Blue Ridge Outdoors November 2020

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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

NOVEMBER 2020

17 | QUICK HITS

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

How the war on Asian carp, an invasive species pervasive in the Southeast, could falter due to COVID-19.

E D I TO R I A L & P R O D U C T I O N S E N I O R E D I TO R W I L L H A R L A N will@blueridgeoutdoors.com

41 | THE GOODS

We’ve got gift ideas for the gear lover in your life.

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

KIM DINAN

49 | TRAIL MIX

C O N T R I B U TO R S

Take a listen to the sounds of emerging artists from the Blue Ridge and beyond.

G R A H A M AV E R I L L NICK CARTER M A R K P OW E L L

50 | EXPLORE

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

An avid whitewater boater appreciates the calm seclusion of a Low Country creek.

ADVERTISING & BUSINESS T RAVE L G U ID E : SP E CIA L A DV E RTI SING SE CTIO N

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

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25 | GO OUTSIDE & PLAY

AC C O U N T E X E C U T I V E H A N N A H C O O P E R hcooper@blueridgeoutdoors.com

Use these 11 adventure-packed travel itineraries to help plan your next getaway in the Blue Ridge.

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 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

F E AT U R E S

D I G I TA L M E D I A

07 | Q&A WITH JORDAN JONAS

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

BRO chats with the winner of reality TV series Alone about surviving 77 solo days in the Arctic and living in Virginia.

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

12 | TOP ADVENTURE TOWNS

For the 10th straight year, our readers selected the best outdoor hubs in the Blue Ridge.

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

SUMMIT

18 | COLD-WEATHER CASTING

PUBLISHING

The chilly months at the end of the year offer new opportunities for trout fishing.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF HOUDINI

D O U G S C H N I T Z S PA H N E R I C J. WA L L AC E MIKE BEZEMEK

A D V E N T U R E O P P O R T U N I T I E S A B O U N D I N C H A R L O T T E S V I L L E , VA . , T H E T O P MEDIUM-SIZE TOWN WINNER OF THE 2020 BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS' TOP A D V E N T U R E T O W N S C O N T E S T. P H O T O B Y R O B E R T R A D I F E R A

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

O U T D O O R N E W S E D I TO R

ON THE COVER

34 | FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE

Prescribed burns are used throughout the Southeast to manage vegetation and restore habitat.

39 | HIGHER LEARNING

A visit to an outdoor school in the Tennessee mountains gives an avid explorer new perspective on adventure.

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46 | SKIING DURING A PANDEMIC With COVID-19 cases still rising, find out what resorts are doing to make slopes safer.

ANTIC TAILGATING.

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77 Days Alone in the Arctic Q & A W I T H J O R DA N J O N AS , W I N N E R OF THE TV SERIES A LO N E

BY WILL HARLAN

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e was left in the Arctic with only a few tools to survive the winter.

How long did he last?

If you’re looking for a bingeworthy show set in the outdoors, Alone strips reality TV to its most primal: 10 people are dropped off in the wilderness with only a backpack

and a camera—and an emergency satellite phone to call when they are ready to quit. Whoever survives the longest wins.

The competition always takes place in some of the wildest and coldest places on the planet— including Canada, Patagonia, and the Arctic. Not surprisingly, many of the competitors hail from northern climes.

But one of its most recent winners was from Southern Appalachia.

Jordan Jonas of Lynchburg, Va., won season 6 of Alone—outlasting military survivalists, world-class hunters, and primitive skills professionals. Key to his success was shooting a 900-pound moose with a bow and arrow—the first person to ever take down a large animal on the show (Jonas later had to kill a wolverine with an axe when it raided his moose meat). Perhaps equally important, however, was Jonas’s sense of humor, enabling him to stay mentally upbeat for 77 days alone in the Arctic.

The 37-year-old has returned to Lynchburg, where he lives with his wife and two kids and leads primitive skills classes. BRO talked to Jonas after taking home the $500,000 prize.

BRO: Your experiences with the indigenous Evenki people—reindeer herders in Siberia—seemed really important in preparing you for your successes in the Arctic. How did you end up spending time with the Evenki and what did you learn from them?

JONAS NOW RESIDES IN VIRGINIA AND OFFERS W I L D E R N E S S S U R V I VA L T R A I N I N G C O U R S E S . P H O T O COURTESY OF RACHEL JONAS

How did you end up in Lynchburg, Va.?

After traveling around the country, I settled in Lynchburg due to some work opportunities and the inexpensive housing. We and our friends were able to afford a home without taking on heaps of debt, and many interesting folks were able to move to the area.

JJ: I met up with the Evenki after Southern Appalachia is a traveling to Russia to help a particularly good place to learn to missionary friend build an orphanage. hunt. The abundance of game and the The folks I lived with in Russia had need to control animal populations been to prison with an Evenk and they means that you can create became very close. Eventually they opportunities much more often and introduced me and from there a new thus learn much quicker. Out West, path opened. you may only get one shot a year at an I learned a lot of practical survival animal with a bow. Here there are a lot skills from the Evenki. Of course they more opportunities. Hopefully we can live in the forest every day, so they make it an even better place to learn have separated the wheat from the by creating some interesting survival chaff quite well as far as skills go. courses as we move forward.

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First on the list is my beautiful wife, who more than anyone, took on the day-to-day grind of having her husband gone for an unknown amount of time while she dealt with two toddlers and the gauntlet of issues that arose in my absence. Trusting her strength allowed me to stay worryfree as long as necessary. My family, brothers, sister, mom, and many close friends and supportive community were there, too, so I knew I could focus on the task before me without anxiety.

Also constantly with me out there was the thought of my dad.

Although he passed years ago, he showed me through example how to bear indescribable hardships with an air of joy and gratitude that is a lesson impossible to teach except through example. We all will face suffering on some level, but having been shown how to navigate that with steadfastness and a constantly developing character is invaluable.

How did you meet your wife? You give her immense credit in your success on Alone. How did you manage missing her and your family while in the Arctic? Did you try to block out too much thinking about them, or did you accept the circumstances and the long separation?

We met at a wedding in Toronto of all places. She had spent a couple years living in China, and I in Siberia, so we hit it off discussing that (and the Gulag Archipelago amongst other things).

I managed missing her by putting faith in the strength of our relationship. I knew we would be back together at some point and pick up right where we left off, so I didn't have to spend extra energy wondering if our relationship would last the trial.

Previously, I had spent several long stints in Russia away from her, so it helped put into perspective the time away, and it gave me the confidence that our relationship would remain healthy.

Can you tell us more about your family history and how that influenced your thoughts and feelings while in the Arctic?

Knowing my family history gave me the invaluable tools of being able to put my own trials into perspective, and also gave me a roadmap for going 8

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

through them with a positive bend.

How can I complain about discomfort when my Assyrian grandmother watched six of her seven siblings die in a genocide in the desert? Or when my grandfather watched his village be burned to the ground with his father trapped inside? Could I freak out at some small misfortune when those two endured so much but were not defined by it, but instead developed into joyful, lifegiving people? They remained focused upwards and proactively worked to make life better for their descendants.

They gifted my dad and 10 other beloved aunts and uncles a life defined by love, hope, and faith—and by doing so granted me the same gift.

If they could endure what they did and come out loving, happy people, how could I not handle a tiny fraction of the stress they went through? I think having that perspective can help to give you gratitude and hope even in turbulent circumstances.

How has your life changed since winning Alone?

It's allowed me to shift out of construction and into survival training and adventuring, a long-needed change of pace. Aside from that, things have remained pretty much the same—though I really should update my wife's 2001 Ford Windstar.

What do you hope your kids and all your fans remember most about you?

Hopefully they can find some useful strategies from my experiences that they can reapply to whatever situations they are facing in their life and become more resilient people able to live life to the fullest. If I can be a part of making their lives a bit fuller, I would be happy.

Do you think primitive skills and indigenous cultures have a place in the modern world?

Definitely nowadays, when we are becoming more and more inundated with distractions and detached from our thoughts, having the ability to reconnect with nature and the natural rhythms of life is invaluable for mental well-being. It is a situation where we don’t even recognize what we have lost—things like community, the pace of life, self-reliance, and depth of thought. Primitive skills and indigenous cultures can really speak into that void.

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Who did you think about most while you were out there?

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 100 NOMINEES, FINALISTS, AND WINNERS OF THE 2020 BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS TOP ADVENTURE TOWNS CONTEST! TINY

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV BLOWING ROCK, NC BRYSON CITY, NC CAPE CHARLES, VA CHEROKEE, NC DAMASCUS, VA DANDRIDGE, TN DAVIS, WV FAYETTEVILLE, WV FLOYD, VA HAYESVILLE, NC HELEN, GA HOT SPRINGS, NC HOT SPRINGS, VA LAKE LURE, NC LANDRUM, SC MARLINTON, WV MARS HILL, NC MCHENRY, MD MONTEREY, VA OLD FORT, NC SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV ST. PAUL, VA SYLVA, NC TOWNSEND, TN

SMALL

ABINGDON, VA BEDFORD, VA BREVARD, NC CLIFTON FORGE, VA ELIZABETHTON, TN ELKIN, NC FRANKLIN, NC HENDERSONVILLE, NC LEONARDTOWN, MD LEWISBURG, WV LEXINGTON, VA LONDON, KY LURAY, VA MARION, NC MATHEWS, VA MOREHEAD, KY NORTON, VA PRESTONSBURG, KY SOMERSET, PA SUMMERSVILLE, WV THURMONT, MD TRAVELERS REST, SC WALHALLA, SC WAYNESVILLE, NC WOODSTOCK, VA

MEDIUM

AUBURN, AL BECKLEY, WV BOONE, NC BOWLING GREEN, KY BRISTOL, VA/TN CHAPEL HILL, NC CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA CUMBERLAND, MD ELIZABETHTOWN, KY EVANS, GA FRANKFORT, KY FREDERICK, MD FREDERICKSBURG, VA GREENVILLE, SC HAGERSTOWN, MD HARRISONBURG, VA JOHNSON CITY, TN MARTINSBURG, WV MORGANTON, NC MORGANTOWN, WV SPARTANBURG, SC STATE COLLEGE, PA WALDORF, MD WINCHESTER, VA WOODSTOCK, GA

LARGE

ALEXANDRIA, VA ARLINGTON, VA ASHEVILLE, NC ATLANTA, GA BALTIMORE, MD BIRMINGHAM, AL CHARLESTON, SC CHARLOTTE, NC CHATTANOOGA, TN CHESAPEAKE, VA COLUMBIA, SC COLUMBUS, GA DURHAM, NC GREENSBORO, NC KNOXVILLE, TN LEXINGTON, KY LOUISVILLE, KY LYNCHBURG, VA MACON, GA PITTSBURGH, PA RALEIGH, NC RICHMOND, VA ROANOKE, VA VIRGINIA BEACH, VA WASHINGTON, DC

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SUMMITGENERAL.STORE NOVEMBER 2020 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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was voted a Top Adventure Town by the readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors. With over 1,000 miles of trails for hiking, biking and paddling, it’s the ultimate destination for your next adventure! Virginia’s Blue Ridge is a reminder

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to us all that there’s still adventure out there.

Still wide open spaces to explore. Enjoy the ride.

Choose your path. Be a #Trailsetter.

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HIKE VIRGINIA’S TRIPLE CROWN

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Virginia has more miles of the Appalachian Trail than any other state, and the Triple Crown in Virginia’s Blue Ridge offers some of the most incredible views along the trail. Check Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs off your hiking bucket list and experience three of our most epic summits.

EXPLORE THE

Roanoke Valley Greenways The Roanoke Valley Greenway system is a 30-mile network of paved paths and trails that connect many neighborhoods and places of interest in the region. The Greenways are bicycle and pedestrian friendly and make for a great way to enjoy the outdoors in Virginia’s Blue Ridge at a relaxing pace with many local restaurants & breweries located nearby.

MOUNTAIN BIKE

at Carvins Cove With over 60 miles of multi-use trails, Carvins Cove is a world-class spot for mountain biking and was named one of the best places for mountain biking in the Southeast by Singletracks. If you’re planning a trip to America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital, you have to spend a day riding at the Cove!

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PADDLE THE

Upper James River Water Trail “Wet” your appetite (pun totally intended) for Virginia paddling on this gorgeous waterway with its cascading falls and rock walls. Consider booking a guided adventure with Twin River Outfitters, which offers multi-day trip options that include waterfront camping and glamping.

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DRIVE THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY – AMERICA’S FAVORITE DRIVE Ready for the ultimate American road trip? The Blue Ridge Parkway is addictive, so beware! It boasts grand views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, cozy picnic spots, overlooks with historical information, access to numerous hiking trails, and surprises around every hairpin turn.

