stage this year. ABINGDON MAIN STREET BUSKERFEST

ABINGDON, VA. | SEPTEMBER 3

mainstreetbuskerfest.com

Street performers of all stripes are the main event at this festival in downtown Abingdon. HOPSCOTCH FESTIVAL

RALEIGH, N.C. | SEPTEMBER 8-10

hopscotchmusicfest.com

Every year an eclectic mix of indie rock and experimental acts converge in downtown Raleigh for this annual festival. MOUNTAIN SONG FESTIVAL

BREVARD, N.C. | SEPTEMBER 9-10

mountainsongfestival.com

The Steep Canyon Rangers curate another weekend of spectacular bluegrass at the Brevard Music Center’s open-air auditorium. Lineup includes the host band with Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Dom Flemons, and more. M AY 2 016 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016 DUMPLIN VALLEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

KODAK, TENN. | SEPTEMBER 15-17

dumplinvalleybluegrass.com

A picker’s paradise with the Seldom Scene, John Cowan, Rhonda Vincent, and the Gibson Brothers. GAULEY FEST

SUMMERSVILLE, W.VA. | SEPTEMBER 15-18

americanwhitewater.org

This bash brings together class V whitewater runs, live music, and boater shenanigans at the biggest paddling festival in the world. BREWGRASS FESTIVAL

ASHEVILLE, N.C. | SEPTEMBER 17

brewgrassfestival.com

New beer festivals keep popping up everywhere, but, at 20 years old, Brewgrass was around long before the current craft beer boom. This pioneering event features tasty offerings from 50 craft breweries and a full day of progressive bluegrass. BRISTOL RHYTHM AND ROOTS REUNION

BRISTOL, TENN./VA. | SEPTEMBER 16-18

bristolrhythm.com

HOOPLA

ROSELAND, VA. | SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 2

dbbrewingcompany.com

This annual fest incorporates roots music from all generations, featuring a range of artists from national headliners to regional upstarts to down home Appalachian pickers playing along the bustling main drag of State Street.

This new festival at the Devils Backbone Brewing Company Basecamp Brewpub and Meadows will feature a long weekend of live music, as well as plenty of delicious craft beers and outdoor playtime. Catch sets by the Revivalists, the Old 97’s, Futurebirds, and more.

WATERMELON PARK FEST

TOP OF THE HOPS

BERRYVILLE, VA. | SEPTEMBER 22-25

watermelonparkfest.com

This small Americana gathering in Berryville kicks up some serious dust alongside the scenic Shenandoah River. Lineup TBA. WORLD CHICKEN FESTIVAL

LONDON, KY. | SEPTEMBER 22-25

chickenfestival.com

Country music and delicious fried chicken dominate this Kentucky fest. 38

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. | SEPTEMBER TBD

topofthehopsbeerfest.com

You get four hours to sample more than 150 craft beers from around the world at Top of the Hops. RIVER ROCKS

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. | OCTOBER 1-15

riverrockschattanooga.com

Celebrating the best of Chattanooga,

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / M AY 2 01 6

this fest features mountain biking, trail running, paddling races, hikes, and outdoor activities for novices and seasoned athletes alike. At night, enjoy great food and music by the river. RICHMOND FOLK FESTIVAL

RICHMOND, VA. | OCTOBER 7-9

richmondfolkfestival.org

Celebrate the rich roots of American culture through music, dance, storytelling, and food at this yearly Richmond staple born out of this city’s previous reign as the host of the National Folk Festival. Lineup and events TBA. THE FESTY EXPERIENCE

ARRINGTON, VA. | OCTOBER 7-9

thefesty.com

This year the Festy will move to a new site, the expansive Nelson County Preserve in Arrington, about a half hour south of Charlottesville.

MAD TEA PARTY JAM photo by JOSHUA TIMMERMANS

With proceeds benefiting Oskar Blues Brewery’s CAN’d Aid Foundation, the festival will feature its usual impressive roster of roots music acts, headed by the Infamous Stringdusters. In addition to the tunes, expect an experience full of local food, craft beer, and plenty of outdoor action, including the Blue Ridge Burn, the annual 10K/5K trail race hosted by Blue Ridge Outdoors. GO OUTSIDE FESTIVAL

ROANOKE, VA. | OCTOBER 14-16

roanokegofest.com

River’s Edge Sports Complex turns into a mountain sports playground filled with running, biking, climbing, slacklining, paddling, and fishing. Set along the Roanoke River, this annual three-day fest features races, relaxed gear demos, live music, and clinics.

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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

SUMMER. NELSON STYLE FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS OR TO REGISTER FOR LOCKNʼ FESTIVAL TICKETS CALL 800-282-8223

EVERY SAT. IN NELLYSFORD - MID NOVEMBER Nelson County Farmerʼs Market

5/7 Nelson Downriver Race 5/13 Spring Wildﬂower Symposium at Nature Foundation at Wintergreen 5/14-15 Devils Backbone Mountain Cross, Oyster Roast and Metric Ride 5/28-29 Wintergreen Trail and Tread Series begins 6/20 Batteau Festival at Wingina 7/1-4 Happy Mutant Adventure Race Series 7/6-8/7 Wintergreen Performing Arts Summer Music Festival 7/23 Full Nelson 5K at Blue Mountain Barrel House 7/24 Super Peach Sunday at Drumhellers Orchard 8/6 Blackberry Harvest & Music Festival at Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery 8/13 Antique Farm Equipment Display at Saunders Brothers 8/20 Schuyler Days at Waltons Mountain Museum 8/20 Virginia Craft Brewers Festival 8/25-28 Locknʼ Festival 9/17 BE BOLD 7K at Bold Rock Cidery 9/24-25 Spartan Race at Wintergreen Resort 9/29-10/2 Hoopla at Devils Backbone Brewing Company

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Live Music | Arts & Crafts | Rail History Miniature Train & Handcar Rides | Civil War 150 HistoryMobile Artisan Demonstrations Presentations | Food Vendors THE ACTION TAKES PLACE AT: Beautifully restored Historic Masonic Theatre, 510 Main; The Masonic Amphitheatre, Clifton Forge School of the Arts, Clifton Forge Public Library-Church Street, Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center, 639 E. Ridgeway; C&O Railway Heritage Center, 705 East Main

Town of Clifton Forge, Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Hill Crest B&B, AHACC, CF Main Street, C&O Heritage Center, Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation

Don’t let the peaceful mountain views fool you. This summer, it’s Game On!

