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July 2016 CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

8 QUICK HITS

NASCAR legend bikes 102-mile Assault on Mount Mitchell • Virginia teen sets record record with 7,000 pull-ups • Canadian breaks beer two-mile record, then pukes

10 FLASHPOINT

Public lands for sale: Lawmakers propose selling off national forests and other federal lands to state and private interests.

12 THE DIRT

Birthplace of Rivers National Monument gains momentum in West Virginia • A creek contested— kayakers fight for the right to paddle Virginia’s Johns Creek.

31 THE GOODS

The Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers dish their road trip essentials.

62 TRAIL MIX

Former Black Crowes front man flies with a new crew

FEATURES

20 SUMMER STARTS HERE

Roll down the windows, turn up the tunes, and hit the road. We have scoured the Southeast and MidAtlantic for the most affordable adventures for $100 or less, so you can travel more and spend less on your next road trip. Have a little more dough to play with? Check out our pricier suggestions, too.

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50 FARM TO FORK GUIDE

These days, every restauarant seems to be touting “farm-fresh,” “organic,” “non-GMO,” and “responsibly grown,” “locally” sourced ingredients. Which regional restaurants walk the talk? Here are our 25 favorites.

57 OUR OLYMPIANS

Meet five regional athletes who have qualified for the 2016 Olympics and are eyeing gold in Rio next month.

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. 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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 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.

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ROAD-TRIP MUST HAVES? MARTIN RADIGAN

CHRIS GRAGTMANS

It's such a boring list of nerdy camera gear that I'll save you the time. Also, hopefully I remember to pack my 2 year old.

Duct tape, foam roller/yoga mat, and my drone.

EVANS PRATER All other items have varied over the years, but these three have remained consistent: a 12-pack of PBR (for consumption upon arrival), my old iPod, and a pair of cheap Wayfarer rip-offs.

TRAVIS HALL Whether I'm traversing the Blue Ridge or just tooling around Asheville, I always try to keep my truck loaded with fly fishing gear, a mountain bike, and enough camping gear for a spontaneous overnight trip.

JESS DADDIO Camera, apple, patience. Sometimes I forget the patience.

GORDON WADSWORTH Flip flops, sunglasses, and a toothbrush. No matter how gross and grimy I get, a toothbrush always makes me feel a little more human.

CHARLI KERNS When I first leave a city, I have to have water, my truckers' hat, and a mocha. The mocha is a Pavlov's thing for me to associate long hours in the car with a caffeinated treat. Makes the start easier.

JOHNNY MOLLOY

STEVE YOCOM Smartwool clothing (you can wear it for a week and not stink, I swear), AC adapter and inverter for plugging in camera chargers and laptops, and the Nemo Tango Duo for sleeping comfy in the back of the truck.

ANDREW KORNYLAK I always keep a pair of climbing shoes and a fly rod in the car, because you never know. And Crazy Monkey always rides the dashboard.

A good camera, ample money, and a roll-with-the-punches attitude.

JENNIFER PHARR DAVIS EZpass, trail guides, and a map of nearby microbreweries.

KATIE SOURIS Insulin, instant coffee, and my journal.

ALISHA EDMISTON I always pack peanut butter, herbal tea, and good books to read.

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QUICK HITS

0 7.16

BEYOND THE BLUE RIDGE

SHORTS

BEER TWO-MILE RECORD SET IN CANADA Runners around the world have been attempting to best each other at the Beer Mile, a popular trend that includes chugging four cans of beer and running four 400-meter laps on a track. The record— currently held by Canadian runner Lewis Kent with a time of 4:47:17—and accompanying stats are housed at Beermile. com. Back in May another Canadian runner upped the ante by setting a record for a beer two-mile. Doubling down on the initial challenge, Jim Finlayson drank eight beers and ran two miles in an impressive time of 11:39. Finlayson, a former Canadian marathon champion who lives in Victoria, British Columbia, warned spectators that most people who attempt a beer two-mile vomit in the process. Finlayson, though, was able to go the distance before puking by a tree after he finished. While Beermile.com officially tracks the standard one-mile version of the challenge, the site did recognize Finlayson’s accomplishment in its “Rule Variations” section.

BLUE RIDGE BRIEFS by JEDD FERRIS JIMMIE JOHNSON RIDES MT. MITCHELL Back in mid-May, tough regional cycling challenge, the Assault on Mt. Mitchell, had a rider in the field better known for his performance on four wheels than two. NASCAR hero Jimmie Johnson, a six-time Sprint Cup Series winner, pedaled the quad-crushing course that rolls from downtown Spartanburg, S.C., along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the summit of the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Johnson, a fitness buff and accomplished triathlete, finished the 102.7-mile course, which climbs more than 10,000 feet, in 6:11:24. The famous driver did have some help on his way up the mountain. He was paced by his friend, former pro cyclist and 17-time Tour de France rider George Hincapie. After the ride, Johnson posted a message on Twitter: “Such a tough day but so worth it.” WEST VIRGINIA SNOWBOARDER HEADS TO NATION’S TOP RIDING SCHOOL It’s not often that kids from Appalachia become top prospects in the snowsports world, so give it up for Sterling Beane, a snowboarding phenom and recent high school graduate from Gassaway, W.Va. In the spring, Beane committed to ride for Sierra Nevada College, a small school in Incline Village, Nevada, that won the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) National Championship earlier this year. According to a story in the Charleston Gazette-Mail Beane, who’s been a nationally ranked boardercross rider in his age group, is the first athlete from West Virginia to sign a letter of intent to compete on a college snowboarding team. Beane learned to ride and honed his skills at Snowshoe 8

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Mountain Resort, and he’s been dominant at regional comps, including the infamous Cupp Run Challenge.

pull-up workouts while watching the reality TV show American Ninja Warrior and the Star Wars movies as distractions.

D.C. AREA TEEN SETS RECORD WITH OVER 7,000 PULL-UPS Speaking of accomplished high schoolers, meet Andrew Shapiro, a junior at Langley High School in McLean, Va., who back in May set a world record by doing 7,306 pull-ups in 24 hours. Shapiro, 17, accomplished the feat at a Relay for Life event near his home in Fairfax County, inspired by his father’s successful battle with colon cancer. The teen beat a 2015 record of 6,800 pull-ups set by Jan Kares of the Czech Republic. According to a story in the Washington Post, Shapiro actually broke two other records during the event, along the way to his 24-hour record, by doing 3,515 pull-ups in six hours and 5,742 pull-ups in 12 hours. He told the paper he’s had the record in his sights for a while, and his training included incessant

SMALL PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITY LEGALIZES CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TO PROTEST FRACKING The people of Grant Township—a small community in western Pennsylvania—don’t want the toxic wastewater that comes from fracking deposited under their homes. In fact, residents are so against Pennsylvania General Energy Company’s plan to create an injection well in the municipality that they recently legalized the right to protest it. “We’re doing it to safeguard the residents and protect as many people as possible,” Township Supervisor Stacy Long told Yes! Magazine of what is believed to be the country’s first law legalizing nonviolent civil disobedience against toxic wastewater injection wells. This is quite a David and Goliath situation with a community of just

700 people taking on a large energy company that already has an EPA permit to create the disposal well, which would be used to house the byproduct of oil and gas drilling that’s been proven to contain a range of toxic chemicals. But the residents of Grant have proven to be persistent in their fight against fracking. Back in 2014 the community passed its own bill of rights that includes a ban on injection wells. The ban was eventually overturned in court. illustration by WADE MICKLEY

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FLASHPOINT

0 7.16

WILL YOUR FAVORITE FOREST BE SOLD? MASSIVE SELLOFF OF PUBLIC LANDS PROPOSED BY LAWMAKERS by JEFF KINNEY

o the lengthy list of threats menacing our public lands, we can now add another: land grabs disguised as bills to protect states’ rights. House Republicans recently introduced a bill—the State National Forest Management Act, H.R. 3650— that would allow any state to seize up to two million acres of national forests within its borders and sell them off to the highest bidder. In case there’s any doubt who that might be, Don Young, the Alaska representative who wrote the bill, explicitly stated during a February congressional hearing that the two million acres suddenly gifted to Alaska “would be managed primarily for timber production.” Young says his bill is needed to stop incompetent, tree-hugging feds from somehow ruining states’ economies by preserving nature for those who might wish to pay for the privilege of seeing it. “We have people from Eastern states coming to [Alaska] and saying ‘Look, isn’t it pretty’ as they go back to their homes and drive their cars,” he said during the hearing, apparently under the impression that all of these people somehow visit his state without spending a dime. Moreover, according to Young, the “worst-managed public lands” in the country are owned by the federal government, which doesn’t understand the economic impacts on local communities when it takes away “their” timber via logging restrictions. Young’s spokesman Matt Shuckerow doubled down on that theme. H.R. 3650 “represents a longstanding effort to reform the federal government’s broken system of forestry management, including failures to address wildlife and 10

the spread of insects and disease, in a manner that empowers local communities, builds resilient forests and streamlines burdensome management practices,” he said. He went on to lament the fact that federal forestry managers in the Tongass National Forest have sold “only” about 12 percent of the 267 million board feet annual allowable cut. According to Shuckerow, Young’s bill would allow Alaska and other states to “do better.” Is dismantling national forests and prioritizing logging over everything else really the best way to manage public lands for the country as a whole, or even for individual states? Young’s bill “takes a sledgehammer approach to the issue of forest management,” said Kathy DeCoster, vice president and director of federal affairs for the Trust for Public Land. “America’s national forests support a vibrant outdoor recreation economy and are valued by Americans from coast to coast. These lands should be held for public use by all Americans." Piles of data show that outdoor recreation—which isn’t exactly encouraged by clear-cut wastelands— produces vast amounts of cash and jobs for local economies. The Outdoor Industry Association reports that on a national level, outdoor recreation generates $646 billion in consumer spending, $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue, 6.1 million direct jobs, and

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

$39.7 billion in state and local tax revenue every year. And these benefits aren’t confined to the West. North Carolina, for example, annually enjoys $19.2 billion in consumer spending, $5.6 billion in wages and salaries, 192,000 direct jobs, and $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue when people come to play in the great outdoors. “Having outdoor recreational opportunities is a big part of supporting recreation-oriented businesses, and national forests are a big part of that,” said Sarah Francisco of the Southern Environmental Law Center. She sees the proposed State National Forest Management Act as a giant potential giveaway to logging companies. “It’s important for people to understand all of the benefits, including economic benefits, from our national forests.” Beyond recreation, national forests provide additional services with economic as well as environmental value, including clean drinking water and integrated fire and pest management. Jay Leutze, president of the Board of Trustees for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in Asheville, North Carolina, said that all benefits of national forests would be threatened by transferring them to cash-strapped states. For example, he pointed out that North Carolina recently eliminated its natural heritage trust fund, which was charged with

protecting fragile ecological sites. Its functions were merged with the state’s clean water trust fund and staff was laid off, making it harder to identify lands that need protection. “State agencies are under stress, so it seems strange to add to their administrative burdens when they’re having a tough time meeting their current goals,” he said. “I think when times are hard, states will have every temptation to look to revenuegenerating schemes.” That, of course, would include logging. DeCoster agrees that there are considerable risks in Young’s approach. “Removing up to two million acres in each state and withdrawing those lands from public use in favor of timber harvesting could affect the health of rivers and streams that support fish and wildlife, could destroy habitat connectivity, and could impair natural, scenic and recreational resources,” she said. The good news is that the chances of H.R. 3650 becoming law appear to be slim, at least for now. There’s no companion bill in the Senate, perhaps because such a measure would have a much tougher time there. It’s possible that the bill could find its way into a larger public lands spending package, but Francisco said even that is unlikely, especially in the East. “It’s my understanding that this drive to transfer federal public lands out of federal ownership is mostly limited to the West,” she said. “In the East, people and local communities here recognize many of the other important values these national forests have, and the trend toward extraction isn’t as pronounced.” Unfortunately, similar legislative threats are lurking. A new Senate bill (S. 2807, sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy), for example, would turn marine management in coastal national parks over to the states, allowing state governors to eliminate no-fishing zones that are critical for ecosystem recovery. So complacency is not an option. It seems that those who would use our public lands and waterways for shortterm economic gain will continue their efforts at every opportunity.

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MONUMENTAL MOMENTUM WEST VIRGINIA COULD SECURE ITS FIRST NATIONAL MONUMENT DESIGNATION BY THE END OF THE YEAR by DANIELLE TAYLOR

hat will be President Obama's legacy? The Affordable Care Act? The death of Osama bin Laden? Or perhaps his public lands legacy. President Obama has designated or expanded 23 national monuments and protected more than 265 million acres of public lands and waters, more than any other president. Unfortunately, none of those new designations lie east of the Mississippi. Only 22 of the nation's 121 national monuments are in the East. West Virginia currently has none. However, a group of Mountain State conservation advocates, businesspeople, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and other citizens has organized to secure a federal designation for the proposed Birthplace of Rivers National Monument. “There are no landscape-scale national monuments in the East,” says David Lillard, special projects manager with the West Virginia Rivers Coalition (WVRC). “There’s a need and a worthiness in the East as well.”

WHERE IS BIRTHPLACE OF RIVERS? The proposed national monument is centered around the existing 47,815-acre Cranberry Wilderness, which lies within the Monongahela National Forest in east-central West Virginia and drains via the Cranberry and Williams Rivers. To encompass the headwaters of the adjacent Cherry, Gauley, Elk, and Greenbrier Rivers, the monument boundaries strategically include 75,000 additional 12

acres, all within the national forest, in two sections along the Monongahela's northeastern and southern borders. The naturally diverse area already attracts hikers, mountain bikers, paddlers, anglers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Protecting the area as a national monument would provide a wide range of benefits for West Virginia. A WVRC poll showed that 84 percent of voters support the proposed monument. Why create a national monument? First, says Lillard, a national monument designation would permanently protect the land from industrial development, a significant step in this fossil fuel-rich state. Second, this measure would help ensure the purity of the rivers, a critical step given that millions of people downstream depend on them every day for fresh, clean drinking water. Just two and a half years ago, a massive chemical spill into the Elk River polluted more than 300,000 people’s tap water for months, which highlighted the vital need for this protected resource. Clean headwaters also facilitate positive recreation experiences downstream for fishing and paddling. More than 90 percent of West Virginia’s native trout streams fall within the proposed monument’s borders. And creek boaters flock to the headwaters of these rivers. Third, says Lillard, a monument designation would help ensure that any future logging remains at a sustainable level.