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VISIT

Smith Mountain Lake Pick your spot from 500 miles of beautiful shoreline at Smith Mountain Lake – the Jewel of the Blue Ridge. Fish, camp, picnic, or just relax by the water with the family.

Boat rentals and lodging are available in multiple locations along the lake.

TAKE A TRIP

to Roaring Run For a family-friendly adventure, try an excursion to Roaring Run Recreation Area. Walk along a trail that follows the Roaring Run stream past rock walls and over foot-bridges. You will also find a 19th century, iron ore furnace that was used during the pre-Civil War era. Plan for a relaxing picnic near the breathtaking Roaring Run Falls.

HIKE MILL MOUNTAIN

to the Roanoke Star Doesn’t it sound intriguing? Believe it or not, this trail really does take you to a star – the world’s largest, freestanding man-made one, which overlooks the Roanoke Valley! Start at Mill Mountain’s base and work your way to the summit, where you can check out the Roanoke Star and the views, and also enjoy a family picnic while you’re there.

JOIN THE FUN OF AN

Outdoor Event The calendar is always full of exciting outdoor events in Virginia’s Blue Ridge! Many of our most popular annual events are outdoor related, such as the Roanoke GO Outside Festival in the fall, Blue Ridge Marathon in the spring, and Go Cross Cyclocross Race in the summer. In June 2021, we’ll be celebrating the outdoors with the inaugural Carilion Clinic IRONMAN® 70.3® Virginia’s Blue Ridge! Check out VisitVBR.com/events for more information about upcoming events.

PLAN YOUR NEXT VACATION AT

VisitVBR.com 800.635.5535

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CAMPING & ADVENTURES AT EXPLORE PARK Located at Milepost 114, Roanoke County’s Explore Park is the perfect place to stop during your road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park has a variety of unique lodging options, including pod cabins, yurts, canvas tents, and RV sites. There is also a network of trails for hiking & mountain biking, access to the Roanoke River, and an aerial obstacle course.

TOP ADVENTURE TOWNS R E A D E R S PI C K T H I S Y E A R’ S BE ST O U T D O O R H U BS

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

HIKE SHARP TOP FOR STUNNING V I E W S O F B E D F O R D , VA . P H O T O B Y LEE SANDSTEAD

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F L O Y D , VA . , OFFERS A VA R I E T Y O F BACKROAD BIKING EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING TOUR DE DIRT IN THE FA L L . P H O T O B Y T O N Y G R E AT O R E X

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lthough 2020 was not the year we thought it would be, it offered many of us the opportunity to slow down and fully explore the mountains, waterways, and parks in our Blue Ridge backyards.

With that in mind, we asked our readers to select the region’s best adventure hubs in our 10th annual Top Adventure Towns contest, which featured 100 towns across the MidAtlantic and Southeast competing for the title of best outdoor burg. Week by week, readers narrowed down the choices to pick their top tiny town (population less than 3,000), smalltown (population 3,001-16,000), midsized town (population 16,001-75,000), and large town (population 75,001+).

This year’s winners boast miles of nearby trails, summits, and serene waters, and hold communities passionately prioritizing access to the outdoors.

Top Tiny Town: Floyd, Va. (pop. 428) Tucked away in southwest Virginia, Floyd combines the authentic feel of a quaint country town with a vibrant cultural scene in the Blue Ridge Mountains. “I feel like Floyd is a hidden gem,” said Floyd local Brittany Bonner. “It’s known for bluegrass music, art, and wineries, but there really is so much to do here as far as the outdoors.” To share the area's adventure opportunities, Bonner and her husband opened Buffalo Mountain Adventures, which offers caving and climbing trips and driving tours of the area. “A lot of people

come to Floyd, and they know there are options, but there’s nobody to really guide them,” she said.

Daniel Sowers had a similar idea, but he focused on the Little River, his longtime favorite for floating and fishing. Sowers had a few extra boats, so at first he would invite friends to spend the day out on the water with him. After helping people find put-in spots and set up shuttles, he began to see a potential business opportunity opening up. “Back then, it wasn’t a river scene but it was starting to get bigger,” Sowers said.

With an increasing interest in the river from both locals and visitors, Sowers started On the Water in Floyd in 2008. Now, from fly fishing on nearby streams to cycling the rolling backroads, he’s seeing more visitors come to Floyd for the outdoor opportunities. “During the summer of the first year, we helped 100 people,” he said. “That was a big year. Now, we run 115 people a day [on a busy weekend].”

TOP ADVENTURES

Fly through the trees at Buffalo Mountain Ziplines, one of the tallest and longest tree canopy tours in the area, and drive 40 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, including a stop at Mabry Mill. For hikers visiting the

area, Bonner recommends Buffalo Mountain Natural Area and Rock Castle Gorge for panoramic views of southwest Virginia.

Finalists Helen, Ga. (pop. 524) The Chattahoochee River runs right through Helen, Ga., providing endless opportunities for water play in the tiny mountain town. Raft, kayak, or tube sections of this scenic river, or ride Georgia’s first mountain coaster.

Venture out farther to Unicoi State Park and the Chattahoochee National Forest for miles of mountain biking singletrack, hiking trails lined with waterfalls, and secluded spots for trout fishing. Anna Ruby Falls, a pair of towering, double waterfalls, are a must-see while you’re in the area.

Hot Springs, Va. (pop. 750) When he moved to Hot Springs for his job at the Omni Homestead Resort, John Hess quickly fell in love with the natural beauty of the area. “There are many, many mapped trails around that are not highly traveled,” he said.

“I love that remote feeling when you go out and you don’t hear any traffic.

It seems that everywhere you turn, there’s a gorgeous view right around the corner.”

For hiking, Hess recommends the Cascade Gorge Trail for views of several waterfalls and unusual plant life. Mountain bikers should try Deer Lick Trail for stunning views of the valley and challenging terrain or Fore Mountain for a thrilling 45-minute ride downhill.

Top Small Town: Bedford, Va. (pop. 6,597) After traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway as a kid, Micah Pick decided he wanted to live in a small town in the Blue Ridge one day. As a college student in Virginia, he would explore the area looking for places to hike.

“I drove through Bedford and I said, ‘wow, this place is perfect.’ So I bought a house in town and I’ve been here for eight years,” Pick said. From his front door, he can hike Sharp Top Mountain and be back home in two hours.

Pick’s three children are also hooked on the outdoor opportunities Bedford presents. “Every day of the summer and every Saturday during the school year they say to me, ‘Dad, what’s going to be our adventure today?’ This year, my seven year old hiked up Sharp Top for the first time. It

NOVEMBER 2020 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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Hooker Falls in Dupont State Forest. “We get the world from a different perspective because most of the time when we’re outside we’re not laying on our back and looking up,” she said. “I love allowing yourself to tune into the sounds around you and grounding down to the earth.”

With all of the water in the area, there are countless opportunities to cast a line or paddle. If you prefer to stay on land, the granite plutons provide an abundance of slick rock singletrack mountain biking trails and challenging climbing routes.

THE SAUNDERSMONTICELLO TRAIL IN C H A R L O T T E S V I L L E , VA . , I S A G R E AT WAY F O R T H E W H O L E FA M I LY T O GET OUTSIDE. PHOTO BY S A N J AY S U C H A K

was like a rite of passage, and she was so proud of herself,” Pick said.

Beyond the trails and prime location in the mountains, Bedford has become a top destination in Virginia for disc golf. In 2008, a local group approached the parks and recreation department about building a course at Falling Creek Park, which offered long, open fairways, whereas most courses in Virginia are largely wooded. “A lot of people [started] traveling to Bedford just to play this course because it was so different,” said Kenny Palmer, operations coordinator for the parks and recreation department. “It’s a cheap activity, so it’s something most people can get outside and do.”

Since the opening of the first course, opportunities to play have multiplied.

With the help of pro disc golfer Paul McBeth, who resides in Bedford, there are now four courses in the area with plans to build an additional championship level course in the coming months.

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

TOP ADVENTURES

Bike the hand-built trails at Falling Creek Bike Park, including the dirt jumps, hike the Peaks of Otter off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and get on the water at Smith Mountain Lake. If you have a full day, Pick recommends the Terrapin Mountain hike for a challenging loop within Jefferson National Forest. When he’s with his kids, the Claytor Nature Center is a great stop to walk the trail system by streams, woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Finalists Brevard, N.C. (pop. 7,600) Featuring more than 250 waterfalls, Brevard, N.C., and the surrounding county boasts the highest concentration of waterfalls on the East Coast, from ledge-style falls to tumbling cascades. Demacy MonteParker, a yoga teacher at Brevard Yoga Center and Namaste in Nature, leads a hike and yoga session to

Hendersonville, N.C. (pop.

15,166) When Matt and Leslie Evans saw property for sale on the French Broad River, they decided it would be the perfect place to open a paddling outfitter in Hendersonville, N.C. At the time, it was a relatively unused section of the river in comparison to stretches near Asheville and Brevard. That began to turn around in 2016 when the Evanses opened Lazy Otter Outfitters and the state started putting in public boat ramps. “We went from having almost no easy river access to having wonderful river access with multiple points,” Matt Evans said. “Even on a busy day, you can feel like you have Henderson County’s stretch of the river all to yourself.” The proposed Ecusta Trail, a 19-mile rail trail, is an exciting recreation opportunity in the works to connect parks, communities, and Pisgah National Forest.

Top Medium Town: Charlottesville, Va. (pop. 48,019)

Charlottesville’s location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge offers easy

access to some of the region’s classic scenic gems. Just a half hour’s drive west you can reach the southern terminus of Shenandoah National Park and northern entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway. But when Gabe and Sonya Silver decided to move back to Charlottesville, they wanted to help others tap into the adventure opportunities right in town. So six years ago, they opened Rivanna River Company, a paddling outfitter on the edge of the Rivanna River, right near downtown. “In terms of paddling, mountain biking, trail running, I don’t know that Charlottesville is on the top of everyone’s radar,” Gabe Silver said. “But all of that stuff is available in abundance around here.”

An ever-growing network of trails encircles the city with a mixture of paved greenways and hand-built singletrack. Multiple parks along the Rivanna offer a variety of places to put in and take out a canoe or kayak.

"When you paddle out of town on the Rivanna, you can see bald eagle, catch smallmouth bass, and enjoy some rapids,” Silver said. “It’s all right here.”

In a college town known for its wineries, breweries, and history, the outdoor recreation possibilities are attracting a growing number of visitors and locals. “Interest in the river had been on the rise even before we started,” Silver said. “Having an outfitter in town really put the river on the map as something to do. This year with COVID and quarantine, the lid has come off it. We saw pretty much double the use of the river than ever before this year.”

Erin James and Seth Herman have noticed the increase, too. Since the couple opened High Tor Gear Exchange, they’ve worked with close to 1,500 consignors to resell outdoor apparel and gear. With two kids under the age of four, they said it’s a great town for outdoor families, noting a favorite activity is to pack a picnic and ride the Rivanna Trail to Darden Towe Park. “We could go somewhere different every weekend for a really long time,” James said. “It feels doable. There are a lot of ways to get outside that are within reach.”

TOP ADVENTURES

Pick some apples and watch the sunset from Carter Mountain, ride the rooty network of singletrack at Walnut Creek Park, and explore the beautiful scenery around Ragged Mountain and Ivy Creek natural areas.

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15

Finalists Woodstock, Ga. (pop. 32,234) A chef and avid mountain biker, Justin Balmes has always been drawn to towns with a bustling food and outdoor scene. Woodstock provided the perfect blend of the two. “The green space of Woodstock is just gorgeous with phenomenal trails,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about them.” Blankets Creek and Rope Mill feature miles of fast, flowy singletrack for mountain bikers of all abilities. Balmes’ favorite trails in town are Van Michael, Turbine, and Raceway. You can also walk miles of paved greenway along Noonday Creek or paddle to the parks and creeks off Allatoona Lake.

Boone, N.C. (pop. 17,100) Melissa Weddell moved to Boone for a job with Appalachian State University’s Recreation Management program. The past president of the Boone Area Cyclists said the eight miles of trail, four skills areas, and pump track at Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park has become a go-to hangout spot for the community. “In the past 10 years, it’s changed our total dynamic,” Weddell said. “We’ve all worked together in the community to create different types of outdoor experiences based on comfort level.”

Other favorites include the rocky climbs, ladders, and challenging hiking terrain at Grandfather Mountain, plus some classic East Coast climbing at nearby Ship Rock.

In the winter, locals head to nearby resorts like Appalachian Ski Mountain and Beech Mountain Resort to hit the High Country slopes.

