Blue Ridge Outdoors September 2021

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

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SHRED-READY SINGLETRACK IN THE SOUTH

Colorful Getaways BEST ESCAPES FOR AUTUMN ADVENTURE

THE BLUE RIDGE’S NEXT GREAT TRAIL TOWN Kids on Bikes: Best Rigs for Little Ones TOP CYCLING GEAR

+ BELA FLECK’S N E W B LUE G R AS S A L B UM + D OWN H IL L M T B R UN S

Tired of staring at the same four walls? Make your escape to the mountains of Virginia, where scenic drives end in stunning vistas and canopies of foliage burst into fall colors. Share what you love with who you love on a getaway to Virginia. virginia.org

Explore miles of scenic trails with varying terrain and picturesque views in Charlottesville & Albemarle County.

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ON THE COVER

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT BLAKE DEMASO b l a ke @ b l u e r i d g e o u t d o o r s . c o m E D I TO R I N C H I E F J E D D F E R R I S jedd@blueridgeoutdoors.com P U B L I S H E R L E A H WO O DY leah@blueridgeoutdoors.com

September-October 2021

D E PA R T M E N T S

C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R L AU R E N WO R T H lauren@blueridgeoutdoors.com

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7 | PERSPECTIVE

A S S O C I AT E P U B L I S H E R K AT I E H A R T W E L L katie@blueridgeoutdoors.com

The victory of climbing small hills at a steady pace.

E D I TO R I A L & P R O D U C T I O N

9 | THE STUDIO

S E N I O R E D I TO R W I L L H A R L A N will@blueridgeoutdoors.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANAMOLY

Artistic creations inspired by mushrooms.

T R AV E L E D I TO R E L L E N K A N Z I N G E R ellen@blueridgeoutdoors.com

56 | JOB BOARD

A homegrown business owner offers realistic tips for sustainable living.

C O N T R I B U TO R S M I C H A E L W E LC H E R I C J. WA L L AC E L AU R E N S T E P P

59 | GOODS

Fresh biking gear for fall riding.

C O P Y E D I TO R S JULIA GREEN, ROBERT MCGEE

65 | THE OUT AND BACK

When the weekly adventure crew starts to fade, you’ve got to make the best of it.

ADVERTISING & BUSINESS S E N I O R AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V E

M A R T H A E VA N S

martha@blueridgeoutdoors.com AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V E TAY LO R L E A L taylor@blueridgeoutdoors.com

66 | TRAIL MIX

New tunes from Brandi Carlile and American Aquarium, and Bela Fleck’s new bluegrass album.

B U S I N E S S M A N AG E R M E L I S S A G E S S L E R melissa@blueridgeoutdoors.com

PHOTO BY ELLEN KANZINGER

DAV E S TA L L A R D G R A H A M AV E R I L L D O U G S C H N I T Z S PA H N

M O U N TA I N B I K I N G D E E P C R E E K L A K E S TAT E PA R K I N M A R Y L A N D .

PHOTO BY JESS DADDIO

D I G I TA L M E D I A O N L I N E D I R E C TO R C R A I G S N O D G R A S S webdir@blueridgeoutdoors.com

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D I G I TA L C O N T E N T S P E C I A L I S T

S H A N N O N M C G OWA N

shannon@blueridgeoutdoors.com INTERNS

BRENNA TURPIN G R AC E G A R V E Y A N N D O U G L A S LOT T

22 F E AT U R E S

C I R C U L AT I O N I N Q U I R I E S circulation@blueridgeoutdoors.com

12 | SOUTHERN SINGLETRACK Best Blue Ridge trails to ride this fall.

SUMMIT

PUBLISHING

22 | AUTUMN ADVENTURES

977 SEMINOLE TR PMB294 C H A R LOT T E S V I L L E , V I R G I N I A 2 2 9 0 1

Bike, paddle, hike, and climb under the fall colors.

200 DISTRICT DRIVE, UNIT 8 ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28803

29 | THE NEED FOR SPEED

Hold on tight, and check out these four epic downhill mountain bike runs.

B LU E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

©2021 Summit Publishing, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

GOT A STORY IDEA OR COMMENT? submit@blueridgeoutdoors.com B LU E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

PHOTO BY NEIL KRUG

33 | THE BLUE RIDGE’S NEXT GREAT TRAIL TOWN

A new look for Old Fort, North Carolina’s up and coming recreation hot spot.

51 | THE KIDS ARE ON BIKES

Check out these top rigs for young riders.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

5

PERSPECTIVE

LOCAL RIDE

SHIRLEY THE SURLY GETS A BRIEF BREAK. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR

ANTIC TAILGATING.

THE TRIUMPH There’s victory in climbing small hills at a steady pace.

BY JULIA GREEN

A YEAR INTO THE PANDEMIC, AS SPRING

bloomed again, I felt the uncontrollable itch to explore. Having hiked every nearby trail several hundred times, I rolled my neglected bike into the yard, inflated the tires, and lubed the chain.

For years, the only riding I’d done in North Carolina was commuting to work, an easy, mostly flat two miles I covered in a leisurely fifteen minutes. Road riding was for old guys with big calves and a closet full of brightly colored spandex, not a stop-and-smell-the-roses biker like myself.

But my restlessness was unquenchable by walks or drives, and I couldn’t fly. That left Shirley the Surly, my steel frame, baby blue road bike with pink handlebar tape and 28-inch tires (I

am prone to tipping over).

I consulted a map, noting nearby roads I’d seen serious riders on, but left my phone at home, seeking to soften the addiction I’d developed during a year of isolation. Also I had no interest in tracking my mileage or speed, which I already knew would be pathetic. After a year of calculations and stasis, I rode off into the unknown, propelled by the jittery thrill of true adventure.

As I kid, I had a red bike with a yellow banana seat. I outgrew it and didn’t ride again until I was in my 30s, living in Chicago, where biking was the best way to get around a city with wide streets and serious traffic (at least when there wasn’t snow on the ground). I roamed from Rogers Park to Hyde Park, along the lake and down suburban greenways.

On my bike I felt fast and free, invigorated by streets full of surprises— near downtown, I rode by a fenced-in pasture where horses grazed, ignoring me as I stared slack-jawed. I kept pedaling, joyfully gorging on the sights and smells of the city. After I moved to North Carolina, I often dreamed I was in

Chicago on my bike, asphalt racing by beneath my front tire.

My first N.C. road ride was not easy—I was out of shape and, having cut my teeth on Midwest flatness, the slightest scent of an incline sent me into a panic. As I rolled out of town, I decided I was riding for pleasure not exercise. I’d go however far I wanted, heading home when it stopped being fun.

I faced the first rise in the road, rippling with uncertainty about whether I’d make it to the top. I briefly considered giving up, but figured I should try at least once. My pace slowed as I rapidly downshifted, clicking through gears till I got to the last one. I clenched the handlebars and kept pedaling, thighs aflame, heart threatening to explode.

When I got to the top of the “hill” (a term I use loosely), I rolled into the grass beside the road and gulped water and air. Exhilarated and endorphined, I celebrated. Small hill, big win, I thought, my inner monologue having disintegrated to caveman. Then I turned back toward home, the wind high-fiving me as I sped down the slope I’d just climbed.

TE

A week later I went out again, grinding up the same hill and then the one after. Each week I rode a little farther, discovering wide fields of buttercups and hay bales, a Methodist church next to a silent cemetery, a crumpled barn with broken lighting that looked like the dream wedding venue for a witch. As I coasted back into town, I waved at the cows at the dairy farm, chewing slowly like the horses in Chicago, lazing in the shade as I would do as soon as I got home.

The rides got easier, more fun, with a sense of wonder and freedom I didn’t expect to find on rural roads. I am still slow as shit on my bike, but I don’t care. The pandemic shrank my world, turning a ten-mile ride into an exciting vacation to a foreign land. Slogging up and surging down the tiny hills around my town is a delight and a triumph. I feel as if I have taken the yellow jersey in a stage of the Tour de France, as if I have managed to survive something very serious indeed and even enjoy myself along the way.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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Solutions for a healthy environment start in the South.

THE STUDIO

CLAY CREATIONS

THE CALL OF THE MUSHROOM

the salamander capital of the world, they began to see the true depth a mushroom can bring to a piece. “The more I interacted with them in the wild, you see there’s incredible detail here on every single one,” Morgan said. “You notice how line is ever so present in all these mushrooms in such a similar way.”

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

The Technique

Meet a ceramicist inspired by fungi.

SAGE MORGAN IS AN EXPLORER—OF

mediums, of clay, and of mushroom habitats. “Even squatting down to go pee in the woods, you’re going to find mushrooms,” Morgan (she/they) said.

“You just never know what you’re going to find out here, and I think that’s the adventure.” Whether it’s throwing a series of large planters on her wheel or examining a species of fungi she’s never seen before, the ceramicist is drawn to the way line functions in nature and in art.

Morgan started working with clay in high school when they signed up for a ceramics class to fill out their schedule.

A self-described “drawing kid” in school, it was a completely new form of art.

“When you started a school project and needed someone to draw a poster, everyone would look at me,” they said.

“So it was an incredible challenge going from 2D to 3D. But I fell in love with that challenge.” While Morgan says high school was a rough time for them, clay was the great mediator. “I loved waking up and thinking about going to throw on the wheel,” they said.

It wasn’t until she got to college that Morgan began adding drawings to her pots, starting with simple outlines and moving into incredibly detailed and layered pieces. Her fascination with mushrooms and slugs, which make up the bulk of her work today, started at an early age playing video games and reading fantasy books. Playing Morrowind, one of the Elder Scrolls games, she remembers walking around in towering mushroom forests. “It’s the most mind-exploding thing as a 10-yearold,” Morgan said. “Morrowind was a great place for me to explore because I was too anxious to do that in person as a kid.”

When they moved from Florida to Green Mountain, N.C., Morgan discovered many of these landscapes they explored as a kid online were now accessible right in their backyard. As they spent more time on the trails in

Morgan primarily works with porcelain clay, a delicate and unforgiving material that can have the tendency to collapse and warp if not manipulated with some sense of care. “Some people describe it as throwing with butter,” Morgan said.

The difficulty lies in the handling of the clay. The more you move it, the softer it gets. “The more you mess with it, the more it’s like, ‘Oh, you’ve touched me enough. We’re going to throw a fit.’ So usually when I’m throwing on the wheel, I work quite fast,” she said.

M O R G A N S TA R T S W I T H S K E T C H E S B E F O R E A D D I N G T H E M T O T H E P O T T E R Y. P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F THE ARTIST

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THE STUDIO

CLAY CREATIONS

Once they have a dried piece of pottery that hasn’t been fired yet, Morgan will burnish and carve out a design. All of the imagery on their pottery is done in freehand, although they’ll do a sketch ahead of time to reference throughout the process.

When it comes to her work, you’ll find a variety of shapes and sizes, from cups and mugs and bowls to the occasional plate. While Morgan loves throwing big planters and the daunting nature of filling in all that blank space, nothing beats pulling a tiny vase from the kiln. “It’s just the most precious little thing you hold in your hands,” she said. Watching time-lapse videos on her Instagram, you can see the mesmerizing way Morgan works the clay up and into the form she wants with dexterity and patience, no matter the size of the piece.

Nature Is Art

While their love for mushrooms might have started in fantasy, Morgan is regularly on the hunt for new sightings around the mountains of North Carolina. “If you want to see mushrooms in their prime out here, you’ve got to go when it’s cloudy and

M O R G A N F I N D S I N S P I R AT I O N O N R E G U L A R H I K E S I N T H E M O U N TA I N S O F N O R T H C A R O L I N A . P H O T O S COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

raining,” they said. “The views will speak for themselves too because nothing beats rolling clouds through Appalachia.” One of Morgan’s favorite places to catch a glimpse of these fungi is Crabtree Falls, about 30 minutes from her house. “I always look for a place near a river because

of that dampness,” they said. “You’re almost guaranteed a lot of moist spots because of the waterfall.” Morgan is so excited about the mushrooms that they’ll regularly speed past views of the falls to look for new growths.

Hiking is also a time Morgan takes to simply be present and aware of her

surroundings. “I usually go by myself so it is just a breathing time for me,” she said. “And it is incredibly mindful to be out in the silence of nature looking for things. That’s a true joy for me.”

Morgan’s other love and frequent motif in her work, slugs, also thrive in these damp environments. “They’re slow as heck,” she said. “They grow at their own pace. I really admire that because I’m not wanting to rush. I spend 48 hours on one planter for pete's sake. It’s okay to go slow.”

These little decomposers also play an important role in local ecosystems, helping to break down dead organic matter into fertilizer that contributes to healthy soil.

Although they're still in a relatively early part of their career, Morgan’s love for the more mystical elements of nature and skill with clay comes through in their work and the process they share with audiences online.

You can find more of Morgan’s work on Instagram @grumpydwarfpottery.

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

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Serving as the base camp of the Monongahela National Forest, Randolph County is a natural paradise for those looking to immerse themselves in the beauty of fall in West Virginia. Explore mountains adorned in warm hues, retreat to a secluded cabin surrounded by fall foliage or get acquainted with small-town life at an autumn festival. Find your own slice of Almost Heaven in Randolph County.

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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RIDE ON Sweet Southern Singletrack to Shred This Fall

BY LAUREN STEPP

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

D

on’t let that bike you bought last year start collecting dust. With fall on the horizon, temperatures will be dropping, and that means it’s time to shred some singletrack. The Blue Ridge holds a bounty of epic trails—routes full of steep switchbacks, gnarly rock gardens, and stomachdropping descents. With help from local experts, we’ve scoped out eight Southern trails you should be riding now.

Splash Dam South Trail WEST VIRGINIA

S

ingletrack in West Virginia is its own kind of heaven, especially this four-mile trail near Davis.

Located in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Splash Dam South is a fairly technical dip into the state’s remote backcountry. “It’s rocky, rooty, technical, and a whole lot of fun,” says Matt Marcus with Blackwater Bikes, a local bike shop named after the same river Splash Dam South parallels.