THE ICONIC FALLS OF HILLS CREEK ARE PART OF THE PROPOSED BIRTHPLACE OF RIVERS NATIONAL MONUMENT IN WEST VIRGINIA.

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BIRTHPLACE OF RIVERS NATIONAL MONUMENT ADVOCATES MATT KEARNS AND ADAM SWISHER JOURNEYED THE ENTIRE 173 MILES OF THE ELK RIVER BY CANOE, BIKE AND FOOT TO GENERATE INTEREST AMONG OTHER PADDLERS FOR THE PROPOSED NATIONAL MONUMENT.

The monument can significantly boost tourism revenue throughout the area. According to an economic impact study, the monument's designation would create 143 jobs, increase visitor-related spending in communities surrounding the monument by 42 percent, and generate more than $14.5 million in economic output annually. Similarly, land-management research group Headwaters Economics studied the local economies of communities bordering or adjacent to 17 national SUPPORT THE MONUMENT by

visiting actionnetwork.org/letters/ general-presidential-ask and fill out the short form to send the President a message. 14

monuments in the western U.S. from 1982 to 2011, and they found that jobs grew at four times the rate of similar communities that didn’t have a national monument as a neighbor.

HOW CAN IT BE DESIGNATED? National monuments can be created either by a majority congressional vote or by a signed presidential designation under authority of the Antiquities Act. "We’ll take it either way,” says Lillard. The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and the West Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited have also joined in supporting and advocating for the monument. And over the past several months, Lillard has witnessed many local community members living adjacent to the proposed site evolve from skeptics to advocates. “There’s been a groundswell of

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local support around the area where the monument would be,” he says. “They’re self-organizing and have local leadership on the ground with more plans to boost community engagement. A number of outdoor and tourism businesses have been rising up and saying they really want this for West Virginia. We even have Birthplace of Rivers information centers now. At 14 local shops, they have maps people can take and postcards at the counter.” In mid-May, Lillard and three Pocahontas County, West Virginia, advocates traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with representatives from President Obama’s administration to discuss the Birthplace of Rivers proposal. Upon arrival, they delivered 1,500 letters of support for the monument to the president. “Around the beginning of this year, the focus of this campaign shifted strongly toward the president,”

Lillard explains. “He has indicated there will be more monuments designated. We’ve been meeting with his administration’s monument people for a long time, and they’re very interested.” A presidential precedent of sorts exists for departing commanders-inchief to establish 11th-hour public lands on their way out the door. For example, during the first seven years of President Clinton’s two terms in office, he designated one national monument. In his last year, he established 19, with seven of those only becoming official in his last week and a half in the White House.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Some have expressed concerns that the national monument designation might restrict access, especially since the management plan for the landscape wouldn’t be fully developed

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until after the president or Congress approves the designation. The West Virginia state chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has expressed concern over the president’s potential use of the Antiquities Act to establish the monument, which in their view would be a federal back door that bypasses public approval. To ease these concerns, Lillard explains that sustaining current levels of access both now and for future generations is one of main motivations guiding the designation push. “For the most part, things would continue to be what they are now," says Lillard. "Our proposal calls for some more restorative forestry, spruce in particular, but most everything else would stay the same. One of the biggest developments over the past few months has been that many former opponents are now at the table and see how the monument can be good for West Virginia and how

THE ELKSPEDITION ENTOURAGE MET UP WITH MATT AND ADAM FOR A MEMORIAL DAY HOMECOMING PICNIC IN CHARLESTON’S COONSKIN PARK, THEN ACCOMPANIED THE PAIR AS A FLOTILLA FOR THE LAST FEW MILES TO THE CONFLUENCE WITH THE KANAWHA RIVER.

they can have a role.” If designated, the monument would remain under the management of the U.S. Forest Service. U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell explains that typically, as has been the situation on recent Forest Service monuments, "monument designations complement the underlying management plan — which is developed with public input. If hunting and fishing are permitted under the current forest management plan, that would typically continue as a national monument.” Lillard agrees. “National monument status would allow the Forest Service to continue to manage it. We are not trying to create a

national park, and we certainly don’t want to create more wilderness there or exclude people using it currently. What’s there now is what we want to keep. There are other types of protection, and we think this is the highest level of protection available.” To help increase publicity for the proposed monument, a pair of Birthplace of Rivers advocates— paddlers Matt Kearns and Adam Swisher—journeyed from the Elk River headwaters in Southern Monongahela National Forest to the mouth of the river in Charleston. On the final day of their adventure, more than 100 fellow Birthplace of Rivers advocates joined in for a flotilla escort of the last few miles. Said Swisher afterwards, "As President Obama wraps up his second term, designating this monument would be a significant way to ensure his lasting legacy in the Mountain State." J U LY 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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A CREEK CONTESTED

DOES A BELOVED VIRGINIA PADDLING AND ANGLING RIVER BELONG TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS OR TO THE PUBLIC? by JESSICA WIEGANDT

“A

state-recognized Virginia treasure,” I say as I pull up to the infamous Johns Creek, a jewel of southwestern Virginia that, until recently, was illegal to paddle due to a landowner dispute. Located just 30 minutes from downtown Roanoke and with 5.5 miles of continuous class IV, Johns is a 9-to-5 working boater’s wet dream. In 2015, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) deemed the creek navigable, and therefore accessible to the public. Since that fateful decision, I had been eager to paddle the legendary run. I had grown up listening to tales of rapids with names that made me want to pee a little, like “Separator” and “Bambi Meets Godzilla." So, after a few days of rain in the valley, I head to the put-in to make my personal first descent of Johns Creek. Johns is a creek with constant

rock slides, boofs, and giant holes to either punch or eddy-hop around. I was challenged in the best of ways as I maneuvered my creek boat through tight slots and around downed trees. All the while, I was amazed with the beauty of the gorge—walls of rock looming above me. This is what I had been waiting for my whole life of paddling. But for years, it's been off-limits. “Back when paddling and canoeing started gaining popularity, right in the 1980s, Johns was considered the gem of Virginia,” says Pete Katt, a Roanoke area paddler and lawyer. “Then in the 90s, there were two landowners along Johns Creek who put pressure on the commonwealth attorney to research if Johns was a navigable waterway.” Once the commonwealth attorney could not find sufficient evidence that the creek had been used for commercial transportation, Johns Creek was deemed un-navigable, which closed it off to public access.

However, the paddling community pushed back, arguing Johns was navigable and had been proven to be many times since the first descent of the creek in the late 1960s. This resulted in the VMRC reviewing Johns Creek along with 11 other Virginia creeks. According to the VMRC, any waterway with over five square miles of drainage or with a mean annual flow of five cubic feet per second is considered navigable. In 2015, VMRC concluded that Johns Creek and the 11 others all were deemed navigable. The landowners countered with land grants, known as King’s Grants. The landowners refused to comment for this story, but their lawyer, Lenden Eakin, argues that grants given prior to 1802 include ownership of the creek and the creek bottom. This allows the landowner to control access to the creek, deciding if recreational use such as paddling and fishing will be allowed. Currently, the pending

TWO LINES TAKEN AS TWO PADDLERS SQUARE UP FOR A HOLE photo by SEAN PLOTT

case Looney v. VMRC focuses on the ownership of stream bottoms on Johns Creek. When Johns was deemed navigable in 2015, the commonwealth attorney and sheriff of Craig County decided they would no longer prosecute or arrest paddlers who were on the creek. This allowed the paddling community to have the immunity they had been seeking for 16 years. Johns Creek was open to the public to paddle again. Immediately after the decision was made, several Roanoke paddlers organized a beautification of the takeout, owned by American Whitewater. They brought in gravel to minimize mud impact on the road and built a change station for paddlers to utilize so they weren’t changing out in

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the open. But the two landowners are continuing their fight. They point to the General Assembly ruling that the state owns all streambeds unless the land was granted prior to 1802. Both grants from the landowners were issued prior to these years, one in 1760 and the other in 1786. So, according to Eakin, all of the land being contested is private property, including Johns Creek, subject to the constitutional rights that prevent the taking of private property for public purposes without due process and compensation. “In order to have jurisdiction to declare a stream navigable, the VRMC has to claim that the stream bottom belongs to the commonwealth,” says Eakin. “They only have jurisdiction over ungranted bottoms in the state. They have taken the position, at least from our point of view, that no

bottom is granted and so they have jurisdiction over everything. And that’s simply not true.” Katt hopes to clarify who is behind the suit as he helps to represent the paddling community. “There are two corporations and [one] landowner that are suing: one has the money and the other is adamant in trying to deny people use of the stream,” says Katt. “The lawsuit itself talks just about the King's Grant. It doesn’t mention navigability. They’re trying to avoid bringing up navigability. “The response of the government to the lawsuit is that we haven’t acquired anything, we haven’t tried to acquire anything, and you haven’t lost anything. So what [the landowners] are asking… there’s no basis for in court,” says Katt. The suit has been filed, and they are now in the process of setting a hearing with the circuit court judge in Craig County. Eakin says they are prepared to appeal through the Virginia Supreme Court if the initial ruling is not in his clients’ favor.

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"Does the creek belong to the public or the landowner? That’s the main question here. There’s a lot of pressure for creeks to be open to the public, but when you open it up that infringes on the landowner’s right to private property,” says Eakin. Katt encourages those who want to paddle Johns Creek to get on it now and show that it is a navigable stream beloved by the public. Powers stresses the importance of paddling with locals who know the lines. “Scouting isn’t an option out there. Be sure you’re ready for it and don’t be the cause of a future problem with anyone,” says Powers. “But also know that Johns is worth all of this legal work and research. This creek is something many people can do, and it runs over 100 days out of the year. It’s beautiful, it’s continuous, it’s the best creek in the state, and it might very well be one of the best creeks on the planet.”

MIKEL CARR AFTER A SOLID BOOF STROKE ON THE FINAL RAPID OF JOHNS photo by SEAN PLOTT

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AND SPEND LESS Roll down the windows, turn up the tunes, and hit the road. We have scoured the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic for the most affordable adventures for $100 or less. Have a little more dough to play with? Check out our pricier suggestions using the $, $$, and $$$ scale. by JESS DADDIO

RAFT THE CANYON

Albright, West Virginia Not everyone has the time or skills to tackle the Grand Canyon, but that’s no excuse to forgo paddling through a river canyon altogether. The Cheat River Canyon in northern West Virginia is one of the longest commercially rafted rivers in the Mid-Atlantic. A classic example of West Virginia whitewater, the Cheat Canyon is one of the few naturally running rivers in the state that remains, with high-volume, big-wave action around every bend. Of the river’s 162-mile journey north along the Allegheny Mountains, the 10-mile class III-IV stretch from Albright, W.Va., to its confluence with the Big Sandy is the most popular section. Here, the 20

steep gorge walls plummet to the river’s edge like heavy green curtains, housing a wide array of delicate and diverse species of flora and fauna. More than ten endangered, threatened, or globally rare species occur in the canyon, including the flat-spired three-toothed land snail, which exists nowhere else in the world. Once listed on American Rivers’ 10 most-endangered rivers in the nation due to acid mine drainage blowouts in the mid-‘90s, the Cheat River is now both protected and restored. In 2014, The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund designated more than 3,800 acres along the banks of the Cheat as official Wildlife Management Area, securing in perpetuity a wild and wonderful canyon for generations of paddlers to come.

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THE CHEAT RIVER CANYON IS NOT ONLY WILD AND WONDERFUL, IT'S PROTECTED FOR photo by KENT MASON GENERATIONS OF PADDLERS AND NATURE LOVERS TO COME.

Bring your own boat, run your own shuttle, and be home in time for supper! Though the Cheat has a remote and wild feel, the river is just a three-hour drive from Washington, D.C., making a day trip easily doable. In the event that you need an affordable and convenient spot to crash, the Cheat Canyon

Campground offers flat, grassy, riverside camping for $5 per person, per night. Cap off the day with a $4 burger and a Preston County draft from the newly established Brew Ha Ha Caffeine and Cuisine in downtown Kingwood.

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Lacking proficient river-reading skills? Hop in a raft and let a hired guide do the work. Wilderness Voyageurs offers guided rafting trips down the Cheat Canyon for $75 during the weekday, $95 on Saturday, and $85 on Sunday. If it’s your first time on whitewater, or you have younger kids along, consider a float down the five-mile class II-III Cheat River Narrows first. Blackwater Outdoor Adventures offers trips down the Narrows for $52.95, which includes lunch. Be sure to come during the spring when river levels are high. After your float, head an hour north past the Pennsylvania border to the quaint town of Ohiopyle where Wilderness Voyageurs is headquartered. You can camp at Benner’s Meadow Run Camping & Cabins for $9 per person, per night, and prime yourself for another day of adventure. Hundreds of miles of mountain biking and hiking trails like the Great Allegheny Passage, Laurel Highlands Trail, and Sugarloaf Trail System are right out your tent flap, so grab some boots or rent a bike for $6 per hour and get exploring! If your wild and wonderful whitewater adventure maxed out your ruggedness for the day, there are a number of cabins and B&Bs in the area. Some unique options are the Riverside Hotel (rates from $69 per night) in Friendsville, Md., and Blue Moon Rising (cabins starting at $175 per night) in McHenry, Md. The Riverside Hotel is literally riverside, located on the banks of the Upper Yough (another great class IV-V stretch of whitewater, which you can raft with Wilderness Voyageurs for $120). For $12, the Riverside also serves vegetarian “all you care to eat” meals made from local, organic ingredients and vegetables grown in their backyard. Blue Moon Rising prides itself on sustainability and earth-friendly construction practices, so you can feel good about your lodging for the evening. Choose from any of their 13 unique cabins,

all of which are built from reclaimed materials. Be sure to make time to enjoy a meal at Blue Moon’s partner business, MoonShadow Café, in nearby Accident, Md., for farm fresh food, craft brews, and live entertainment.