Top Large Town: Roanoke, Va. (pop. 96,000)

In the 24 years since starting as the Roanoke Valley Greenways coordinator, Liz Belcher has worked with a variety of government and nonprofit partners to build more than 30 miles of greenway across the valley. “What really makes Roanoke special in terms of being an adventure town is that no matter where you live, you can drive 15 minutes and get to a trail,” she said. “Or ride your bike for 15 minutes and get to a greenway. There are just so many 16

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

T H E H I K E T O R O A R I N G R U N FA L L S , J U S T O U T S I D E O F R O A N O K E , VA . , F E AT U R E S A T R O U T S T R E A M , N AT U R A L WAT E R S L I D E , A N D R O C K WA L L S . P H O T O B Y S A M D E A N P H O T O G R A P H Y – V I S I T V I R G I N I A’ S B L U E R I D G E

close-to-home opportunities. We are really blessed with public lands.” The paved greenways link downtown and neighborhoods to popular recreation spots like Mill Mountain Park and Carvins Cove.

Although paved trails take a lot of time and money to implement, local residents have come to expect the greenways as everyday amenities.

“It has just become part of their life,” Belcher said. “It’s like if you never lived without public libraries, you can’t imagine not having your library to go get books. People can no longer imagine not having the greenways.

It has allowed the region to build a system that connects not just what the local government owns but the National Forest and Appalachian Trail.”

Having grown up in Roanoke, Holly Hart was shocked when she moved back in 2015 by the amount of recreation infrastructure development that had gone on during the few years she lived out west. “Roanoke is perfectly nestled in the valley of a chain of mountains, like it's surrounding us with a hug,” she said.

“We live in a beautiful valley and are fortunate enough to run into a mountain or a river most any direction you go.”

Hart and her husband own Blue Mountain Adventures, a public/ private partnership with Explore Park to offer camping, shuttles, and gear for beginner and experienced adventurers. “[I] love where I live, which I guess is what has inspired me to be so committed to my small business project here,” Hart said. “It's an opportunity to create, build, and be a part of something that I believe brings good to our community and promotes the outdoors for all.”

TOP ADVENTURES

Float or paddle the James and Roanoke rivers, hike the Appalachian Trail to Virginia’s Triple Crown, and mountain bike at Carvins Cove.

Finalists Chattanooga, Tenn. (pop.

180,000) From hiking and climbing to whitewater rafting and hang gliding, Chattanooga is surrounded by waterways and forests to explore.

Choose from a variety of adventures on the Tennessee River, from standup paddleboarding through downtown to kayaking through the towering cliffs of the gorge. Pack in a full day at Lookout Mountain, including a trip to

the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public, views of seven states, and one of the world’s steepest passenger railways.

Fifteen minutes from downtown, Raccoon Mountain features 30 miles of intermediate and advanced singletrack filled with technical obstacles.

Asheville, N.C. (pop. 92,000) In the mountains of western North Carolina, Asheville sits surrounded by outdoor recreation opportunities.

Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway to a variety of overlooks and hikes, including Craggy Pinnacle and Mount Mitchell State Park. Take a trip on the French Broad River Paddle Trail past the Biltmore Estate, through town, and out to national forest land with several camping spots along the way. Run or bike the trails at Bent Creek Experimental Forest along flowing streams, laurel-rhododendron thickets, and hardwood forests.

Special thanks to River Expeditions for sponsoring the 2020 Top Adventure Towns contest. Please check local guidelines and regulations before making plans to get outside.

Check locations to make sure access is open to the public. Remember to practice social distancing guidelines, wear a mask, and respect others' health when outside.

CastAway BLUE RIDGE STREAMS FOR WINTER TROUT

BY NICK CARTER

I

t may feel a little too cold to cast a line, but the chilly months at the end of the year offer new opportunities for fly fishing. The warm, low-water conditions of the early fall are over.

Trout are rejuvenated by increased flows and cold nights. They are feeding up before hard winter, which makes now a great time to be on the water.

It’s primetime on specially regulated trout waters of the Blue Ridge. These fisheries are intentionally tailored to fly fishing and give anglers a very good reason to brave the cold weather. Delayed harvest (DH) waters around the East carry us through to spring with heavy stockings and catch-and-release, artificial-only regulations. Also, streams with year-round special regulations fish very well when insect abundance wanes and trout are forced to feed opportunistically.

Here’s a look at some of the best special-regulations waters around the region:

Chauga River, South Carolina

There are a handful of really good backcountry trout streams in Upstate South Carolina. Among them is the Chauga River, which features some 20 miles of remote, lightly pressured water known for brown trout.

About an hour and a half west of Greenville, the Chauga flows a ridge east of the well-known Chattooga River. That’s part of what makes the Chauga such a great option during South Carolina’s Nov. 1-May 14 DH season. The Chattooga draws most of the fishing pressure, allowing the Chauga to fly under the radar.

The Chauga fishes just like the Chattooga, only a little smaller, explains Karl Eckberg of Chattooga River Fly Shop. The river’s ledges, drop-offs, deep river-bend holes, and an abundance of riffle water hold rainbows, browns, and brookies.

There are only two access points to the 3-mile DH stretch. And despite a good trail, Ekberg says the middle portion of the specially regulated water hardly gets touched.

Early in the season, freshly stocked trout are suckers for the “big flashy and rubbery stuff,” adds Ekberg.

Load your box with Mop Flies, Y2Ks, Squirmy Worms, and Gummy Worms.

Micro streamers become more important as the season progresses, K A R L E C K B E R G , O F T H E C H AT T O O G A R I V E R F L Y S H O P I N U P S TAT E S O U T H C A R O L I N A , T I G H T- L I N E S A R U N I N T H E D E L AY E D H A R V E S T S E C T I O N O F CHAUGA RIVER. PHOTO BY NICK CARTER

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

but fall and winter also offer hatches of midges, blue-winged olives, and little black stoneflies.

Of course, cool weather is always a great time to hunt for big cagey browns in the South. If you wander out of the DH section, try dredging deep holes with big, heavy streamers and stonefly nymphs.

Go Guided: Karl Ekberg, Chattooga River Fly Shop, Mountain Rest, S.C., (864) 638-2806, chattoogariverflyshop.com.

Nantahala River, North Carolina

There aren’t many places where a gorgeous trout stream exists just a few steps from the road. That’s what you’ll find on the 4-mile DH section of the Nantahala River.

About 20 minutes southeast of Bryson City, Wayah Road hugs the banks of the upper Nantahala, giving no-hassle access to miles of riffles and pocket water, big bridge holes, gorges, and deep plunge pools. It’s a place where anglers can experience the look and feel of a brawling mountain stream without the hike.

There’s one drawback to this situation. Easy access to good fishing

attracts a lot of anglers. On pretty weekends during the October into June DH season, the riverside pullouts fill up with vehicles sporting rod racks and license plates from all over the country. Stocked trout grow wise quickly under all that pressure, which is a challenge some anglers relish.

There are good numbers of standard hatchery-sized rainbows, browns, and brook trout. And big fish are known to stake claim to the best holding water. If spotting and sneaking up on a 20-inch behemoth in shallow water sounds fun, the upper Nantahala is a good place to do it.

For a few days after a stocking, the usual flashy “junk food” flies are effective, but Nantahala fish learn quickly to spot a fake. Fall and winter bring out winter stoneflies, bluewinged olives, midges, and maybe even a few small caddis. Spring ushers in a riot of bug life, which makes for excellent dry fly fishing.

Another advantage of the Nantahala DH is it’s within an easy drive of a whole lot of other good trout water.

Go Guided: Ken Kastorff, Endless River

Adventures, Bryson City, N.C., (828) 488-6199, www. endlessriveradventures.com.

Hatchery Creek, Kentucky

Hatchery Creek warrants inclusion in this list because… well… mainly because it’s really cool.

You wouldn’t know by looking, but this stream south of Jamestown is man-made. Completed in 2016, it’s a mini-tailrace, fed by cold water from Cumberland Lake through the bottom of Wolf Creek Dam. The 1-mile stretch of catch-and-release, artificial-only trout stream is an innovative approach to handling water flushed from Wolf Creek Fish Hatchery. Instead of piping the nutrient-rich water to the nearby Cumberland River or running it through a silty ditch, Kentucky built a trout stream.

And while heavy machinery constructed the streambed, the fish are more organic. Hatchery Creek takes advantage of the much larger Cumberland, which is a world-class tailwater trout fishery.

By design, browns and rainbows from the big river run up Hatchery Creek. The result is a fishery where anglers frequently encounter large river-run fish. It fishes very well during the cool months from October through March.

“The average fish is probably 10 to 16 inches,” said Reidar Crosswell, fishing manager of the Louisville Orvis. “But people catch big fish there all the time. Last time I fished it, I caught several longer than 18 inches.”

Because it was designed, Hatchery Creek has all sorts of trouty habitat, from riffles and runs tailing into slow woody pools to steep descents through series of plunge pools. All of it is wadeable, most of it is fishable from manicured banks, and Crosswell said Euro nymphing with long, lightweight rods is particularly deadly.

He suggests tight-lining multiple nymphs anchored by a big, heavy Pat’s Rubber Legs. Like many streams influenced by hatchery outflow, tiny midges, sow bugs, and scuds thrive in Hatchery Creek. Nymphs from size 16 down to tiny size 22 midge larvae are the ticket. Weight is important to stay in contact with a Euro-nymph rig, so fast-sinking flies like Copper Johns and jig-head patterns like a Pheasant Tail or Duracell work well.

Go Guided: Reidar Crosswell, Louisville Orvis, (502) 425-0198, www.stores.orvis.com/us/ kentucky/louisville.

NOVEMBER 2020 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

19

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

Become a Blue Ridge Outdoors TrailHead for as low as $1 a month North River, Virginia

In the mountains west of Staunton, Virginia, the North River is a stream that changes personality several times. In its headwaters upstream of Elkhorn Lake, the North River is a remote native brook trout stream.

Downstream of Staunton Reservoir, it is a put-and-take stocked trout fishery.

Between the two small reservoirs, there is about a mile and a half of DH water that is accessible only by the trail from parking area at the base of Elkhorn Dam. “It’s beautiful water. In my opinion, it’s some of the prettiest delayedharvest water in the state,” said Andy Slawson, with Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. “There’s plenty of water to move around and find fish in.”

During the DH season from October 1 - June 15, the state stocks good numbers of 10- to 16inch rainbows that are suckers for streamers and attractor nymphs through the winter months.

Slawson said this stretch of water really shines in spring, when the mayflies show up and bring excellent dry fly fishing. Starting in about April, fish look to the surface for good hatches of blue-winged olives, sulphurs, and Quill Gordons.

Because it’s a good fishery, the North River sees some fishing pressure during the DH season, but its remote location ensures anglers will be able to find some open water.

Slawson said the river is a mountain stream with lots of riffle water leading into deeper pools with woody debris.

Large boulders and rock ledges provide interesting runs and pockets.

And it’s all relatively shallow, so wading is easy.

Go Guided: Mossy Creek Fly Fishing,

mossycreekflyfishing.com, (540) 434-2444, store@ mossycreekflyfishing.com.

S P E C I A L L Y R E G U L AT E D WAT E R S A R E P L A C E S W H E R E T R O U T G R O W U N D E R P R O T E C T I O N S T H AT L I M I T H A R V E S T AND FISHING METHODS. PHOTO BY NICK CARTER

Savage River, Maryland

Up in the northwest corner of Maryland, the Savage River tailrace is a wild trout stream that’s pretty much catchand-release only, thanks to special regulations. It hasn’t been stocked since the 1990s, and populations of native brookies and reproducing brown trout are booming.

This piece of water downstream of Savage River Reservoir is open yearround and features about a mile of river restricted to fly fishing only and another 3 miles regulated as a Trophy Trout Management Area. The entire stretch is artificial only, and there is a two fish limit on brook trout longer than 12 inches or brown trout longer than 18 inches.

“It’s pretty much catch-and-release, artificial-only,” said James Harris, owner of Beaver Creek Fly Shop. “There are some big ones in there, but I don’t ever see people keeping them.”

The Savage tailwater runs parallel to Savage River Road, and there are a couple small tracts of private land anglers need to steer clear of. The pullouts and parking areas make it obvious where you’re allowed to fish.

The river flows between forested hillsides. Bring your wading stick because the streambed is mostly cobblestone and boulders that can be very slippery.

“It’s a picturesque Appalachian mountain stream,” said Harris. “It’s all pocket water and big long flats with big boulders.”

Harris said 18- to 20-inch brown trout are a definite possibility on those cold sunny days that call for anglers to fish big sculpin or minnow patterns on sinking line. Good numbers of 12to 16-inch browns and 6- to 10-inch brookies are susceptible to tight-line nymphing with big stoneflies and midge larvae.