Athletes and spectators alike love these annual competitions in the Alleghany Highlands. Courses that offer stunning mountain views make these scenic races Uniquely Alleghany.

May 1, 2016

Middle Mountain Momma

May 21, 2016

The Alleghany Highlands Triathlon

June 25, 2016

The Jackson River 5k, 10, Half Marathon and One Mile Fun Run

visitalleghanyhighlands.com/featured-events 540-962-2178 · 888-430-5786

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July 9, 2016

The Alleghany Gran Fondo

August 6, 2016

Lake Moomaw One Mile Open Water Swim

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More Campsites than condos.

Mecklenburg County features charming small towns to explore, but with so many miles of trails for hiking and riding plus a spectacular lake with 850 miles of shoreline, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not surprising that so many visitors choose to spend their entire vacation outdoors.

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BANDS TO WATCH

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016

5 EMERGING ACTS YOU NEED TO SEE by JEDD FERRIS Sure, you ponied up the cash for the big headliners, but festivals are also about discovering new music. Check out the schedules on the smaller stages and catch these emerging acts.

It has deep roots with plenty of crossover appeal.

WHITE DENIM

WHERE TO CATCH ‘EM: SHAKY KNEES, FORECASTLE, LOCKN’ MUSIC FESTIVAL

Line-up shuffles led to a brief break for these indie rock expansionists from Austin, Texas. But this spring the band re-emerged with a new roster and a scorching new record, Stiff. Guitarist Austin Jenkins and drummer Joshua Block left the group, in favor of their recent work with soul crooner Leon Bridges. But lead singer

JAREKUS SINGLETON

are filled with impressive acoustic instrumental passages and thoughtprovoking lyrics, often with a socially conscious message. “When I Fall” from the band’s new studio effort, Petals, is an inspirational anthem with a message of unity that blends delicate strings with a hair-raising harmonized chorus, a powerful example of the collective energy that keeps the band moving forward.

Matthew E. White and released on his independent label Spacebomb Records. The album features tight vintage pop arrangements occasionally augmented with swells of strings and horns that intensify Prass’s deeply personal lyrics, especially on key tracks like “Birds of Prey.” During live shows, Prass is known for including some choice covers, like the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hanging On." Last year she did a heavy road stint supporting Ryan Adams, and the tour mates regularly went deep with a reading of “She’s Like the Wind” from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. No joke.

WHERE TO CATCH ‘EM: ROOSTERWALK, RED WING ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jarekus Singleton grew up in Mississippi, raised on the fertile ground that yielded pioneering blues legends like Muddy Waters and B.B. King. In his youth, he was drawn to hip-hop and playing basketball, eventually becoming a college star and briefly playing pro ball in Europe. He even had an NBA tryout, but an injury eventually ended his hoops career. While recovering, he started practicing some signature blues licks on the guitar and developed his own take on the style. By 2009 Singleton put together a band, and it didn’t take long for him to become a favorite on the Southern blues circuit. His latest album, Refuse to Lose, was released two years ago on the venerable Alligator Records. The effort showcases Singleton’s big muscular guitar riffs combined with his deep soulful voice and original free-flowing lyrics that recall his love of hip-hop rhymes. He’s cultivating a sound similar to that of Gary Clark, Jr., but with a little more Delta grit.

and guitarist James Petralli is still leading the psychedelic charge of this outfit’s frenetic boogie rock. On the new album’s standout single, “Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah),” the quartet cruises through a freewheeling 70s rock groove that peaks with the chorus, “Just be yourself, try to have a good time.” It should be a killer anthem for the band’s many upcoming festival appearances.

ELEPHANT REVIVAL WHERE TO CATCH ‘EM: DELFEST, FLOYDFEST

Colorado is known for string bands that like to reshape the traditional mold. Elephant Revival is definitely one of the most unique, a dynamic quintet that blends a broad range of influences—old-time, country, Gypsy jazz and progressive songwriting— to create an original style of transcendental folk. The band’s songs

THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL WHERE TO CATCH ‘EM: DELFEST, FLOYDFEST

NATALIE PRASS

WHERE TO CATCH ‘EM: LAVA FESTIVAL,

BONNAROO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

Emerging singer-songwriter Natalie Prass has a soulful voice with striking range, at some points intensely sweet and others seductively soothing. The Richmond-based songstress turned many heads last year with her eponymous debut album, which was produced by her friend

Put a big hodgepodge of American roots music in a high-energy blender. That’s the formula of this eight-piece California outfit known for throwing rowdy, dance-friendly hoedowns. The band’s latest album With A Lampshade On is a mostly live set that offers a sample of the band’s brand of joyful noise, a collision of strings and brass that incorporates old-time footstompers, hot jazz dance numbers, and vintage-style swing tunes. It’s all delivered with orchestral force that always keeps crowds moving.