EXPLORE UNDERGROUND Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

It’s hard to believe that Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system in the world, started 10 million years ago as nothing more than a seeping, soggy limestone-laden field. To date, more than 400 miles of the cave’s passages have been explored since the first tour of Mammoth in 1816. The cave has

above and below ground, became a World Heritage Site in 1981 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990. Take a tour down Gothic Avenue ($12), where you can see some graffiti left by visitors who visited Mammoth Cave in the 1800s. It sounds bizarre, and it is, but so goes the history of Mammoth. After your tour, pitch a tent along the banks of the Green or stake your claim on one of the Nolin’s islands with a free Backcountry Use Permit. Permits are available at the Visitor Center and give visitors free range to settle most anywhere throughout the park. Anglers especially will enjoy the riverside location, as muskellunge, bluegill, catfish, bass, perch, and crappie abound.

CLIMB, SQUEEZE, AND ARMY CRAWL WITH MAMMOTH CAVE'S WILD CAVE TOUR.

seen an interesting array of curious characters in its time—natives and trappers, soldiers and doctors, miners and priests—yet even now, the cave and its true extent are hardly understood. Mammoth is, as early guide Stephen Bishop once put it, “a grand, gloomy, and peculiar place.” Aboveground, though, the land surrounding Mammoth Cave is fertile and green. Some 84 miles of backcountry trails for hikers, equestrians, and bikers showcase the park’s 52,000+ acres, which include the scenic river valleys of the Green and Nolin Rivers. Mammoth received its national park designation in 1941, and because of its rich ecosystem

For $26, you can take an Introduction to Caving Tour to discover if spelunking is really for you. Over the course of three hours, you’ll learn the basics of caving and experience the cave as early explorers might have seen it. If you enjoy camping but prefer to have a few amenities during your stay, the Houchin Ferry Campground just 15 miles away offers 12 sites at $12 per night. Go beyond the typical tourist experience and sign up for the Wild Cave Tour ($55). You’ll only travel a total of five miles, but you’ll be underground for six hours climbing,

army-crawling, and squeezing into all of those hard-to-reach chambers and labyrinths the other tours merely talk about. To get the full Mammoth Cave experience, reserve a room at the Mammoth Cave Hotel (rates from $89 per night). In its heyday, the hotel hosted a grand ballroom and covered porticos that would impress even the wealthiest of visiting aristocrats.

SCALE A SUMMIT

Seneca Rocks, West Virginia Along the eastern edge of West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest lies 100,000 acres of rugged mountain ridgelines that rise like fins above the North Fork Valley. Collectively, these ridges form the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Established in 1965, this area was the first National Recreation Area designation under the Forest Service. Spruce Knob, West Virginia’s highest point and the Allegheny Mountains’ tallest peak, looms 4,863 feet above the valley floor. Its erosion-resistant Pottsville sandstone features are pockmarked with stripes and circles, indicative of its more than 300-millionyear lifespan. The climate here is harsh and unlike anywhere else in Appalachia. Arctic-like plants and wildlife like the dwarf cornel, red fox, snowshoe hare, and ruffed grouse thrive here, yet are more commonly found in Canada’s coniferous forests. Just 15 miles north of Spruce Knob stands Seneca Rocks, which has long been recognized as a MidAtlantic climbing hotbed. The iconic flake of Tuscarora quartzite rises 900 feet above the North Fork River and is revered for its exposed ridgelines and caprock. Purchased by the federal government in 1969, Seneca Rocks was once the site of the only low altitude assault climbing school for the U.S. Army in the early 1940s. Chosen for its terrain, which was similar to that found in northern

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night, or reserve a cabin for $20 per person, per night. NROCK also has a number of guest rooms that can accommodate four people and are $81.25 per night.

Italy, World War II soldiers learned tactical rope and alpine assault techniques on Seneca and nearby Champe Rocks. Today, climbers can still find World War II-age pitons jammed into the rock face, which explains how one section of cliff was donned “The Face of a Thousand Pitons.” With roughly 400 established climbing routes ranging in difficulty from 5.0 to 5.13, climbers can easily spend a season at Seneca and never climb the same route twice. There are only a few bolts along these routes, so climbers should be well versed in traditional climbing. Not a climber? Hop on the West Side Trail behind the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center. A three-mile hike out-and-back, this trail leads to the very summit that climbers access. To see Seneca from afar, hop on the Spruce Knob trail and summit the state’s highest point. There’s an observation tower at the summit, and the easy walk from the car can be done in a 0.5-mile loop. Set up camp at Seneca Shadows Campground (sites from $17 per night) for stunning views of Seneca’s rocky face. Not far from Spruce Knob and

just outside the National Recreation Area is NROCKS (“N” for Nelson), a privately owned climbing area that features one of only three via ferratas on the East Coast. Built in 2002, the via ferrata (Italian for “iron road”) takes visitors up 1,085 feet in elevation, across a suspension bridge that is 150 feet high and 200 feet long, and at exposed heights of 280 feet. NROCKS offers guided via ferrata tours starting at $80 per person, and you can even stay onsite after your day on the rock. Stake your tent for $7.50 per person, per

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Greenville, South Carolina The city of Greenville hardly gets the biking notoriety that other twowheeled meccas like Boulder and Portland receive, but for decades, this southern city has been turning out some of the world’s best riders. Take George Hincapie, for example, a 17-time Tour de France rider and

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HIKE OR CLIMB TO THE SUMMIT OF SENECA ROCKS IN WEST VIRGINIA.

Rally a few friends with an equal sense of adventure and hire a guide out of Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides. For a group of three at minimum, visitors with little climbing experience can scale the summit of Seneca under professional supervision and assistance for $90 per person. Later, post up shop at the Seneca House just five miles from Seneca Rocks. Rooms start at $45 per night, but there is also a sweet renovated barn available for just $75 a night. Whatever adventures you decide to embark on, a stop at Harper’s Olde General Store and Front Porch Restaurant is a must.

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WITH MILES OF GREENWAYS AND BACKCOUNTRY ROADS, GREENVILLE IS A CYCLING MECCA. J U LY 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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three-time U.S. National Road Race Champion. After retiring from his career as a professional road rider, Hincapie returned to his hometown. Not far from Greenville is the upand-coming community of Travelers Rest, affectionately referred to as “TR.” Travelers Rest sits at the northern terminus of the Greenville Health System (GHS) Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 21-mile greenway connecting TR to Greenville. On any given day, riders and pedestrians along the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail can catch glimpses of the Hincapie Racing Team gearing up for a training ride out to Paris Mountain State Park, Caesar’s Head State Park, or Table Rock State Park. Cycle along the Reedy River via the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail, the famed Rails-to-Trails pathway of Greenville and Travelers Rest. The going is relatively flat and paved, which makes it great for families and novice riders alike. Don’t have a bike of your own? Sunrift Adventures in Travelers Rest offers rental rides starting at $20 per half day. Camp out nearby at Paris Mountain State Park, where you’ll have 15 miles of hiking and biking trails just a short walk from your campsite. Basic sites here start at $18 per night, but you can also camp along the North Lake Trail Loop for $11 per night. Bike and brunch with Reedy Rides in downtown Greenville. This guide and rental service offers two-wheeled tours of Greenville as well as informational tours of the Swamp Rabbit Trail. For $45 you can get a four-hour tour and brunch with Reedy Rides, but you can also customize your trip, so ride longer, explore more, and get the most out of your Greenville cruise. Post up for the evening at the Swamp Rabbit Inn just two blocks off Main Street in downtown Greenville. Rooms here start at $105 per night, and the Inn even has its own bike rental program through The Bike Shed, which offers rides at $25 per eight hours.

For more beta on Greenville’s bike-friendly scene, pick up a copy of Cycling Greenville ($14.95), which details 20 of the best rides in and around Greenville. You can venture on your own or learn from the pros by enlisting the services of George Hincapie’s guides at Hotel Domestique. Rates here start at $100 for a one- to three-hour tour, but these guides aren’t necessarily into the tourist thing. They’ll push you harder on climbs and unveil local routes, give you pointers and pace the downhills. Were it not for the upscale accommodations at Hotel Domestique, which include a threecourse European style breakfast and saltwater lap pool starting at $295 per night, you might think you were at training camp.

The rolling ridgelines, rocky terrain, and bucolic meadows characteristic of Shenandoah attract hikers, anglers, and historians alike. More than 70 mountain streams and tributaries host a healthy and diverse fish population, including the native brook trout. Despite heavy visitation numbers to the park (1.2 million in 2015 alone), there is plenty of solitude and adventure to be found in Shenandoah’s peaks and valleys.

with a two-hour class courtesy of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing out of Harrisonburg, Va. For $85, you’ll receive rods, reels, flies, and tackle free of charge, not to mention top-ofthe-line advice from Mossy Creek’s expert guides. Shack up at Old Rag Cottage just a few miles from Old Rag and Whiteoak Canyon. The cottage can be rented at $85 per night and puts you practically streamside for a full day of fishing.

While you might not necessarily land a lunker, Big Run is the largest watershed area in Shenandoah and also one of the best places to drift a fly for native brookies. Nonresidents can get a freshwater fishing license for Virginia at $8 per day, or $21 for five consecutive days, and entrance

The park’s namesake river is revered for its smallmouth bass, which live in greater densities on the Shenandoah than any other river in Virginia. If high catch rates are what you’re after, look no further than the South Fork of the Shenandoah. Mossy Creek offers eight-hour float trips down the Shenandoah for $325 per day, including food and beverages. Afterwards, you can settle into a luxury yurt at Rose River Farm (rates from $250 per night for a four-person maximum occupancy), which is just a few minutes’ drive from other native trout waters like the Rapidan, the Upper Rose, and the Robinson.

SEARCH FOR THE STARS Linville Gorge, North Carolina photo by JOHN WOODY

LAND A LUNKER Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Just 75 miles from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park provides an easily accessible recreational haven for urban residents throughout the Mid-Atlantic. There are 500 miles of trails throughout the park’s 200,000 acres, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. For 105 miles, Skyline Drive runs the length of Shenandoah like a backbone, providing visitors roadside access to trailheads, overlooks, and camping.

into Shenandoah is typically $20 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. Once in the park, you can hike to Big Run from the Doyles River trailhead. In general, the harder you’re willing to work, and the more you hike in, the higher your chances of catching the elusive brookie! Grab a free backcountry camping permit at any one of the self-registration kiosks to pitch a tent along Big Run, or head up to Loft Mountain Campground where you can stay for $15 a night. Freshen up your casting skills before you head to the woods

The Linville Gorge Wilderness is the crown jewel of Pisgah National Forest. The 12,000-acre wilderness is largely regarded as one of the few remaining places in the Eastern seaboard where one can find solitude on a weekend, cliff-edge views, and truly wild terrain to boot. The Linville River bisects the wilderness, and though the upper and lower reaches of the Linville are calm and flat, there are nearly seven miles of continuous class IV-V+ rapids in the heart of the gorge. The towering 2,000-foot cliffs that rise from the river are littered with hidden caves you won’t find on any map, yet are well known among climbers and off-trail hikers. Though the gorge is

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stunning any time of year, come in the spring when cliffsides are covered in the pink of rhododendron in bloom. On weekends and holidays during peak season (May through October), you’ll need to reserve a camping

permit ahead of time. Though the permit is free, users can only receive one permit per month for three consecutive days and two nights. The view from Shortoff Mountain is truly spectacular, and if you can snag one of the campsites along the way, you’re in for a real celestial treat.

As with any wilderness area, the trails in Linville aren’t marked and some areas in particular are hard to navigate or overgrown. Let a guide show you the way. HikeMore Adventures offers a stargazing excursion ($75 per person) to the Linville Gorge with Bob Hampton, president and founder of the Blue Ridge Astronomy Group and Future Director of the Blue Ridge Public Observatory. Spend four hours under the stars with the knowledge and guidance of an expert. Accompanying the trip will be a 13.1" diameter Dobsonian Reflecting Telescope to help you get a better glimpse at the planets, moons, and satellites that speckle our nightsky. To know and feel the grandeur and ruggedness of the gorge, consider tackling the 22-mile Linville Gorge Loop Trail. HikeMore can lead the way. Starting at $225 per person, this trip can easily cater to individual preferences and physical abilities. Consider packing a Tenkara rod

so you can take advantage of the 13 miles of pristine fishing on the Linville River. By the time you finish this loop, your body will likely need a little TLC. Recharge and get a hot shower at the newly opened Harmony Hostel ($45 per person per night) just an hour north in Banner Elk, N.C.

GO THRU, ALL THE WAY Chattanooga, Tennessee

Though Chattanooga is the fourth largest city in the state of Tennessee, its proximity to the outdoors has revitalized the reputation of this southern metropolis. Once considered the dirtiest city in America, Chattanooga is now thriving on its recreational assets like the Tennessee River, which flows through the middle of town, and adjacent public lands like Prentice Cooper State Forest and North Chickamauga

“ I L OV E T O H AV E MY H A I R R A I S E D, MY M I N D B O G G L E D, MY AW E STRUCK, MY FL ABBER GASTED AND MY D O G M A B L O W N A W AY. ” —Jesse Cline, River Guide

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Creek Conservancy. Situated against the towering Cumberland Plateau, Chattanooga is widely recognized for its sandstone bluffs and boulders. From climbing to Ironmans and everything in between, Chattanooga has it all.

and public land, but there are plenty of campsites along the way that are free and open to the public. Outdoor Chattanooga offers a comprehensive list of every campsite, cabin, and hotel along the Blueway for ease of logistics.

Thru-hike or run the Cumberland Trail. Officially designated in 1998 as the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park, the trail is Tennessee’s first linear state park and is a significant section of the newly developed Great Eastern Trail. At 190 miles, this scenic trail is still being developed, but the southern terminus of the trail ends just outside Chattanooga at ChickamaugaChattanooga National Military Park on Signal Mountain. When completed, the Cumberland Trail will connect two national parks and pass through a National Wild and Scenic River area. Hikers and trail runners alike will be surprised at the ruggedness of this trail, which follows high ridgelines and deep gorges.