Thank You to Our Latest TrailHeads!

John C. - Hagerstown, MD Ken W. - Fredericksburg, VA Beverly J. - Blacksburg, VA Michelle L. - Landrum, SC Ryan K. - Charlotte, NC Peter G. - Charleston, SC Evan S. - Richmond, VA | Bryan B. - Dillwyn, VA Lynn S. - Redbank, TN | Maria S. - Roseland, VA Larry W. - Martinez, GA | Kevin F. - Charlotte, NC Caesar W. - Greensboro, NC | Meg J. - Charlotte, NC Susan P. - Charlottesville, VA | Michael W. - Roanoke, VA Richard J. - Chesterfield, VA | Rob W. - Woodstock, GA

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Go Guided: Beaver Creek Fly Shop,

beavercreekflyshop.com, (301) 393-9090.

NOVEMBER 2020 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

21

VISIT A KENTUCKY TRAIL TOWN

OLIVE HILL DAWSON SPRINGS

LIVINGSTON

MOREHEAD

Kentuckyʼs first and most western Trail Town is home to the Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park and state forest of the same name. A scenic lake and the Tradewater River make for a full complement of outdoor offerings.

On the banks of the Rockcastle River, Livingston attracts a number of trail users to the Daniel Boone National Forest. A renovated school building makes an attractive visitor center where people will also find the home of the Sheltowee Trace Association.

The northern terminus of the Sheltowee Trace and the shores of Cave Run Lake are the highlights for Morehead, Kentucky. Trails for mountain bikers and equestrians welcome trail users of all stripes.

A local brewery and several local eateries make for a complete trip.

STEARNS LONDON The self-proclaimed Cycling Capital of Kentucky, London sits just off Interstate 75 between Lexington and Knoxville. Their cycling offerings are highlighted by the annual Redbud Ride each spring.

Donʼt overlook local options for bikes with knobby tires, or the portion of the Sheltowee Trace that runs just outside of town.

Stearns, Kentucky serves as the northern gateway to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Surrounding the Big South Fork is the southern end of the Daniel Boone National Forest making for almost unlimited adventures to be had in and around Stearns. Thrilling whitewater runs and a growing community of trail runners are just some of the highlights.

This historical eastern Kentucky town sits on the banks of Tygart Creek and just down the road from Carter Caves State Resort Park.

Several historical festivals and equestrian focused events provide highlights throughout the year. Rock climbing and cave exploration at the State Park make for a unique Trail Town experience.

ELKHORN CITY The eastern most Trail Town sits on the border of Virginia and is home the Breaks Interstate Park.

Home of the largest gorge east of the Mississippi River cut by the Russell Fork River, Elkhorn City and the Breaks have been home to whitewater enthusiasts for decades.

The Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail and US Bike Route 76 all headline this mountain Trail Town.

kentuckytourism.com/ky-outdoors/trail-towns

JAMESTOWN Jamestown is home to Lake Cumberland, Wolf Creek Dam, the Cumberland River and all the world class fishing and water sports that go along with them. Lake Cumberland State Resort Pak offers all the amenities for visitors as well as its own impressive network of trails.

#adventureky

Kentuckyʼs 24 certified Trail Towns offer the best in outdoor recreation and local amenities. Located throughout the Commonwealth, find the Trail Town closest to you and travel confidently and safely. Stay close. Go far.

MANCHESTER Gateway to the Redbird District of the Daniel Boone National Forest, Manchester is the most off-road friendly of Kentuckyʼs Trail Towns.

Local and federal trails invite riders and a multitude of vehicles to this eastern Kentucky town.

Donʼt overlook the phenomenal creek fishing and paddling in and around Manchester.

ROYALTON Royaltonʼs claim to fame is the halfway point of Kentuckyʼs longest Rails to Trail, the Dawkins Line. This former rail line features impressive tunnels and numerous bridges. Hikers, cyclists and equestrians will all find a place on the Dawkins Line.

COLUMBIA

HARLAN TRI-CITIES

BEREA

Cumberland, Lynch and Benham Kentucky are historic coal towns nestled between the mountains of Harlan County, Kentucky. Home to the stateʼs tallest point at Black Mountain, the Tri-Cities are home to numerous trails and events.

Kentuckyʼs most artistic trail town, Berea is no stranger to attracting visitors. Recent efforts to develop and promote their outdoor offerings make Berea a uniquely situated Trail Town along US Bike Route 76 and the Boone Trace.

SLADE

MCKEE

The iconic Red River Gorge needs no introduction for rock climbers.

Home to main stays like Natural Bridge State Resort Park and Miguelʼs Pizza, Slade has a full menu of different adventures and local restaurants to explore.

This Jackson County Trail Town sits at the intersection of the Sheltowee Trace and US Bike Route 76.

In addition to these major trail systems there is camping and trails for both off-road vehicles and equestrians.

kentuckytourism.com/ky-outdoors/trail-towns

This historic college town in southern Kentucky sits along the banks of Russell Creek, a major tributary to the Green River. A quaint downtown square and friendly people are just part of what makes Columbia a special place to visit.

MUNFORDVILLE On the banks of Green River in Hart County sits Munfordville. Outside paddling and well-kept local hiking trails, Munfordville has made a name for itself as a home for elite, competitive barbecue and as a place where you may find yourself on the set of a movie.

#adventureky

Kentuckyʼs designated Trail Towns put you near the best outdoor action in the state – including hundreds of miles of trails, woods and waters – but keep you in cities and towns offering hotels, restaurants, attractions, entertainment and other conveniences to round out your stay.

CAMPBELLSVILLE CAVE CITY/HORSE CAVE These adjoining towns cross county lines but offer much in the way of outdoor adventure and local restaurants. Anchored by Mammoth Cave National Park there are miles of trails, local cycling routes, caves and even zip lines to experience.

BROWNSVILLE Another gateway to Mammoth Cave, Brownsville also provides access to Nolin Lake State Park.

Mountain Biking and paddling are two popular activities for visitors and local in Brownsville. The local farmers market is one to be sure to visit if given the opportunity.

This southern Kentucky town is a jumping off point for visitors coming to Green River Lake State Park and its namesake reservoir. Mountain Bike and equestrian trails can be found, as well as plenty of water sports and excellent fishing. Make sure to allot enough time to enjoy all downtown has to offer including local barbecue, a coffee shop and full service bike shop.

HAZARD

ESTILL TWIN CITIES

Hazard, Kentucky is home to US Bike Route 76, an extensive trail network for ATVs and UTVs and the North Fork of the Kentucky River. In recent years, local groups have developed a world class trail system just outside of Hazard.

Irvine and Ravenna are historic river and railroad towns in beautiful Estill County. The Kentucky River highlights current outdoor adventures, with plenty of railroad related history, attractions and restaurants available in town.

ELIZABETHTOWN

PARK CITY

Donʼt be fooled by the moniker of Kentuckyʼs “first urban Trail Town”, Elizabethtown is full of great outdoor adventure. As the name implies they have the community assets to fully compliment their long list of trails and parks. Local restaurants, museums and bourbon bars are just some of what youʼll find in this central Kentucky Trail Town.

Park City is a picturesque town at one end of the Mammoth Cave Railroad Hike Bike Trail, one of Kentuckyʼs oldest Rails to Trails. AA grand old hotel now serves as a charming bed and breakfast. Local cyclists have found a welcoming rest stop in Park City. A soon to be certified Dark Sky city, Park City will offer a one-of-a-kind type of nightlife for star gazers.

MORGANTOWN Downstream from other Trail Towns on the Green River lies Morgantown. Several river focused events highlight the calendar for Morgantown, and a scenic downtown offers an artist guild and local businesses worth a stop.

kentuckytourism.com/ky-outdoors/trail-towns

#adventureky

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GO OUTSIDE AND PL AY GUIDE

BIKIN G IN MOUNT JAC KSON , VIRGINIA , PHOTO BY SYN APTTIC VISUAL S (INSET) BIG SC HLOSS OVERLOOK; PHOTO BY TIM BARKER

From small towns to big cities, we know you want a turn-key itinerary for the perfect 24- or 48-hour getaway. We’ve got you covered!

Check out our guide to 11 adventure-packed destinations across the Southeast. You will find everything you need to plan a memorable trip for this fall, or in the future, including outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, craft beverages, local eats, lodging recommendations, and more.

For more information on how you can safely enjoy your experience, please check your destination’s website prior to travel.

Now Go Outside and Play!

A DAY IN ...

Shenandoah Co.

VA

A visit to Shenandoah County, Va., is an unforgettable time where anyone can enjoy a day outdoors in the fresh mountain air. Nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Alleghenies to the west, visitors can hike, bike, or ride horseback along 178 miles of trails through the George Washington National Forest to see incredible views of the valley.

MORNING

Stay at the Hopewell House Bike and Bed where cycling enthusiasts Kevin and Alice serve a wonderful breakfast, offer suggestions about the best country roads for biking, and provide a small shop to handle minor bike repairs. After a morning ride, stop into Burg Nutrition or Old Dominion Doggery & Burger Shop to refuel.

A FO TRENRI N M N OG O N

For a short hike, the Woodstock Tower atop Massanutten Mountain features views of Fort Valley and Shenandoah Valley. The rock OVERLOOKIN G 7 BENDS. PHOTO BY JENN A FREN C H.

outcropping at the end of Big Schloss, four miles round trip, offers a view you will never forget.

EVENING

BUCKET LIST

If you take the Massanutten Trail, there is a clearing where hang gliders launch and the view of the seven bends of the Shenandoah River is spectacular.

Back in Woodstock, The Woodstock Café is a hot spot for dinner Thursday through Saturday nights, serving beautiful in-season local foods with an incredible wine selection.

If there’s room after dinner, stop into Sugar Creek Snowy & Sweet for an ice cream cone as you make your way back to the Bike and Bed. VISITSHENANDOAHCOUNTY.COM @VISITSHENANDOAH @SHENANDOAHTRAVEL

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A WEEKEND IN...

Hendersonville

AT RIDE KANUGA , S TART AT THE TOP OF WOLF MOUNTAIN AND C HOOSE ONE OF 12 TRAIL S — FROM BEGINNER TO EXPERT — TO REAC H THE BOTTOM. PHOTO COURTESY RIDE KANUGA

NC

During a time when we’re all looking for safe adventures in smaller towns with outdoor activities, Hendersonville, N.C., checks all the boxes. Located just south of Asheville, this Blue Ridge Mountain town is surrounded by Pisgah National Forest. Hendersonville’s vibrant downtown and creative culinary scene combine with its natural setting to make for a wellrounded destination.

DAY ONE (INSET) THE GORGE ZIPLINE PROMISES SPECTACUL AR VIEWS OF GREEN RIVER GORGE. PHOTO COURTESY OF GORGES ZIPLINE

MORNING

Go full throttle at The Gorge Zipline.

Billed as the steepest, fastest zipline in the country, the experience includes 11 ziplines, a sky bridge, and three rappels. As you cruise through the treetops, enjoy the pristine view of 18,000 acres of preserved Green River game land.

FUN FACT:

When Hendersonville was established in the 1840s, one of its founders decreed that Main Street should be wide enough to turn around a wagon pulled by four horses. That early planning continues to serve the city well.

Today the curvilinear Main Street is pedestrian friendly with public art, outdoor dining areas and flowering brick planters.

AFTERNOON

Hit the trail at the brand new Ride Kanuga mountain bike park. Founded by world-champion downhill racer Neko Mulally, the park features 12 downhill-specific trails suitable for all

ability levels. Located on 1,400 acres at Kanuga Camps & Conference Center, the park’s trails descend from Wolf Mountain through old-growth forest.

EVENING

Book a spacious room at Cascades

HENDERSONVILLE HAS ONE OF THE MOS T WELCOMIN G DOWNTOWNS IN THE REGION . S TOP BY THE VISITOR CENTER ON MAIN S TREET F OR A MAP OF SHOPS, RES TAURANTS, MUSEUMS AND MORE. PHOTO BY SAM DEAN .

Mountain Resort. Kids delight in the indoor pool with a 110-foot water slide, while adults enjoy the secluded hot tub. The hotel’s Old Orchard Tavern has a full bar serving craft spirits and an award-winning chef who wows diners with well-executed nightly specials.

breweries and tasting rooms. Five breweries lie within pedaling distance.

Those averse to cycling shouldn’t fret—an electric motor will kick in if you give out.

DAY TWO

Downtown Hendersonville is home to 25 independently owned restaurants.

Choose from authentic Italian, funky tapas, traditional Carolina ’cue or farm-to-table fare that showcases some of western N.C.’s finest producers. For a nightcap, head to the rooftop bar at Shine or The Poe House, a cozy spot that’s a favorite of locals.