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PRESENTS

BLUEGRASS, BIKES & BEERS with

TRAVIS BOOK OF THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS

A SIX-SHOW TOUR IN THE BLUE RIDGE DEVIL’S BACKBONE

SOARING RIDGE

SATURDAY, APRIL 23RD

SUNDAY, APRIL 24TH

BENEFITING CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB

BENEFITING ROANOKE IMBA

OSKAR BLUES

NEWGRASS

PISGAH

FRIDAY, MAY 13TH

SUNDAY, MAY 15TH

BENEFITING THE PISGAH CONSERVANCY

BENEFITING CLEVELAND COUNTY/ CITY OF SHELBY RAIL TO TRAIL PROJECT

PALE FIRE

HARRISONBURG, VA FRIDAY, APRIL 22ND

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ROSELAND, VA

ROANOKE, VA

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FESTIVAL GEAR

FEStIVAL GUIDE 2016

ADVENTURE ESSENTIALS by JEDD FERRIS

LEATHERMAN SIGNAL ($99) In addition to the expected multi-tool staples—knife, pliers, bottle opener, wire cutter, screw driver—this updated version of a Leatherman also features some key additions, including a firestarting ferro rod. There’s even a small hammer, just right for securing tent stakes and making you a prepared fest pro.

Festivals are filled with long days under the sun and long nights under stars. Be ready for your sonic adventures with gear that’s just right for extended stays in tent city. OSPREY SKARAB 32 ($120) Whether heading for the main stage or the nearest summit, the Skarab is your goto pack. It can carry 25 pounds, including a 2.5-liter hydration reservoir. Easy-access zippered pockets are well placed, and the ventilated back panel and foam hipbelt provide a breathable, comfortable carry. KLEAN KANTEEN VACUUM-INSULATED 64-OUNCE GROWLER ($70) Stop by the local brewery and fill up Klean Kanteen's Growler with your hometown IPA. Your brew will stay fresh and chilly for a full day thanks to the growler’s double wall of vacuum insulation and high-quality stainless steel. SUNSKI SEACLIFFS SUNGLASSES ($55) Sunski delivers streamlined adventure-ready shades at a price that won’t leave you scrambling for spare change. The Seacliffs feature crystal clear polarized lenses, lightweight construction, and a sleek vintage look—all just right for cutting the stage glare under the Southern sun.

HARI MARI DUNES ($45) When you frolic around festival grounds, you need a flip flop that’s ready to go the distance during a musical marathon. Hari Mari’s Dunes blend a casual style with a performance edge, keeping feet dry and spry and providing arch support during long days of walking.

ALITE CALPINE CHAIR ($100) The Calpine is made for long days of soaking in the sounds, thanks to lightweight design with comfortable, breathable nylon. The 15-inch aluminum poles offer enough height to see the stage when you’re hanging in the back of the crowd, and when it’s time to move on, the chair easily folds into a compact case.

PATAGONIA TORRENTSHELL JACKET ($129) Everybody loves dancing in the rain. Patagonia’s Torrentshell Jacket is a lightweight rain shell that’s ready to provide shelter from the storm. It’s waterproof yet breathable, so your body can breathe during moments when you’re lost in the groove. Plus, the shell’s exterior is now made with 100 percent recycled nylon, so this is a jacket you can feel good about.

IGLOO TRAILMATE COOLER ($300) Some festivals require shuttle rides or long walks across big sprawling campgrounds. To the rescue comes the Trailmate, a new all-terrain cooler with oversized wheels that are made for off-road transport. This thing is built for hauling your stash of brews and cold snacks long distances, and it's outfitted with an ergonomic tow handle and bungee loops to tie down your camp chair or additional gear M AY 2 016 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / M AY 2 01 6

BlueRidgeOutdoors

GoOutAndPlay

BlueRidgeOutdoors

ROANOKE HOW STAR CITY OUTGREW ITS ROOTS AS A GRITTY COMPANY TOWN AND BECAME THE NEXT GREAT MOUNTAIN CITY

oters spilled in long lines from the Berglund Center, huddling in heavy coats and small groups to keep warm in the sub-20 degree temperatures as they waited upwards of two hours to cast a ballot. Roanoke city councilmen Sherman Lea and David Trinkle stalked the sidewalk and parking lots out front, engaging in the purest form of bare-knuckle politics as they sought to persuade the men and women trudging to the poll that they should be Roanoke’s next mayor. This Feb. 13 election—a Democratic Party primary held at a single, central polling place— could well decide the next 20 years of politics in Roanoke. It marks a pivotal moment for the mid-sized, Blue Ridge city that is nipping at Asheville’s heels to become a similarly hip destination for young professionals—think millennials and younger—in search of proximity to

outdoor recreation, locally made food and craft alcohol, and a decent place to raise a family. Roanoke has struggled to transition from an economy driven by a handful of big, stable employers to a diverse, multifaceted system in which businesses must constantly reinvent themselves and quality of life—read: outdoor amenities—is a crucial part of attracting new businesses. Like those modern businesses, cities must frequently reinvent as well, making the retirement of longtime Roanoke politico David Bowers as a moment of generational change in the Star City. Roanoke has been transformed by an economic upheaval that has affected communities throughout Appalachia and indeed the country. Longtime employers whom people had depended on lifelong jobs for generations—furniture makers, textile manufacturers, the coal industry and, in Roanoke,

the railroad—began to dwindle through layoffs and, in the case of the factories, outsourcing to other countries. Since then, Roanoke has focused on developing an identity as an outdoor city. In 2010, the regional economic development partnership launched Roanoke Outside, an initiative based on attracting and retaining companies by focusing on quality of life and recreational amenities. The city council signed off on the construction of multiple greenways, including an 11-mile stretch along the river built as part of a federal flood reduction project. It placed conservation easements on Mill Mountain, home to the city’s 88-foot neon star, and Carvin’s Cove Natural Reserve, a municipal park threaded with multiple trail systems for mountain biking and hiking. The Blue Ridge Marathon, branded as “America’s Toughest Road