Designed with bikes in mind, the trail is a dream during the cooler, soggier months. “It holds up pretty well,” says Marcus, who got his hands dirty during the construction process. “But you have to be a good rider to actually clean the whole thing. There’s not a lot of up and down, but you definitely feel all four miles of it.”

“It holds up pretty well, but you have to be a good rider to actually clean the whole thing. There’s not a lot of up and down, but you definitely feel all four miles of it.”

South Loop Trail TENNESSEE

K

noxville might be the only place where you can shred black diamonds in the heart of a metro area. According to Matt Ridenour with Harper’s Bike Shop, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness area is a 1,000acre mountain biking mecca nestled in the city. “It feels like a jungle,” he says, “but you’re just 10 minutes away from downtown.”

M O U N TA I N B I K I N G I N G E O R G I A . P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F E D F A R N E L L

Riders can choose from 50 miles of natural surface trails, piecemealing together unique experiences that bypass old marble quarries, failed housing developments from the 1982 World's Fair, and a wildlife management area. Ridenour is partial to the South Loop, a 12.5-mile stretch that incorporates rock gardens, loamy singletrack, paved greenways, and gravel doubletrack. Burnett Ridge Trail is one of the many stretches of singletrack riders can tackle during the ride and one of Ridenour’s favorites. “The long climb is rewarded with a high-speed descent with nicely built corners and smooth terrain,” he says.

“The long climb is rewarded with a high-speed descent with nicely built corners and smooth terrain.”

Best of DuPont Loop NORTH CAROLINA

V

ery few of us can eat only one potato chip— Lay’s was right about that. Similarly, very few mountain bikers can ride just one trail in DuPont State Recreational Forest in Brevard, North Carolina.

For starters, since most trails in this 12,500-acre wonderland are fairly short, you have to cobble together routes. But the singletrack here is also so irresistibly flowy, you can’t help but keep riding.

Fortunately, this loop keeps you in the saddle for hours by offering a buffet-style sampling of DuPont.

D U P O N T S TAT E R E C R E AT I O N A L F O R E S T. P H O T O B Y C O G N AT I V E M T B

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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Over the course of 18 miles, riders will navigate hairy rock gardens on Jim Branch Trail, fly down Mine Mountain at 30 miles per hour, and experience the notorious flow of Ridgeline Trail—something that is exciting for advanced riders but not too challenging for beginners, says Sara Landry, executive director of Friends of DuPont Forest. Just keep in mind that trails in DuPont are multi-use, so riders must yield to horses and hikers.

“Over the course of 18 miles, riders will navigate hairy rock gardens on Jim Branch Trail, fly down Mine Mountain at 30 miles per hour, and experience the notorious flow of Ridgeline Trail—something that is exciting for advanced riders but not too challenging for beginners”

Kessel Run Trail NORTH CAROLINA

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or a sovereign nation in western North Carolina, mountain biking is king. “We are the first and only federally recognized tribe to build bike-optimized singletrack,” says Jeremy Hyatt, secretary for

F I R E M O U N TA I N T R A I L S .

PHOTOS COURTESY OF J E R E M Y H YAT T

DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH OF MTN BIKING SINCE 2013 16

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

KNOXVILLE’S URBAN WILDERNESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT KNOXVILLE

operations for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and spokesperson for Fire Mountain Trails.

Located on the Qualla Boundary, this 10.5-mile trail system serves up some serious stoke with docile paths like Tinker’s Dream and pucker-worthy treks like Kessel Run. The latter is a one-way, downhill trail starting at the very top of Fire Mountain that can be accessed by slogging up Spearfinger, a two-mile trail named after a shape-shifting witch.

Unlike its uphill counterpart, Kessel Run is spooky in all the right ways, offering tons of berms, rollers, jumps, rock gardens, and endless flow. And if you just can’t bring yourself to leave Fire Mountain quite yet, the two-mile descent can be lengthened by tagging on Lazy Elk and Kate’s Wave.

Horry County Bike and Run Park SOUTH CAROLINA

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eferred to as “The Hulk” by locals, the Horry County Bike and Run Park in Myrtle Beach challenges the notion that to mountain bike you need, well, mountains. Flanked by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, this decidedly seaside gem is sure to make you sweat, even if you hail from the High Country.

That is because, just like the green-twinged Marvel character, The Hulk is prone to explosive episodes.

One minute, you are winding through shaded loblolly pines daydreaming about carbon fiber frames, and the next you are ascending a punchy climb, traversing a technical drop, or navigating an ever-evolving lineup of jumps, tabletops, and berms.

“Since we’re here on the coast, people don’t associate us with mountain biking,” says Mike Miller, general manager of Pee Dee Bicycle Company. “But those short

climbs will get to you if you’re not ready for them. They’re near-vertical—you have to pedal your ass off.”

The Connector With Special Sauce SOUTH CAROLINA

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t a fast-food joint, the special sauce is typically some mayo-based concoction brimming with calories. But when it comes to mountain biking, the Central Savannah River Area chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA-CSRA) serves up a sauce brimming with long, hard miles. This particular out-and-back connects Modoc, Turkey Creek, and Wine Creek for 54 miles of backcountry riding.

“These are really special, old school trails with some tech, flow, and gorgeous views of the mossy creeks they follow,” says Ed Farnell, a member of the SORBACSRA. “They put smiles on faces from all around.”

“These are really special, old school trails with some tech, flow, and gorgeous views of the mossy creeks they follow. They put smiles on faces from all around.”

Christmas Party Ride GEORGIA

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ost Georgians know about the Forks Area Trail System, a 37-mile smorgasbord of flowy singletrack that can be accessed from one parking lot

right over the state line in South Carolina. But when you ride with Farnell, you take the singletrack less traveled.

Farnell prefers a route known as the Christmas Party Ride. This ride connects Keg Creek Trail with Rock Dam Trail inside Mistletoe State Park for a 25-mile, lung-burning loop. “Keg is eight miles of relatively flat, rooty trail and includes some neat features such as skinnies, rock drops, and challenging creek crossings. It hugs Clarks Hill Lake the entire way, making for some great views,” says Farnell.

In comparison, Rock Dam Trail requires grit. Think: granite slabs, off-camber root sections, and 100 feet of climbing per mile.

Bear Creek Trail GEORGIA

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hen it comes to mountain biking, Gilmer County, Georgia, is like the Whistler of the south, just with more BBQ. “We are best-known for riding in the Cohutta Wilderness,” says TJ McArthur, a mechanic with Cartecay Bike Shop in Ellijay. His personal favorite is Bear Creek Trail, a six-mile loop that climbs roughly 1,000 feet through a lush, verdant valley to the Gennett Poplar, the second-largest living tree in Georgia.

Because this trip feels like a waltz through a fairy forest, it gets busy. If you plan on shredding on a Saturday, come early or go late. But if you are still itching to session some skinnies post-ride, Cartecay Bike Shop is in the midst of building a backyard bike park with a small pump track, two jump lines, and a technical skills area. Just grab some BBQ when all is said and done.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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Autumn Adventures Fall Colors Will Be on Full Display at These Scenic Blue Ridge Spots

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

FOG ROLLS IN THROUGH THE RED RIVER GORGE I N D A N I E L B O O N E N AT I O N A L F O R E S T. P H O T O

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

F

loating above the Blue Ridge Mountains, Amanda Rossano can look out from her balloon’s basket and see beautiful scenery in every direction. As owner and pilot of Monticello Country Ballooning, she has taken thousands of flights over Charlottesville in more than two decades of piloting hot air balloons in central Virginia and she loves every single one of them.

Flying at sunrise and sunset in perfect weather conditions, ballooning offers a whole new perspective on the area. Floating between 500 to 1,500 feet in the air is an incomparable sensation. “You actually get a chance to be really interactive with the environment at all altitudes,” Rossano said. “I call it the world’s slowest zipline. Because we move with the wind, there’s no relative motion except for the launch and the landing.”

Rossano’s flights offer everything from a bird’s eye view to cruising along at treetop level and touching down on local lakes, and there’s no better time to take it all in as fall descends on the region.

Despite all of the cliches about the changing of seasons—the waxing poetic about the foliage and breathing in the crisp air—getting outside in the fall never gets old. There’s no better place to experience it than the mountains and waterways of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Whether it’s trying something new, like a hot air balloon ride, or a favorite pastime, we scouted some of our favorite destinations that will have nature’s changing hues on full display as the temperatures start to cool off.

F A L L S TA R T S T O S E T I N A C R O S S T H E S M O K Y M O U N TA I N S . P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T H E S WA G

Bike the Western Maryland Rail Trail Maryland Snaking about 28 miles from Big Pool to Little Orleans, the Western Maryland Rail Trail is a fairly flat path that shows off some of the mountain’s best fall colors.

Running parallel to the C&O Canal Towpath while offering a smoother paved riding surface, you can make it a morning ride or an-all day excursion. Keep an eye out for views of the Potomac River, rock outcroppings, and wildlife as you ride. You can also stop into Hancock for a walk through a historic town, a meal, and bike rentals to outfit the whole family from C&O Bicycle.

Wet a Line in the South Holston River Tennessee A nationally recognized trout fly fishing destination, the South Holston River and its many tributaries offer perfect opportunities for fall casting. With float and wade trips available depending on the water levels, you can reel in trophy wild brown trout and, if the 21 miles of river aren’t enough for you, South Holston Lake is another excellent spot to spend a few hours on the water. Cherokee National Forest borders most of the shoreline, providing a stunning and remote backdrop

for both paddlers and anglers. Also, a number of nearby outfitters provide a variety of guided trip options for those who want deeper insights on the river.

Paddle the Waccamaw River North Carolina and South Carolina With almost two dozen boat ramps and countless natural attractions along the way, the Waccamaw River Blue Trail offers diverse habitats to explore. Float through marshes and past islands as you watch for migratory birds heading south for the winter along 140 miles of this blackwater river. The starting point at Lake Waccamaw State Park features several boardwalks from which to take in the unique habitat of a Carolina Bay while Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge is an excellent place to stop for lunch, cast a line for largemouth bass and catfish, or explore the Great Pee Dee River, a State Scenic River.

Hike the Trails of Breaks Interstate Park Virginia and Kentucky Carved out over millions of years, the Russell Fork Gorge at Breaks Interstate Park is a sight to behold in the fall. Take a stroll around Laurel Lake for serene

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reflections on the water’s surface, descend the steep terrain of the River Trail down to the banks of the Russell Fork, or loop together several trails to view a variety of habitats throughout the park. Several overlooks along the gorge’s rim provide excellent views of the scenery year-round. In October, expert whitewater paddlers take on the rugged class IV-V rapids during release weekends.

Ride Through the Southern Appalachians on Horseback Georgia What better way to spend a crisp fall afternoon than a scenic horseback ride through the Southern Appalachian Mountains of north Georgia. From Cashes Valley to the Little Tennessee River, several outfitters in the region, including Dillard House Stables and Cowgirl Up Stables, offer a variety of trip lengths and difficulties for new to experienced riders. This relaxing ride will take you through open pastures, along forested trails, and across rivers with a horse paired to fit your riding ability. The trails of Chattahoochee National Forest and several state parks offer additional opportunities to take in the splendor of Georgia in the fall.

The Healing Power of Forest Bathing If you’re a southerner like me, fall is really about soaking up the beautiful weather before having to pull out the puffy for a few months. After a hectic summer, there’s nothing better than taking the time to slow down and appreciate the changing of seasons as much as you can.

“Nature is this place for healing,” said Steven Reinhold, owner of Appalachian Adventure Company and expert in residence at The Swag, a resort on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. “It’s not just for these rigorous activities of hiking, biking, climbing, and things of that nature. One of the most beautiful trends of late is that the definition of nature is expanding.”

Reinhold leads forest bathing excursions for The Swag, a term roughly translated from the Japanese principle Shinrin-yoku. “In the 80s, the forest service in Japan started prescribing for folks to get out into nature for small amounts of time to destress and escape from their hectic city lives,” Reinhold said. “They found that there was a very quick and noticeable benefit for people who went out on these excursions, both physical and mental.”

This is not a challenge to push yourself to reach the summits of mountains or to hike longer than you ever have before. “The goal is to be present to elicit all five of your senses, to bring you closer to nature, and to really hone in on the calming and physical and mental health benefits of time outside the house,” Reinhold said. And, of course, spending time away from screens and gadgets.

Whether it’s sitting on your porch to watch the last of the daylight fade away, or taking your shoes off to feel the cool grass beneath your feet, here’s to the little moments of fall that remind us what it’s really all about.

C O O L B R E E Z E S A N D C O L O R F U L L E AV E S O V E R L A U R E L L A K E AT B R E A K S I N T E R S TAT E PA R K .

PHOTO BY ELLEN KANZINGER

Follow the Greenbrier River Trail West Virginia

Cruise Through Little River Canyon Preserve Alabama

Tucked away in a secluded part of West Virginia, the Greenbrier River Trail is a 78-mile rail trail open for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. As you traverse this remote section of the Mountain State, you’ll pass

by Greenbrier State Forest, Watoga State Park, Seneca State Forest, and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park for even more miles of fun, plus several small towns and bridges. Leave your phones in your bag as they won’t work traveling through the National Radio Quiet Zone.

For runners, the Greenbrier River Trail Marathon at the beginning of October is a great way to cover a scenic stretch of the trail under autumnal colors.

Take the scenic 11-mile drive through the preserve on the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway as the river flows through the canyon below. Several overlooks along the way open up for dramatic views, including towering waterfalls and rock formations, raptors soaring through the air, and a band of colors dancing in the light. With sharp turns and steep hills, the parkway can be tough on those who get motion sickness easily, but it’s also known as a scenic ride for cyclists wanting to take on the rolling hills. When you’re done with your drive, a number of trails lead down to the banks of the Little River and the waterfalls that dot the landscape.