The adventurous soul will attempt the Blueway in its entirety, which can easily be completed in three days. For a different glimpse of the Tennessee River, L2 Outside leads sunset paddles ($35) every Friday and Saturday night from 8:00 to 9:30 pm. Your board will come equipped with LED lights to brighten your way as you paddle downstream. In the evening, retreat to your perch, literally, above Lookout Creek, a seasonal wetland in the Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center. Known as Paddler’s Perch, this treetop cabin is mainly reserved for paddlers of the Tennessee River Blueway who can rent the space for $35 per night for two people.

THE VIEW OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER BLUEWAY FROM SIGNAL POINT OUTSIDE OF CHATTANOOGA, TENN.

There are few developed campsites along the trail, so most of the land is fair game so long as Leave No Trace principles are practiced and respected. The Tennessee River Blueway, designated a National Scenic River Trail in 2002, highlights all that is unique about Chattanooga. From Chickamauga Dam to Nickajack Dam, the Blueway runs for 48

miles past downtown, through the Tennessee River Gorge, and into the Nickajack’s headwaters. Paddlers can opt for a day trip and still get a taste of the gorge by putting in at Suck Creek and taking out six miles downstream at Pot Point. L2 Outside offers boat and SUP rentals starting at $25 per day, though if you come on a Tuesday, you’ll only pay half. The Blueway runs through both private

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ROAD WARRIORS

LEAVE NO TRACE TRAVELING TRAINERS DISH THEIR FAVORITE FIELD-TESTED GEAR by GRAHAM AVERILL Andy Mossey and Steph Whatton know how to road trip. The couple does it for a living. Mossey and Whatton are a traveling trainer team for Subaru and Leave No Trace, driving across the Eastern U.S., educating schools, camps, and the general public about Leave No Trace principles. They live year round in an Outback and spent 250 nights camping last year. “The best part of living in your car, is you have everything you need to adventure all the time,” says Mossey. “If we have a couple of hours of free time, and we’re in a spot with incredible climbing or trail running, we’re ready to go.” After a year on the road, Mossey and Whatton have dialed in their road trip gear and system. Here, they outline their favorite pieces of road trip gear.

THULE SONIC XL ($659) AM: This roof box is our gear closet. It has a super rigid design, with tons of room for all of our climbing gear. Says Whatton, "It’s so sturdy, and unbelievably durable for all weather conditions. I don’t know what we’d do without it." ENO HAMMOCK ($60) SW: We have our ENOs with us at all times—a DoubleNest and a SingleNest. I really like the new strap system, the Helios, made from Dyneema. They’re really lightweight but also user friendly. The SingleNest is key if we want to have our own space. We’re together all the time, so sometimes that’s nice. CAMP CHEF EVEREST STOVE ($125) AM: We’re big foodies, making food every day, twice a day. It’s a two-burner stove that’s incredibly reliable You can cook anything on this stove. Our go-to meal is vegetable stir fry, with curry rice.

BIG AGNES DOUBLE Z ($110) SW: I couldn’t do this job without that thing. Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial, and this insulated sleeping pad is more comfortable than the mattress in my last apartment.

MORE GEAR RINSE KIT ($90) This little tub of sanitation holds and pressurizes two gallons of water so you can get clean and hit the town immediately after that trail run, ride or climb.

MAZAMA SIDESTREAM HYDRATION PACK ($39) The Sidestream provides a smooth, bounce-free run and an easy, one-handed drink motion that doesn’t interrupt your stride. Just pull the hose to your mouth and drink. URBAN SURVIVOR KIT ($80) This grab-and-go emergency backpack filled with all the necessary essentials to survive when a disaster strikes, including water, food, survival tools, and first aid. TAXA TIGERMOTH ($12,900) AM: We recently put a trailer on the Subaru. It only weighs 900 pounds, but has a queen sized bed and a pull out kitchen. There’s tons of storage room… it’s amazing. It’s designed to give you every piece of living equipment, as if you’re living in a basecamp.

YAKIMA STREAMLINE $199-TOWERS, $119-CROSSBARS Yakima reinvented rack Streamline features towers that can adjust to most car shapes, and new cross bars that are more aerodynamic, but also stronger than their predecessors. J U LY 2 016 / B L U E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

TODAY

ONCE Get outside at Virginia.org/Outdoors

McAfee Knob Catawba, Virginia

SUMMER

ADVENTURE

GIVEAWAY AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IN VIRGINIA’S BLUE RIDGE YOU COULD WIN AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE TO VIRGINIA’S NATURAL BRIDGE, AND UPPER JAMES RIVER TRIP FOR TWO!

Two tickets to the Natural Bridge and Caverns where you can experience the 215 foot high stone bridge, Monacan village, and hiking trails and descend 34 stories into the deep caverns.

A two night stay for two at the Natural Bridge Park & Historic Hotel, one of the oldest tourist destinations in the U.S.! Both guests will also enjoy hot breakfast on the mornings of their stay!

ENTER TO WIN AT BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM/CONTESTS

Kayak, canoe or tube down the Upper James River Water Trail with your river trip for two from Twin River Outfitters. TRO is the oldest and most experienced outfitter operating on the Upper James River and have been safely running paddle trips since 1978.

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ROADTRIP DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016 Our annual guide to the best places to

EAT, PLAY, & STAY

in the Blue Ridge—all within a day’s drive.

ometimes you have to go somewhere to stop, unplug, and live in the moment. Experience life from a new perspective in Botetourt County, Virginia. Adventures await!

VisitBotetourt

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BOTETOURT COUNTY, VA

>> Walk, bike or horseback through Greenfield Recreation Park – a 125 acre park featuring walking and equestrian trails, along with an 18-hole disc golf course. >> Float, paddle, or fish 45 miles of The Upper James River Water Trail – with 14 pristine miles designated as a Virginia Scenic River. >> Savor award-winning wines along The Wine Trail of Botetourt County – visit 3 farm wineries for tastings, surrounded by majestic mountain views. >> Lace up your boots and grab your pack for a rigorous hike on the Appalachian Trail, Apple Orchard Falls, Tinker Cliffs, or Roaring Run Falls. >> Bike along the Blue Ridge Parkway or Bike Route 76 through the scenic countryside and towns.

VisitBotetourt.com 540-928-2140

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016

VIRGINIA’S BLUE RIDGE

mountain playground awaits in the Roanoke Valley in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Take a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, hike to McAfee Knob on the Appalachian Trail, sample locallybrewed IPAs, and climb aboard a steam locomotive. That’s just the first day of your trip!

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GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Pedal your way through the hundreds of miles of incredible trails that make Virginia’s Blue Ridge the Mountain Biking Capital of the East! >> With the 500 miles of shoreline at Smith Mountain Lake and easy access of the Upper James River Water Trail and the Roanoke River Blueway, it’s simple and fun to get on the water in Virginia’s Blue Ridge to have exciting boating, paddling, and floating adventures! >> Have a toast to all your outdoor fun with a visit to the local craft breweries in the region, including the award-winning Parkway Brewing Company and its newly renovated outdoor patio that regularly hosts live music.

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VisitVABlueRidge.com | 800-635-5535

Great food is part of the outdoor experience in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Restaurants like the Wasena City Tap Room and HIT’S Frozen Treats are located along the Roanoke River Greenway, and a variety of locally-owned restaurants in Downtown Roanoke feature outdoor dining space, such as the beautiful courtyard at Billy’s or pet-friendly patio in Market Square at The Blues BBQ and Grill.

The experts at Twin River Outfitters and Roanoke Mountain Adventures, two local outdoor outfitters, will offer all the resources and gear you need for a fun-filled Blue Ridge Day. From a guided mountain biking trip at Carvins Cove to a relaxing float along the James River, it’s time to start planning your next playcation in the Blue Ridge Mountains!

From historic hotels and unique resorts to cozy B&Bs and rustic campgrounds, there’s always room for you in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Experience the local hospitality and charm that will make you feel right at home.

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estled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Patrick County is a jewel of a destination, offering activities for the whole family. From the rugged outdoors to 5-Star luxury, there is so much to discover here.

PatrickCountyTourism

VisitPatrick

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Drive and picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway, listen to traditional mountain

PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA

music along the Crooked Road Music Trail, tour our wineries—Stanburn and Villa Appalaccia—or visit local artisan studios. >> Enjoy the day at Gordon Trent Golf Course, Fairy Stone State Park, fishing our rivers, or enjoying one of our eight annual festivals. >> Visit our local museum, Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge, the Reynolds Homestead, and the birthplace of Gen. J.E.B. Stuart. >> After a long day, relax in luxury at Primland Resort or settle in at one of our cabins, locally owned bed and breakfasts, or campgrounds.

VisitPatrickCounty.org 276-694-6094

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START YOUR NEW ADVENTURE TODAY

ndulge yourself and come visit the Breaks Interstate Park where opportunities for adventure are endless! Located on the border of Virginia and Kentucky, the Breaks offers sights unseen and new experiences waiting to be discovered.

>> Experience breathtaking views overlooking the majestic lands where Virginia and Kentucky collide. >> Witness the Russell Fork River, the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River, and test your bravery with white water rafting. Experience miles of trails worthy of hiking, biking, or horseback riding. Create splashes of fun at our water park or relax on the lake while you fish. Or go to greater heights and climb the cliff faces located around the park. >> Immerse yourself in rich and unique historical culture that still thrives today. >> Stay for the weekend in our lodging so you can participate in all offered adventures.

Breaks Interstate Park BreaksPark BreaksPark BreaksPark.com | 276-865-4413

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016 GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA

et ready to experience intense mountain biking trails, enjoy kayaking or hiking, paddle the river and so much more! Martinsville-Henry County has plenty of activities available to guarantee that you and your family have fun in record time!

>> Enjoy biking the 10 miles of looping singletrack at Mountain Laurel Trails just outside of Martinsville. Named among the top mountain bike trails in the state of Virginia by SingleTrack.com, this trail complex received a 4.94 star rating (out of 5). The intermediate trails feature 600 feet in elevation gain along with plenty of elements to provide for an interesting ride. >> Visit Chain of Fools Bicycle Repair in Martinsville Uptown for sales, service and friendly conversation with avid cyclists. Named the best bicycle shop in Southwestern Virginia by the readers of Virginia Living Magazine, this new shop is worth a visit.

VisitMartinsville MHCTourism VisitMartinsville VisitMartinsville.com | 888-722-3498

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APPALACHIAN BACKROADS

njoy epic elevation changes along our curvy back roads with amazing natural wonders, wildlife, overlooks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and more while traversing the westernmost tip of Virginia. And there are countless adventures along the way.

Our Appalachian Backroads wind through some of the most majestic vistas in the Eastern US. >> Expanded Routes – Over 600 Miles of Cruising Adventure. >> Breathtaking Overlooks – Photo Ops Galore. >> Historic Towns & Landmarks. >> Plenty to Do – Biking, Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Bouldering, Paddling, Caving, and More With Outfitters to Meet Your Equipment Needs. >> Gateway to The Back of the Dragon. All this is here…in the Heart of Appalachia, connected by these Appalachian Backroads. Experience the thrills for yourself.

Heart of Appalachia #iheartappy #iheartappy AppalachianBackroads.com HeartOfAppalachia.com

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016 GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Enoy the Bedford Wine Trail and Bedford Artisan

Trail, as well as 25+ trails for hiking, biking, wildlife, and horseback riding. >> Visit Smith Mountain Lake for boating, wakeboarding, sailing, marinas, boat rentals and more! >> Bedford has ample camping, parks, and picnic sites. >> For more activities, visit the Bedford Skate Park, the National D-Day Memorial, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Peaks of Otter!

BEDFORD, VIRGINIA

BedfordAreaWelcomeCenter

edford–a place of discoveries. Visit the legendary Peaks of Otter along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Smith Mountain Lake, The National D-Day Memorial, and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. Explore the Bedford Wine Trail, Bedford Artisan Trail, and Centertown Bedford.

BedfordWelcomeCent BedfordWelcome

VisitBedford.com | 877-447-3257

cenic mountain views surround two charming downtowns, both with restaurants, shops and artisan studios. A famous covered bridge combined with beautiful rivers and lakes means you’ll find history over the water and lots of fun on it. Discover why we’re Uniquely Alleghany.

AlleghanyHighlandsVA

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Explore the two rivers and two lakes that make up the Alleghany Highlands

ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS, VA

Blueway by kayak, canoe or tube. >> Get back to nature by hiking, biking, swimming and camping at Lake Moomaw and Douthat State Park. >> Enjoy world-class fly fishing on the Jackson River. >> Pedal some of the finest mountain bike trails in Virginia at Douthat State Park. >> View a free trail guide at www.alleghanyhighlandstrails.com

VisitAlleghanyHighlands.com 540-962-2178

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016

he rivers call you in Halifax County. The lakes of Mecklenburg County draw you in. Amazing scenery, world-class fishing, and miles and miles of pure paddling adventure await you.

DiscoverHalifaxVa

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Virginia’s Southern Wild Blueway has garnered statewide recognition as

a great fishing destination with its three rivers and two lakes. The rivers (Dan, Staunton, and Banister) combine for more than 100 miles of navigable water, including 80 miles that have been designated as Virginia Scenic River. This area is a year-round angler’s paradise with waters full of largemouth and white bass. During spring, prepare to meet large blue flathead and channel catfish, great catches that make the area a favorite of local and tournament fishermen. The lake experience is intoxicating for anglers, boasting one of the best largemouth bass fisheries in the country at Kerr Lake.

ADVENTURE AWAITS

DiscoverHalifaxVa.com 1-866-464-2543

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LIFE HAPPENS OFF THE PATH

ome find more of what matters to you in Mecklenburg County! Full of hidden treasures and unique Southern flair, you will find yourself immersed the moment you arrive. We are here for those who explore!

>> Mecklenburg County features charming small towns to explore, but with so many miles of trails for hiking and riding plus a spectacular 50,000 acre lake with 850 miles of shoreline, it’s not surprising that so many visitors choose to spend their entire vacation outdoors! >> Home to the Southern Virginia Wild Blueway. Consisting of 3 rivers and 2 lakes, this unspoiled wilderness adventure is just a short drive from major metro cities. Perfect for hours in a canoe with the kids, or a weekend full of scenic fun with friends! >> Sit down and enjoy homemade artisanal meals paired with local wines. All served with our distinctive Southern hospitality.