by MASON ADAMS photos by SAM DEAN

Marathon” and the GO Outside Festival launched. Private-sector companies founded on the outdoors grew, too: New outdoor retailers took root, along with a new climbing gym and gear consignment shops. Now, Roanoke has started using the outdoors as a means to attract economic development—and growing numbers of young professionals. Conveniently, a new neighborhood in one of the oldest parts of town sprung up to meet them. Private developers leveraged historic tax credits to rehab the vacant warehouses and office buildings that littered downtown, turning them into trendy one-bedroom apartments and creating a new neighborhood overnight. Downtown’s population grew from fewer than 50 people in 2000 to more than 1,700 in 2015. All this activity has given Roanoke a new sense of self. When Deschutes Brewery of Bend, Oregon, started scouting the Mid-

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Atlantic for an East Coast facility, the #Deschutes2Rke social media campaign quickly sprang up, engaging individuals and businesses who created an online movement that captured the attention of both brewery officials and observers in Asheville, a prime competitor. It worked: In late March, Deschutes announced it would build in Roanoke. The announcement capped off a week that also saw the expansion of a research partnership between Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech, as well as the arrival of an Italian auto parts manufacturer just north of the city. The #Deschutes2Rke campaign may prove to be a defining moment for Roanoke, arriving at the same time as the loss of hundreds of jobs in the 2015 closure of the railroad’s administrative offices, which have operated in one form or another since the 1880s. The region’s unemployment rate stands at a low 3.8 percent, yet that number masks an economic divide between the city’s different neighborhoods, which vary greatly by income and ethnic make-up. In 2016, Roanoke remains racially segregated. White flight resulted in the rapid growth of Roanoke County suburbs that surround the city. About 29 percent of Roanoke’s residents are black, according to the U.S. Census, versus 13 percent in Asheville and 17 percent in Knoxville. One year after Black Lives Matter emerged as a political force, Roanokers are debating not just how to transition their economy, but how to ensure that all residents are given opportunities to succeed. That’s why the election to determine Roanoke’s next mayor matters so much. Lea and Trinkle have formed the solid backbone of the city council. Both have been twice re-elected, with Lea’s 12 years on council edging out Trinkle’s 10. They’re both Democrats but come at politics from different angles. When I covered city politics for The Roanoke Times, we called

Lea the “Shermanator” in the newsroom. He shot from the hip when answering questions, giving thoughtful responses off the top of his head. A black pastor and retired state corrections official, Lea views athletics as a way to transcend differences. He organized an annual college football game between black colleges in Roanoke, and more recently set up a youth basketball league in which mostly black, innercity youth play with and against police officers. Trinkle—a psychiatrist, faculty member at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and the owner of two mainstay restaurants—is more considered and calculated. His South Roanoke family roots count for a lot among city gentry, but he’s also stood for trying to make Roanoke cool since his first campaign, when he ran on replacing Victory Stadium with a state-of-the-art concert venue by the river. He talks a lot about “vibe.” Trinkle ran a digital get-out-thevote campaign, pinging supporters via social media and texting to come vote for him. Lea’s campaign ran a more traditional operation, flushing out voters and bringing them to the election with a circuit of vans and buses. Lea edged out Trinkle by 134 votes, out of 3,027 cast. Trinkle remains in city politics, as he’s in the middle of a four-year term as a councilman. Lea’s victory propels him into the general election with a nearguarantee of victory (Republicans did not place a candidate on the ballot). He will become Roanoke’s second black mayor. The first, Noel C. Taylor, first won election in 1975 and served until 1992, facing only a single challenger during nearly two decades in office. While the momentum built by the development of regional campaigns and private sector businesses in the last 10 years doesn’t hinge on the mayor, Roanoke's May election marks the beginning of a new future for a reinvented mountain town.

GIVEAWAY GRAND PRIZE

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Does it seem like weekends are never long enough? Plan a getaway to the Roanoke Valley in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, where you’ll have time to explore great places like the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s also the largest metropolitan area in Virginia’s Mountains, which means you’ll find great dining, award-winning craft beer, cultural events and nightlife.

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Come get lost and find yourself Come explore Patrick County, Virginia. Picnics at a covered bridge or along the Blue Ridge Parkway, canoe rides, traditional mountain music, artisan studios, local wineries, bed and breakfasts, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing are just a few of the attractions awaiting you. From the rugged outdoors to 5-Star luxury, there is so much to discover in Patrick County.

www.visitpatrickcounty.org

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Read about this adventure to Devil’s Bathtub on ExploreScottCountyVA.org

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Tradition

discovers new paths on old mountains. Bearfence Rock Scramble in Shenandoah National Park

Only two hours south of Washington DC, and nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville and Albemarle County VA, provide the perfect options for a weekend excursion. Join us as we celebrate the National Park Service turning 100 years old! As we look forward to the next 100 years, we invite you to explore Shenandoah National Park’s 500 miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as scenic kayak and fishing waters. Just down the road, explore the 30+ wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries along the Monticello Wine Trail. You’ll quickly discover why one day in the Charlottesville area just isn’t enough. Plan your next trip and request a visitor guide at visitcharlottesville.org/BROguide.

Where tradition is always new.

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

Fun comes out of the blue in

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JULY 23-24

AN EPIC TWO-DAY BIKE JOURNEY RVA to DC is a 156-mile bike ride taking you from the capital of Virginia to the capital of the nation. Cyclists will pass through historic neighborhoods, rolling horse country, national landmark battleﬁelds, riverfront districts, many bikeway and trail networks, and more. This ride offers more than bragging rights, it’s a chance to “Bike for your Right” towards safe and accessible bike infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth.