MORNING

Take an informative hike at Holmes Educational State Forest. What was once a nursery developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s is now a living classroom with five miles of trails, including the “talking trees” trail that educates hikers about different species and their uses.

EVENING

AFTERNOON

Earn your pint of beer aboard Hendersonville’s pub cycle. HVL Pedal & Brews books tours to downtown

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Lake Hartwell

SC

MIS T RISIN G AT THE F OOT OF TABLE ROC K MOUNTAIN IN PIC KENS, SC, PHOTO BY BILL BARLEY

Discover your new favorite mountain getaway in a place with hundreds of cascading waterfalls, hiking trails that weave through the hills, libations that are served with a smile, and overlooks that will take your breath away. Welcome to Lake Hartwell Country, a stunning region that sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the mountains of South Carolina.

MORNING

Start your day with a delicious coffee and crepe from Coyote Coffee in downtown Pickens.

Afterwards, make your way to the beautiful Hagood Mill Historic Site, one of the last working grist mills in the country. Pick up a bag of authentic, stone ground grits while you’re there.

AFTERNOON

legs and take in gorgeous views at Table Rock State Park on the Lakeside Trail. To unwind, take a tour of Table Rock Tea Company and taste delicious, home grown tea.

FUN FACT:

There are over 300 waterfalls in the area to visit, including King Creek Falls and Opossum Creek Falls.

ALL PH OTOS COURTESY L AKE HART WELL COUNTRY

EVENING

For lunch, enjoy some amazing food at the Pumpkintown General Store. Then, stretch your ENJOYIN G THE FALL COLORS AT T WIN FALL S, SUNSET, SC. PHOTO BY BILL BARLEY

End the day with some mouth watering barbeque from the Pumpkintown Mountain Opry and sip on some refreshing craft beverages from Victoria Valley Vineyards or Jocassee Valley Brewing Company.

End the day in a cozy cabin at Wildwater Ltd. South Carolina is just right!

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Rockingham Co.

HIKIN G BEARFEN CE MOUNTAIN

VA

Year-round attractions truly make Rockingham County a four season destination. Ski the slopes in the winter, fly fish cool mountain waters in the spring, listen to live music in the summer, and hike among the changing leaves in the fall. The rolling farmland connects you to wineries, apple orchards, small towns, rural communities, and local favorites that’ll keep you coming back for more.

MORNING

EVENING

Wake up with breakfast from Thunderbird Café.

Take a short drive to the overlooks and trailheads along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park or fish for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and musky in Lake Shenandoah.

A FO TRENRI N M N OG O N

Grab lunch to go from Fulks Run Grocery or The Dayton Market.

Spend the afternoon picking apples at Showalters Orchard and sipping cider at Old Hill Cider. The whole family will love the games and attractions at Back Home-on the Farm or visiting the animals at White Oak Lavender Farm.

Stop at Hanks Grille and Catering, Dayton Tavern, or Old 33 Beer and Burger Grill for a delicious post-adventure dinner. Catch a band at Cave Hill Farms Brewery or Elkton Brewing Company before settling in for a cozy night at Massanutten Resort or Silver Lake Bed and Breakfast.

FISHIN G IN THE SOUTH F ORK

HIDDEN GEM:

Surrounded by Shenandoah National Park, head to Mountaintop Ranch for horseback riding, private waterfall hikes, mountain biking, and more.

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Clarksville

RIVER WALK, PHOTO BY LUC AS C HAMBERS

TN

If you’re looking for a fall or winter getaway that’s off the beaten path but convenient, affordable with plenty to do, loaded with scenic outdoor recreation but not too crowded, Clarksville, Tenn., checks all your boxes. You can best enjoy Clarksville’s outdoors by following recommended safety precautions like wearing a mask, staying six feet apart, and washing your hands frequently.

DAY ONE MORNING

Dunbar Cave State Park is one of Clarksville’s most popular outdoor spots in every season. This 144-acre natural playground in the middle of the city includes almost four miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, wildlife, and guided cave tours May-October. Enjoy breakfast or lunch at The Wonderland Café with divine pastries, as well as breakfast and lunch entrees.

AFTERNOON

The nine-mile Clarksville Greenway is a paved walking and biking trail along two waterways where you’ll

(INSET) S TRAWBERRY ALLEY ALE WORKS, PHOTO BY LUC AS C HAMBERS

EVENING

enjoy native species, bluff walls, tree canopies, overlooks, and a 600-foot pedestrian bridge. The nearby North Ford Mountain Biking Trail is the perfect spot for riders of all skill levels.

FUN FACT:

Frank Sutton, who played Sgt. Carter in the sitcom, Gomer Plye, USMC, is a Clarksville native. Take a selfie with his statue downtown.

Enjoy an evening downtown where you’ll be captivated by historic architecture at every turn. The city offers several choices for dinner along with pubs, breweries, and a meadery.

Explore a variety of local shops and check the schedule at the Roxy

C HRIS TMAS LIGHTS ON FRANKLIN S TREET, PHOTO BY RON JAC KSON

Regional Theatre for live professional productions.

DAY TWO MORNING

Start your day with a mouthwatering French pastry from Madeleine’s Bakery then take in some local history and switchback trails at Fort Defiance Civil War Park overlooking the confluence of the rivers. Next, find permanent and rotating exhibits, plus plenty of interactive play spaces for children, at the Customs House Museum. The iconic architecture outside and massive model train exhibit inside are thrills for all ages. If you’re a fan of good sushi, enjoy lunch at Yellowtail or Kohana just outside downtown.

Distilling. You’ll meet people who are passionate about their craft and have been working many years to perfect it. With a driving tour and short walk in Liberty Park, you’ll be inspired by two Clarksville trailblazers and legends, Wilma Rudolph and Pat Head Summitt, whose bronze likenesses anchor both ends of the park.

EVENING

You’ll want to time your evening activities around a vivid Cumberland River sunset. A romantic stroll along the RiverWalk is an ideal way to soak up the last of the daylight. Dinner at Liberty Park Grill overlooking the marina is another prime location for a fantastic view.

AFTERNOON

Schedule a tour and tasting at Beachaven Winery or Old Glory

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BOARDWALK BRIDGE ALON G THE REN OWNED CLIN C H RIVER AT THE CLEVEL AND TOWN PARK.

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Russell Co.

VA

It’s all about the outdoor adventures and unwinding with some local brews, wine, or good food right now in Russell County. Find a local trail, enjoy kayaking the Clinch River, sit by a waterfall, explore Cyclops Cave, and much more this fall.

There are also some amazing spots to discover, including a lodge with your own cave to explore.

MORNING

Start off your day with home cooking from Fourth Avenue Baked Goods Café and Bakery or Pat’s Kountry Diner. Head to Clinch Life Outfitters for all the gear, guidance, and inspiration you need to get outside. Hike or bike Sugar Hill Loop Trail and Oxbow Lake for beautiful wildlife and peaceful scenery.

ALL PHOTOS BY H EATH ER POWERS

AFTERNOON

Stop by Fat Boy’s BBQ, Giovanni’s, or J&V’s Corner Diner for a filling lunch. Kayak and canoe the Clinch River with Clinch River OXBOW L AKE IN SAINT PAUL, VIRGINIA .

BEEF HOLLER LODGE IN C AS TLEWOOD, VIRGINIA .

FUN FACT:

At 7.1 miles, Cyclops Cave is one of Virginia’s longest caves and located at the very edge of the Valley and Ridge Province in an isolated karst valley called “Sinkhole Valley.”

Adventures or enjoy a local ATV trail.

Head to Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve or the Cleveland Barrens/ Tank Hollow Falls Riverbend Trail for more exploration of the area.

Stokes Co.

Finish your day with a craft beer and good eats from Sugar Hill Brewing Company and Lonesome Pine Brewing or enjoy a wine tasting and mountain views at Vincent’s Vineyard.

Settle in for a night at the secluded Beef Holler Lodge-Private Mountain Getaway or pitch a tent at Riverbend Campground.

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NC

From thousands of acres of public lands to dozens of miles of waterways, there is something for everyone in the mountains of Stokes County, N.C. Take in the scenery all around with cascading waterfalls, sheer cliffs, and bare rock peaks. Bring your own gear or visit one of the many outfitters in town, ready to help you get outside.

MORNING

Start off at Hanging Rock State Park for miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, rock climbing opportunities at Moore’s Knob, and a network of trails to five different peaks. Paddle or fish the 73-acre Hanging Rock Lake or access miles of the Dan River.

AFTERNOON

EVENING

THE OVERLOOK AT HAN GIN G ROC K

Pack a lunch or pick up a deli sandwich from nearby diners in Danbury before taking a C AN OE OR KAYAK THE DAN RIVER

canopy tour through the colorful fall foliage with Carolina Ziplines.

Explore the local arts scene or find unique treasures in the charming downtowns of Danbury, King, or Walnut Cove.

HIDDEN GEMS:

Step back in time to the historic Priddy’s General Store just across the Dan River, plus live music in February and October.

EVENING

Grab a drink at Pilot Mountain Vineyard and Winery or MidSummer Brewing, two new tasting rooms in the area. Rest up in one of over 40 vacation rentals by owner found around Hanging Rock. Big Creek Lodge at Luna’s Trail Farm features nine suites overlooking the majestic Sauratown Mountains, plus three cabins and an on site restaurant.

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Culpeper

VA

Culpeper is a surprising little town with big heart, reminiscent of when life moved a bit slower.

The architecture and land is steeped in history, but the food, spirits, shops, and trails reflect a life more modern. It is the perfect escape from your day-to-day demands, but quaint enough you feel fully immersed the moment you arrive.

DAY ONE MORNING DAVIS S TREET IN DOWNTOWN CULPEPER. (INSET) BEER HOUND BREWERY. PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISIT CULPEPER

Start off at Moving Meadows Farm for daily specials and provisions to take home. Then head over to Rockwater Park for miles of walking trails, an 18-hole disc golf course, ninja obstacle course, climbing boulder, and splash pad.

AFTERNOON

Continue your love of the outdoors by choosing from any number of iconic scenic byways perfect for casual or enthusiastic cyclers. The 23-mile loop to Brandy Station is a locals favorite, since it starts and ends at downtown

seating. For endless outdoor space, head over to veteran owned Mountain Run Winery for wine, cider, and food trucks. You cannot miss Old MORNING House, Virginia’s only family owned and operated winery, brewery, and Fuel up at 18 Grams Coffee Lab with distillery. For easy access to the heart seasonal delights and homemade of historic downtown, pastries. Select one of spend the night at Suites three self-guided tours 249, Thyme Suites, or The UNIQUE of historic downtown OFFERING: Loft on Davis.

Culpeper or enjoy the Take a plant walking tour at Virginia and nature Bison Company, where walk with you can get up close with herbalist Colleen grazing herds of bison.

O’Bryant, Grab food for a picnic owner of from Thyme Market, Wild Roots Apothecary. including sandwiches, pizza, and desserts.

DAY TWO

breweries. Prefer dirt to gravel? Head to Burke Farm, home to over 300 acres of mountain biking trails.

EVENING

Check out Grass Rootes for a casual dining experience and ample outdoor

Station, home of the Civil War’s largest cavalry engagement.

EVENING

Piedmont Steakhouse, Lucio’s Italian, or Pinto Thai, it’s impossible to not eat well in Culpeper. Far Gohn Brewery is everyone’s favorite tavern featuring rotating German brews. Flavor on Main serves the best balance of specialty cocktails and small plates; and Old Trade Brewery and Cidery brings forth an assortment of flavors with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Walden Hall gives you the choice: a private suite, a guest house, or the entire house, yours for the taking.

AFTERNOON

VIRGINIA BISON COMPANY AT CIBOL A FARMS. PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT CULPEPER

Immerse yourself in American history as you explore Cedar Mountain Battlefield where Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, performed her first field duty. North of town lies 2,100 preserved acres at Brandy

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Loudon Co.

TN In a state full of fall color and made for road trips, Loudon County, in east Tennessee, is golden. With the Smoky Mountains creating a backdrop for hiking, kayaking, boating, and fishing on Tellico Lake or the Tennessee River, visitors can enjoy scenic drives, stunning sunsets, and trademark misty mornings.

DAY ONE MORNING

AFTERNOON

Enjoy lunch at the Seed to Sandwich Café, located at Sweetwater Valley

C AN OEIN G ON TELLICO L AKE

C HEESESAMPLIN G AT SWEET WATER VALLEY FARM

Farm in Philadelphia, a working, family dairy farm that produces a variety of delicious farmstead, cheddar-based cheeses for visitors to sample and purchase. If they’re making cheese when you visit, you’ll get to watch the process through a viewing window and enjoy some fresh cheese curds.