VisitMeckVA VisitMeckVA VisitMeckVA VisitMeckVA.com | 434-738-6191

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016 GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Famous for its mineral springs, outdoor recreation

BATH COUNTY, VIRGINIA

ollow a winding road through the mountains west of the Shenandoah Valley to an enchanted place that has welcomed visitors for centuries. A place where eagles soar, artists dream, musicians play and weary travelers are rejuvenated.

and cultural arts, the County of Bath is a captivating four season destination. >> When making plans to visit the area you will have a variety of sporting and recreational activities to enjoy, including golf, hiking, biking, camping, boating or just plain relaxing. >> The County of Bath is home to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests as well as Douthat State Park and Lake Moomawâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;offering the outdoor enthusiast a vast playground. >> You can see a variety of wildlife such as deer, bear, wild turkey. We even have alpacas!

CountyofBath CountyofBath BathCountyVA DiscoverBath.com | 540-839-7202

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RUGGED MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUND

umbling rivers. Majestic rocks. Mountain breezes. Crackling campfires. Adventure is elemental in Rockbridge County, a rugged playground in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains beloved by hikers, cyclists, kayakers and a few secretive fly fishermen.

>> With 64,000 acres of National Forest lands and the James and Maury Rivers, outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels can hike, bike, fish, climb and camp. >> Hike the Appalachian Trail by day and sing at a piano bar by night. Float the mighty James River before embracing a farm-to-fork dining experience. Pedal the TransAmerican bike trail and catch a flight of craft beer. Hug the curves of the Blue Ridge Parkway and tap your toes to live music under the stars. >> Rockbridge County is chock-full of natural wonders, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the byways connecting these places that make a trip special, adding local flavor, inspiring beauty and historical context.

LexingtonVA LexingtonVA VisitLexingtonVA RockbridgeOutdoors.com | 540-463-3777

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016 GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!

WAYNESBORO, VIRGINIA

oll down the windows and savor the breeze as the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway spill you into lovely Waynesboro, VA. Once dubbed “The Gateway to the Shenandoah,” Waynesboro opens its arms to outdoor adventurers of all kinds. VisitWaynesboro.net | 540-942-6512

>> Hiking opportunities abound in this designated Appalachian Trail Community. Whether your tastes lean toward the paved Greenway Trail downtown along the South River or the hundreds of trails in Shenandoah National Park that can be accessed within minutes, Waynesboro provides a convenient hub to your hiking excursion. >> Paddle the South River on the Waynesboro Water Trail, running from Ridgeview Park to Basic Park. Or enjoy spectacular fly fishing in one of the state’s only spring-fed urban fisheries. Afterwards, stroll historic Main Street to grab a bite or a coffee. >> Finish your day by toasting the great outdoors at one of Waynesboro’s three breweries included in the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail.

Visit Waynesboro VisitWaynesboro VisitWaynesboroVA

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Explore over 30 miles of bike and hiking trails with

LOCKN’ FESTIVAL AUGUST 25-28, 2016

ockn’ Festival takes place August 25-28, 2016 in Arrington, VA (www.locknfestival.com), featuring 2 nights and four sets of Phish, 2 nights of Ween, My Morning Jacket, Gary Clark Jr., Peter Wolf, Galactic, Tedeschi Trucks Band and many more.

guided rides led by Red Bull Professional Athletes and runs led by national trail running experts >> Daily adult and childrens YOGA and wellness sessions plus WaterLockn’ rafting rides. >> Come and enjoy Nelson County award winning craft breweries, cidery, distilleries and wineries. >> Play and stay with camping, Safari tent, glamping and off site lodging options throughout the region. >> Three stages of non-stop music from morning Grateful Grass with Keller Williams to late night sets by Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Lettuce, EOTO and others. >> Enjoy award winning local & regional cuisine in the Local Food Tent.

LocknFestival LocknFestival LocknFestival Buy Tickets Now | www.locknfestival.com

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016

dventure can be found in Spotsylvania, conveniently located just off I-95. With National Parks, a State Park and the 3rd largest lake in VA. If you crave water, walking or wheels, you can find it in Spotsylvania.

VisitSpotsy

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Lake Anna Recreation Area for boating, water skiing, wakeboarding,

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA

fishing, hiking or triathlons. Bring your own or rent what you need. >> The scenic Battlefield parks offer hiking, running or biking paths just minutes away from the interstate, in a beautiful and serene setting. >> Relax at one of the award winning wineries, breweries or the distillery or choose a lodge, camp site or hotel to regenerate. >> Learn about history on the driving tour of African American Heritage, a trip to the battlefield park, or trolley tours of the historic district. >> Pick your own farms and farmer’s market open seasonally.

VisitSpotsy.com 540-507-7090

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ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA

>> Walking and horseback riding trails – some the very trails that Thomas Jefferson and James Madison used centuries ago – combine natural beauty and history, from the James Madison’s Montpelier Trail System to the hallowed ground of Civil War battlefields. >> Enjoy fishing and water fun at Lake Anna, Lake Orange and Angler’s Landing, and Rapidan River Kayak Company. >> Ready for something a little different? Try skydiving (Orange County Airport, 540-672-2158; Skydive Orange, 540-943-6587) or paintball (WarPlay Paintball, 703-727-0271). >> Rough it–or not. Beautiful campsites, cottages, and bed & breakfasts are available to serve as home base for your adventure.

ames Madison – perhaps Orange County’s most famous favorite son – described the view here as a squirrel’s jump from heaven. With its stunning Blue Ridge vistas, natural areas and historic sites, it’s definitely an outdoorsman’s paradise.

VisitOrangeCountyVirginia VisitOrangeVirginia.com | 540-672-1653

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016 GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> 178 miles of trails through the George Washington

SHENANDOAH COUNTY, VIRGINIA

eave the work week behind and experience rush hour Shenandoah County style. Whether hiking, canoeing, biking or hang gliding- you choose the pace and let our beautiful scenery and majestic mountains surround your adventure.

National Forest with spectacular views of the valley below, lush forests, the Shenandoah River, streams and wildlife.. >> Virginia Mountain Biking Trail is a continuous off-road mountain biking trail that spans the length of Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains from Strasburg to Damascus. >> Clear water, pleasant scenery, wildlife, and mild whitewater make the North Fork of the Shenandoah a paddlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream whether by canoe, kayak or tubes. >> Shenandoah County is proud to be home to some of the best hang gliding and paragliding, skydiving and ballooning sites in the Mid-Atlantic region.

VisitShenandoah VisitShenCoVA ShenandoahTravel VisitShenandoahCounty.com | 888-367-3965

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FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA

he breath taking views of the mountain ranges, the tranquility of the Shenandoah River flowing through our town and the natural caverns all pull together to create an incredible landscape that beckons to be explored. Photo Credit: NPS/Neal Lewis

>> Front Royal, located in Warren County, is recognized as the Gateway to Shenandoah National Park and the Canoe Capital of Virginia. Visitors and residents can choose their adventure enjoying miles of parkland with hiking trails, electrifying waterfalls and wildlife viewing. >> Outfitters rent out canoes, kayaks, rafts, and tubes for floating down the Shenandoah. Taste and tour at Worldclass Wineries, and play the greens at five award-winning Golf destinations. >> Highlights of our downtown include antiques, fine art, estate jewelry, live music and DIY crafts. Enjoy an eclectic mix of restaurants and relax in the Village Commons a favorite spot for events.

Front Royal Tourism FrontRoyalVirginia VisitFrontRoyal DiscoverFrontRoyal.com | 540-477-9070

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016 GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> In the Shenandoah Valley, you can taste some of

SHENANDOAH BEERWERKS TRAIL

rink in the Shenandoah Valley. Explore our great outdoors and enjoy great craft beer, too. Come tap into the adventure experiences you crave. Wherever your adventures take you, we’ve got a brewery nearby to quench your thirst.

the best craft beer in the country. This beautiful region provides a way to reconnect with the important things in life. Relax and enjoy the companionship of good friends amidst some of the Virginia’s most beautiful farms and mountains, breathe in the scent of ancient forests, explore our charming historic communities, taste the fresh flavors of a farm-to-table meal, or listen to music under the stars as you discover a new favorite band. Visit our website for details on what to do, and where to stay. Thirsty adventures begin here!

ShenandoahBeerwerks BeerwerksTrail ShenandoahBeerwerks BeerWerksTrail.com | 12 Brewery Locations

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Raystown Lake is the largest lake entirely within

RAYSTOWN LAKE REGION, PA

he Raystown Lake Region of Pennsylvania is your best kind of get-out-of-doorsy scenic place. Bring your boots, kayak, fishing pole, mountain bike and camp chair to really get the most out of your time here.

Pennsylvania. Get a houseboat and vacation on the water! >> More than 2,000 campsites. Lots of cabins, B&Bs, etc. >> The Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake are ranked as top single track mountain bike trails in North America. The new Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park opens summer 2016. >> Hundreds of miles of hiking trails – including the PA Trail of the Year: the Standing Stone Trail with its unique Thousand Steps section up Jacks Mountain. >> Caves to tour, Pennsylvania State Parks, rails-to-trails, museums, shops, diners and more. >> Easily accessible from many major metro areas: http://bit.ly/FindRaystownPA

RaystownLake Raystown_Lake RaystownLakeRegion Raystown.org | 888-729-7869

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016

WISP RESORT, MD

hoose from 4 seasons to visit and an almost endless list of recreation once you get there. The area is well-known for great small town atmosphere with lots of local flavor and live entertainment options and spectacular views like the highest point in Maryland on Backbone Mountain.

DC’s Bar & Restaurant on-site at Wisp does great burgers and features a nice selection of craft brews. E AT

The Deep Creek Lake area is full of lakeside dining or venture to one of the nearby small towns for Cafes and Soda Fountains!

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> With a vast array of mountain, water and aerial adventures at Wisp Resort and the surrounding Deep Creek Lake area, this is the outdoor enthusiast’s mecca. >> Conquer the mountain with Segway Tours, Chairlift Rides or the ever-popular Mountain Coaster. >> Test your survival skills with Wisp’s newest activities – archery and orienteering. >> Take flight on one of three canopy tour zip lines ranging from small to large including the Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour, Spider Monkey Adventure and Chipmunk Challenge Course. >> Make a splash in mild to wild water by paddling the flat waters of Deep Creek Lake in a kayak, paddleboard or canoe or braving the rapids of the Adventure Sports Center International in a raft, ducky or river board.

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From land, water to aerial adventure, play is what Wisp does best! The High-5 Pass lets you pick any combination of 5 from of a selection of popular activities including the mountain coaster, spider monkey adventure, disc golf, chairlift ride, orienteering and more for only $64. Don’t forget to try the world’s only mountaintop recirculating Whitewater Course at the Adventure Sports Center International – a truly unique experience!

The Wisp Resort Hotel is smack-dab in the middle of all the action at Wisp. Check out the affordable High-5 Overnight Adventure Package and Stay & Play Golf Packages. Or choose from over 800 vacation rental homes in the area, many that are lakefront or in the woods.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016

STATE COLLEGE, PA

ee for yourself why National Geographic named State College one of its “Top 100 Adventure Towns.” Tackle an adventure by day and in only minutes be in the heart of downtown sipping on local craft beverages by evening. Contact us to find out more!

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The Elk Creek Café & Aleworks motto is “Eat Fresh, Drink Local, Hear Great Music”. They live up to it with an excellent menu and craft beer selection while music fills the air. elkcreekcafe.net

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Fish internationally known streams such as Penns Creek and Spring Creek. >> Pedal the same great bike trails used by the pros in the Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic. >> Challenge your limitations at the Tussey Mountainback 50 Mile Ultramarathon and Relay. >> Ski, tube or snowboard the slopes of Tussey Mountain.

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We’ve got the scoop on ice cream! Stop by the Penn State Berkey Creamery’s for a dip or two of Peachy Paterno or Death by Chocolate. creamery.psu.edu

Beautiful limestone corridors, stalagmites and stalactites at Penn’s Cave, the only allwater cavern toured entirely by boat. After you’re done, hop on the bus to tour their wildlife park. pennscave.com Relax and unwind at the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park, overlooking Sayers Lake. Land and water activities await when you step outside your door. natureinnatbaldeagle.com Bring your RV, camper, tent or stay in one of the cabins at the Bellefonte / State College KOA. The campground took home the 2015 Founder’s Award and President’s Award. bellefontekoa.com

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER VALLEY, PA

rom hiking, mountain biking or any other outdoor adventure you may choose, to spending a day visiting wildlife sanctuaries and amusement parks with the family, you can find it in Central PA’s Susquehanna River Valley. The only question left to ask is… Where is your fun?

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The Fence Drive-In was established in the 1950’s and still operates as a Car Hop Restaurant from mid-April until early October. E AT

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Canoe Susquehanna, LLC will help you enjoy a recreational kayak trip on the scenic Susquehanna River. We provide everything you will need for a memorable adventure.

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Fantasy Island Campground - Beautiful, friendly, & clean campground with 100 full hook-up sites located on the Susquehanna River near Sunbury, PA.

>> Hop on your bike and hit the trails! Central PA’s terrain offers bicycling for all

riders from novice to expert. >> Fish on! Penns Creek, a tributary to the Susquehanna River was voted one of ”America’s Top 100 Trout Steams” and continues to be publicized due to its great fishing. >> Take on the terrain at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, a 6,500 acre family oriented off-highway vehicle recreation park.

Williamsport South/Nittany Mountain KOA - Family friendly campground tucked into the rolling hills of the beautiful Susquehanna River Valley. River Edge RV Camp & Marina - Located on the clean, clear west branch of the Susquehanna River.

SusquehannaRiverValley SusqRiverValley SusquehannaRiverValley

Skeeter’s Pit BBQ will have your mouth watering Signature Ribs to our Famous Pulled-Pork Barbeque, Chicken, Brisket, cold beer, and more.

VisitCentralPA.org | 800-525-7320

Riverside Campground – Located on the beautiful Susquehanna River, 9 miles south of Williamsport, PA.