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FORWARD EVER by JESS DADDIO

onroe, Connecticut. 2003. A nine-year-old boy putters around on his tricycle, savoring the feel of wind in his hair, asphalt blurring beneath the tires. It’s his favorite thing to do, riding a bike. Adrenaline, freedom, and belonging, all wrapped up in an everforward motion where bike and boy are one. But in the blink of an eye, a speeding pickup truck nearly robs the boy of both his life and love. The boy is Ryan Boyle. For the next four years of his life, Boyle would spend his days not innocently cruising around on his bike, but relearning how to breathe, eat, swallow, and walk. The truck collision left Boyle with a crushed skull and broken pelvis, left shoulder, left arm, six ribs, and right femur. He was in a coma for two months, a rehabilitation hospital for seven months, yet at no point did he give up. Now, Boyle can breathe, eat, swallow, and even walk, just fine. Even more impressively? He’s back

on a bike, and at an elite level. Boyle, 22, is the youngest member of the U.S. Paralympics Cycling National Team. In 2014, his first season of international racing, Boyle won a world championships silver medal in Greenville, S.C., and a world cup gold medal in Italy. His post-injury journey to competitive cycling launched in 2010 during a month-long stint at the Shepherd Center’s Beyond Therapy program in Atlanta, Ga., where he later lived for three years. Boyle says were it not for the support of his family and local community, as well as a hefty dose of competitive drive, he would have never thrived. “Pain is temporary, but glory is forever,” he says. “[Riding] is a great stress reliever for me. When I’m feeling angry or something, I can just go out on my bike and let every ounce of energy out on my pedals. I don’t have to hold back. It’s almost like a form of therapy, and I know I might sound weird, but I’ve come to realize

over the years that I enjoy pain. I like to hurt on the bike.” That almost-thirst for pain is something Boyle shares with Tennessee-native Carly Pearson, a former wildland firefighter and single mother. Pearson, 40, has been confined to a wheelchair since 2002 when she fell down a 25-foot ravine and broke her back while on the job. For nearly two years after the injury, Pearson was in and out of hospitals, fighting for her life yet unable to accept her new reality. “It’s kinda like a death,” Pearson says. “You lose a major part of yourself and your identity. I went through denial. I thought I was going to be this miracle that was going to wake up and be able to walk, whether it be through divine intervention or medical healing. It’s like you’re living a nightmare. Then things gradually get better, and then one day you wake up and you don’t try to wiggle your toes and you start realizing that you have to get on with your day. You have to get on with your

CARLY PEARSON IS A STEWARD OF ADAPTIVE SPORTS IN THE SOUTHEAST AND A FORMER NATIONAL PARACYCLING CHAMPION HERSELF. photo by LEV COMSTOCK

life.” At the urging of her sister, Pearson started working towards completing a triathlon, which introduced her to the world of para-cycling. After placing third in a 21-mile road race with little to no training, Pearson was hooked. In 2010, Pearson made the U.S. ParaCycling National Team, competing on the international and national fronts and winning multiple national championships as well as silver medals abroad in the United Arab Emirates and Budapest, Hungary. “Really it was the camaraderie of the people that drew me to it,” she says. “I kinda feel like I’m out there with the masses again. I think [competitive cycling] brought out a level in me that’s really, sorta, for lack of a better term, sick. You want to push yourself to the edge, because

M AY 2 016 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

August 3-6 PICKIN’ IN PARSONS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL PARSONS, WV

August 12-14 AUGUSTA FESTIVAL ELKINS, WV

September 9-10 MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS OLD TIME FESTIVAL MARLINTON, WV

July 14 CARNEGIE HALL’S IVY TERRACE CONCERT SERIES LEWISBURG, WV

June 3-5

FARMER’S DAY UNION, WV

Experience Appalachian traditions mingled with the great outdoors

you’ve been on the edge, and you just need to prove to yourself that you can do it.” In 2012, Pearson became involved with Catalyst Sports, a program in Atlanta aimed at providing adaptive adventure opportunities for disabled people. She is slowly transitioning out of the para-cycling scene into the para-climbing world, of which she is the 2015 Para-Climbing National Champion. Pearson will compete at the 2016 Adaptive National Championship this July 22 at Stone Summit Climbing & Fitness Center in Kennesaw, Ga., and hopes to compete at Worlds later this fall. Meanwhile, the momentum behind the para-cycling community continues to grow. Jennifer Schuble, 39, of Birmingham, Ala., and Oksana Masters, 26, of Louisville, Ky., are two of the Southeast’s top contenders for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Schuble, a West Point alumna who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2004 and has sustained a number of traumatic brain injuries, credits the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham for her tremendous success—16 national championships, five Paralympic medals (one gold, three silver, and one bronze), two Parapan American Games gold medals and one silver, five world championships, and 13 world championship medals, to be exact. And she’s not stopping there. “A lot of people in the Southeast have had a major impact in my development,” Schuble says, citing friends and acquaintances that have let her borrow bikes and taught her how to ride the track at the Dick Lane Velodrome in Atlanta. Masters, too, remembers the moral and physical assistance she and her rowing partner experienced from the University of Virginia Rowing Team back in 2012. At age 14, Masters became a double above-the-knee amputee, a result of in-utero radiation poisoning from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor incident. For Masters, the disability hardly disabled her stubborn persistence of sport.