EVENING

Stroll through downtown Loudon and explore the Stimpson Seashell Museum—one of the world’s largest seashell collections. Make two selfie stops at the mural in Veteran’s Park and in the courtyard beside the Historic Loudon Theatre, where live music is featured most weekends.

Enjoy a relaxing dinner at the historic

Carmichael Inn and continue the fun at Kinfolk Farms where you can choose from one of four unique-themed cabins and play giant outdoor chess with the family.

DAY TWO

canoeing or kayaking on Fort Loudoun Lake. Fuel up with an afternoon coffee at the Ugly Mug and take a self-guided walking tour through downtown Lenoir City. History buffs can check out the Lenoir City Museum and explore two of Loudon County’s six Civil War Trails sites.

EVENING

MORNING

Hit the links for a round of golf at one of ENJOYIN G A MORNIN G ROUND the area’s top-rated golf courses, Rarity AT TAN ASI GOLF COURSE Bay, Landmark Club at Avalon, WindRiver Golf Course, or one of the three exclusive courses at Tellico Village which offer public HIDDEN GEM: play—Toqua Golf Course, Tanasi Golf Course, and The Loudon County Links at Kahite Golf Course. is home to

Tennessee Valley Winery, one of the oldest operating family-owned wineries in Tennessee.

Get ready for a feast at The Burgers.

Be sure and start with a basket of fried pickles and get homemade banana pudding for dessert. End the night on target at East Tennessee Axe Throwing, a family-friendly ax throwing venue.

AFTERNOON

Take a break for lunch on the deck at Calhoun’s at Fort Loudon Marina and spend the afternoon

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Start your morning off with sunrise at the Million Dollar View over Fort Loudoun Lake. Loudon County, known as the Lakeway to the Smokies, offers a multitude of water and nature activities. Bring your fishing gear and explore the natural, scenic areas around Lenoir City Park and Tellico Dam or venture out to the East Lakeshore Trail, a system of nine hiking trails that feature incredible lake views.

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Spartanburg SC

Nestled in the Upstate of South Carolina at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Spartanburg is full of outdoor adventures that are waiting for you. From the miles of trails perfect for bikers, hikers, and horseback riders to the quaint downtowns bursting with charm, discover something new when you head to this historic county in South Carolina.

DAY ONE MORNING

Get your day started with a sweet or savory breakfast from The Crepe Factory and then head out to Croft State Park, a prime destination for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. At the park, explore over 20 miles of trails with gorgeous views of Lake Craig, featuring a boat dock, ramp, and rentals so you can stay cool during your visit.

AFTERNOON

Refuel with a hot chicken meal from Flock Shop or a spread of high quality goods from Stone Soup. Get back outside after lunch on the Mary Black DOWNTOWN SPARTANBURG. PHOTO BY SAM DEAN

COUPLE RUNNIN G ON COTTONWOOD TRAIL. (INSET) BIKIN G AT CROFT S TATE PARK. PHOTOS BY SAM DEAN

EVENING

Rail Trail, featuring B-Cycle rentals, a bike park, and NFL Play 60 course.

Or walk the four-mile Cottonwood Trail as it weaves its way through a 116-acre urban preserve just minutes from downtown.

DAY TWO

For the best dishes off the grill, try Southside Smokehouse or Level 10 MORNING for dinner. Grab a post-adventure drink from RJ Rockers or the outdoor Whether you’re looking for breakfast biergarten at FR8yard before you on the go or a sit down brunch, get settle in for a luxurious your day started at night in a suite or cabin Downtown Deli and FUN FACT: car at the Clevedale Donuts or Initial Q. Historic Inn. Croft State Once you’re ready to

Park, South Carolina’s largest state park at a sprawling 7,054 acres, was once a WWII Army Training Facility.

get moving, reconnect with nature at Glendale Shoals, a scenic preserve featuring a cascading waterfall, eye-catching bridge, and river access for paddlers and waders alike.

textile mill featuring a marketplace and two-mile trail.

EVENING

While you’re already at Drayton Mills, you’ll find comfort food favorites at Dray Bar & Grill and a cold beer from Holliday Brewing.

For other dining options in the area, The Kennedy offers a true food experience featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Or pair a delicious sandwich and artisan brew from New Groove. Turn in for the night at AC Hotel Spartanburg or Spartanburg Marriott, both within walking distance to downtown amenities.

AFTERNOON

At lunch, stop by Sugar-N-Spice or Cribbs Kitchen for southern staples that locals and visitors love. Get back to touring the town with some antique shopping in Landrum or explore Drayton Mills, a revitalized

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MartinsvilleHenry Co VA

Explore and relax among the rolling foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge when you visit Martinsville-Henry County. From state parks and waterways to local eateries and an artisan trail, there’s something for everyone. Go for a scavenger hunt to find the public art murals throughout the community before finishing up your day with a craft beverage from the area’s wineries or brewery.

DAY ONE MORNING

Get your day started with a walk, run, or bike ride on the Dick and Willie Passage Rail Trail while reading about the history of the Danville and Western Railroad along the way. Mountain bikers of all abilities can enjoy ten miles of looping singletrack at the Mountain Laurel Trails. Earn your Dirty Dozen patch when you hike, bike, and/ or paddle 12 miles of trail in the area.

AFTERNOON

Pick up lunch from Hamlet Kitchen, a locally owned and operated wine

BIKIN G ON DIC K & WALLIE PASSAGE. PHOTO BY S TEVE SHEPPARD PHOTOGRAPHY

(INSET) JOGGIN G PHOTO COURTESY SMITH RIVER SPORTS COMPLEX

EVENING

bar and gourmet-to-go shop. Spend the afternoon on the water, exploring hidden waterfalls and rock outcrops as you paddle Philpott Lake. Anglers will enjoy fishing for walleye, bass, and catfish.

Slow down in the evening, exploring the shops, art galleries, and restaurants in the Historic District of Uptown Martinsville. Or check out the farm-to-table brewery and awardwinning vineyard for a refreshing drink with unbelievable views. Located right

on the Smith River, Cahill’s Lily Pad RV Park & Campground is the perfect place to sleep among the stars.

DAY TWO MORNING

Visit one of the local bakeries or cafes for a hearty breakfast before a round of golf at Forest Park Country Club. Or try your hand at disc golf at Frank Wilson Park, plus a natural surface walking trail, horseshoes, HIDDEN GEM: and more. Visit Fairy Stone Park and search for the fairy Camp on Deer stone, a naturally occurring Island, a remote island on crystal found in only a few Philpott Lake places on earth.

ENJOY THE C AN OE/FISHIN G OPTIONS. PHOTO BY BRIAN WILLIAMS, OWNER OF SMITH RIVER OUTFITTERS

that is only accessible by boat.

enjoy a variety of American classics from Simply Suzanne’s. Then make your way to the Smith River. With eleven public canoe ramps, you can customize your river paddling trip with ease.

EVENING

From southern cuisine and barbecue to pizza and burritos, you are sure to find a delicious spot to dine outside or pick up to go after a long day outside. Cozy up for a night at One Starling, a charming bed and breakfast with a beautiful porch to relax on.

AFTERNOON

Watch the planes and helicopters coming and going at the Blue Ridge Regional Airport while you

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FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE P RES C R I BE D B U R N S A R E BE I N G U S E D F O R L A N D M A N AG E M E N T A N D H A BI TAT RESTO R AT I O N I N T H E S O U T H E AST.

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

34

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

R

ebecca Wilson gives the go ahead, watching the drip torch crew as they start to make their way across the preserve. As the day’s burn boss, she’s responsible for making sure everything goes according to plan at the South Quay Sandhills Natural Area Preserve in Suffolk, Va. The burn starts out slow, a few flames rolling across the eastern edge of the unit as the crew tests the weather conditions and makes sure the fire does not cross the swampy phragmites at the property’s boundaries. Once the test is complete, the drip crew proceeds to make their way back and forth across the preserve until the 43-acre burn unit iscovered in flames and enveloped in a haze of smoke. You can hear the crackling, snapping, and roaring as the fire burns different types of vegetation.

As a fire manager, Wilson oversees prescribed burning in the eastern region for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Natural Heritage Program. DCR and other government agencies and private organizations use fire in a variety of ways to manage natural areas.

Before a prescribed burn can even happen, the individuals and agencies involved put together a detailed burn plan that addresses all of the safety and biological factors that might affect the fire. “We actually write a prescription, like a doctor would write a prescription for a medication, for what we want the parameters to be when we burn,” Wilson said. “By the time we strike the match, 80 to 90 percent of my job is already done.” The parameters include things like wind direction, temperature, fuels, relative humidity, days since rain, and the number of people and equipment needed.

All of these factors affect how the fire will act on the landscape and need to be approved at multiple levels before any fire can be used. The goal of a prescribed burn is to minimize extreme fire behavior and ensure the smoke has somewhere to go. If on burn day even one of those factors is outside the range detailed in the prescription, the fire is called off until another day when the conditions are right.

“My job is literally dependent on which way the wind blows,” Wilson said.

The burn plan also includes control lines, barriers like a waterway or road to stop fire from spreading beyond the burn unit. If the property doesn’t include any of those nearby, land managers will put their own line in using a tractor, mowing, chemicals, or rake. “We have a lot of different options, but we like to start with what is already on the landscape that will limit the spread of fire naturally because those are always going to be your best bets,” Wilson said.

“It’s way better to use a creek than it is to rely on you manipulating the landscape.”

Only then, once a plan is put in place, neighbors are contacted, and conditions are right, does the fire start.

THE TR E E THAT F IRE MA DE Before Europeans sailed across the ocean and forced the Indigenous Peoples off their land, longleaf pines covered around a million acres in Virginia. By 2000, when scientists started to get serious about restoring the species to its native habitat, less than 100 acres remained.

L E F T ( P H O T O B Y E L L E N K A N Z I N G E R ) : R I C H A R D AY E R S , A N O P E R A T I O N S S T E WA R D W I T H D C R , S T A R T S A F I R E W I T H A D R I P T O R C H . R I G H T ( P H O T O B Y S H A N N O N M C G O WA N ) : D U R I N G A P R E S C R I B E D B U R N , T H E B U R N B O S S C O N S TA N T L Y M O N I T O R S W E AT H E R C O N D I T I O N S S O T H AT S M O K E I S N O T P U S H E D O N T O A N E I G H B O R I N G C O M M U N I T Y.

In addition to serving as eastern fire manager, Wilson is also a longleaf pine restoration specialist.

Fire is her number one tool for bringing the tree back. “That’s the one you go to every time,” Wilson said. “We use fire to get rid of the vegetation, like you would a plow or a disc. We use fire to prune the trees and get rid of any fungus or disease in the leaves or needles so that they regrow more healthy.

We use fire to add nutrients to the soil. There’s this whole spectrum of things that the only way to do that at the landscape level is with fire.”

Because it evolved in a fire-adapted environment, the longleaf pine is also better equipped to survive a wildfire than other tree species. When it germinates from a seed, it produces long needles above ground that look like a clump of grass while developing a strong underground root system. “The loblolly pine makes a miniature tree,” Wilson said. “If you have fire in the first couple of years of growth of that tree, it’s likely to kill it because it has a very small root system. It puts all of its energy into above-ground growth. You can easily burn that off. Whereas [with the] longleaf pine, if you get fire in the system while it’s in that grass stage, instead of it harming the trunk of the tree, it just affects the needles. I like to say it’s just having a bad hair day.”

After storing all of its energy underground, the longleaf pine will then bolt from the grass stage to about four feet tall in one season. “It’s not the kid who eats all his Halloween candy that first night,” Wilson said. “It’s the kid that saves it.”

At the South Quay Sandhills preserve, Wilson and her team are using fire to preserve Virginia’s last remaining natural stand of longleaf pine. The day’s prescribed burn will help clear the property of logging byproduct left from the previous owner and allow the longleaf pine to thrive without other competition. Seeds collected from the site will be used in longleaf pine restoration across the commonwealth.

Fire is critical to the survival of other species in the region. The table mountain pine relies on fire to melt its cones and release the seeds. Without fire, it doesn’t regenerate very well. In restoring these various pine savanna ecosystems, fire managers are also helping to provide habitat, cover, and food for a variety of species which rely on these habitats to survive.

In restoring these various pine savanna ecosystems, fire managers are also helping to provide habitat, cover, and food for a variety of species which rely on these habitats to survive.

I N T E RAGE N CY TRAIN IN G

Prescribed burning is no small task. To execute a safe burn for all involved, including the wildlife and neighbors to the property, it requires a lot of equipment and personnel. Stephen Living, a regional lands and access manager for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), uses fire to restore habitats for wildlife. One of the department’s current focuses is restoring the open pine savanna habitats for species like the endangered red cockaded woodpecker.