Pitch a Tent in Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky It’s a large area to cover, but that just means you’ll have to make Daniel Boone National Forest a place you return to every fall. From climbing and hiking in the Red River Gorge Area to paddling Cave Run and Laurel River Lake, there’s a variety of activities and terrain to keep you occupied. With over a dozen campgrounds, plus backcountry camping allowed in most parts of the forest, there’s plenty of room to spread out and find a spot for a night or three. You can also cover a big part of the area on foot with a multi-day backpacking trip on the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail.

Climb into the Trees Virginia

N O M AT T E R Y O U R A C T I V I T Y O F C H O I C E , TA K E S O M E T I M E T H I S FA L L T O E N J O Y B E I N G O U T S I D E . P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T H E S WA G

Do you remember the days of climbing trees as a kid?

At Riverside Outfitters in Richmond, Va., you can relive those moments from your childhood with recreational tree climbing. Get up close and personal with the leaves as you ascend into the canopy. Wearing a helmet and harness, you’ll learn the skills professional arborists use in their work to safely climb trees. While you’re in town, the James River Park System offers more than 22 miles of trails for hikers and bikers with quiet spots, class III-IV rapids, and views of the city skyline all within minutes from each other.

Get to the heart of the fall season in Berkeley County as you hike or bike through trails laden with leaves of gold and crimson hue.

Meet the crisp autumn air with the warmth of small town life as you attend Martinsburg’s local events, shop at small boutiques and discover local flavor. This fall, make memories with those who matter most in Almost Heaven.

WVtourism.com/Martinsburg

TravelWV.com

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REC HARGE. LAKE NORMAN

Charlotte. A lot of experiences are waiting to recharge your soul. Those who wander are never lost in this humming metropolis surrounded by outdoor beauty that boasts lush landscapes and natural havens. This city of green offers endless opportunities to change your scenery. Plan your trip at charlottesgotalot.com.

@ charlottesgotalot

charlottesgotalot.com

Your Parks Your adventures

POWHATAN STATE PARK

800-933-PARK (7275) |

www.virginiastateparks.gov | Know Before You Go — Recreate Responsibly

To the east and west are bustling cities, but in between is pure bliss. Beauty that will take your breath away and stories of bravery that will leave you speechless.

Falling Creek Bike Park

———— Where Ordinary Ends... ————

Bedford Begins.

Smith Mountain Lake Michael Bedwell

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

DestinationBedfordVA.com 877-447-3257 | #DestinationBedfordVA

THE NEED FOR SPEED FOUR EPIC DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKE RUNS IN THE BLUE RIDGE B Y E R I C J . WA L L A C E

DROPPING INTO A LONG DOWNHILL RUN

of old-school singletrack holds a special place in the hearts of most mountain bikers. Parks offer action-packed convenience, but nothing challenges your mettle like taking on an epic stretch of backcountry at speed.

But finding great routes often isn’t easy. And it can be even harder for visiting riders.

Here, we take the guesswork out the equation. Below you’ll find four of the longest, most blistering and beautiful downhill trails in the Blue Ridge region— with camping suggestions to boot!

Virginia

Reddish Knob, Mount Solon Some of Virginia’s most epic backcountry shredding can be found deep in the George Washington National Forest near the border of West Virginia. Nestled high in the Allegheny Mountains, Reddish Knob is 4,400 feet tall and offers one of the region’s most shred-worthy descents. Better still, a gravel forest road makes for easy shuttling.

Combine the upper Timber Ridge and Wolf Ridge trails for almost eight miles of white-knuckle fun—with 2,900 feet of vertical drop and a couple of quick, punchy climbs to keep you honest. Before the plunge, take a moment at the trailhead to soak up views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, and Alleghenies.

Then drop in for a long cascade of ridgelines with loads of old-school singletrack characterized by rocky

GEORGIA'S PINHOTI TRAIL. PHOTO BY BRICE SHIRBACH/COURTESY OF MULBERRY GAP ADVENTURE BASECAMP

technical sections, warp-speed downhills, small jumps and drops—all among high-elevation red spruce forests and one of the last remaining stands of mature Canadian hemlocks in the Southeast.

The ride concludes with a treat: The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Association has retooled the final three miles into a manicured, perma-grin-inducing flow trail.

CAMP: Stokesville Campground occupies 140 acres along the edge of the national forest. It’s located on the banks of the North River and is home to the annual Virginia Mountain Bike Festival. Trail systems are designed to empty into the campground, so it makes for a top-notch basecamp. Amenities include optional electric hookups and hot-water bathhouses. Primitive camping starts at $15.

West Virginia

North Fork Mountain Trail, Judy Gap The celebrated route starts in the Monongahela National Forest near Spruce Knob and follows the serpentine ridgeline of North Fork Mountain for about 24 miles. Riders will enjoy relentless eye candy for most of the trek—including views of 4,800-foot Spruce Knob, the Potomac River, Dolly Sods Wilderness, and iconic Seneca Rocks escarpment.

The sights and a whopping 5,000 feet of vertical descent won the trail designation as an International Mountain Bike Association Epic.

Riders can expect loads of ripping ridgeline, interrupted by occasional short climbs and a couple of tough hike-a-bikes. The trail’s southern portion is comparatively mild with lots of hardpacked dirt. It joins an old dirt fire road at about the halfway point for a blazing mile-long descent. The ride gets rocky and technical toward the north as it passes through some gorgeous rhododendron forests. It concludes with a steep and gnarly three-mile singletrack descent.

CAMP + SHUTTLE: Yokum’s Vacationland is situated about midway between trailheads and can help with shuttles. The mom-andpop campground sits on the North Fork South Branch of the Potomac River near the foot of Seneca Rocks. Its amenities include hot-water bathhouses, swimming areas, a well-stocked general store, and deli. Riders can pick between cabins, teepees, a motel-style lodge, or

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

W H E N Y O U C A M P AT M U L B E R R Y G A P, T H E S TA F F O F F E R S S H U T T L E S T O N E A R B Y T R A I L HEADS. PHOTO COURTESY OF MULBERRY GAP ADVENTURE BASECAMP

tent camping. Primitive sites start at $10 a night. yokum.com

mountain streams, mossy boulders, and mature rhododendrons.

North Carolina

CAMP: Pitch a tent just inside the national forest beside the Davidson River at its namesake campground. The place is ripe with natural beauty and also convenient: It’s located just three miles from quality eat and drink spots in the town of Brevard.

Amenities include hot showers, flush toilets, and optional electric hookups.

Primitive sites cost $28 a night. adventurepisgah.com/davidson-rivercampground

Black Mountain Trail, Pisgah Forest The 7.3-mile circuit is often heralded as the crown jewel of North Carolina’s legendary Pisgah National Forest riding area. An early thigh-burner and hikea-bike delivers riders to the 4,091-foot peak of Rich Mountain and a string of descents that bring more than 2,700 feet of drop.

Upper portions of the trail are chock full of rocky, technical riding and peppered with gnarly erosion issues.

The going gets progressively smoother as you go along.

Yes, there are additional climbs to summits along the way. But the payoff comes in the form of life-list-worthy downhills in the trail’s middle and lower portions—including a new 1.5mile machine-groomed reroute that opened this past June. It’s hard-packed, lightning fast, and super flowy with numerous grade reversals and nearubiquitous berm options. Meanwhile, the scenery is staggeringly gorgeous.

Forests are characterized by big oaks,

SHUTTLE: The Bike Farm offers guided MTB trips and shuttle services throughout Pisgah National Forest. thebikefarm.com

Georgia

Bear Creek + Pinhoti 2, Ellijay Peach State mountain bikers say this run combines some of north Georgia’s finest downhill mountain biking and most beautiful backcountry scenery.

The 13-mile circuit carries riders through remote areas in the Chattahoochee National Forest and offers about 2,400 feet of gravity-fueled drop. Hikers covet

the trail for its abundant 3,000-plus-foot overlooks, mossy fern-filled streams, and the fact that it’s home to the second largest living tree in the state.

Start at the parking lot on Old CCC Camp Road, being sure to check out the small waterfall on Barnes Creek.

Drop into a long stretch of exquisite downhill singletrack that moves through lush forests with a few bridged creek crossings. A section of tight switchbacks opens onto a quick run of ripping doubletrack, then ducks back into the woods for more flowy shredding. Hang a left onto the gravel forest service road and follow it for a couple hundred yards to the Pinhoti 2 trailhead. After that you get another 4.1 miles of prograde, machine-built backcountry fun with lots of drop and minimal climbing.

CAMP + SHUTTLE: Mulberry Gap Adventure Basecamp is a one-stop-shop for visiting mountain bikers. Stay in primitive or RV campsites, or spring for a cabin. Amenities include hot-water bathhouses, an on-site restaurant and pub, a lounge area, and weekend entertainment. Staffers offer shuttles to and from nearby trailheads.

Tent camping starts at $14 a night. mulberrygap.com

Helmick Rock, WV

Hardy County’s country roads wind over rolling mountains and through broad river valleys leading to unforgettable outdoor adventures. Explore our history and yours, ramble over secluded trails, and float or fish our rivers, runs and lakes. Plan your fall visit and discover quiet places in Hardy County — a slice of Almost Heaven.

WVtourism.com/HardyCounty

Dreamy, whether you’re asleep or not.

Snuggle up in the Smokies at VisitNCSmokies.com/Stay

PACK YOUR BAGS

YOUR SMOKY MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE AWAITS

W

e’re the kind of folks who live for the unexpected. In Haywood County we see the cooler season as an opportunity to push the boundaries for breathtaking adventures. Our playground consists of acres of scenic land with towering mountains, making the NC Smokies the ultimate destination to explore. If that peaks your interest, then it’s time to pay us a visit.

Haywood County is a vibrant collection of five mountain towns— each one offering their own unique and authentic experiences that will give you chills. Captivate your senses in the irresistible charm of Canton, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley and Waynesville. If one thing’s for sure, there is no shortage of things to do here. From scenic hikes and fishing

excursions to seasonal festivals and art shows, there is something for everyone to fall for.

Once your cravings for adventure are satisfied, crawl under the covers of our comfortable accommodations that will have you feeling right at home in Haywood.

EMBRACE OUR NC HERITAGE For generations as deep-rooted as the mountains themselves, the NC Smokies have provided an outlet for family fun and outdoor excitement around every turn. Adventurers of all ages flock here for fall leaf peeping, trout fishing, and a race down the powdery slopes of Cataloochee Ski Area and Tube World.

When it comes to seasonal festivities, we admit, our locals know how to celebrate in style. Get your fill of holiday shopping, fall festivals, and visiting a Fraser Fir farm where you can choose n’ cut your own Christmas tree. While you’re out exploring, let our local chefs thrill your tastebuds with local farm-to-table fare and craft

brews. Time to take your palate on a new journey.

Looking for more to savor beyond mouthwatering flavors? Haywood is home to an array of attractions to tickle your fancy—the toughest part is deciding what to do first. The good news is we can pretty much guarantee while you’re here, the sky is the limit.

MEET THE LOCALS. Take it from us when we say that the Cataloochee Elk are no strangers to the wild side of Smoky Mountain living. With the mating “Rut” season nearing, visitors can enjoy prime elk

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spotting and even hear a bugle or two!

They aren’t the only critters we’ve got roaming through our stomping grounds. The family-friendly Winchester Creek Farm has animal interactions that will make you melt this season. Alpacas, cows, donkeys—oh my! Why not take this udderly-perfect opportunity to snap a shot for your Christmas card with a few fuzzy friends?

LOOKING FOR MORE LOCAL FUN? Stop by the Haywood County Visitor Center. You’re sure to find a friendly face ready to share insider tips and other must-dos.

RETREAT TO THE REMARKABLE When we say we have an eclectic assortment of accommodations, it’s no joke. Enjoy luxurious glamping under the stars or stay in a tricked-out train caboose for your getaway.

Curl up next to a warm fire and swap stories of your day’s adventures in a place to call home. From traditional to outlandish, the only thing more over-the-top than our lodging selection is our hospitality.

The Blue Ridge’s

Next Great Trail Town With broad community efforts and miles of trails in the works, Old Fort is poised to become the region’s new recreation hot spot.

BY MICHAEL WELCH

W

THE OLD FORT RIDE HOUSE. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MCDOWELL TOURISM AUTHORITY

estern North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest has a well-deserved reputation as a premiere mountain biking destination, but many of the most iconic trails are clustered in a relatively small part of the sprawling, 500,000-acre tract of land.

The eponymous Pisgah Ranger District is packed with singletrack, and, with DuPont State Forest just 15 minutes away, the region around Brevard, N.C., features hundreds of miles of multi-use trail for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and other users to enjoy. About 30 minutes east of Asheville, it’s a different story, and the 192,000acre Grandfather Ranger District has huge swaths of land without a trail to be found. Jason McDougald and the nonprofit G5 Collective are looking to change that.

In 2013, McDougald took a position as the Executive Director of Camp Grier, located in the small community of Old Fort, N.C. At the time, the town of less than a thousand people felt largely forgotten. Its days as a manufacturing hub seemed long gone, and one business after another left to take advantage of cheaper labor overseas. Despite the economic hardship, many residents remained unwilling to leave their town and its natural beauty amid the tallest mountains east of the Mississippi.

As someone who grew up in the outdoor industry and had seen how recreation was revitalizing similar areas around the country, McDougald thought the time was right for new trails in Old Fort. In particular, he wanted to take Heartbreak Ridge—a four-mile, 2,000-foot descent off the Blue Ridge Parkway—and extend it into the town of Old Fort, where riders could perhaps enjoy a beverage or bite to eat. The Forest Service was open to a new trail, but the community would need to prove capable of caring for its existing system first.

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To effectively maintain the area’s trails, McDougald knew he would need to rally support from as many different user groups as possible. The result was the G5 Collective—“G” for the Grandfather district, and 5 for the five counties spread across its acreage. As a nonprofit initiative of Camp Grier, the Collective brought together equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers, runners, and many other trail users for regular work days on Heartbreak Ridge and another local gem called Kitsuma.