“The second amputation caused me to stay in the hospital for months and months,” Masters remembers. “During that time, I told myself the minute I get the chance to get outside, I’m never going to slow down and I’m never going to sit and let life pass me by,” a motto which she has lived by ever since. In 2012, Masters was named U.S. Rowing’s Female Athlete of the Year after she and her partner surprised the world by placing third at the London Paralympic Games. Due to a back injury, Masters left competitive rowing to take up Nordic skiing and cycling, in which she has already racked up a number of podiums. All eyes will be on Masters, Schuble, and Boyle later this month at the Para-Cycling National Championships in Winston-Salem, N.C., May 24-28, and at the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C., June 30-July 2. The trials in Charlotte, which are expected to bring out 400 paracyclists, swimmers, and track and field athletes, is predicted to be the largest Paralympic trials in U.S. history. “In 2009, there were a couple of dozen competitors at the [paracycling] national championships,” says Tennessee Para-Cycling Open race director Greg Miller. “Now, the number is close to 200.” Miller, who has competed as a pilot rider for visually impaired para-cyclists and now helps promote and host para-cycling events in the Southeast, says the sport is growing exponentially due in part to an influx of injured veterans as well as a general consensus on the importance of providing adaptive opportunities for active minds. His event, the Tennessee Para-Cycling Open, is scheduled for June 24-26 in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and is part of the inaugural USA Paralympic Cycling Series. RYAN BOYLE IS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE U.S. PARALYMPICS CYCLING NATIONAL TEAM AND WILL COMPETE LATER THIS SUMMER FOR A CHANCE AT THE 2016 PARALYMPICS. photo by BRIAN HODES M AY 2 016 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

WHERE GOOD NATURE COMES NATURALLY 70

B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S / M AY 2 01 6 / R I C H M O N D / VA B E A C H E D I T I O N

www.visitwaynesboro.net 540.942.6512

BREWING

by GRAHAM AVERILL

THE BEST BREWERIES IN THE BLUE RIDGE WITH ADVENTURE AT THEIR DOORSTEP LIFE WASN’T ALWAYS THIS good in the Southern Appalachians. There was a time, not that long ago, when friends would have to “smuggle” New Belgium’s Fat Tire back across the Mississippi River on the tail end of ski trips to the Rockies. Hell, it wasn’t too long ago, that people had to smuggle Coors back from Colorado. Seriously. Coors. That’s how bleak the beer landscape was in the South “back in the day.” Now look at us. There are more than 100 craft breweries making beer in North Carolina alone. Ditto Virginia. Not only is the Southern craft brew scene evolving, but big Western craft breweries are moving in as well (see sidebar). And some of these breweries, both big and small, are located on the edge of the South’s

most iconic adventure. That’s where this guide comes in, because beer goes better with adventure and vice versa. That’s a scientific fact. You can’t argue with science. So we’ve picked six perfectly placed breweries that you can hit after a perfect day outdoors, whether it’s kayaking the coast or knocking out an epic day hike on the A.T.

DEVILS BACKBONE BASECAMP AND MEADOWS ROSELAND, VIRGINIA

dbbrewingcompany.com Devils Backbone has outgrown its original basecamp location, moving most of its production to a much

larger facility, called the Outpost, in Lexington, Va. But the party and the adventure can still be found at DB’s Basecamp. We’re talking about a brewpub that’s surrounded by 100 pristine acres at the base of Wintergreen Mountain and Resort within a stone’s throw of Three Ridges Wilderness. Devils Backbone has done its best to bring the area’s surrounding adventure scene into its brewery, developing its own 5K running and biking trail and offering primitive camping in the Meadows. DB has even fostered a solid connection with Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, picking them up from nearby Reid’s Gap and letting them camp in the Meadows for free. Thruhikers even get a discounted breakfast

DEVILS BACKBONE'S BASECAMP IS JUST A FEW MILES FROM VIRGINIA'S THREE RIDGES WILDERNESS AND WINTERGREEN RESORT. photo by DEVILS BACKBONE BREWING COMPANY

the following morning. And you don’t have to leave the brewery’s property to find adventure; Basecamp hosts a series of trail runs and bike rides throughout the year. DO THIS: There’s road cycling galore, thanks to the country roads that intersect the Blue Ridge Parkway nearby, and DB Brewing even organizes a road ride from their Outpost in Lexington to the Basecamp in Roseland. But you can’t beat the backpacking inside Three Ridges Wilderness. Knock out a

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HEAD EAST, BIG BREWER The South’s home-grown craft beer scene is so legit, even the big West Coast brewers want a piece of the action. Several of the most iconic names in craft beer have opened, or are in the stages of opening, production breweries and tasting rooms in the Southern Appalachians, and they’re building on some pretty sweet real estate. Oskar Blues was the first Western brewery to set up shop in the South, opening up a production facility and small taproom that overlooks the tanks and cans on the edge of downtown Brevard. The road cycling and mountain biking that begins right out the door is some of the best in the country. Sierra Nevada chose a massive spot along the French Broad River that’s also within striking distance of Pisgah’s singletrack, and just a few paddle strokes away from the nearest campsite along the French Broad River Paddle Trail. Stone Brewing Co. recently opened a taproom and production facility in downtown Richmond, close to the James River’s bounty of in-town adventure. San Diego’s Green Flash is in the process of building a 100,000-barrel facility in Virginia Beach, just a few miles from the coast. And more breweries are coming. Deschutes Brewing recently announced their decision to build an East Coast facility in Roanoke, Virginia.

15-mile loop using the A.T. and Mau-Har Trail that hits big vistas, waterfalls, and backcountry campsites. DB Brewing is now canning (thank God), so just about anything the brewery makes works as a postadventure beer. But check out their new Trail Angel Weiss.