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“It’s more than any one agency can really do on their own at the scale that we need to be working at,” Living said. “The interagency partnership we have allows us to fluidly share resources, personnel, equipment, and time. There are a limited amount of days that it’s appropriate to burn so by coming together in this collective, we can prioritize the different agencies’ goals and try to get as much of it done as we can.” In Virginia, this partnership includes DCR, DWR, Department of Forestry, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Services, and The Nature Conservancy. When DCR is burning, it’s not just DCR personnel and equipment on the scene managing the fire.

Those involved with prescribed burns are required to pass a work capacity test, a demonstration of physical capabilities, and take a refresher course to be certified as a wildland firefighter every year. Instead of each agency conducting their own training, members train together so that everyone’s on the same page when out in the field. “We try to take it to the next level and really offer some practical training so that it doesn’t just become a rote checking the box every year,” Living said. “This is challenging and risky so we have an obligation to really approach it from the standpoint of giving people the tools to be successful.”

In addition to reviewing the basics every year, everyone must also practice deploying a fire shelter.

“We hope we will never be in a situation where we have to do that,” Wilson said. “But we make sure that we train annually so that it’s not only what we know to do, we have some muscle memory that backs it up. Because it’s a really intense situation, wildfires and prescribed burning, it’s very easy to lose focus and concentration. There’s a lot of adrenaline that you need to learn how to control.”

NOT A LL FIR E IS TH E SA ME

The prescribed burn of the South Quay Sandhills Preserve stands in contrast to the devastation seen out west this fall. Wildfires of historic proportions

CONTROL LINES,

LIKE A ROAD, destroyed millions of acres and “It really brought back ARE USED TO ENSURE THE FIRE displaced thousands of people in home the risk that we I S C O N TA I N E D T O T H E B U R N U N I T. California, Oregon, and Washington as have here in the East SCAN THE QR CODE smoke from the flames polluted the air WITH YOUR PHONE due to decades of fuel T O WAT C H A V I D E O from coast to coast.

ABOUT PRESCRIBED FIRE. PHOTO BY accumulation and fire There are a variety of factors ELLEN KANZINGER exclusion and the risk that determine how frequently and including parts of Pigeon Forge intensely a fire burns on a landscape, that poses to adjacent including the type of vegetation in communities,” Woodall and Gatlinburg. “It really brought back home the risk that we have the area and climate patterns. The said. “Virginia is never here in the East due to decades Southeast’s landscape is long adapted going to be California of fuel accumulation and fire to fire through natural ignition from as far as severity of exclusion and the risk that lighting and traditional Indigenous poses to adjacent communities,” burning practices. But decades of fire wildfire risk and the Woodall said. “Virginia is never suppression almost completely removed flammability of the going to be California as far as fire as a natural tool from the land. fuels, but we have our severity of wildfire risk and the “It’s a weird thing to wrap your mind own version of it.” flammability of the fuels, but we around but when you take the fire out have our own version of it.” of the system, you’re actually making It's also being predicted the fire that eventually comes much that climate change will likely exacerbate fire worse,” Wilson said. “What the Europeans did was conditions in the Southeast and across the country basically cut down all of the big trees and turn a as the frequency and intensity of storms increases bunch of stuff into agriculture. You went from having and rising temperatures extend the fire season these wide open forests where fire would have just and drought conditions. With the future in mind, poked around on its own and gone out eventually prescribed burning is currently one of the primary to having these landscapes that were more extreme tools used in the region to reduce potential wildfires when they did have fire. That is a product of forestry, through proactive fuel mitigation. agriculture, and fire exclusion.”

According to Gary Wood, the Southeastern With frequent, low-intensity fires, you’re regional coordinator for the National Cohesive continually getting rid of above-ground mass so Wildland Fire Management Strategy, it’s part of an that it doesn’t accumulate as fuel for a potential initiative born out of the FLAME Act of 2009 that’s wildfire. “Not to single out Smokey Bear, but Smokey attempting to create fire-adapted communities, Bear was part of the climate that all fire is bad,” said maintain resilient landscapes, and respond to Claiborne Woodall, DCR’s western fire manager. wildfires with regionally specific solutions.

“Even Smokey changed his message about 10 or 15 “Even though everybody hears about the fires years ago. It went from ‘only you can prevent forest in the West, we actually have, annually, more than fires’ to ‘only you can prevent wildfires,’ drawing the 50 percent of the ignitions of the overall wildfires,” distinction between wildfires and prescribed fires.”

Wood said. “So we actually have more fires. They Although we don’t have the same level of just happen to be smaller because we can get to wildfires as the West Coast, events like the Great them quicker. And we do so much more prescribed Smoky Mountains wildfires of 2016 demonstrated burning here than what is done in the West.” there are still dangers in this region. Those wildfires burned over 17,000 acres in eastern Tennessee,

NOVEMBER 2020 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

37

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HIGHER LEARNING

AN OUTDOOR SCHOOL IN THE TENNESSEE MOUNTAINS SHARPENS AN AVID EXPLORER'S WILDERNESS SKILLS

BY MARK POWELL

I

t’s a gorgeous September Sunday in Erwin, Tenn., and the Nolichucky is brown and foaming with the night’s rain. I’m sitting on a stage, close enough to the river to watch ashen-faced adults planted in inner tubes go spiraling past. But it’s Scott Fisher, masked and sanitized and leading a class on wilderness navigation, who has my attention.

The founder of the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI), Scott is a former Ranger-qualified infantry officer in the Army’s famed 101st Airborne Division, but with his blonde hair and calm smile— easy to discern even behind by a blue surgical mask—you get more of a surfer vibe. That, or the sort of endurance athlete you might find racing across Fiji in Bear Gryll’s Eco-Challenge. So it comes as no surprise to learn he helped train Team Unbroken, a sentimental favorite featuring two combat-wounded veterans in Amazon’s “World’s Toughest Race.” I’m here at the behest of my twelveyear-old son who came back from an August survival course on fire about, well, making fire (with a Ferro rod, of course). He also came back with a stunning awareness of plants and wildlife and how to ford a river safely.

“How long were you gone?” I asked him.

But I knew the answer: about eight hours.

“It’s Scott,” he told me. “He can teach you anything.”

I’ve come to the sprawling campus of cabins, tent sites, and fire rings to not only put my son’s claim to the test, but to check out the latest offering in the

S W I F T WAT E R R E S C U E I S O N E O F T H E M A N Y S K I L L S TA U G H T AT T H E NOLICHUCKY OUTDOOR LEARNING INSTITUTE. PHOTO COURTESY OF NOLI

world of outdoor education. NOLI shares space with USA Raft and the Nolichucky Gorge Campground, and as six of us gather on the stage with our notebooks and REI chairs, Scott comes bounding up.

We range in age from senior citizens to my son, but all of us look a little nervous. I’ve spent my life in the woods, trail-running and backpacking—I even had four years of college ROTC—but land nav? It sounds like a lot of math to me. Then I remember I’ve been leading my family astray on day hikes a bit too much lately. I love Daniel Boone’s line that he was never lost, though he was once bewildered for three days, but perhaps I’ve been quoting it a bit too frequently.

Scott passes out topographical maps and compasses.

“Who here is a little uncertain about this?” he asks, and smiles behind his mask as six hands go up.

N

OLI was founded in 2018 with a mission to “celebrate the outdoors and help others do the same.” They offer classes that cover the gamut NOVEMBER 2020 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM 39

of outdoor activities from wilderness first aid to whitewater kayaking to cooking in a Dutch oven. The survival course, held on an island in the Nolichucky, delves into shelter, knot-tying, rescue signaling, and, of course, the importance of a positive mental attitude. “PMA” may be the most impressive thing my son brought back from his day-long survival course, and no wonder: it’s a vibe that pervades NOLI. The campus feels like a cross between a summer vacation and a commando school: there’s real teaching going on all around me, and everyone seems to be loving it. During a break, my head swimming from counting index lines, I wander past tents and RVs over to the Take-Out Bar where two women wait patiently for their YeeHaw beers.

That excellent local beer is on tap is a comforting sign, and looking up at the mountains around me, hearing the squeals of children in passing rafts, it occurs to me that this is the best of the Southern Appalachians: wild, open, and wonderfully hospitable.

The Nolichucky—an Anglicized version of the Cherokee word for either “rushing waters” or “Spruce tree place”—flows 115 miles from the confluence of the Toe and Cane Rivers in western North Carolina into eastern Tennessee where it eventually runs into the French Broad. It’s relatively wide and calm as it passes NOLI, but the Nolichucky Gorge nearer the headwaters is one of the Southeast’s most exciting whitewater runs. It’s a moody river, but whether flat or raging, every inch appears beautiful. One of the loveliest views in the area is from the Appalachian Trail that runs parallel to and just above the opposite bank. You can hike south from Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel, one of the trail’s more famous stops, and within a half hour be on the ridge. The view here is nothing less than majestic: the river a blue vein snaking its way through the green mountains, all of it beneath the sort of wide imprudent sky you imagine belonging not in Appalachia but the American West. And while I love the green velvet of late summer, it’s impossible not to imagine the colors that will paint these slopes 40

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

when the leaves begin to change in a few weeks.

The water, the nearby Appalachian Trail, even the volleyball game playing out on the sand court— all of it little more than a mile off I-26 and thus eminently accessible.

I have to get back to class, but not before pausing to watch a course on standup paddleboarding happening not on the river but on a spring-fed pond beside it. It’s a reminder that Scott isn’t alone in this endeavor. NOLI employs nine other instructors, each with an impressive resume of certifications and experiences. Kayla Carter is a certified LNT Master Educator who hiked the entire A.T. in 2014. Robin Pope is a level five instructor, trainer, and educator in swiftwater rescue and river kayaking. Jerry Smith is a professional firefighter certified to teach wilderness first aid, CPR, Basic First Aid, oxygen administration, and AED. The rest are equally impressive, and, if other students are to be believed, as gifted as teachers as Scott.

Glenda from Kingsport has taken courses from kayaking to first aid and tells me that at NOLI, “it doesn’t matter about your age or your ability.

You’re welcomed and taught and can understand anything.”

I take my seat back on the stage, pick up my clipboarded maps and compass, and pat my son on the shoulder. So far we’ve covered topographical maps, compass work, route finding…I’ve scrawled long division and percentages over the two pages of notes, and yes, it’s a lot of numbers. But it’s also starting to make sense.

“Probably the last of the math,” I tell my son, even if the reassurance is meant for me, and once again, I see Scott smile.

“All right,” he says. “Let’s talk declination.”

I

f finding our way without benefit of a GPS is a dying art, its death is being forestalled by a handful of outdoor educators and enthusiasts, and that’s something for which we should all be grateful. The truth is, much of what is being taught at NOLI and outdoor education centers all over the Blue Ridge

O N T H E L E F T, N O L I S T U D E N T S M A K E A T H R E E - T I E R WA T E R F I L T E R .

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOLI

are dying arts. I feel at home in the woods, but it’s not until that afternoon as we search for hidden green flags by shooting azimuths and pace-counting that I realize my sense of comfort is largely an illusion.

I’m in the woods a lot, but rarely am I off a wellmarked trail. I’ve spent a lot of time on whitewater, but I don’t actually know anything about swiftwater rescue. My trail cuisine usually consists not of Dutch oven cooking but of envelopes of freeze-dried fare courtesy of the chefs at Mountain House.

But as my son and I hustle through the forest, I realize I’m gaining at least a modicum of confidence in my ability to find my way. As we hunt down the last flag, I begin to compile a mental list of skills I intend to either sharpen or learn.

Turns out, my wilderness abilities are not unlike declination. If you’re not familiar with the term, declination is the difference between true north and magnetic north: if you don’t compensate for the variance you can be headed in mostly the right direction, but not exactly. As the class wraps up in late afternoon, I realize that if I’ve spent most of my outdoor life headed in the generally right direction, the time has come to be more exact, to learn the skills I’ve danced around or even ignored. It’s good to know that all of these skills are being taught by the good people at NOLI. That their campus sits in a beautiful and accessible place—serving excellent beer no less—makes a return all the more appealing.

“I hope you’ll both be back,” Scott tells my son and me as we pack up and head for our car. We’re both hungry and happily exhausted and it’s a quiet ride. We hang the right onto Highway 321 and skirt past Lake Watauga. It’s an easy drive, and after a day of navigating through the forest, we have no trouble finding our way home.

We won’t have any trouble finding our way back either.