The group’s steady progress accelerated when the Hellbender 100 ultra began basing out of Camp Grier.

As an entry requirement, runners needed to log eight hours of volunteering, either at another ultra or in the form of trail maintenance. “We started hosting trail work days at camp, and we'd have 50 people on a Saturday and another 50 on a Sunday that would show up, many coming all the way from Raleigh or Greensboro,” McDougald says. “That’s when the Forest Service kind of started to believe we could take care of these trails.”

As enthusiasm for the Old Fort Trails Project grew, the plan ballooned into a proposal for 27 miles of new trails—and the price tag increased to match. McDougald admits, “We had no way of paying for it, but somebody told me to talk to People On the Move for Old Fort. That’s how I met Lavita Logan.”

A lifelong resident of Old Fort, Logan is a founding member and coordinator of the Old Fort Community Forum. When she noticed that the town’s Black community was underrepresented at the meetings, she formed a working subgroup, People on the Move for Old Fort, to give these residents a space to voice their opinions and connect with local resources. When McDougald approached her about the trails project,

T H E G 5 C O L L E C T I V E H A S B R O U G H T M O U N TA I N BIKERS, HIKERS, AND EQUESTRIANS TOGETHER FOR REGULAR TRAIL WORK. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MCDOWELL TOURISM AUTHORITY

Logan immediately saw the potential benefits for the town from both an economic and wellness standpoint: “When I was growing up, we stayed outside, played in the woods, swam in Curtis Creek—we were doing a whole lot outside. These days, you don’t see a lot of kids doing that, and I’m hoping trails will get them involved especially for the health and wellness of the community.”

To help grease the wheels of the project, People on the Move for Old Fort applied for and were awarded a $450,000 economic development grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. When Logan proposed that the group pass $75,000 through the G5 Collective, the vote in support was unanimous.

It was a watershed moment for the Old Fort Trails Project, and, in addition to the substantial donation, a few more pieces of the puzzle were about to fall into place. In August, 2019, NC Governor Roy Cooper passed Senate Bill 290, allowing breweries to serve their own beer in previously dry counties or municipalities. Days later, Hillman Beer announced that it would be expanding beyond its footprint in brewery-rich Asheville to open a facility in Old Fort—a $700,000 project that would bring dozens of new jobs and a fresh attraction to the town.

Shortly after, cycling apparel manufacturer Kitsbow announced it would be moving its business from California to Old Fort, bringing more than 50 jobs and $1 million in investment to a region once known for textile production. Since then, Kitsbow’s ranks have grown to include 60 full-time employees, and the construction of a Ride House offering a variety of amenities to visitors doubled the company’s initial investment. To CEO David Billstrom, Old Fort presented exciting production possibilities, but it was also a burgeoning trail town

Credit: C. Wright

As Summersville’s shades of green begin to transition into tones of crimson and gold, get ready to gear up for Gauley Season.

West Virginia’s official 5th season starts in September when Summersville Lake drains, filling the Gauley River with worldrenown whitewater rapids and rushing waters. This fall, get your share of adrenaline in Almost Heaven.

WVtourism.com/Summersville

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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offering an attractive quality of life for his employees: “Some of our workers can walk to work from their homes, and several of us commute from Black Mountain on our bikes. It’s a livable town with a talented workforce. You really do get the best of both worlds.”

Armed with the contribution from People on the Move for Old Fort and the support of two of the town’s newest businesses, McDougald and the varied user groups making up the G5 Collective could take the first steps toward turning plans into reality.

As support for the G5 Collective expanded, the scope of the Old Fort Trails Project broadened even further. Lisa Jennings, the U.S. Forest Service’s Recreation and Trails Program Manager for the Grandfather District, has gotten to shepherd it along the way. “Jason and I would have never thought that that one discussion would have ended up where we are today with 42 miles of trails. But it did, because that's what we heard from the community. That's what fits this landscape and this connection to Old Fort that’s so unique.”

At the moment, the Old Fort Trails Project is still a concept on a map. While she’s confident construction can begin this winter, Jennings acknowledges that it will be a long-term process to see the plan through. “It could be five to 10 years. We’re not trying to just pop out 40 miles in a year. We really want to have the best builders, have great design, and we want to make sure that everything's done right, so that this project is going to feed the community for a long time. From a land manager perspective, we also want to make sure that we can maintain what we're building. The Forest Service doesn't have a lot of those resources, which is why the G5 and

KITSUMA OFFERS ONE OF THE BEST DOWNHILL RIDES IN THE BLUE RIDGE. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MCDOWELL TOURISM AUTHORITY

THE OUTDOORS ARE FREE AND SO ARE WE! Support free outdoor inspiration and news from Blue Ridge Outdoors by joining the TrailHeads Patron Program.

THANKS TO OUR LATEST TRAILHEADS! KAROLYN J. (DAHLONEGA, GA | WILL C. (DURHAM, NC) ACHIM T. (GREENVILLE, SC) | JOHN Z. (CHARLOTTE, NC) DEBBIE P. (BLUE RIDGE, VA) | JAY M. (LAKE JUNALASKA, NC) BRITTANY M. (DURHAM, NC)

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

the community efforts are huge.”

There’s a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work that has made the G5’s initiative successful, but one key ingredient is so obvious it’s in the name: Collective.

The nonprofit’s commitment to multiple user groups has helped it build a broad base of support—and an impressive number of volunteer hours that gave the Forest Service confidence that the community could support the trails it plans to construct.

The Old Fort Trails Project is Jennings’ third comprehensive trail planning effort, and she hopes to continue to apply the model across the Grandfather Ranger District wherever there’s energy and enthusiasm for trails in the local communities. That might not mean 42 miles of trails, but Jennings thinks that all communities can strive for systems that fit their resources and the surrounding landscape. Regardless of a project’s size, she says that the first step is reaching out. “I can't overstate the value of volunteerism and getting involved in your local community and trails,” she says. “Because, you know, with all of these stories, that's how it got started. And that's how we make stuff happen.”

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Situated on the brim of the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Adventures on the Gorge combines unbeatable adventure and breathtaking scenery for an experience like no other. This autumn, hike, bike and zipline your way through fall foliage or gear up for the exhilarating rapids of Gauley Season starting September 10. Your fall getaway awaits you in Almost Heaven.

WVtourism.com/AOTG

Blackwater Falls State Park

Venture out on the mountain bike trails of Tucker County long enough with your family, and you too, will find a bit of friendly competition. This fall, head to Davis, West Virginia and the Canaan Valley to experience over 100 miles of single track mountain biking trails. Adventuring in September and October not only means beautiful fall foliage but dry weather, perfect temperatures and the season’s best riding. Find your own slice of Almost Heaven on the trails.

WVtourism.com/TuckerCounty

“The forest belongs to all of us.”

Lavita Logan helps launch trail project to reconnect the Black community to the outdoors

BY WILL HARLAN

“A lot of people don’t know that Black people live in the mountains,” says Lavita Logan. “We’ve been here a lot longer than most.”

Around 200 Black people live in Old Fort, N.C., a small community of 900 surrounded on three sides by Pisgah National Forest. Logan, an African-American woman who was born and raised in Old Fort, knows the forest well. She has explored the trails of Pisgah National Forest since she could walk, and she and her family swam in Curtis Creek every weekend.

These days, few Black people in her community are out in the woods. Logan wants to change that. She has helped launch Trails for All, a $2 million project that will soon bring 42 miles of new trail to the area around Old Fort. As project consultant, Logan hopes it will especially help the African-American community reconnect to the forests and creeks that surround the town.

Logan is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service, Camp Grier, and the G5 Trail Collective (named for the five counties of Pisgah’s Grandfather Ranger District).

Over the next 10 years, they will construct trails to improve community connectivity and reduce barriers to access. Connector trails, loop trails, and two new trailheads close to town will make the outdoors easier to reach and explore.

Logan has also led a downtown mural dedication honoring her town’s Black history and is planning to run for office this fall: she hopes to become the first Black female alderman of Old Fort. BRO talked with Logan about her childhood in a rural mountain town, what has changed, and how trails can make her community stronger.

BRO: What was your childhood like as a Black girl in rural Appalachia?

I had a great childhood here in Old Fort. We had a lot of fun running around in these woods, swimming in the branches. I just loved being outside.

I was the only Black kid in Girl Scouts, but they didn’t treat me any different that I could tell. I loved camping. I loved swimming in Widow’s Hole in Curtis Creek. And there were a lot of Black people who loved the woods just like I did.

TRAILS FOR ALL FOUNDER L AV I TA L O G A N . P H O T O COURTESY OF LOGAN

BRO: How did you launch the trails project?

I wanted to do something for my community. Our town is surrounded on three sides by Pisgah National Forest.

Yet a lot of folks don’t know what’s right in their backyard. But the trails can be hard to reach.

I first joined the Old Fort Community Forum, which is mostly white folks.

We created the People on the Move because of the lack of the Black community showing up to the forum.

We’ve started a walking group that meets every Wednesday. We reached out to a local community college and a camp to provide more opportunities.

Things just kept rolling from there.

BRO: How do we encourage more Black folks to get outdoors?

There’s a lot of stigma behind Black people in the woods, given the history of what happened to us in the woods, so I’m working hard especially to get kids out in the woods.

They need to see more people of color out there, people that look like them. It’s on all of us to set an example and blaze a path.

We gotta get as many young people out onto the trails as we can. They won’t all like it, but a few might be interested.

They might make a living out of it or introduce it to their children someday.

Try something new. You never know if you might like it.

Spend Some Time (and Money) in Old Fort Old Fort adventures should already be on your bucket list.

Here are three reasons why.

1. Kitsuma Trailhead: Mountain bikers already know that Kitsuma is one of the best descents in the Blue Ridge, and it all begins in Old Fort.

The ten-mile loop begins with a steep climb from Royal Gorge Road near Old Fort.

2. Curtis Creek: This is one of the wildest sections of Pisgah National Forest and the headwaters of the Catawba River. The trail to Hickory Branch Falls is a short and sweet 1.6 miles. For a more rugged adventure, Mackey Mountain is a beautiful bushwhack.

Throw down at Curtis Creek Campground at the end of the day.

3. Catawba Falls: One of the largest waterfalls in the region is just outside city limits and easily accessible via a short hike from the parking area.

BRO: Why is this important to you?

It’s fun! Being in the woods is so much fun. I want young kids to have the same fun that I had.

The national forest that surrounds this town belongs to all of us. It’s for everyone to enjoy and benefit from.

Old Fort died for a while. The outdoors could help bring it back. I want our community to be healthy and vibrant, especially for Black people.

I want Black entrepreneurs to launch businesses around the outdoor economy that takes root here. I want our whole community to benefit from the outdoors, both from a health perspective and an economic point of view.

It’s time for the Black community to get out and be more involved in the outdoors—and in community decisions. I want them to have a bigger piece of the outdoor pie.

BRO: How can white people help?

Trust is a big thing to the Black community. We don’t always trust a lot of people. The most important thing white folks can do to build trust is to show up. If you really say you’re gonna do something, show up and do it. Show that you are really serious and willing to do some work. That’s how we know you’re not just doing a lot of talking. Do what you say you are going to do.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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Your Parks Your adventures

NEW RIVER TRAIL STATE PARK 800-933-PARK (7275) |

www.virginiastateparks.gov | Know Before You Go — Recreate Responsibly

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Biking Southeast the

Cycling the C&O Canal Towpath

Bike Hip and Historic Frederick County, Md.

F l o w y s i n g l e t r ac k , s c e n i c g r e e nw a y s , h e a r t r a c i n g d o w n h i l l , r o l l i ng c o un tr y s i d e r o ad s— t h e B l ue R i d g e h as i t al l . I t ’s ti m e t o p u m p u p y o ur t i r e s , s n ap o n y o u r h e l m e t , a n d h e ad o ut f o r a b e au t i f u l f a l l b i ke r i d e. Pl e as e c h e c k w i t h l o c ati o n s p r i o r t o t r a ve l f o r l o c al g ui d e l i ne s o r u s e t h i s g ui d e f o r f ut ur e t r i p s !

Sparrow Loop Trail at Mower Tract in Elkins, WV

No matter your style of riding, Frederick County has a route for you. From scenic rides through the city and countryside to a taste of mountain biking and multiday trips, you can’t go wrong in this slice of Maryland.

Road cyclists will love the North County Bridge Sampler, a 40-mile excursion through the county as you cross three covered bridges, and the Campaign Ride, a tour of the area’s Civil War history that cuts through through Frederick, a Bicycle Friendly City. When you’re done in the saddle, Downtown Frederick is full of restaurants and shops to try. Kick back with a cold beer and sandwich from Brewer’s Alley Restaurant & Brewery or go for an upscale cocktail and dinner from Hootch & Banter. North Market Pop Shop is the place to stop for all kinds of treats, including over 400 varieties of glass bottle soda pop.

Creme de la Creme carries a variety of home Biking Downtown Frederick decor and art while Retro Metro is a one-stop shop for quirky gift items.

Running along the county’s southern border, the C&O Canal Towpath offers endless opportunities for day trippers, bikepackers, and families alike. You can expect a flat stretch of gravel riding with a shaded tree canopy. Stop into Brunswick, a Canal Town, to rest your legs and grab a bite to eat. Beans in the Belfry, a delightful cafe housed in an old church, features a menu filled with comfort foods like breakfast sandwiches served on flaky croissants and an assortment of desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth. While in town, check out the mountain biking trails at River’s Edge for a variety of flowy and downhill rides.

Need something while you’re in town? River & Trail Outfitters can hook you up with gear rentals and shuttles, plus guided tours along the canal. For all of your tune-up and spare parts needs while on the road, Wheel Base has you covered. Reserve a road, adventure, or mountain bike and learn about the best places to ride through Bicycle Escape.