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NANTAHALA BREWING COMPANY BRYSON CITY, NORTH CAROLINA

nantahalabrewing.com

You want a good location? How about a brewery in downtown Bryson City, about three miles from the border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Nantahala Brewing Company’s choice location puts you on the precipice of some of the South’s most renowned adventure. If one of the greatest national parks in the system isn’t enough for you, drive 20 minutes down the road and paddle

the class II-III Nantahala, or pedal 20 miles of sinuous singletrack at Tsali Recreation Area. Or hell, paddle Lake Fontana and look for cliff jumping opportunities. And NBC fosters that connection to the outdoors with their Trail Magic Series, a rotating series of big beers brewed in homage to the hikers plugging away along the Appalachian Trail, which follows the mountain crest through GSMNP, not far from NBC’s brewpub. DO THIS: You have about 900 miles of trail to choose from within GSMNP alone, but the Lakeshore Trail, which runs for 45 miles along the edge of the Tuckaseegee River and Fontana Lake, offers water-side camping and enough history to fill a book. This multi-day backpack gives you the opportunity to swim secluded coves and explore ghost towns and former mine sites.

Noonday IPA is the go-to beer from NBC, thanks to its punch

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NANTAHALA BREWING COMPANY IS THE LAUNCHPAD FOR ADVENTURES IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK AND THE NANTAHALA GORGE. photo by NANTAHALA BREWING COMPANY

of grapefruit on the nose and dry finish. If you can find one, pick up a big bottle of their latest Trail Magic, or go even bigger with an 8-Foot Drop Double IPA, which packs a high gravity punch, but also a hint of wildflower honey.

MOUNTAIN STATE BREWING COMPANY THOMAS, WEST VIRGINIA

mountainstatebrewing.com Mountain State’s original brewpub, in Thomas, West Virginia, doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the two stepbrothers who founded this brewery in 2005 are true pioneers in the Southern craft beer scene who had the guts to open a brewpub in

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APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BREWING IN BOONE, N.C., IS WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF WILSON CREEK AND THE LINVILLE GORGE. photo by APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BREWING

production. Mountain State is even growing their own hops now, which you can taste in the Homegrown Wet Hop IPA. Timberline Resort’s lift-served downhill mountain bike terrain is some of the best in the South, with tight, hand-cut singletrack that drops through rock gardens, glades and the occasional, but rare, sweeping berm. Check out the top of the mountain for big boulder drops and whimsical bridges too.

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BREWING BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA

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a town of 568 in a secluded valley far from any interstate in West “by God” Virginia. Hell, they even built this unassuming brewpub with their bare hands, using stones and timber from nearby sites. Legit. And the beer is good. Almost Heaven is an amber that has “gateway beer” qualities similar to the legendary Fat Tire. As for that remote West Virginia valley, it happens to be home to some of the state’s most rugged adventure, from backpacking the Dolly Sods to paddling the class V Upper Blackwater River. And those stepbrothers have turned their simple brewpub into a powerhouse, opening two other locations in the last few years, and are in the midst of a massive expansion that will triple their

Almost Heaven amber is a winner any time of year, but check out one of Mountain State’s summer seasonal Dolly Suds, a cranberry wheat beer that combines the Belgian wheat’s signature light, effervescent qualities with some vaguely fruity raspberry notes. Oh, and it’s named after nearby Dolly Sods, arguably one of the best backpacking destinations in the South.

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Sure, Appalachian Mountain Brewing has a great location (more about that in a minute), but AMB is on this list mostly because we like the cut of their jib. The brewery offsets their electricity use with 5,000 watts of solar panels, donates a portion of their profits to a variety of water quality and water access non-profits, installed a bike barn at their taproom to promote more biking, and make a habit of brewing beers that benefit local events and groups, from Blood Sweat and Gears to the Blue Ridge Conservancy. They even have a biodiesel/solar panel food truck that sources everything from local farmers. Community involvement and social responsibility is a key part of Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s business plan. And we dig

that. Now, about that location. AMB sits in an unassuming commercial zone in Boone, within striking distance of some of the state’s most iconic adventure. The Linville Gorge, the Roan Highlands, Wilson Creek… it’s all just down the road. DO THIS: You can spend days, or weeks, in the High Country surrounding AMB and never exhaust the adventure to be had. For a quick hit only a few miles from the brewery, head to Rocky Knob Bike Park just east of downtown, which has eight miles of progressive singletrack with all of the wood bridges and boulders you can handle, along with a killer pump track. Oh, and AMB has been integral in raising funds for Rocky Knob, too.

AMB has a few different flagship beers, but Long Leaf is the standout, and is easily one of the best IPAs brewed in North Carolina. And you can get it in tallboy cans built for

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ADVENTURE IS ALWAYS ON TAP AT OUTDOOR-MINDED BREWERIES ACROSS APPALACHIA. photo by BACKSHORE BREWING COMPANY

stuffing in your backpack.

FLYING MOUSE BREWERY TROUTVILLE, VIRGINIA

flyingmousebrewery.com Brothers Frank and Chris Moeller had outdoor adventure on their minds when they were building Flying Mouse, from the location (it’s only half a mile from the Appalachian Trail, and sits directly on the TransAmerica 76 Bicycle Route), to the packaging—no glass, everything in cans, and stainless steel growlers to go. The brewery sits on 15 acres between the two tiny towns of Troutville and Daleville, with its own trail circling the property that’s used for cyclocross races. The Moellers wanted to bring adventure into the brewery, and it’s 76

worked as countless cyclists and hikers find their way into The Flying Mouse from spring through fall. The beer they’re brewing on a 20-barrel system is also designed for adventure; each style is built to be sessionable and easy drinking, the perfect way to end a big hike or bike ride.

slightly sweet layer. And keep an eye out for a new wheat beer that Flying Mouse plans on canning this summer.