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DESTINATION ADVENTURE 2016

PEACEFUL SIDE OF THE SMOKIES, TOWNSEND, TN

he Peaceful Side of the Smoky Mountains offers adventure for families, adrenaline junkies and outdoor enthusiasts who want to connect with nature. Explore our mountain streams, trails and caves while enjoying the comfort and convenience of home. You’ll want to come back time and again...

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Miss Lilly’s Café has delighted visitors and locals alike for years in the Townsend area. Known for farm to table dishes and great service, Miss Lilly’s will be your go to spot each time you are in town. misslilyscafeandcatering.com

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Rent a tube or kayak and let the Little River take you on a ride the natural way. Enjoy the natural beauty and the fun of a day on the river. >> Enjoy over 900 miles of hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is a hike for every skill level and age. You can boast you hiked the Appalachian Trail, we have 71 miles of the trail in our park. >> Make sure to visit Tuckaleechee Caverns when in town. It is the greatest site UNDER the Smokies. TuckaleecheeCaverns.com >> Taste some wonderful Smoky Mountain wine at Cades Cove Cellars. You will fall in love with their award winning wines. CadesCoveCellars.com

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Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro will awaken every taste bud on your palette. This causal, upscale gathering place is a must do when in Townsend. dancingbearlodge.com

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Cades Cove located in the Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park is a beautiful, sheltered valley with a mixture of forest, meadow and an outdoor museum of pioneer life in the 1800’s. You can ride the loop in your car, on bike or hop on a guided tour provided by The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. This is also a great way to see lots of wildlife. gsmheritagecenter.org The Peaceful Side of the Smokies has all types of accommodations from cabins, family owned lodges and motels and award winning B&Bs. Visit smokymountains.org for a complete list that fits your vacation needs.

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GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY! >> Rent a pontoon boat at Carter’s Lake Marina and explore the peaceful, untouched shores of Carter’s Lake –Georgia’s deepest reservoir. >> Push the limits on some of Georgia’s Mountain Bike Capital trails. >> Float the Cartecay or Coosawattee River and bask in mother nature’s beauty. >> Mark the Appalachian Trail off your bucket list with a hike at its southern terminus. >> Taste Georgia Grown! at a local apple orchard, farm, or restaurant.

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The Chili Dog- An Ellijay tradition for decades, the Chili Dog gets your day started with cathead biscuits, breakfast burritios or a cinammon roll large enough to share- though you won’t want to. For lunch you will find the staples- hamburgers, hotdogs, and of course, chili dogs. Expedition:Bigfoot- The Southeast’s only museum dedicated to the hunt for Sasquatch. Do you believe? You just might after exploring Cherry Log’s newest attraction. Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Get-A-Way This ride-in/ride-out resort offers cabins, tent camping, day use, home cooked meals and a well-stocked beer selection just to hit the highlights. Elatse’ Yi - A 17 acre glamping retreat that mere words cannot describe. Hidden amongst the trees you will find a geodesic dome, an airstream camper with a wine bottle shower, and a hilltop lodge. And did we mention the alpacas?

FARM TO

What does "farm-to-table" even mean? How local can a restaurant realistically go? We sat down with four regional farm-to-table restaurants to talk about all-things-locavore. by JESS DADDIO

decade ago, the term “farmto-table” was hardly a phrase at all. Locally minded restaurants weren’t uncommon, but they certainly weren’t sought after. Now, as consumers grow increasingly conscious of where their food comes from, the restaurant industry has become saturated with “locavore.” Often-false claims plaster street signs and websites, citing “farmfresh,” “organic,” “non-GMO,” and “responsibly grown,” “locally” sourced ingredients as mainstays of eateries both big and small. It’s a source of controversy, and sometimes you're being fed fiction, but it’s a marketable one at that. For the restaurants that are truly walking the talk, the misleading assertions are certainly frustrating, but, as Asheville-based Early Girl Eatery co-owner John Stehling says, “Your track record will speak for itself.” See what Stehling and three other regional farm-to-table restaurant owners have to say about the ups and 50

downs of managing a locally mindful restaurant.

LOCAL ROOTS ROANOKE, VIRGINIA

When Diane Elliot bought Local Roots from her son back on the spring equinox of 2009, she had no restaurant experience. She had been a spiritual healer, Native American storyteller, ordained minister, childbirth educator—but restaurant owner? “Having a restaurant was not only at the bottom of the list, it wasn’t even on the list,” she says. But when her son confessed he was ready to sell the locally minded, Roanoke-based restaurant just a year and a half after opening, Elliot couldn’t bear to see it go. She took the leap and never looked back. “Though I was doing spirituality work, [having a locally minded restaurant] was related because this is about people’s connection to the

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

earth,” Elliot says. “Farm-to-table means you’re eating seasonally. You’re not eating strawberries in the middle of January.” Elliot sources nearly 90 percent of Local Roots’ ingredients from local farmers, and almost half of that comes from the Floyd-based food aggregator Good Food, Good People. The restaurant composts everything it can’t pickle, and makes nearly everything from scratch save for the ketchup. Just four blocks away from Local Roots is the restaurant garden, which Elliot anticipates will produce enough extra produce to sell at the local organic market this summer. She admits that not everything at Local Roots is truly local—after all, where in the Blue Ridge can you grow lemons and catch seafood? Elliot compromises by, at the very least, ensuring that her ingredients are sustainable, organic, local, and/or ethical, a guiding principle she coined “SOLE” food. In the long run, Elliot hopes to have an onsite greenhouse where she can grow her own lemons

HARVEST TABLE FARM MANAGER SAMANTHA EUBANKS TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE COOL APPALACHIAN SPRING MORNING AT THE HARVEST TABLE FARM IN MEADOWVIEW, VA.

and limes, but more importantly, she hopes to see a more widely accepted consciousness about food in the Roanoke community. “For me, this is not a trend,” Elliot says. “For me, it’s my dream that people learn and understand that eating right is better for them and better for the earth. Taking care of your earth takes care of you.” TRACE A DISH TO ITS ROOTS BRAISED RABBIT PAPPARDELLE (Anson Mills, Columbia, S.C.) (Jamisons’ Orchard Farm Market, Roanoke, Va.) MILK (Homestead Creamery, Wirtz, Va.) OLIVE OIL (Georgia Olive Farms, Lakeland, Ga.) SALT (JQ Dickinson Salt-Works, Charleston, W.Va.) RABBIT (Polyface Farms, Swoope, Va.) PASTA FLOUR EGGS

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LOCO FOR LOCAVORE

Will Morris has been a longtime supporter of Early Girl Eatery and the local food movement in general. Check out why he loves to eat local! WHAT IS IT ABOUT EARLY GIRL THAT CAPTURED YOUR LOYALTY?

I was hooked from the start, as well-prepared southern food is what I grew up on—vegetables, authentic cornbread, biscuits—and real caring for customers and staff as people is a beautiful thing. WHAT DOES LOCAL MEAN TO YOU?

To me, it’s about knowing and having a relationship with the owner and the employees and getting better quality. WHY DO YOU SUPPORT LOCAL?

Local restaurants are unique and offer a personal relationship experience, whereas, a chain has all the soul mechanically removed from the experience, replaced with a calculated business model. Not satisfying. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR AS A CUSTOMER WHEN YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT?

I want the food to be well prepared, taste great, and be presented as if the cooks care about their work and care about the customer. You know, when we eat in a restaurant, it’s not just about trading money for food—it’s a human connection and interaction, almost like a family meal. We are feeding our souls as much as our bodies. It’s about the whole experience. Restaurateurs who don’t get this don’t get my business. FAVORITE LOCAL DIGS?

Early Girl Eatery for informal and Rhubarb for fancy. (Wild West Virginia, W.Va.) (Riverstone Farm, Floyd, Va.) CHEVRE (Curtin’s Dairy, Salem, Va.) BUTTER (Homestead Creamery, Wirtz, Va.) MARJORAM + NASTURTIUM LEAVES (Chestnut RAMPS

CARROT TOP PESTO

Grove Farm, Bent Mountain, Va.)

EARLY GIRL EATERY

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA With two kids and two restaurants, which, really, are basically children, Early Girl Eatery owners John and Julie Stehling don’t have a lot of leisure time. From creating unique and daily Early Girl specials to expanding farm relations and experimenting with ingredients, the Stehlings care about what food they put on your plate, and it shows. Founded in 2001 long before restaurants started staking claim to “farm-to-table” and "locavore,” Early Girl Eatery in downtown Asheville has won the acclaim of such widely read publications as Southern Living, Bon Appetit, The New York Times, and USA Today. Its reputation is hard earned. One year before John and Julie even opened Early Girl’s doors, they were already networking and building the community of farmers who would later supply the restaurant’s ingredients. “We were going to farmers' markets and tailgate markets and finding out who’s doing what and then we’d go out and visit them at their farm,” says John Stehling. “Now, these same people are my friends. I live here at the restaurant. It’s part of me. I hang out with Walter who makes my jam, Andy at Looking Glass Creamery who makes my cheese. We build friendships, and we have children that are similar ages. It’s a community and that’s what I love about Asheville.” Initially, Stehling says, things started out small. A handful of farmers provided meats, a little cheese, some produce. Now, 15 years later, Early Girl works with over 30 farmers at any given time, and according to Stehling, there’s room to do more. “It’s still unfortunately more expensive to do local than commercial,” he says. “A restaurant could do strictly local items 100 percent, but it really limits you.” Still, in the height of growing

season, Stehling manages to source sometimes more than 70 percent of Early Girl’s ingredients within an hour’s drive. He says the restaurant’s founding principles were never a marketing ploy—establishments like Laurey’s and The Market Place were “going local” long before Early Girl. But what separates Early Girl from a lot of its farm-to-table competitors is the price point. Signature dishes like the Early Girl Benny and the Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble come in right around $10 and the servings are hearty. “We knew we weren’t ever going to get rich doing this, so we really just wanted to be part of the community,” Stehling adds. “We knew supporting local would really help build the

FAMILY FRIENDLY, AFFORDABLE, REAL. THAT'S WHAT EARLY GIRL EATERY OWNERS JOHN AND JULIE STEHLING STRIVE FOR WITH THEIR ASHEVILLE-BASED FARM-TOTABLE RESTAURANT.

community and that’s how we can give back. We provide 80 jobs and pump as much money back into the community that we can and offer a unique product that helps Asheville be who it is and that makes us happy.” TRACE A DISH TO ITS ROOTS EARLY GIRL BENNY EGGS (Highlander

Farms, Fairview, N.C., or Cane Creek Beef and Poultry, Saxapahaw, N.C.) GRITS (Boonville Flour & Feed Mill,

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

Boonville, N.C.) (Mountain Food Products, Asheville, N.C.) SPINACH AND TOMATO

THE HARVEST TABLE MEADOWVIEW, VIRGINIA

True to its name, the quaint town of Meadowview is mostly rolling hills and bucolic farms painted against a backdrop of southern Appalachian mountain vistas. It's charming, albeit a little behind the times, but for Emory & Henry College adjunct professor Stephen Hopp and his wife, the internationally celebrated author Barbara Kingsolver, Meadowview is home. It’s also the site of the couple’s farm-to-table restaurant, The Harvest Table, which was conceived out of the family’s yearlong stint of eating only the things they could barter for or grow. “I moved here in the ‘80s,” Hopp says. “It’s a small community and it’s underemployed. The idea was to put

our money where our mouth is to create a local economy that would do something for this community. It’s done a lot, but there’s still a lot more to do.” The Harvest Table works with 60 farmers, growers, and regional ranchers, but that doesn’t include one-time purveyors, if you will, like morel foragers or ramp hunters. Though the restaurant goes to South Carolina for rice, Georgia for pecans, and Asheville for trout, Hopp only includes ingredients beyond the 100-mile zone if it expands the palate and if the company operates in an environmentally friendly, sustainably minded manner. “We won’t go to Florida to get lemons to put on the edge of your glass of water,” says Hopp. “We don’t think that’s consistent with what JUST A FEW MINUTES' DRIVE FROM THE HARVEST TABLE RESTAURANT, THE HARVEST TABLE FARM SUPPLIES MUCH OF THE PRODUCE NOT READILY AVAILABLE BY AREA FARMERS OR UNAVAILABLE DURING THE OFF-SEASON.

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we’re trying to say here. We’ll get you a sprig of lemon mint out on the patio, and it’s really very similar.” Like lemons, Hopp refuses to get feedlot meat under any circumstances. If The Harvest Table runs out of an item, they do without. Like a finely tuned seesaw, Hopp says managing a farm-to-table restaurant is a careful balance between being true to the mission and keeping the doors open. To offset any need to compromise its mission, while also supplementing some of the items unavailable in the off-season, The Harvest Table runs its very own four-acre farm just a few miles away. The farm, managed by 25-year-old Samantha Eubanks and a rotating crop of interns, is Hopp’s legacy. The numbers seemingly don’t add up—in its almost nine years of business, the restaurant has yet to turn a profit and the $30,000 farm only brings in $25,000 worth of produce—but for Hopp, The Harvest Table model is invaluable. “When we think about our

carbon future, agriculture is a bigger player in that arena than most people understand,” Hopp says. “All of the discussion about carbon is not about taking carbon out of the atmosphere, it’s about reducing human’s excess carbon expenditure. Agriculture has the capacity to take carbon out of the atmosphere,” which, he says will be an important consideration moving forward. Hopp wants his customers to know all of this, and care, too, yet just like the seesaw balance between running a business and staying authentic, Hopp recognizes that some customers don’t necessarily want to be beat over the head with information. “We encourage people to ask us about the food,” Hopp says. “When they do, we engage them, but 99 out of 100 diners just want to have a nice meal and I just want them to know that it’s fresh and local.”

TRACE A DISH TO ITS ROOTS LAMB SAUSAGE TACO (Grandview Farms, Abingdon, Va.) RAINBOW CHARD (Harvest Table Farm, Meadowview, Va.) CURRY KRAUT (Gnomestead Hollow, Dugspur, Va.) CHÈVRE (Ziegenwald Dairy, Gate City, Va.) CILANTRO + KALE FLOWERS (Harvest Table Farm, Meadowview, Va.) TORTILLAS (Made in-house with lard rendered from Fore Family Farm, Glade Spring, Va.) LAMB

SHIFT

FROSTBURG, MARYLAND For a city once fueled by the mining and transportation industries, Frostburg, Md., is making strides to a newer, greener identity. Despite its close proximity to metropolitan centers like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, this town of 9,000 is situated at the heart of the Mid-Atlantic farming

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FROM FIELD TO FORK

Meet Walter Harrill, owner of Imladris Farm in Fairview, N.C. Walter supplies what he calls “most of the good breakfast joints” around Asheville with his locally sourced and produced jams and jellies, and sells his products at more than 60 area grocery stores and tailgate markets. HOW DID IMLADRIS FARM GET ITS START?