Plan your trip for the end of October when Frederick County will host the 2021 USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships. With events taking place at Gambrill State Park and the Frederick City Watershed, you can see some of the best riders in action while enjoying two world-class mountain biking locations. Book a room at one of the hotels in Frederick to stay close to the action.

VisitFrederick.org

A group of women cycle the Fifteen Mile Creek portion of the C&O Canal Towpath in Allegany County, MD.

Bike the Mountains of Allegany County, Md. Situated among the Appalachian Plateau and Allegheny Mountains and bordered by the Potomac River, Allegany County is a scenic biking destination in the ‘Mountain Side of Maryland.’ A convenient drive from major regional cities, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, you will find plenty to do in your saddle and off.

A quarter of Allegany County is preserved as public land, giving riders plenty of options to choose from. Bike the trails around Lake Habeeb, known for some of the bluest water in the state, at Rocky Gap State Park. Hang out on the park’s beaches or take a boat out on the water for a change of scenery. Green Ridge State Forest offers more than 80 miles of trail for hikers and bikers to discover. More experienced riders will enjoy the Green Ridge Mountain Biking Trail, a 12.5-mile circuit made up of mostly singletrack.

Additionally, two internationally-recognized trail systems meet in Allegany County to give you countless riding options. Head north from Cumberland, Md., on The Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile rail trail that finishes in Pittsburgh, Pa., or take the C&O Canal Towpath 184.5 miles south to Washington, D.C., on one of the most visited national parks in the country. The historic C&O Canal is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a national park in 2021. With so many miles available on these off-road gravel paths, it’s easy to go for a day ride or string together a multi-day bikepacking trip.

Road cyclists will love the routes available in Allegany County. Traffic is light, which makes travel faster and safer. The region is geographically central to West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and neighboring Maryland counties, which means more routes for you and more scenic beauty, which isn’t too shabby either! While there are hundreds of miles worth exploring, Mountain Maryland has worked with its local trail groups to develop eight distinct road routes. The routes range in distance from 15 miles to an 80-mile ride that will take you from downtown Cumberland to the Flight 93 Memorial in nearby Shanksville, Pa. If you are looking to rent a bike or need a quick tune up, Allegany County is home to multiple outfitters, including its newest business, Wheelzup Adventures. Wheelzup started as a shuttle-service business that provided passenger and bike transportation to and from trail towns along the C&O Canal and Great Allegheny Passage. Now that business has expanded to a retail storefront in downtown Cumberland. The store offers trail, road, and kid bike rentals, apparel and gear retail, and the outfitting connection for a variety of tours and guided experiences.

When you are done on your bike, check out some of the other trails in the area

Cyclists crossing Lake Gordon along one of Allegany County’s many road cycling routes.

for a refreshing taste of the mountains. The Ice Cream Trail features nine stops with menus full of sweet treats, including seasonal, homemade ice cream flavors and specialty sundaes. Drive the Mountain Maryland Tap and Pour Craft Beverage Tour for a roundup of the area’s best wineries, breweries, and distilleries. After a long day outside, grab a glass of your favorite drink while you enjoy the scenery.

Get away and ride all day in Allegany County, the ‘Mountain Side of Maryland.’

MDMountainSide.com

Bryce Resort

High Bridge Trail State Park

Trails for Every Rider at Bryce Resort, Va. Whether you’re new to mountain biking or have been shredding the trails for years, Bryce Resort’s Bike Park features 12 lift-accessed trails—covering everything from flowy beginner singletrack to Hooch, a new double black jump line—to satisfy every kind of rider. With one of the longest bike park seasons in the country, running from May to November, there’s still plenty of time to get in a visit this year.

Beyond the resort’s boundaries, discover miles of gravel, road, and singletrack to ride in George Washington National Forest and the surrounding area, all of which is accessible right out of the Bryce parking lot.

Want to work on your skills and tighten up your technique? Bryce is now partnering with TakeAim Cycling to provide professional learning experiences on the mountain.

With private and group lessons, skills clinics, and gravity camps taught by PMBIAcertified instructors, there’s never been a better time to learn from some of the best.

This is a destination you’ll want to visit again and again as the park has plans to add additional trails in the spring of 2022. Set in the beautiful mountains of the northern Shenandoah Valley, Bryce Resort is the place to be for all things mountain biking this fall.

BryceResort.com

Top Virginia State Parks for Bikers of All Ages

Bedford County’s prime location in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia makes it a top destination for outdoor lovers near and far. Whether it’s biking a section of the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway or the smooth singletrack of the local parks, there are countless ways to get outside on two wheels.

Get started on the 10-mile trail network and skills park at Falling Creek Park, featuring a variety of trail difficulties built to challenge every kind of rider, or the seven miles of riding at the New London Tech Trails, providing a beginner-friendly space across rolling terrain. Tack on even more riding time at Montvale and Moneta Park, two of the area’s top secrets, especially as additional trails are built. Still need more places to ride? Pedal around to the scenic overlooks at Smith Mountain Lake State Park where you can catch a glimpse of the picturesque lake.

But there’s more to Bedford than just bikes. Save some time for shopping in historic downtown Bedford, a hike at the Peaks of Otter, and a drink or two from Beale’s Brewery and Apocalypse Ale Works. Check out a number of lodging options, from cottages to campgrounds, to get the most out of your visit.

When it comes to planning your next biking adventure, look no further than the hundreds of miles of trails snaking through the Virginia State Parks. Home to some of the best views and waterways in Virginia, there’s no better way to take it all in than from your saddle.

Want to try an all-day or multi-day excursion?

New River Trail State Park is a 57-mile linear park in southwest Virginia running from Galax to Pulaski. Between the rail trail’s gentle slope and the beautiful views of the New River, this is a great option for riders of all abilities. With three primitive campsites, plus several parking lots, picnic shelters, and restrooms, along the way, you can design your trip to fit your style. Just off the main trail, the Hoover Mountain Biking Area offers additional space for beginner and intermediate mountain Pocahontas State Park bikers looking to loop together some more miles.

If you’re in the mood for a shorter day trip, traverse 31 miles on High Bridge Trail State Park. Take in the views from High Bridge, a historic landmark, as you bike 2,400 feet across the Appomattox River flowing 125 feet below.

Looking to ride some sweet singletrack and scenic routes? Pocahontas State Park has more than 70 miles of directional mountain bike and multi-use trails. As part of the IMBA Bronze Level Richmond Regional Ride Center, this park has all the flow and obstacles you could want out of a challenging course, including hand cycle-friendly trails. Douthat State Park features an additional 35+ miles of excellent riding, especially for intermediate and experienced riders. A waterfall, view of the lake, and switchbacks abound in this mountainous destination. Reserve a cabin or campsite to more fully enjoy all of the hiking, fishing, and paddling opportunities this park provides.

In eastern Virginia, the trails at York River State Park allow you to explore a variety of coastal habitats by bike. This rare estuarine environment where freshwater and saltwater meet is home to marshes and forests with views from the riverbank. Although it is a day-use park, there is some excellent fishing and kayaking available when you’re done in the saddle.

With dozens of state parks dotting the Virginia landscape from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains, you’re sure to find one that fits your sense of adventure.

Pump up your tires, grab your helmet, and head out to a Virginia State Park today.

DestinationBedfordVA.com

VirginiaStateParks.gov

Falling Creek Park

Hit the Trails in Bedford, Va.

Cycling in Fulks Run, photo by Scott Brown

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Va. Are Built for Bikes Surrounded by the George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park, Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Va., are designated a “Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists and a “Bronze Level Ride Center” by the International Mountain Bicycling Association for its mix of familyfriendly road riding and challenging mountain biking. The area boasts a diverse mix of peaceful county trails, bike-friendly city streets, winding singletracks, and challenging mountain bike courses, offering something for all types and levels of cyclists.

George Washington National Forest is the crown jewel of the region with several hundred miles of backcountry trails and trail projects that have been built and optimized for mountain biking, including Narrowback Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Wolf Ridge. Some of the best backcountry riding can be found on the TransVirginia Bike Route, 550 miles on a new gravel bikepacking and touring route focused on rideable, non-technical, unpaved terrain. From D.C. to Harrisonburg, it runs 215 miles.

In Harrisonburg, the Rocktown Trails at Hillandale Park were developed as a system of natural surface, stacked loop trails that offer a wide range of difficulties for novice to expert riders while the paved Bluestone Trail is an excellent choice for families as it cuts through Purcell Park.

A biking trip to the area wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Massanutten Resort. As one of only two lift-accessible mountain bike parks in the state, the lower and upper lifts take riders up the mountain so they can enjoy the rocky terrain on the way down. The Western Slope Trails offer an additional 30 miles that make up a dense network of trails.

Several bike shops and outfitters in the area offer a variety of services while you’re in town. Swing by Mole Hill Bikes in Dayton or Rocktown Bicycles in Harrisonburg for all of your gear and repair needs. When you stop into Shenandoah Bicycle Company, make sure you also grab an organic açaí bowl or smoothie from the in-house Pulp Cafe. If you’re looking to improve your skills out on the road or the trail, the fine folks at East Coast Bicycle Academy and TakeAim Cycling can help make biking a more enjoyable and safe experience for everyone. Want to ride like a local? Book a tour of the area, including George Washington National Forest, with Bluestone Bike & Run and Shenandoah Mountain Touring. With all of this concentrated local knowledge, plus weekly group rides and events throughout the year, it’s easy to see why cyclists of all types are attracted to the area.

This fall is the perfect time to connect with the local biking community for some of the area’s best bike-focused events. Join September 26 for Jeremiah Bishop’s Alpine

photo by Jess Daddio

Loop Gran Fondo. Bishop, an internationally recognized cross-country mountain biker and pan-American gold medalist, designed a course that covers approximately 107 miles and features 11,000 feet of climbing. If road is not your style, make plans to visit October 8 to 10 for the Shenandoah Mountain Bike Fest for a weekend of friends, bikes, and trail work. Other popular cycling events throughout the year include Bike Shenandoah, Shenandoah Valley Century Ride, and the Harris-Roubaix.

At the end of the day, take a walk through town, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy a view of the area. With five breweries in downtown Harrisonburg, all within walking and biking distance of each other, and an additional three craft breweries in the county, it’s easy to find a spot where you can kick back and relax with a cold beer. Settle in for a cozy night as you prepare for another day of riding the world-class trails of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Va. VisitHarrisonburgVA.com | VisitRockingham.com

Biking Rockbridge, photo by Steve Shires

Take the Scenic Route Through Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County, Va.

World Cup Caliber Trails, Athletes, and Bike Culture at Snowshoe Resort, W. Va.

Get an early start on two wheels as you breeze past pastoral landscapes, quaint villages and towns, and historic, natural, and cultural resources with a Rockbridge County cycling route.

Road cyclists have endless options along the region’s low-traffic backroads and scenic loops. A ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a bucket list activity for cyclists from around the world, offering miles of breathtaking views and some challenging rides. When you’re done admiring the vistas from the scenic overlooks, grab some scrumptious barbecue or wood-fired pizza at JJ’s Meat Shak in Buena Vista.

Those looking for an epic cross county experience can cycle a segment of the TransAmerica Bike Trail as it swoops across the parkway on Scenic Byway 56, then takes a tire-burning plunge into the town of Vesuvius and pushes through Lexington. The four-mile climb Cycling Blue Ridge Parkway, photo by Steve Shires (or descent), reaching a grade of 24 percent, is not for the timid and is considered the toughest leg of the trail. Refuel and restock at Gertie’s Country Store in Vesuvius with downhome cooking like fried bologna sandwiches and scratch-made desserts.

The area’s greenways, paths, and trails allow for a different perspective. The Chessie Nature Trail is a seven-mile rail trail between Lexington and Buena Vista, meandering alongside the Maury River. Its level path, shady stretches, and lovely scenery make the Chessie an ideal outing for families, birders, geologists, and wildflower lovers. Other mountain bike trails can be enjoyed at Glen Maury Park and Lake Robertson. For those into unrelenting climbs, endless mountain views, and gravel, the Little North Mountain Loop is 27 miles of nearly all-gravel roads with views of Lake Merriweather. Gravel racers should save the date for GraVista 2022. Sip a craft brew, grab a bite from the kitchen or food truck, and enjoy some live music at breweries along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail.

Lexington is the perfect hub for your cycling adventure. Stop into Red Newt Bikes for bikes, gear, service and repairs, route planning, and group rides. Book a stay at one of the downtown hotels or B&Bs within walking distance to shops and eateries.

Those looking for a more rural setting will find many cabin and vacation home rentals specializing in outdoor recreation such as Sugar Tree Inn, Fox Hill B&B, Steeles Manor Tavern B&B/Cabins and Hummingbird Inn. And for the most down to earth lodging options, eight campgrounds offer primitive tent sites, full RV hookups, and everything in between.

It’s no secret that the loam of Snowshoe’s Bike Park has been in a league of its own for a while now. But this year feels like another giant leap forward for West Virginia’s mountain bike culture.

For one, Snowshoe is bringing back world-class racing, athletes, shenanigans, and champagne showers with the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in September. The UCI folks have selected Snowshoe as the only location in the United States, and are putting on a “Downhill Doubleheader.” Yup, that’s two world cup downhills in addition to world cup cross country and short track races all in one week. Better start looking into lodging yesterday.

What else? While many people were enjoying re-runs of The Office during the pandemic, Snowshoe’s trail crew was busy building more trails, with a focus on offering more fast and flowy trails to complement the legendary gnar of its drops, rocks, and roots. This means that even beginner riders can now enjoy the bottomless fun of a lift-serviced bike park. And just as a reminder: lift-serviced bike park means more than 40 trails, 1,500 feet of vertical, and two high-speed lifts to get you back to the top in less time than it takes to say “do I have a bug in my teeth?”

If downhilling is not your pint of beer, IMBA has some great news for you—The International Mountain Bike Association has recently crowned the Snowshoe Highlands area as a Silver-Level Ride Center. This is a prestigious designation that is photos courtesy of Snowshoe bestowed upon areas and efforts with only the highest concentration of bike offerings—and that includes bike shops, lodging, breweries, and, in the case of Snowshoe, even a spa. Besides the gravity-oriented Bike Park, Snowshoe has also invested into its adventurous backcountry trails, as well as partnered with local organizations to further build out the regional trail systems, such as the famous Tea Creek area and the recently opened Mower Track.