DO THIS: Not all sections of the A.T. are created equal, but luckily, Flying Mouse is close to one of the most iconic destinations along the entire path. We’re talking about McAfee Knob, that protruding plateau of a rock that has earned the title of “most photographed spot on the A.T.” You can start at the brewery and turn it into an overnight backpack by staying at the Pig Farm Campsite near the McAfee Knob spur trail.

Backshore Brewing is small, brewing tiny batches (about four kegs at a time), but they manage to knock out a solid rotation of beers (Belgian Dubbel aged on blackberries, anyone?), and they do it in a really sweet spot. Backshore (formerly known as Shorebilly) sits on the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, near some of Ocean City’s most storied beach breaks. And Backshore embodies that surfside lifestyle, from the vintage VW bus out front on the patio to the skateboard decks next to the bar inside. And you gotta love the brewery’s motto: “Brewed in the salty air with our toes in the sand.” Backshore is only open on weekends, so plan accordingly.

Just about everything Flying Mouse brews is perfect after a long hike, but we like Flying Mouse 3, which takes the light, crisp characteristics of a Kolsch-style beer and adds a more robust body and a

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BACKSHORE BREWING COMPANY OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

backshorebrew.com

DO THIS: You have surfing just across the boardwalk from the brewery, but the real adventure lies to the south, just across the inlet. That’s where you’ll find Assateague Island National Seashore, a 37-mile long barrier island with sandy beaches facing the Atlantic Ocean, and salty marshes and sinuous channels to explore on the bay side. Wild ponies, beach camping, paddling and surfing…Assateague offers a wild island escape only a few miles from quality beer at Backshore.

You’re at the beach, so don’t get too crazy. Stick with Backshore’s Boardwalk Blonde, an easy-drinking ale that comes in at a sessionable 4.3% ABV. And you pretty much have to order the Magnum P.A. (pale ale) because, you know, Magnum. They offer some of their flagships in cans, too, which makes it easy to stock up for a trip to Assateague. And check out their newest creation, called Hoop Tea, which is an all organic, tea-based malt liquor that comes in at 4% ABV.

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OVERLANDING

by MASON ADAMS

EXTREME, GEARED-UP CAR CAMPERS TACKLE THE WILDS OF WEST VIRGINIA

LAST SUMMER, MOUNTAIN State Overland stopped by Judaculla Rock, creating a geographic link between the ancient and modern. The adventuring filmmakers of Mountain State Overland are mapping their own version of Appalachia in a thoroughly modern fashion using GPS technology, up-fitted four-wheel-drive vehicles and digital video. The group is part of the latest revival of overlanding—a trend that really never went away. Consider overlanding a high-tech, revved-up version of car camping, albeit one that allows access to areas that few get to see. Overlanding started in the early 1900s with Australian livestock herders traveling long distances to market. The newest wave of overlanders mixes tech savvy with a sense of social responsibility, frequently labeling social media posts with #explore and #protect hashtags. Think Ed Abbey exploring the Maze in Canyonlands—except with sponsorships, digital cameras, a photo drone and a commitment to packing out his beer cans. Mountain State Overlanding began as a group of college buddies 78

taking trips during breaks from West Virginia University. Jason Specht, a former Boy Scout who’d picked up professional video experience shooting a Roanoke-based television show, started bringing his video gear on trips to sustainable community Bethlehem Farm and cross country ski destination White Grass, staging interviews along the way. In January 2014, when Freedom Industries spilled 7,500 gallons of a coal-washing chemical into the Elk River, affecting the water of 300,000 people in nine counties, Mountain State Overland filled their rigs with bottled water, drove to Charleston, W.Va., and filmed what they saw, which included dogs sick from drinking the polluted water at an animal shelter and firemen providing drinkable water to residents. The next few trips marked the group’s transition to off-road overlanding. It still based trips around interviews often tied to sustainability, but the focus shifted to exploration. Specht, a Mountain State Overland co-founder who planned the trips, built GPS routes from a combination of his own experiences and online mapping software.

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Memories and maps don’t always accurately represent what’s out there, and so Mountain State Overland’s expeditions have occasionally played out as frustrating exercises in groundtruthing. More than once the group has come upon a locked Forest Service gate, forcing it to throw away its premapped route and improvise. “The adrenaline of exploring new terrain and not knowing what’s around the next turn is probably what gets me going the most,” said team member Jeremy Styles. “‘Can I back out of here if I have too?’ is definitely something that I think about pretty often on some of these hardly used trails we find.” Sometimes the weather affects the itinerary. When it gets really bad, they throw up a tarp that keeps them dry and break out the cooking equipment. “I try to always look for the lighter side of any situation,” Specht said about such moments. “If a gate’s closed, I go into re-route mode. If a truck’s stuck, it’s disaster recovery. If it’s team drama, I dial it back and try to understand everyone’s feelings. But generally that’s part of the adventure. The adventure is not the destination; it’s everything that happens getting

you there.” Last year’s overlanding adventure followed a 2000-mile route through coal country. The coalfields in the southern part of West Virginia have become a mecca for off-road adventuring. The Hatfield & McCoy ATV & UTV Trails—named for one of the many family feuds that bloodied West Virginia long after the Civil War ended—is a year-round destination for off-roaders, and it’s not uncommon to spot outfitters leading packs of ATVs on backroads. Sure, Mountain State Overland wants you to like its photos on Instagram and watch its web series on YouTube. But all of that carries a more fundamental message: “Let’s get out and start enjoying Appalachia.” Watching the footage from the comfort of your living room or office, you don’t smell the sweat or campfire smoke. You don’t get the full experience of an afternoon of mud hole after mud hole, or a relentless rain that pelts already unstable trails. Yet, you also miss the feeling watching the sun break through rain clouds after all that, and the camaraderie sitting around a campfire, and the thrill of exploring new places.

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