My grandfather, who planted the first commercial you-pick orchard in western North Carolina back in the ‘50s. ARE ALL OF YOUR BERRIES AND FRUITS GROWN ONSITE?

We contract with other local growers to keep up. We’ve realized we have an opportunity to support other farmers in a bigger way, so it’s all locally grown fruit but not all of it will be found here. WHY DO YOU SOURCE LOCALLY? WHAT’S THE ADVANTAGE TO A MODEL LIKE THIS?

Rather than me try to put up 8,000 pounds of raspberries for the season, I’ll put up a few thousand, Larry down the road puts up several thousand, and so on. Between several of us, we find the ability to put up all we need and we diversify risk because in farming, there is a significant chance that whatever crop you’re growing, one year out of five or even three, you may very well lose it. WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE GROWER?

It’s very easy for the same dollar to circle multiple times through this community. If you spent $10 with John Stehling [at Early Girl Eatery] who then turns around and spends a portion of that money with me, who then turns around and spends that money on one of the local growers, that’s just a lot more powerful than spending money with a company who sends that money to California. DID YOU GROW UP ON LOCALLY MINDED, HOMEMADE FOOD?

Absolutely not. My mom and dad were the first of their families to leave the farm and get a college education and with that came adoption of the modern diet. I grew up on Chef Boyardee and Ragú. I had to get back here [to the farm] and get my hands in the dirt before I was able to see the advantages of eating the way we eat today. WHAT IN PARTICULAR IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE FOOD MOVEMENT IN ASHEVILLE?

As a customer, what’s so great about it is its diversity, the fact that I can sit down at a good local restaurant and have localy grown meat, beef, pork, lamb. I can have local mushrooms, local vegetables, all sorts of good local processed foods like jams and jellies and Green River pickles. There are so many different things that are featured here. It’s not just a matter of local corn and local pork chops. There’s a wide variety of stuff out there, down to the bouquets of flowers on the table. WHAT DO YOU WANT OUR READERS, AND YOUR CUSTOMERS, TO KNOW ABOUT THE FARMERS’ PERSPECTIVE?

It’s all about y’all. We’re doing this because this is what you asked for. As important as it is to have chefs that are open to bringing in local produce and as important as it is to have farms to supply that produce, it’s about the consumer. I grew up here in the 1980s when there was no local food movement and there was no possibility. The opportunity to do this now in the environment we have is both extremely appreciated by those of us supplying the industry and also quite simply a factor of your individual choices as customers.

community. With backdoor access to the 54,000-acre Savage River State Forest and Great Allegheny Passage (of which, it is an officially designated Trail Town) as well as an in-town state university, Frostburg is primed for a new wave of energy. SHiFt, a farm-to-table eatery located just two blocks off Main Street, is part of that movement. Co-owner Jes Yowell is a graduate of Frostburg State University. She says that showcasing the natural assets surrounding Frostburg was first and foremost a mission of SHiFT. “We really wanted to showcase the beauty of this land and living off what we have instead of what we want,” Yowell says. “It’s easy to open up the Cisco catalogue and say, ‘I want all of these things,’ but I didn’t want to open a restaurant if I didn’t have great access to natural meats and fresh produce. To me, that’s why I wanted to cook, not because I want to make money.” For Yowell, the going hasn’t been easy. After all, she says, “Around here, it’s meat and potatoes or pizza and wings.” Customers have even left SHiFT in an outrage after being told the restaurant didn’t carry Coca-Cola. But she knew there was a need, a niche market for locally sourced, farm-fresh food that, given the bounty of small, family owned farms in western Maryland and Pennsylvania, could thrive with the proper attention. Her inkling is slowly proving itself. Now, just a few months shy of its twoyear anniversary, SHiFT is rolling out annual sales that are almost triple the amount Yowell’s accountants predicted. Yowell likens it to a “little organism that’s growing at its own rate,” but what’s not to like about a bring-your-own-booze policy, bike friendly and open-air atmosphere, and homemade cinnamon rolls the size of your face? TRACE A DISH TO ITS ROOTS FARM HAND'S BREAKFAST (Savage River Farm and Possibility Farm, Lonaconing, Md.) POTATOES (Deberry Farm, Backbone Food Farm, and Savage River Farm, Oakland, Md.) SAUSAGE AND BACON (Savage River Farm, Oakland, Md.) SOURDOUGH TOAST (Baked in-house from locally milled organic flour from Pennsylvania, cultivated from a 12-year-old sourdough starter EGGS

out of Accident, Md.)

LOCAL DIGS NEAR YOU!

Check out these 25 other farm fresh restaurants in the Southeast and MidAtlantic! HORN O PLENTY (BEDFORD, PENN.)

myhornoplenty.com

BLUEGRASS KITCHEN (CHARLESTON, W.VA.)

bluegrasswv.com

PANORAMA AT THE PEAK (BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.VA.) panoramaatthepeak.com STARDUST CAFÉ (LEWISBURG, W.VA.)

stardustcafewv.com

THE RIVERSIDE HOTEL (FRIENDSVILLE, MD.)

riversidehotel.us

MOONSHADOW CAFÉ (ACCIDENT, MD.)

moonshadowcafe.com

WOODBERRY KITCHEN (BALTIMORE, MD.)

woodberrykitchen.com

THE LOCAL (CHARLOT TESVILLE, VA.)

thelocal-cville.com

THE RED HEN (LEXINGTON, VA.)

redhenlex.com

LITTLE GRILL COLLECTIVE (HARRISONBURG, VA.) lilgrill.com CAPITOL GRILLE (NASHVILLE, TENN.)

capitolgrillenashville.com

THE FARM HOUSE (NASHVILLE, TENN.)

thefarmhousetn.com

BLACKBERRY FARM’S THE BARN (WALLAND, TENN.) americanfarmtotable.com/

blackberry_ farm

THE MARKET PLACE (ASHEVILLE, N.C.)

marketplace-restaurant.com THE BLACKBIRD (ASHEVILLE, N.C.)

theblackbirdrestaurant.com

SUNNY POINT CAFÉ (ASHEVILLE, N.C.)

sunnypointcafe.com

HOB NOB FARM CAFE (BOONE, N.C.)

hobnobfarmcafe.com

THE MAST FARM INN (BANNER ELK, N.C.)

themastfarminn.com

SWAMP RABBIT CAFE & GROCERY (GREENVILLE, S.C.) swamprabbitcafe.com FIG (CHARLESTON, S.C.)

eatatfig.com

ROOST RESTAURANT (GREENVILLE, S.C.)

roostrestaurant.com 5 & 10 (ATHENS, GA.)

fiveandten.com

FROG HOLLOW TAVERN (AUGUSTA, GA.)

froghollowtavern.com

FORTIFY KITCHEN AND BAR (CLAY TON, GA.)

fortifyclayton.com

HARVEST ON MAIN (BLUE RIDGE, GA.)

harvestonmain.com

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OLYMPIANS Cheer for these Blue Ridge athletes chasing gold in Rio next month by KATIE DUNN

thletes who reach the Olympic Games are heralded as being the best in their disciplines, but that journey isn’t always paved with gold. A fear of water initially impeded whitewater slalom kayaker Michal Smolen. Open-water swimmer Sean Ryan struggled at first to cover 25 yards in a pool. Track cyclist Matt Baranoski delayed his college studies to chase the Olympic dream. Rower Matt Miller overcame physical and mental challenges as he transitioned to national team training. Whitewater slalom kayaker Ashley Nee shook off two failed Olympic attempts, and triathlete Katie Zaferes overcame her share of challenges to reach the Games. These six first-time Olympians and regional natives will join more than 500 other U.S. athletes next month in Brazil, all hoping years spent perfecting their craft will culminate in a podium finish.

TRACK CYCLIST MATT BARANOSKI PLANS TO TRADE HIS TRACK BIKE FOR A MOUNTAIN BIKE AFTER THE OLYMPICS AND RIDE NEW TRAILS NEAR HIS PENNSYLVANIA HOME. photo by THAIS MOLLET

TRACK CYCLIST

MATT BARANOSKI Perkasie, Pennsylvania

Matt Baranoski’s track cycling saga began at age six, when his parents enrolled him in classes at Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Breinigsville, Pa. He soon began racing, and said recently, it’s “escalated into the crazy life that it is now.” Baranoski, who rides for Custom Velo, will compete in the keirin. The sport challenges six cyclists to circuit a track for eight laps. The field follows an electric pace bike for the first five-and-a-half laps,

but when the pacer exits, it’s an allout sprint to the finish. The race is short—about two kilometers—and a completely “different animal” from road or mountain bike events, said Baranoski. Riding a bike that lacks brakes, the 22-year-old sprinter can coast at 50 miles per hour around a track with 45-degree curves. Track cycling “is one of the weird things where you’re doing something that is relatively out of control, but you’re completely in control doing it,” he said. At age 17, Baranoski became the

youngest U.S. elite track cycling national champion, and Union Cycliste Internationale currently ranks him 19th in the world for the keirin. He also holds more than 30 USA Cycling national championships. Attaining these feats hasn’t been without sacrifice. Baranoski took a two-year leave from college to chase his Olympic dream. He’s set to graduate this year from Penn State with an electrical engineering degree. “The decision to leave school...to chase something that might or might not work out was huge,” he said. That decision proved worthwhile when, after a two-year qualifying period, he secured his berth to Rio. Baranoski, who writes the word “Believe” on his handlebars, never looked back. “It’s

ROWER MATT MILLER ALSO ENJOYS TRAIL RUNNING—HE’S TACKLED OLD RAG IN SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK A FEW TIMES—AND ROAD BIKING. photo courtesy US ROWING

been a long two years,” he said, but that “whirlwind” journey seems well worth the toil. “It’s really cool to have finally made it and be an Olympian.” ROWER

MATT MILLER Springfield, Virginia

Rowing demands diversity. This mix of strategy, coordination, and physical exertion has kept Matt Miller hooked since high school. The Springfield, Va. native is making his Olympic debut as part of

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

WHEN NOT TRAINING, WHITEWATER SLALOM KAYAKER ASHLEY NEE ENJOYS TRAVELING WITH WIFE ASHLEY MCEWAN AND THEIR DOG, NEPA, TO NORTH CAROLINA’S NANTAHALA GORGE. photo by TOM DUNNING

the United States' four-man rowing team. Miller, now 27, began rowing his freshman year of high school at the suggestion of a neighbor. He competed through high school and later at the University of Virginia. Following college, he rowed for two years with the Potomac Boat Club in Washington D.C. Selected in January 2014 to train with the U.S. national team, Miller left the club, quit his full-time job and moved to California for winter training. He is now at the US Rowing Training Center in Princeton, N.J. Most of Miller’s career has been spent in the eight-man boat—he was part of the national team that won gold at the 2014 World Rowing Cup II. He also won gold at this year’s World Rowing Cup I as part of the fourman team. “I love the competitive aspect of it,” he said. To train for a 58

2,000 meter race, you need a lot of aerobic capacities,” including stamina, “strength, power, and sprinting ability.” Miller’s journey toward Rio has demanded perseverance. Upon joining the national team, he switched the rowing technique he was accustomed to and more than doubled the distance he rowed daily. Miller told himself it would get easier, that his body would adapt. “At the time it was discouraging because I wasn’t doing well, I was worn down and beaten at practice day-in and day-out and finishing last. That was part of the difficulty of it.” Miller knew his aerobic capacity and physiology were why he had been recruited, so he kept telling himself that he’d eventually conquer the steep learning curve. That drive has paid off as Miller makes his Olympic debut. WHITEWATER SLALOM KAYAKER

ASHLEY NEE Bethesda, Maryland

Third time’s a charm for Ashley Nee.

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Rio serves as her third Olympics attempt, a journey that began eight years ago. Nee, now 27, qualified for a women’s kayak spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but a shoulder injury placed her out of contention at the team trials. Four years later, Nee scored enough points to secure a 2012 team slot but lost that berth on a tiebreaker that instead sent Caroline Queen to London. “This is my third attempt at becoming an Olympian and I still can’t really believe that I have accomplished it,” said Nee. “It was really hard getting hurt right before the Olympic Trials in 2008 and then coming back only to lose in a tie for the 2012 Games.” Nee’s optimism outweighs past frustration, though. “I believe everything happens for a reason. Representing the U.S. in the Olympic Games is a lofty goal, and having to try three times makes me respect the athletes that came before me even more.” Following her shoulder injury, Nee took a paddling hiatus. A recent high school graduate, she instead

turned her focus to college and career options. “I had been paddling since I was ten and I wanted to see what it was like to have my life revolve around something other than paddling, so I moved to Honolulu.” A year and a half later—during which time Nee picked up longboarding and dabbled in street art—her shoulder had almost healed, and she refocused on paddling. Nee’s most recent Olympic pursuit has also been challenging. At this year’s two team trial legs in North Carolina and Oklahoma, she finished first and second, respectively. Tied with fellow athlete Dana Mann, Nee received the Olympic spot based on her performance at last year’s Pan American Games in Toronto. “The women’s kayak final (at Pan Am) was an epic race,” she recalled. The top three women—Nee took bronze, Canada took gold, and Brazil took silver—were separated by just .03 seconds. “It was an awesome race to be a part of, but it was an Olympic qualifier and it wasn’t clear if we would get an Olympic berth for the

OPEN-WATER SWIMMER SEAN RYAN’S FAVORITE SWIMMING SPOT IS THE TENNESSEE RIVER NEAR DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA. photo by MIKE LEWIS-OLA VISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

U.S.” Nee began kayaking at age ten during summer camp at Valley Mill Camp in Seneca, Md. Seventeen years later, she now works as a kayaking instructor for Liquid Adventures in Maryland and loves the reward of watching someone “get better and better.” Slalom racing is not easy, but Nee remains confident “anyone can do it” and advises young athletes to “dream big.” Also sound advice? Her father’s words to “be good, be safe, and have fun.” There are no practice runs in a race, and Nee said she responds by treating each course as a puzzle. “Seeing how fast I can solve that course is my inspiration.” The next puzzle Nee likely wants to solve? How to bring home gold this summer.