Final questions: Don’t have a bike? Bike in the shop? Interested in eBikes? Need to brush up on skills? This is where Snowshoe’s commitment to the bike culture really shines: It. Is. All. In. One. Place.

Now it’s time to stop reading about it and get out onto Snowshoe’s epic trails for yourself.

September is a great time of the year to use up those remaining “sick days.” Ride on!

LexingtonVirginia.com | RockbridgeOutdoors.com

Ride.SnowshoeMtn.com

Hawks Ridge Loop Trail at Mower Tract.

Photo by Taira Gainer

Elk roam the mountainside in Buchanan County

Find Your Biking Base Camp in Elkins and Randolph County, W. Va. Perfectly located at the edge of Monongahela National Forest and surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, discover a biking oasis in Randolph County, W. Va., where you’ll be just minutes away from some of the most biodiverse forests in America, miles of backcountry roads, and iconic attractions.

Nothing beats biking in The Monongahela National Forest. Explore hundreds of miles of singletrack, gravel trails, and backroads as you roll past rivers, valleys, forests, and scenic vistas. Experience the area’s newest mountain biking hotspot at the Mower Tract Basin Trails, part of the Snowshoe Highlands IMBA Silver Level Ride Center.

Built on Cheat Mountain, you’ll ride singletrack through open meadows and dense stands of red spruce to expansive views of the West Virginia landscape. With 12 miles of trails and new ones under construction, plus a bike repair station in the parking lot and dispersed camping areas along Forest Service Road 227, this is a spot you’ll want to keep coming back to year after year.

If you’re looking for a all-day bikepacking trip, the West Fork Rail Trail is a 22mile point-to-point trail that snakes its way through a remote mountain setting following the West Fork of the Greenbrier River for most of its route. The trail surface of crushed limestone is nearly flat with an approximate one percent grade. Immerse yourself in the soothing rumble of the river, scenic wildflowers in the spring and summer months, and glorious colorful vistas in autumn as the days become cooler. Just south of the trail’s end in Durbin, you can pick up the 77-mile Greenbrier River Trail in the community of Cass for a multi-day trip.

For panoramic views of the countryside, the Allegheny Highlands Trail is the perfect spot for a hilly ride. Starting at the historic Western Maryland Railroad Depot in downtown Elkins, the first few miles of this 24.5-mile rail trail are paved before turning into crushed gravel. After you descend into the town of Parsons, you can keep riding through Hendricks to connect with the well-known Blackwater Canyon Trail for a 10.5-mile ascent into the vibrant town of Thomas.

Haven’t had your fill of biking yet? Elkins is the perfect spot from which to launch day trips for additional miles of riding. Just 25 miles to the northeast you’ll find Tucker County, considered the mountain bike capital of West Virginia and home of Canaan Valley State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park. Fifty miles to the south of Elkins is Snowshoe Bike Park, a nationally-recognized park featuring the largest trail system on the East Coast with nearly 40 trails and 1,500 vertical feet of descent. If you want to get a local’s opinion on even more options, stop by Joey’s Bike Shop in downtown Elkins for some suggestions of nearby routes or check out the Highlands Trail Foundation website for some different rides.

Family riding on the Allegheny Highlands Rail Trail

When you’re ready to get out of the saddle, check out the delicious restaurants and specialty shops around the area. If you’re in the mood for mouthwatering barbecue, head to the outdoor patio and bar at Smoke on the Water. Make a reservation at Forks Inn for expansive views of the Monongahela National Forest or Vintage Wine Bar & Restaurant for the largest wine selection in the county. If you’re looking for some entertainment, El Gran Sabor serves authentic Venezuelan dishes with live music on Wednesdays and Fridays while the Gandy Dancer Theatre features dinner and a show.

Finish off your adventure with locally-made drinks from Big Timber Brewing and Still Hollow Spirits before turning in for the night.

Adventure in the mountains, stay in Randolph County, W. Va. ElkinsRandolphWV.com

Snowshoe Mountain, photo courtesy of West Virginia Department of Tourism

Elk roam the mountainside in Buchanan County

Heavenly Mountain Biking in West Virginia There’s no better way to experience the diverse scenery and topography of the Mountain State than on two wheels. Miles of trails carved out through the Appalachian Mountain Range make West Virginia an ideal spot for beginners looking to try something new and experts who want a new challenge. From flowy singletrack to scenic rail trails, discover some of the top stops the state has to offer.

Nestled within the rugged hills of Pocahontas County, the Snowshoe Highlands Ride Center is a world-class biking destination that attracts riders from around the globe. Recently named a Silver Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, you can’t top the scenery and well-maintained paths as you explore over 375 miles of trails. Whether you’re looking for a thrill on Snowshoe Mountain’s steep gravity park terrain, featuring 1,500 feet of vertical drop, backcountry singletrack in Monongahela National Forest, or long-distance gravel roads, you’ll find there are many reasons why this is a mountain biker’s paradise. After serving as the home of the UCI 2019 World Mountain Biking Championship, Snowshoe Mountain is proudly hosting the event again in 2021, bringing in talent from all over for a week of racing.

Want to experience the country’s newest national park? The dramatic landscape of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve provides the perfect backdrop for hours of riding. The Arrowhead Trails, a stacked loop network built by IMBA, are open for riders of all abilities with a wide variety of trail lengths and difficulties that will get your heart racing. Additional trails in the area provide epic views of historic sites, rivers, and the New River Gorge Bridge. Looking for bike and gear rentals while you’re in the area? Arrowhead Bike Farm has everything you need to safely enjoy a day in the mountains. Plus, you can book bike clinics, tours of the area, and a campsite all in one place. When you’re done in the park, the town of Fayetteville provides a welcoming place to stretch out, kick back, and relax.

A visit to West Virginia wouldn’t be complete without venturing into Tucker County for hundreds of miles of singletrack trails, gravel roads, and rails-to-trails.

Centered around the biking hub of Davis, this area has been home to some of the country’s largest races and top professional racers since the early 1980s. The 10.5-mile Blackwater Canyon Trail, once used to carry coal and lumber through the area, is now a top recreation spot with beautiful views of the canyon and river. Cross a few items off your bucket list, including classic rides like Yellow Birch Trail, Plantation Trail, and Moon Rocks. Stop into Blackwater Bikes, a community mainstay, for a wide range of

Arrowhead Bike Trails, photo courtesy of West Virginia Department of Tourism

services, including rentals, shuttles, and repairs. Nearby, Blackwater Falls State Park and Canaan Valley Resort State Park offer additional ways to get outside.

The list doesn’t end there. You’ll find countless biking adventures await around every corner, including fan favorites like Kanawha State Forest, the Greenbrier River Trail, and more. When you’re done in the saddle, head into one of the nearby towns for good eats, a craft brew, and comfy lodging options.

When it comes to biking, nothing beats an adventure through the mountains of West Virginia. Ride with friends. Take the kids out for an unforgettable experience. Sign up for a race. Get the most out of every minute of daylight you can. Plan your Almost Heaven trip today.

WVTourism.com/Mountain-Biking

Concerts by Canoe on Philpott Lake Photo by Matt Ross

Do it all in Franklin County, Virginia Franklin County, deemed the land between the lakes, is a distinct outdoor destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a landscape woven with miles of roads, trails, and waters perfect for adventures of all kinds. Bike along nearly 50 miles of scenic byways or at Waid Park. You can paddle on one of five blueways, including Philpott Lake. Or spend the day boating on one of two lakes, including Smith Mountain Lake. Finish the day with a craft beverage at one of our fine wineries, breweries, or distilleries.

(540) 483-3030 VisitFranklinCountyVA.com

As America’s East Coast Mountain Biking VIRGINIA’S BLUE RIDGE

Capital, Virginia’s Blue Ridge is a bucket list destination for mountain bikers. With over 400 miles of trails and riding for all types of skill

levels, the region is the perfect destination for your next getaway.

Be a #Trailsetter and check out these top five reasons Virginia’s Blue Ridge is your next spot to go mountain biking.

PLAN YOUR NEXT RIDE AT

VisitVBR.com/MTB

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge is an IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center™ Virginia’s Blue Ridge is designated as a Silver-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. It’s the only destination on the East Coast to earn Silver-Level Ride Center status, as Virginia’s Blue Ridge emerges as America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital.

The Ride Center designation is awarded based on a region’s collection of trail offerings, accessibility and connectivity of trails, bike-friendly amenities, and local biking infrastructure & culture.

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Guided Adventures & Group Rides When you’re unfamiliar with a trail, know that a guide is nearby and willing to show you the ropes, as well as warn you of any tricky surprises. These services are also awesome for connecting you with like-minded adventurers when you want company for the excursion.

Check out Roanoke Mountain Adventures, the Blue Ridge Off-Road Cyclists (Roanoke Chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association), Cardinal Bicycle, and East Coasters Bike Shops to choose the best option for you and/or your group of trailsetters.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Enduro Series

Presented by Cardinal Bicycle October 2 · Waid Park and October 16 · Carvins Cove

VBRenduro.com

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800.635.5535

An Awesome Urban Trail System Many cities boast about close proximity to the mountains, but Roanoke is one of the only cities in the U.S. featuring a mountain within the city limits – and it’s a fantastic spot for mountain biking! Located less than three miles from Downtown Roanoke, Mill Mountain Park offers nearly 10 miles of trails across 650 acres of mountaintop space, and you’ll get to check out the awesome view of the city from the Roanoke Star & Overlook.

BIKING & BEER OPTIONS There’s a vibe in Virginia’s Blue Ridge in general that pairs the great outdoors with craft beer. The two are embraced as “go have a blast and then unwind with local suds,” and we have excellent trail systems paired with breweries on Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cheers Trail for the enthusiasts who love to do both. Pair a ride at Carvins Cove with a pint from Parkway Brewing Company or Olde Salem Brewing Company in the nearby City of Salem. You can unwind with great beer & BBQ at Beale’s following a day of riding at the Falling Creek Bike Park in Bedford. Hit the trails at Roanoke County’s Explore Park and then check out what’s on tap at Twin Creeks Brewpub, which is located within the park. Cheers!

Epic Trails Brag a little when you conquer some of the most epic, hardest, grandest trails in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. We challenge you to dig in and roll over the technical trails of North Mountain (Dragon’s Back), Fort Lewis Mountain, and of course, Carvins Cove Natural Reserve – highlighted by Singletracks for having some of the best mountain bike trails in the Southeast. For some of the most exciting new trails to explore in the region, head over to Franklin County and enjoy an awesome ride at Waid Park.

THE KIDS ARE ON BIKES

LO O KIN G TO U P G RA DE YO U R YO UNG O NE’ S MT B RIG? H E R E ’ S A LO O K AT F O U R O F TH E B E ST O PTIONS O U T TH ERE.

B Y E R I C J . WA L L A C E

2020 WAS A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR FOR MOUNTAIN

biking in my household: My 9-year-old daughter, Zoe, tackled her first black-diamonds and quickly decided she was done with her brother’s hand-me-down hardtail.

“The stupid rocks are beating me to death,” she groaned, echoing a common complaint of greenhorn downhillers getting their first dose of notoriously technical Appalachian terrain. “I’m braking nonstop and [the bike’s] not handling right.

How am I supposed to jump when I’m too scared to even go fast!?!”

Clearly it was time for an upgrade. Top models offer dual-suspension and beefier tires for soaking up bumps and tackling bigger features. Upgraded components and finetuned geometry yield better handling and acceleration, smoother shifting, and make it easier to pick lines at speed.

But quality 24-inch mountain bikes aren’t cheap—a good one will set you back around $2,000. Most models are aimed at ages 8 to 12.

Growth spurts could lead to replacement in a year

or two. In terms of maximizing value, “It’s best if a family can buy one then pass it down from kid to kid,” says James Burris, owner of Black Dog Bikes in Staunton, Virginia.

However, Zoe was my youngest, so we took a different tack. The Rocky Mountain Reaper 24 offered an incredible ride and unmatched upgradability. “It pulls cues from the adultsized bikes and is ready to rip on local singletrack and perform in the bike park too,” says Burris.

The Reaper 24 comes with an aluminum frame that weighs a kid-friendly 27.7

KIDS BIKES LIKE THE REAPER ARE OUTFITTED WITH HIGH-QUALITY COMPONENTS LIKE THOSE FOUND ON ADULT BIKES. PHOTO BY ANDREAS HESTLER

R O C K Y M O U N TA I N REAPER 24

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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Whitewater, Fishing, & Recreational Kayaks

Miles and Miles of Pure Nature

Rental Kayaks & SUPs

—Warren County, Pennsylvania—

PFDs, Paddles, & Helmets Outdoor Shoes & Apparel

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What do we have in Warren County, Pennsylvania that you do not have where you live?

Allow us to answer a question with a question: what do you want in an outdoor recreation vacation? Visitors and locals alike love to go hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking, camping, four-wheeling, golfing, snowmobiling, walking, shopping, wining and dining, birding and learning. Finally, if one needs yet another reason to visit, we have it for them—how about just relaxing? Many cities in the U.S. are full of noise… distractions…confusion…chaos. We don’t allow those things here, and we welcome visitors to leave those negatives behind and welcome our positives into their world.

Sometimes they want to stay forever. That feeling is allowed and encouraged. We aim to please around here.

We don’t like to brag (we are about to brag anyways) but we have the 2017 Pennsylvania River of the Year running right through our county. It’s the Allegheny River, and as the saying goes…it’s real, and it’s spectacular!! Would you believe us if we told you we have two Pennsylvania Rivers of the Year? We also boast the 2015 River of the Year: It’s the Conewango Creek!! If you are looking for a slower paddle or float, then the Conewango Creek is your best option. Want to pick up the pace and get out into more wide-open space? Then by all means get out on the Allegheny River.