OPEN-WATER SWIMMER

SEAN RYAN

Chattanooga, Tennessee When Sean Ryan joined his first swim team, he struggled at covering 25 yards. Now the 23-year-old will compete in marathon swimming at the Games, a competition that challenges athletes to swim a six-mile open water course. A fourth place finish at last year’s FINA World Championships earned Ryan his Olympic berth. Finishing in slightly over 1 hour, 50 minutes, Ryan said he was pinching himself after the race. “There were seven people right behind me, and I wouldn’t let myself look backwards. To finish and see that I had finished fourth was something special.” Ryan rebounded after not qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. He needed a top ten finish at the 2011 FINA World Championships for an automatic berth but finished 25th. His attempts a year later to qualify for the pool

team also fell short. He didn’t give up. “I came back after that and really tried to take a new approach and really enjoy the process and enjoy training and other things in my life outside swimming. That has overall paid off.” Ryan, who began swimming competitively at age five, recalled how his mother contemplated whether to register him for swim lessons or the swim team. When she asked if he could swim across a 25-yard pool, Ryan responded, “definitely.” That response solidified the team option, but Ryan soon discovered swimming that distance was harder than it appeared. Still, he stuck with it. That dedication led to his first Olympic Team Trials in 2008 for the 1,500-meter freestyle. He’s also made several national team rosters in open water and the 1,500 and earned multiple medals in both national and international competitions. Ryan, a former member of the University of Michigan men’s swimming and diving program, recently finished his master’s degree in mechanical

WHITEWATER KAYAKER MICHAL SMOLEN’S FAVORITE PADDLING SPOTS INCLUDE THE NANTAHALA RIVER NEAR THE NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER WHERE HE FIRST KAYAKED. photo by CHRIS WORRALL

engineering. He lives and trains in Michigan but said his favorite open-water swimming spot remains the Tennessee River near downtown Chattanooga. “It’s one of the most scenic places to swim. You’re looking down river and into the mountains and tree lines.” WHITEWATER SLALOM KAYAKER

MICHAL SMOLEN Gastonia, North Carolina

Michal Smolen sat frozen in a kayak in the middle of the Nantahala River near the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Oversized kayaking gear engulfed his slight, eight-year-old frame. A desire to follow in his father's footsteps had brought him to this moment, his first kayaking attempt during a summer visit to the United States. Smolen emigrated from Poland

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

able to come back up and not being able to swim in the river.” Ironically, he chose competitive swimming instead, a sport he continued until, at age 13, he began eyeing whitewater kayaking. This wasn’t the only obstacle Smolen overcame to attain his Olympic dream. About the time he returned to kayaking, Smolen was diagnosed with epilepsy. “I was afraid when it happened that I wouldn’t be able to paddle.” He was eventually cleared to keep paddling but suffered yet another setback before the 2012 Games. Smolen won the men’s kayak single U.S. national team trials in 2011, bolstering his chances at representing the United States in London. The Polish-born athlete was not yet a U.S. citizen, though, and efforts to lobby Congress to fast-track his citizenship were unsuccessful. Smolen didn’t receive his citizenship until seven months following the Games. “I was just so upset and now I don’t see it that way anymore. I’ve had a lot of experience in the last four years and really prepared . . . and I think that going to Rio I can do well.” As he readies for the Games, Smolen offered advice for athletes beginning to climb the ranks. “Make sure you definitely have your goals and are competitive, but at the same time don’t forget to have fun. You must always remind yourself of why you’re doing it.” TRIATHLETE

KATIE ZAFERES Hampstead, Maryland WHEN CALIFORNIA-BASED KATIE ZAFERES TRAVELS BACK EAST, SHE HEADS FOR HER HOMETOWN, HAMPSTEAD, MD., TO VISIT FAMILY AND FRIENDS. photo by DELLY CARR/ITU

at age nine. His father—a former member of the Polish National Team and whitewater slalom alternate for Poland at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games—accepted a coaching job in 2000 with the Nantahala Racing 60

Club. He now serves as USA Canoe/ Kayak’s slalom national development and coaching manager and is his son’s coach. Michal Smolen, 22, initially hesitated to embrace his father’s sport. Being alone in the water overwhelmed him, and Smolen vowed against attempting the sport again. “I didn’t know how to swim when I went kayaking the first time. I was scared of flipping over and not being

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Katie Zaferes lettered in five high school sports and holds records at Syracuse University in both the outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase and indoor 5,000 meters. It wasn’t until she began competing in triathlons that Zaferes, 27, ever thought she could be “that caliber of athlete” who could reach the Olympics. A week following her selection as the U.S. women’s final and third triathlete, Zaferes’ enthusiasm was still evident.

“I’m so excited, happily overwhelmed, proud and relieved,” she wrote via email. “It’s been a goal that has been sitting there for two years now . . . it’s crazy to think come August 20th I’ll get to call myself an Olympian!!” Zaferes, who now lives in California, joins Gwen Jorgensen and Sarah True, both of whom solidified their Olympic berths last August. Zaferes locked down her team spot following a sixth place finish in May at a world triathlon event in Japan. Zaferes was tapped by USA Triathlon’s Collegiate Recruitment Program in 2012, though her introduction to the sport came about five years earlier when she ran a triathlon alongside her father, Bill. Zaferes, then a high school senior, didn’t foresee a future in triathlon at that time, especially given her recent commitment to running at Syracuse. Now, Zaferes can’t imagine focusing all her energy on just one sport. “There are so many things I love about triathlon,” she said. Training for three varied disciplines keeps it “exciting and fun,” and she loves how the sport has introduced her to new places and people. Being a part of an All-American podium alongside True and Jorgensen twice last year has been among Zaferes’ most memorable moments. The toughest moments have been mental, pushing through flashes of “doubt” or “frustration” and shaking off pressures associated with competing at the elite level. “The great part is that none of those moments have lasted too long, and I have an awesome support network to make those cloudy days better.” She advises future Olympic hopefuls to enjoy the journey and push through those trying times. “There will be days where it’s hard and it seems like you’re never going to perfect a particular skill, but enjoy the process and keep working on it over time,” she said. “Always give yourself credit for those small victories and take the time to be proud of yourself.”

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OPINION

0 7. 16

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT HORSES

THE BELOVED HORSES OF CUMBERLAND ISLAND ARE STARVING AND SUFFERING. USING CONTRACEPTION TO HUMANELY REDUCE THEIR NUMBERS IS THE BEST LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

by CAROL RUCKDESCHEL

orses are animals deeply entwined with human history, and they have earned a prominent spot in our hearts. One aspect of this humanhorse relationship is our tendency to project onto these beloved creatures our love for freedom, picturing them living an idyllic life “running free.” This image comes with an assumption that horses “set free” will adapt to their new conditions, thrive, and be happy. We assume they will have a better life. But few of us see the actual hardships in the life of a feral horse in unfamiliar terrain. Modern horses are grassland animals. They’re not built to thrive on islands. As a result, their carcasses

often impregnated at age one, long before they are fully mature. Their health quickly deteriorates, especially when food supplies are sparse, which they frequently are on barrier islands. In addition, foal mortality is high, and environmental hazards are many. Flowing manes and long-haired tails are potentially deadly in vine-tangled forests, where the horses are often snared and held until death. The open, level expanses of salt marsh are inviting to equines, but the weight of a horse is distributed on four small points, which offer little support in soft mud. Once a horse sinks bellydeep in mud, escape is unlikely, but the tide is inevitable. Many have drowned, held fast by the mud.

Turning loose the horses on Cumberland is similar to turning loose one’s pet dog in the forest and expecting it to fare well. are piling up in greater numbers on Cumberland Island, a national seashore along the Georgia coast. Visitors imagine that the animals are enjoying happier lives living free on a forested island, but most island visitors see only a glimpse of the life of island horses. They do not observe the struggles of equine life in this hostile island environment, nor the outcomes, since the National Park Service quickly removes dead or injured animals from sight. Turning loose the horses on Cumberland is similar to turning one’s pet dog loose in a forest and expecting it to fare well. On Cumberland, feral mares are

And there are predators. Island horses are killed by alligators, as well as venomous snakes, and encephalitisbearing mosquitoes. In reality, life is hard and survival is a challenge for the horses living on Cumberland Island. Not only are the horses living a hard life, but many animals native to Cumberland suffer from the presence of feral livestock, as do the natural island ecosystems. Much of the island horse’s diet is composed of Spanish moss, which would otherwise hang to the ground, providing food and habitat for native animals. One look at the amount of horse manure on the

island gives an idea of the enormity of their impact on the vegetation and water quality, and thus the ecosystems. Preferring open areas to hazardous forest habitat, and always in search of food, horses frequent the beach and dunes to forage and escape biting flies. There they graze and trample grasses necessary to stabilize the dunes, such as sea oats. Sea oats help hold the sand dunes in place, with their deep network of roots and ability to continue growing if buried. Grazing compromises this natural protection of the shoreline and also violates state law. It is time for us to thoughtfully address the presence of feral horses on Cumberland Island, taking into account their welfare and that of the island ecosystems. Local businesses see the horses as attracting tourist dollars. Others still have an emotional

DESPITE THEIR ROMANTIC APPEAL, HORSES ON CUMBERLAND ISLAND ARE OFTEN STARVING AND SUFFERING. CONTRACEPTION CAN HELP IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH.

attachment to having horses on the island, without understanding the situation. Are we guilty of simply projecting our romantic notions onto suffering animals? Recently, the National Park Service expressed an interest in nonlethally eliminating feral horses on the island. Using contraception, it is both possible and feasible through non-lethal methods, to allow the present horses to live out their lives on the island, without reproduction, thereby preventing future suffering and ecosystem degradation. In the long-term, using contraception to reduce the number of horses on Cumberland is what’s best for the horses and the island.

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

TRAIL MIX

0 7. 16

BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER MOTHER

FORMER BLACK CROWES FRONT MAN CHRIS ROBINSON FLIES WITH NEW CREW

by JEDD FERRIS

rotherly love doesn’t immediately come to mind when you think of Chris Robinson. Back in January 2015 he had a publicly aired dispute with his brother, Rich, that led to what’s being called the permanent breakup of the multi-platinum-selling blues-rock outfit the Black Crowes. When recently asked if the Crowes would ever reunite, Robinson succinctly told Rolling Stone, “No, never.” With his old group in the rearview, Robinson has been focusing full time on a project that he debuted during a Crowes hiatus in 2011, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. In the band, Robinson indulges in expansive psychedelic rock. He’s less the wiry, dancing front man that he was in the Crowes and more a bandleader, still driving songs with his husky, soulful vocals, but also getting lost in extended grooves while strumming an electric guitar. Robinson is a well-known Deadhead with a history of

collaborating with Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, and earlier this year he started hosting a show on SiriusXM satellite radio called Gurus Galore that focuses on obscure psychedelic music. It’s clear that Robinson has no commercial ambitions. He’s conquered that arena, and now he’s cool with searching for a more experimental sound, even if it’s in front of smaller crowds. On July 29 the Brotherhood will release its fourth studio album, Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel. The effort was made at a mountainside studio in Marin County, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The natural surroundings clearly inspired a relaxed energy during the recording session, as most tracks wander in a vintage rock wilderness for around seven minutes, letting Robinson’s highly skilled bandmates cut loose. Album opener “Narcissus Soaking Wet” is a dance-ready soul cruiser fueled by the funky 70s-style synthesizer work of keyboardist

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Adam MacDougall, while lead guitarist Neal Casal—a former sideman for Ryan Adams—proves to be a versatile weapon throughout all eight tracks. He adds traditionminded fire power to the blues jam “Leave My Guitar Alone,” and solos with the heartfelt melodic flair of Jerry Garcia in the cosmic ballad “Some Gardens Green.” The real standout, though, is “Ain’t It Hard But Fair,” a jangly country-flavored rocker that finds Robinson giving his best Mick Jagger attitude to the catchy chorus line, “Gonna have a good time when we get there.” It’s some of that old Black Crowes mojo shining through Robinson’s forays into sonic haze. The Chris Robinson Brotherhood perform at Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre in Wilmington, N.C., on July 23, the Norva in Norfolk, Va., on July 24, and at the Lockn’ Music Festival in Arrington, Va., on August 28.

photo by JAY BLAKESBERG

THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS FUNK UP NASHVILLE Late last year U.K. retro funk-soul quartet the New Mastersounds stopped by Nashville’s Welcome to 1979 studio, after finishing an extensive fall/winter tour, to record live in front of a small audience. The resulting record, The Nashville Session, features fresh versions of original tunes from the veteran group’s catalog that spans over 16 years and 10 studio albums. The band’s roots go back to the late 90s, when guitarist and bandleader Eddie Roberts assembled a crew to provide live music in between DJ sets at a club in Leeds. With plenty of chops, the band quickly proved capable of offering hot homages to obvious influences like funk pioneers the Meters and jazz-groove organist Jimmy Smith. Line-ups have evolved through the years, but Roberts has continued to push his band’s sound forward. On the new record, the Meters influence can be especially heard on the track “Burnt Back,” which showcases the Mastersounds as masters of the funk turnaround. The Nashville Session also features a loose take on James Brown’s “In The Middle,” a version that doesn’t breathe like jazz guitarist Grant Green’s effort, but rather remains consistent with the album's blistery tempo. With Welcome to 1979’s analog equipment, the band was recorded directly to one-inch magnetic tape, transferred to ¼-inch stereo tape, and then cut straight onto vinyl lacquers without any overdubs—a perfect way to capture a seasoned live band gelling at the end of a long tour. The album was initially released with a limited run of 1,000 copies on vinyl, a nice touch considering the spontaneity of the recording session. The vinyl copies sold out quickly, but the album has since been released digitally and can be grabbed via the band’s record label, Royal Potato Family (royalpotatofamily.com).

—John Melton

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