We have more than two rivers around here. Depending on CDC restrictions and travel restrictions of course, we plan on celebrating the Kinzua Country Tango Race (fitness racers, Google it…trust us!); The Pennsylvania State Championship Fishing Tournament in Tidioute, PA; Johnny Appleseed Festival in Sheffield, PA; The Kinzua Heritage Festival in Russell, PA; The Warren County Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning; The Fourth of July Parade; and yes, in case you were wondering, we’ve heard that the Warren County Fair in Pittsfield, PA is on pace to return in 2021 for a week in August.

Which season is the best season to visit Warren County? All four of them, of course.

Check out the calendar at wcvb.net throughout the year so you can pick a time to visit based upon your preferences. A frosty white blanket is available many winter days, while fall foliage lights up our hillsides every October. The summers? Well…they speak for themselves. Come see us soon.

814-726-1222 | info@wcvb.net 22045 U.S. Route 6 | Warren, PA 16365 52

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

FAYETTEVILLE, WV

ACEADVENTUREGEAR.COM 304-574-1900

PHOTO BY ANDREAS HESTLER

pounds. Suspension is provided by a 120mm Suntour Raidon 32 LORD’S fork and 130mm Rockshox Monarch R in back. A 1×10 Shimano Deore series drivetrain gets the bike rolling, while Shimano MT201 brakes on 180mm rotors bring ample stopping power.

Better still, the Reaper “is built to also accommodate 26-inch tires when the time comes,” says Burris. Swapping forks will let you take it up to a 27.5 in front.

Further versatility can be had by mixing wheels.

For instance, a growing rider can gain some clearance without sacrificing standover comfort by running a 26-inch wheel in front and 24 in back. Rocky Mountain’s adjustable RIDE-9 system is used to mitigate geometry changes related to switching wheels.

Taking the bike for a spin at the Bryce Resort Bike Park brought astounding improvements.

Zoe’s confidence soared higher with each trip down the mountain. She’d always been a somewhat timid rider—but those tendencies evaporated fast.

By our third run she was surfing berms, slaloming along switchbacks, tearing through optional rock gardens, pushing the envelope on tabletops, and hitting every reasonable drop in sight. The change was marked: This was a different rider. Her outsized enthusiasm made me wish we’d upgraded sooner.

“Dad, I love this bike,” exclaimed Zoe, clapping her hands and bouncing as we rode the chairlift up the mountain. “I feel like I can do anything.”

SHOP AROUND Rocky Mountain isn’t the only company building full-suspension bikes for young shredders. Booming interest and participation over the past few years has inspired more builders to enter the market—and brought a slew of great options. Below are three of our favorites.

Kona Process 24 When Kona started building full-suspension kids’ bikes in 2003, it was one of the only major companies in the game. The Process 24 draws on everything they’ve learned since.

Riders get an excellent suspension system with a 100mm RockShox rear shock and 120mm Manitou Machete J Unit fork. While not exactly superb for hucking, that combines with a 67-degree head angle for easier climbing and more comfortable pedaling.

That’s great for all-mountain-oriented kids who want to explore more than just jump trails.

Shimano Deore series brakes are paired with 180mm rotors in the front and back. A 10-speed 1x drivetrain, also courtesy of Shimano, powers the pedals. Beefier Kenda Kinetics 24 x 2.35-inch tires offer more forgiveness in the dirt. There’s also a 24-ounce bottle mount inside the front triangle to help your little one stay hydrated. (Price: $2,099)

TM

Yuto Hirkai ’20, Japan Photo: VAHSMTB

At Blue Ridge School, we are experts in how boys learn best.

The result is a college prep program that guides boys to reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond. Our 750-acre campus at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is home to a renowned Outdoor Program that fosters a respect for nature and leadership skills that last a lifetime.

MILES OF

TRAILS

ALL BOYS. ALL BOARDING. ALL COLLEGE BOUND. BLUERIDGESCHOOL.COM

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

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NORCO Fluid FS 2 24

Essentially a scaled-down, kiddie version of Norco’s Optic series aimed at riders aged 9-12, this is a sweet little hucker billed as a “progressive, aggressive trail bike designed for youngsters to tackle a wide range of demanding trails with confidence and capability.”

Expect a low standover height, longer reach, 64.5-degree head angle, and a suspension system tuned for riders under 90 pounds. Weight clocks in a bit heavy at 29 pounds.

The 6061 aluminum frame features 120mm of X-Fusion 02 Pro rear suspension matched to a Manitou J-Unit Expert Air 145mm fork. Stopping power comes from Tektro HD-M276 hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors up front to nix chances of overheating. A Shimano Deore 1x11 drivetrain is paired with Vee Rubber Crown Gem 24 x 2.25-inch tires. A 100mm dropper seatpost puts the icing on the cake.

(Price: $1,899)

position with equalized weight over both wheels for a safer ride and stable, confident cornering.” That translates to a kid-optimized suspension system and dropper post, extra low standover height, shorter head tube, slack head angle (65.7 degrees), and a slightly lower bottom bracket.

An X-Fusion Slant RC 140mm fork and R shock with 130mm of travel in the back make for a plush and park-capable ride. A Syncros 80mm dropper post creates a lower center of gravity when descending,

while Kenda Hellkat 24 x 2.4-inch tires offer ample grip. Shimano Deore series brakes with 180mm front rotors and 160mm in the back slow things down. A Shimano Deore 1x11 drivetrain geared around a 11-51t cassette boosts climbing capability.

Our only complaint is weight: At 29.8 pounds, the 400 could be heavy for some riders. (Price: $1,699)

NORCO FLUID FS 2 24

Scott Ransom 400

This 24-inch junior enduro bike caters to kids with a jones for blisteringly technical downhill descents. Geometry adjusting flip-chips mean you can upgrade to 26-inch tires and keep growing riders in the saddle longer.

It's modeled after the aggressive adult Ransom series, but with kid-friendly design features that “support a balanced

HIT THE

Trails Whether you just lost your training wheels, or you’ve been counting your pedal revolutions for years, our terrain offers routes and trails for every rider. Explore downtown streetscapes or hit the mountain bike trails in State and local parks. Cool off with a craft beverage at dozens of breweries, distilleries and wineries. Pick up the pace and explore Frederick County on two wheels. visitfrederick.org • 800-999-3613

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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JOB BOARD

PERSONAL ENVIRONMENT

HOMEGROWN BUSINESS Carrington Kernodle offers a realistic path to sustainable living.

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

FROM A YOUNG AGE, CARRINGTON

Kernodle was interested in identifying the elements of the world around her home. Growing up in the countryside of Danville, Va., Kernodle (she/they) spent most of her days outside, camping, picking up earthworms so she could feel the tickle as they made their way across her hand, and reveling in the fresh air. It was Kernodle’s mother who fed her innate curiosity by buying plant, bug, and animal encyclopedias.

“Anything I was ever interested in identifying, I could see it and then go look into every aspect of it,” Kernodle said. “I am who I am because of her.”

These early experiences form the foundation of their business, Parts Homegrown with Carrington.

Encompassing everything from sustainability practices and vegan recipes to houseplant house calls and mindfulness classes, they aim to provide a wealth of resources for people to live sustainably within their means. In order to do that, Kernodle says, people must first try to understand their own place in the world. “You can’t advocate for people to care about climate change, animals, or people’s well-being if they don’t develop some kind of sense of connection to that,” they said.

“I try to give people as many examples of how to build that connection.”

Kernodle builds these relationships through her understanding of the ecology where she lives in Virginia. On walks she keeps an eye out for things like oak trees. Understanding the symbiotic relationship between trees and fungi, she knows other items of interest, like chanterelles, may be

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

growing nearby. “So when it rains in the next couple of days, we’re going to go outside and check to see what mushrooms are growing because we’re going to eat pasta this weekend,” Kernodle said.

“That type of understanding of the land that you live on is invaluable.”

Whether it’s mushrooms or wild berries, being able to identify a species and know what’s not toxic for humans is a rewarding experience. “I bring it home and really think about how connected all of that is, and how beautiful it is that I get to eat that,” Kernodle added. “I feel like a true earthling when I’m eating strictly from

K E R N O D L E U S E D A M I L K C R AT E T O G R O W M U S H R O O M S AT H O M E , O N E O F H E R F AV O R I T E THINGS TO FORAGE FOR ON HIKES. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KERNODLE

the earth. I’m going to learn every single flora and fauna that’s found in Virginia if it’s the last thing I do.”

This approach applies to more than foraging for food. “Nothing is more symbiotic or full life cycle than being able to understand the changing of seasons,” Kernodle said. “It’s a full moon? That means the water is going to be really high when we go over by the reservoir so we need to be mindful of that swamp and wear our good boots.”

For Kernodle, understanding the ways in which an environment changes over time creates a fuller experience.

To Each Their Own

Finding ways to create a sustainable life is a different process for all of Kernodle’s clients and followers.

“There’s no sense in me trying to force down people’s throats a very strict dogma of how to do any of this,” she said.

Oftentimes, they recommend starting at home. “When you are really allowed to flourish at home— whether that’s a physical space, your environment, or our bodies—if you pour a lot into that, then it’s going to come out much stronger, healthier, and full of love,” they said. “If you can take care of yourself and you’re aware of your impact, you are much more inclined to nurture everything else that exists on this earth.”

In a society where sustainability has been commodified to the point where it is financially unrealistic for many, Kernodle points to families growing up in lower socioeconomic households as evidence that lifestyle choices don’t have to fit current trends to be good for the environment. “People in those groups are more sustainable by default because that was a means for survival,” they said. “Everything is being reused and eaten. The leftovers are in the Country Crock butter container. It isn’t some fancy glass bamboo top container.” Nothing is wasted because everything costs money.

Kernodle’s advice? Start small and work your way up to big changes.

“There‘s just so many little things that will go a really long way,” she said. “Maybe you can’t eat plants all the time but you could eat plants all day until dinner. That’s a pretty solid effort. You can say I’m not going to buy organic cotton sheets but I’m going to make sure the sheets I do buy last me a few years. There’s a lot of ways sustainability can show up.”

It also means doing things that make you happy, like spending more time outside paying attention to the relationships happening all around you.

Don’t like being outside due to bugs, heat, or fear? Consider bringing plants into your home and learning how to take care of them. “It teaches you a lot,” Kernodle said. “You can’t force plants to grow, so it helps me understand patience and being okay with watching the slow growth and change that happens.”

At the end of the day, Kernodle reminds us that it’s all a learning process. “It’s fine if it doesn’t work the first time,” they said. “Give yourself grace when it comes to gardening because there are some things that are just beyond our capabilities and you just accept it.”

Cacapon Resort State Park

Combining endless opportunities for outdoor adventure and vibrant, small town charm, Berkeley Springs offers an experience truly like no other.

This fall, go horseback riding at Cacapon Resort State Park, bike competition-level mountain trails, or take a float down the river. Then, hit the town so you can explore a thriving art community, relax at their natural springs and shop at one-of-a-kind boutiques. Find your own slice of Almost Heaven when you travel Berkeley Springs.

WVtourism.com/BerkeleySprings

The Great Appalachian Road trip call for a free Trip guide heartofappalachia.com

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276-762-0011

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

THE GOODS

PEDAL ON CANNONDALE SUPER SIX EVO SE

BROMPTON ELECTRIC FOLDING BIKE

LIV DEVOTE ADVANCED

RIDE IT OUT Fall cycling season is in full swing. So dig into our top picks for the best gravel, mountain, and commuting bikes and gear.

B Y D O U G S C H N I T Z S PA H N

Cannondale Super Six EVO SE

Ready to up your gravel game? Cannodale’s brand new ride melds the best features of its SuperX and EVO to create one responsive gravel race bike.

The Super Six EVO SE sports the performance of a race bike with a carbon frame and slick aerodynamics but it’s got the beef for dirt with high enough clearance to run 45mm tires and short chainstays to eat up gritty climbs. It’s the machine you want if you are eying the podium. $5,000; cannondale.com

Liv

Devote Advanced

Women-specific bike brand Liv continues to impress us with this series of gravel grinders that can handle everything from racing to bikepacking adventures. The advanced-grade composite frame and fork feature female geometry that allow for all-day riding and precise handling on gnarly roads.

Plus, internal cable routing protects componentry from dust and grit, and it has the clearance to run big 45c tires. $2,650–$6,150; liv-cycling.com

Brompton

Electric Folding Bike

Meet the perfect ride for commuting and travel. This nifty cycle—available in three or six speeds—combines the versatility of a folding rig with the power of an ebike— meaning you can stash it in the office and not have to worry about sweating out your work clothes. It features three levels of pedal assist and an app helps you control and monitor all your activity

through your phone. It’s ideal for anyone who lives in a small apartment. $3,499; us.brompton.com

CHARGE BIKES CHARGE XC

GT

Sensor Sport

Want to get into mountain biking but frustrated by low-end bikes that make the ride miserable or highend machines that are far beyond your budget?

Here’s a reasonably priced mountain bike that gives you the on-trail performance of a far spendier ride. RockShox suspension and a Shimano drive train impart the 29er with some guts when you hit the singletrack, and the alloy frame can take a beating out there. $2,350; gtbicycles.com

GT SENSOR SPORT

Charge Bikes Charge XC

Here’s an ebike with a sane price tag that has the mojo to tackle errands around town, commuting, and joy rides on the pavement and dirt paths.

Weighing in at 55 pounds (with battery) and able to ride 50 miles per charge with pedal assist speeds up to SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

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20 mph, it features folding handlebars for storage and integrated lights, racks, and fenders, and it can even bomb some easy singletrack if the mood strikes you. $2,499; chargebikes.com

Küat

Piston Pro X

Küat’s latest rack is a triumph of innovation. The brand took all it learned from 12 years of building racks to perfect this beauty that can be operated with one tap and does not contact the bike frame to hold it secure. It’s adaptable for a wide range of bike sizes and Küat specifically worked to keep it wobble-free. Best of all the metal is impervious to the abuse of road salt. $1,389; kuat.com

Anamoly

Performance MTB Shoe

This Kickstarter campaign impressed us with a rethinking of the flat pedal bike shoe. The key is the brand’s Hero Rubber compound, which sticks like

clip pedals, partnered with the style of a skate shoe.

Anamoly has also started offering wide sizes, one of the few bike brands to accommodate those of us with big flippers. $159 (low top), $159 (high top); bit. ly/3t1x6T9

Sweet Protection Trailblazer MIPS

Offering a slick style with an adjustable visor and MIPS protection to minimize the brain sloshing against the skull upon impact that causes a concussion, the Trailblazer keeps you safe and looking good on the trail. But don’t just take it from us: The Virginia Tech Biomechanics Helmet Lab rated this brain bucket as the best of more than 120 helmets it tested. $180; sweetprotection.com

KÜAT PISTON PRO X

SWEET PROTECTION TRAILBLAZER MIPS

Recover Brands Sport Tee

Built from plastic bottles this performance tee does not feel like something you’d toss into the recycle bin. It’s soft

ANAMOLY PERFORMANCE MTB SHOE

RECOVER BRANDS SPORT TEE

WVtourism.com/NCHA

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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PEARL IZUMI WOMEN’S EXPEDITION THERMAL JERSEY

SKRATCH LABS SPORT CRISPY RICE CAKE

to the touch, wicks sweat and stink, and regulates temperature whether you are grinding it out in the heat or facing a chill breeze. All that adds up to the perfect mountain bike shirt that can pull double duty if you are hiking or running, too. $25; recoverbrands.com

Pearl Izumi GREGORY DRIFT 10

Women’s Expedition Thermal Jersey

Cooler fall and winter temperatures shouldn’t cut down your ride time, but you do need to dress for the weather. The solution? This fleece sweater that won’t cramp your style in the saddle but will keep your core cozy when the cold takes hold. $130; pearlizumi.com

Gregory Drift 10

SHIMANO DURA-ACE R9200

With plenty of stash space to haul layers and food on long rides and a 3-liter hydration bladder, this pack will become your best friend this fall whether you are hitting the singletrack or the gravel. An adjustable hip belt keeps it secure when you are bombing downhills or

GET COZY Soft and comfy Blue Ridge Outdoors sweatshirts and tees are the fall layers you need.

SummitGeneral.Store

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

Get Cozy.

navigating tricky climbs. $120; gregorypacks.com

Skratch Labs

Sport Crispy Rice Cake

Who doesn’t enjoy a good treat on the trail? How about a goody that will improve your performance? Skratch Labs created these treats with brown rice, wild rice, red rice, and quinoa and they hit you with 180 calories from a blend of complex and simple carbohydrates that won’t let you bonk on a tough pull. And don’t worry about your restrictions: They’re gluten-free, peanut-free, dairy-free, and nonGMO. $2.45; skratchlabs.com

Shimano

DURA-ACE R9200

Don’t worry road riders. We didn’t forget about you. Shimano’s brand new road componentry packages are going to get you excited to put down some serious miles this autumn. Featuring 12-speeds and wireless shifting, these sleek, light upgrades that just dropped this month are going to have you rebuilding your bike. Check them out at shimano.com.

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THE OUT AND BACK

AGING

M E L L O W FA M I LY R I D E S C A N B E A N I C E S U B S T I T U T E F O R W H I S K E YFUELED ADVENTURES. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR

CHANGES Facing the Strange Days of Getting Older B Y G R A H A M AV E R I L L

EVOLUTION SUCKS. NOT THE SCIENTIFIC

theory that helps explain life as we know it, but personal evolution.

Growing up. Maturing. It sucks. For the most part, I’ve managed to avoid it. Sure, I look like a mature adult from the outside (note the very serious, very gray beard), but I basically still like to do the same things I did when I was a kid. Play in the woods, ride my bike…

Ask me what my favorite band is and I’ll give you the same answer I would’ve given you 30 years ago: the Beastie Boys. Favorite TV show? “Seinfeld.” It’s as if I’m stuck emotionally in the 90s.

It’s probably why I’m so fond of flannel.

I don’t think I’m alone in my resistance to change. I’m just generalizing here, but men seem to be particularly averse to change, particularly middle-aged men, who are known mostly for complaining about our kids’ taste in music and reminiscing about the good old days when you didn’t have to wear seatbelts.

I’ve been thinking about change recently, because I’m going through a very painful, life-altering transformation: Whiskey Wednesday is dying. Whiskey Wednesday is the midweek respite from adulthood and responsibility that I’ve been involved with for more than a decade. Once a week, a bunch of dads gather to ski or ride bikes, depending on the season, and then we drink whiskey and beer. It sounds like your typical weekly ride, but Whiskey Wednesday had a special sauce that took an ordinary outing into extraordinary territory. There were foot races against hipsters from Kentucky.

There was the time we got the entire ski mountain to take their shirts off and do a lap topless. We were thrown out of some bars and begged to come back to others. Whiskey Wednesday sent people to the hospital. A good Whiskey Wednesday would put me out of commission for the following 48 hours.

Thursday and most of Friday were recovery days.

For the better part of a decade, Whiskey Wednesday held a group of disparate fathers from different backgrounds together. Yes, it drove our wives crazy, but I’d argue that midweek revelry made us better husbands and fathers.

And now it’s over. The beauty of Whiskey Wednesday was its consistency. We participated every week, regardless of how much work we had to do on Thursday, or whether there was a Little League baseball practice on Wednesday that we had to coach. We shaped our schedules around that weekly respite. At least, we used to. We haven’t had a proper Whiskey Wednesday in months, and if I’m being honest, we haven’t had a really great turnout in a few years now.

Attendance is better during the winter, but even then, we’ll only manage to get a few skiers and boarders out on the hill midweek. It’s fun, but it doesn’t have the energy that it used to have when we would end the night singing karaoke at the only bar on the edge of the county line.

I could blame the pandemic for our lack of Whiskey Wednesday attendance, but honestly, we’ve just

outgrown it. A few of my friends don’t even ride bikes anymore. They’ve bought motorcycles and leather jackets. I guess that’s what you do when you get older. You trade in your pedal bike for a motor bike.

Naturally, I’ve been resisting this evolution. What’s life without Whiskey Wednesday? How will I break up the monotony of adulthood if I don’t ride bikes/ski mountains and drink with my peers once a week? It’s depressing, like losing a loved one. I guess I could try to find some new friends who are younger that want to ride bikes and drink beer with me, but that’s even sadder. I’d be like Wooderson, Mathew McConaughey’s character in “Dazed and Confused,” some sort of creepy Peter Pan who needs to surround himself with youth to feel vital. Alright, alright, alright.

No, the best thing to do is accept that I’ve aged out of my Whiskey Wednesday shenanigans and move on. Start the next chapter of my life. Maybe I’ll start a lawn bowling league.

No, the best thing to do is accept that I’ve aged out of my Whiskey Wednesday shenanigans and move on.

Start the next chapter of my life. Maybe I’ll start a lawn bowling league.

But then something cool happened last week. My nephew turned six and got a mountain bike for his birthday,

and he asked me and my kids to ride bikes with him at our local bike park.

So, on a Thursday evening, I found myself riding mountain bikes with my kids and nephew and brother-in-law, who happens to be a founding father of Whiskey Wednesday. We rode for a couple of hours, hitting jumps and trails and pump tracks. We pushed each other to ride more technical terrain and get more air on table tops.

I brought a grill and some watermelon and whipped up some hot dogs. My brother-in-law brought some beers and Gatorades. We rode until we were tired and then we hung out behind my truck on the edge of the pump track and told stories about our ride.

Nobody took their shirt off in the snow and we didn’t hit karaoke afterwards (my nephew has an 8pm bedtime), but it felt good.

It hit me as I watched my son and my nephew build a small kicker near the truck while waiting for the grill to heat up, that this could be the next chapter in my life. I might be too old to participate in Whiskey Wednesday, but someone needs to teach the next generation about the importance of the midweek ritual. It’s like how a professional athlete becomes a coach after his competitive career is over.

The sun might be setting on my own WW career, but I have the opportunity to mold the next generation of Whiskey Wednesdayers. Coach Graham. I like the sound of that. I’m gonna need a whistle and some tight gym shorts. Maybe evolution isn’t so bad after all.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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TRAIL MIX

FRESH TRACKS

OUR FAVORITE NEW TUNES FOR FALL Open your ears to Trail Mix, our monthly playlist of new music, mainly focusing on independent artists from the South. In September we’re highlighting new tunes from Brandi Carlile and Jose Gonzalez; plus the longawaited new bluegrass album from Bela Fleck.

B Y J E D D F E R R I S A N D D AV E S T A L L A R D

BELA FLECK

“Charm” — When banjomeister Bela

CHRIS ACKER RELEASED HIS NEW ALBUM, “ODD, O R D I N A R Y, & O T H E R W I S E , ” I N A U G U S T. P H O T O B Y M AT T H E W S E T L Z E R

Otherwise,” which opens with “Panicked and Paralyzed,” a wry lament of modern times anxiety that’s delivered through a vintage cosmic country groove. —J.F. BRANDI CARLILE

“Right on Time”—

CHRIS ACKER

Following her Grammywinning album, “By the Way I Forgive You,” Brandi Carlile will release her highly anticipated next effort, “In These Silent Days,” on October 1. The record once again finds Carlile working with producers Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings, who helped her channel the emotional depth of idols like Elton John and Joni Mitchell.

The influences are evident in lead single “Right on Time,” which swells from a moody piano backdrop to a dramatic rock crescendo as Carlile’s soaring voice makes a raw and honest plea for genuine understanding. —J.F.

“Panicked and Paralyzed” — Fans of

CHRISTOPHER PAUL STELLING

AMERICAN AQUARIUM

“John Deere Green” — American

Aquarium pay tribute to the late Joe Diffie, the country star who passed away from Covid-19 last year, with a rollicking cover of his mainstay hit. The track comes from the North Carolina band’s fun compilation of 90s country covers called “Slappers, Bangers & Certified Twangers, Vol. 1,” the first release on AA front man B.J. Barham’s new independent label Losing Side Records. —J.F.

witty tunesmiths like John Prine and Todd Snider should give a listen to the songs of Chris Acker. In late August, the New Orleans-based folk singer released the new album, “Odd, Ordinary, &

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

“WWYLLYD” — The notion of

universal suffering might be a bit of a buzzkill, but when you are down and out, and it seems like the world is

dumping on you alone, it can serve as a helpful reminder that life’s burdens are meant to be shared. Christopher Paul Stelling extends that very message on “WWYLLYD,” a Dylan-esque ode to the weary and downtrodden that calls us all to look outward, not inward, during times of crisis, because we are muddling through this thing called life together. —D.S. HEARTLESS BASTARDS

this month, the North Carolina college rockers, who rose to stardom in the mid90s, drop their first album of new tunes in over 20 years. “Stars” has the band at the height of its game. The understated acoustic intro and Doug MacMillan’s somber vocals build to a crescendo of guitar, trumpet, and keys, juxtaposing the song’s decidedly contemplative nature with an expressive, optimistic tempo. —D.S.

“How Low”—

JOSE GONZALEZ

Heartless Bastards are returning with their first album in five years, releasing “A Beautiful Life” on September 10. The lead single, “How Low,” has an easy-going soulful groove, but dig into the lyrics and you’ll hear front woman Erika Wennerstrom calling for an end to self-centered societal discord. It’s an airy, love-thy-neighbor anthem—a new direction for a band known for gritty, roots-influenced garage rock —J.F. THE CONNELLS

“Stars” — Finally, the Connells have returned with new music. With the release of “Steadman’s Wake” later

“Head On” — Singer-songwriter Jose

Gonzalez is nothing if not subtle. On “Head On,” the recent single from his new release, “Local Valley,” Gonzalez implores listeners to approach life’s challenges, as the title suggests, head on. Over dreamy Spanish guitar, Gonzalez issues a call to arms, singing of meeting adversity with firmness, to doubt less, and trust and act more.

Gonzalez’s lyrics resonate on multiple levels, especially as we weather a modernity where technological advances and societal fractures have us living together alone. —D.S. To hear these songs and more, follow the Blue Ridge Outdoors’ Trail Mix playlist on Spotify.

BRANDI CARLILE PHOTO BY NEIL KRUG

Fleck says he is releasing his first bluegrass album in two decades, you can only sorta believe him. Fleck has bent banjo strings around more musical genres than any player in the instrument’s history, and “Charm,” the first single from his new album, “My Bluegrass Heart,” is bluegrass at its core, but it wanders, exactly as you expect a Fleck composition should.

Billy Strings, a rising star on guitar, and mandolin titan Chris Thile trade prodigious licks with Fleck on this eightminute bluegrass-y acoustic opus. —D.S.

TAKE ON MOTHER NATURE TOUR

3 Days // 13 Stops

ARE YOU STRONGER

THAN YOUR LEGS GIVE YOU CREDIT?

Find yourself here The mountains are yours to explore here in Patrick County. Take on 16 miles of championship mountain bike trails or hike Rock Castle Gorge. Stroll through the vineyards or cruise on the Blue Ridge Parkway. From the rugged outdoors to 5-Star luxury, there is so much to discover here. visitpatrickcounty.org Visit the Patrick County Visitors Center at 126 N. Main St, Stuart, VA

Mountain bikers are fickle folks. We obsess about soil conditions, tire pressure, preload tokens, seat stay angles, fork oil weight, hops varieties, and International Bitterness Units. Luckily, there is a place that’s equally fanatical about getting everything just right: the shape of a berm, the execution of a tail whip, the angle of a double, and the chunkiness of a rock garden. And while hosting a few Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cups over the years has led to some international clout, we will always proudly retain our local character. Welcome to Snowshoe’s Bike Park.

RIDE.SNOWSHOEMTN.COM