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THE GOODS

WINTER WARMERS

The 2020 Holiday Gift Guide THIS YEAR HAS BEEN HARD ON EVERYONE, SO A FEW SIMPLE COMFORTS CAN GO A LONG WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOLIDAYS. WITH THE SEASON OF GIVING UPON US, WE PRESENT OUR TOP OUTDOOR-MINDED GIFT PICKS TO LIFT THE SPIRITS OF THE AVID ADVENTURERS IN YOUR LIFE. B Y D O U G S C H N I T Z S PA H N

5.11 Pathfinder Watch Running on solar power, this rugged-but-classy timepiece is just the ticket for those who prefer analog over digital when it comes to staying on schedule out in the wild or back in town. Scratch-resistant glass and a tough nylon band that doesn’t interfere with adventure action seal the deal. $89.99; 511tactical.com KO Distilling Bare Knuckle Straight Wheat Whiskey Based in Manassas, Va., this local craft distiller pulls no punches when it comes to tasty brown liquor that makes for the perfect present to share with friends. The Straight Wheat Whiskey—a mix of corn, wheat, and malted 42

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

barley mashes—is the brand’s bread and butter and makes for a great sipper on its own or mixed in your favorite cocktail. $41; kodistilling.com Glerups Shoe with Leather Sole Your dogs get worked pretty hard if you are an outdoor enthusiast and these to-die-for felt wool shoes with a leather sole make relaxing easier.

That’s not to say they are strictly for chilling out. With a long history that traces back to the fields of northern Denmark, these kicks can handle casual walks and day-to-day business in style too. $95; glerups.com Houdini Mono Air Houdi Available for men and women, this snuggle-tastic

performance sweatshirt from sustainability-minded Swedish brand Houdini will become your new best friend wherever you go. This recycled and recyclable fleece jacket is built to minimize the shedding of microfibers—those unseen plastic demons that leach off synthetic fabrics and into the water, and thus animals, when you put them in the wash—thanks to an innovative Polartec Power Air fabric. $200; houdinisportswear.com Dynamite Starfish Women's Hooded Long Sleeve for Climbers, Misfits, and Lovers The name says it all. This is the gift for the climber in your life who will not stand for the status quo. A blend

of polyester, cotton, and rayon, the hoodie is perfect for hanging out at the crag or kicking around town and making a subtle statement.

The brand is the brainchild of L.A.-based climber and artist Leslie Kim who wants to share the joy of climbing with everyone. $42; dynamitestarfish.com Bluegrass Hemp Oil Genesis Blend Pain Bundle First let’s get this out of the way: CBD is a cannabinoid extracted from hemp (not marijuana) that does not contain THC and is legal to grow in 46 states. Athletes from former pro cyclist Floyd Landis to soccer star and Olympian Megan Rapinoe swear by its

ability to soothe inflammation and anxiety. This bundle– made by the family-owned company that grows its hemp in-state—gives you a bath soak, roller application, and extract (strength of your choice) that will help take away the pains of training and help make you feel more at ease in case 2020 gets even more nutso. $68 (with 300mg extract); bluegrasshempoil.com Stio Men's Buckhorn Insulated Snap Shirt The ultimate guy layer, this rough-and-ready shacket made from organic cotton is the kind of thing your favorite dude can wear on a winter hike with the dogs, hanging out in front of the fire pit, or

just spending a comfy day at home. Plus, since it’s based in Jackson, Wyoming, Stio just oozes authentic mountain cred. $169; stio.com Orvis Recon Premium Outfit This complete set—fourpiece 5-weight Recon rod, Mirage LT II reel, and Pro Trout textured 5-weight line— is the perfect gift not just for those who want to up their fly game, but also for hard-core anglers who are looking for another rod or a full kit to take hiking and backpacking.

The star of the show is the Recon rod, a supple, versatile stick that’s ideal for everything from presenting dries to finicky rainbows to hauling in aggressive

smallmouth bass. $1,006; orvis.com prAna Women’s Polar Escape Vest The vest is a versatile winter piece—all you need for a hike on balmier days and essential layering for cold snaps. Made with 100% recycled polyester, the vest not only keeps you warm, it also makes you feel good about your purchasing decision as we rethink supply chains and our impact on the planet. $99; prana.com TVLA Align[mat] V2 A brand created by yoga teachers, TVLA understands the importance of a good mat for those who make practice an integral part of each day.

It’s soft yet tough, and grippy

as well as moisture absorbing, so you won’t slip during a tough session. Best of all, it includes markers to keep you aligned properly as you move through asanas. $98; tvlashop.com Kinis Lucy Richmond-based Kinis has put the barefoot philosophy that so many trail runners have embraced into a more casual kick. The Lucy can handle a walk in the woods but looks just as good when you head to town. Plus, it provides all the biomechanical benefits of letting your feet spread and strike naturally when you walk. $95; kinis.com

VSSL Flask The perfect flask for everything from backpacking to tailgating to heading to your favorite spot in the woods, the 9-oz. VSSL not only stores your favorite libation, it also stores two collapsible stainless steel shot glasses.

Tippled a bit too much? The built-in LED light and compass will get you back home. $95; vsslgear.com The Man Behind the Maps If you ski or ride, you know James Niehues. He’s the guy who illustrates all those ski maps you shove in your pocket when you go to a new hill and pull out on the lift to plan your run. And this book—an outstanding

procrastination tool—collects all those illustrations from resorts across North America and beyond. It’s the perfect gift for those who dream of their next mountain getaway. $90; jamesniehues.com Seirus Innovation EVO Arc Masque Like it or not, your mask has become required gear every time you leave the house.

Ideal for outdoor activities, this high-performance model made by alpine glove and face-covering manufacturer Seirus Innovation is more breathable than most, and the HeiQ V-Block antimicrobial treatment helps to keep you healthy and others safe. $21; seirus.com

NOVEMBER 2020 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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SKIING IN A PANDEMIC COV ID-1 9 BL I N D S I D E D R E G I O N A L S N OWPO RTS RESO RTS L AST S PR I N G . H E R E ’ S H OW T H E Y ’ R E PR E PA R I N G F O R WI N T E R .

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

K

enny Hess sat in a conference room at Massanutten Resort surrounded by toplevel staffers watching a television showing Virginia governor Ralph Northam’s live March 13 press conference. The mood went from grim to alarmed as schools and nonessential businesses were ordered to shut down for at least two weeks.

“It was so unprecedented,” says Hess, Massanutten’s director of sports and business operations, who has worked at the Harrisonburgarea resort since the early 1980s. Dealing with finnicky weather and warm spells was par for the course. But this was different: The closure’s abruptness was blindsiding.

Trying to swiftly shutter operations proved a logistical and emotional nightmare. Though the end of the season was near, a run of cold weather had inspired plans to keep slopes open into early April. The resort relies on seasonal employees to clean lodges, operate lifts, and staff restaurants, gift shops, and rental facilities. Located in a college town, most were locals. But around 20 percent were workers from foreign countries using temporary H-2B visas.

“Suddenly I’m going around telling people they don’t have jobs,” says Hess. Some were counting on extra paychecks to pay bills. Others had to grapple with travel bans and restrictions.

Uncertainty loomed over full-time employees too.

NEW SAFETY MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE FOR SKIERS AND S N O W B O A R D E R S AT V I R G I N I A ' S M A S S A N U T T E N R E S O R T ( P I C T U R E D ABOVE). PHOTO COURTESY OF MASSANUTTEN

46

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

Mandatory stay-at-home orders were issued to last through early June on March 24. Was there going to be a mountain biking season? Would the waterpark, pool, and lake be able to open? “Everything was so up in the air,” says Hess. Trying to plan ahead felt futile.

But time went on and the picture got clearer.

State officials released safety guidelines for sporting facilities, restaurants, hotels, and retailers. Phased re-openings began in mid-May. Massanutten’s mountain bike park opened a month later.

“Getting there required a ton of patience and constant adaptation,” says Hess. Ensuring visitor safety and complying with state regulations posed significant challenges. A lack of specificity in state guidelines meant constant communication with public health officials, other resorts, and industry trade associations. And finding workers was tough.

Luckily, Hess says the effort brought a silver lining. It was a trial run for what will invariably be the oddest ski season in modern history. Facing concerns about a winter resurgence of COVID-19, having some experience is a plus.

“Ski season is going to be very different this year,” says National Ski Areas Association spokesperson Adrienne Isaac. Her organization works with 470 U.S. ski areas across 37 states. She’s been helping them share ideas, pandemic-related best practices, and safety plans.

“There’s definitely going to be a degree of inconvenience,” says Isaac. But if resorts implement proper practices, she’s confident they can keep slopes open through the winter and ensure the

safety of skiers and snowboarders.

J

ust how different is the 2020-2021 ski season going to look?

“It’s hard to tell,” says Isaac. That’s because, with no unified federal pandemic strategy, states have responded individually. Compliance and safety measures can vary significantly from place to place. For instance, New York currently imposes a 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors. Most Southeastern states, including Virginia and North Carolina, have lifted travel restrictions. Other states, including Maryland and Pennsylvania, urge travelers to observe a period of isolation.

Looking ahead, that worries resort managers like Hess. What if a state experiences an uptick in COVID-19 cases and reimposes travel constraints?

“Keeping track of who’s coming from where and how we’re supposed to treat them would be very complicated,” he says.

Yes, pivoting to online-only systems for lift ticket purchases brings the ability to filter sales by geographic area. But should resorts ban homeowners from affected states too? Meanwhile, ambiguity in regulatory mandates adds further complication. The biggest of these gray areas is capacity limits for slopes.

In Virginia, attendance for outdoor entertainment venues has been capped at 1,000 people. But how should that number be interpreted when it comes to skiing?

“Is that per day, at any given moment, or what?”

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47

says Hess. How that question gets answered has major economic ramifications. Like most Southeast resorts, Massanutten’s success depends on busy weekends. A good Saturday features about 5,000 people on the slopes at any given moment.

Cutting attendance by 80 percent would be hard to stomach, especially when you consider the operational realities of ski areas.

“Most locals and day-trippers buy passes for half-days or night skiing,” says Kimberley Jochl, vice president of Sugar Mountain Resort in North Carolina. Season passholders typically visit for a few hours at a time. Dividing the day into sections could provide a much-needed boost in sales.

These are the types of issues that Isaac, the National Ski Areas Association spokesperson, is trying to solve. To do it, she’s working to connect resort managers to one another as well as state officials.

State governments in the Southeast and MidAtlantic have yet to offer specific guidance for ski resorts, says Isaac. Interpreting blanket regulations leaves too much margin for error. “Which is why we’re working closely with public health officials to target gray areas and try to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible.”

In other parts of the East Coast, where skiing is a major economic driver, like Vermont, which is home to more than 25 ski resorts—Virginia has four; North Carolina, six—such discussions are well underway.

In 2018, the industry was the state’s second largest economic driver, generating more than $1 billion in wages and $391 million in tax revenue.

According to Vermont deputy commerce director

Ted Brady, the state has prioritized the creation of specific guidelines for social distancing and capacity restrictions, allowing ski areas to prepare for the upcoming season. Next comes a funding package to help smaller resorts adapt.

“They won’t survive the pandemic unless we give them some resources to do things differently,” Brady told the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. For instance, establishing heated winter tents for restaurants and day-lodge operations, as well as adapting new ticketing platforms and socially distanced line systems.

To survive the COVID-19 downturn, “we must have detailed new safety precautions that can be in effect throughout the entire winter,” said Rob Katz, CEO of Vail Resorts, in a September statement. The company manages 34 ski areas in North America and has lost more $200 million in revenue since the pandemic began.

“We do not want to be caught off guard, or find ourselves needing to make reactive changes,” Katz said. “Consistency and predictability for guests will be extremely important.”

D

espite the ambiguities, some changes are certain.

One of them is pivoting to online-only ticket sales and eliminating walkup and open-date lift ticket purchases. The move will help resorts keep better track of visitors, maintain social distancing, and comply with capacity limits. “Some resorts may require season passholders to check in as well,” says Isaac. While Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia

has no such plans, tighter rules in neighboring Virginia may force Massanutten to do so.

“Usually, passholders can walk up and hit the slopes right away,” says Hess. Depending on restrictions, “we might ask them to make advance reservations online, or through a new app.

Alternatively, it could just be having someone scan passes at entry points.”

More certainties are masks and hand sanitizing.

The former will be mandatory indoors, as well as in high-traffic areas like outdoor dining spaces and lift lines (luckily, a balaclava or raised neck-scarf will work for the latter). Sanitizing stations will be situated at entrances and exits to lodges, hotels, eateries, shops, bathrooms, and lifts. Most resorts will allocate additional sites for rentals and use computerized technology for contactless fittings.

Lift lines will feature spacing markers and added attendants to ensure skiers and snowboarders maintain proper social distance while waiting. Lift rides pairing strangers won’t be optional.

Additional safety measures will likely include cashless transactions, expanded takeout and delivery options at restaurants, scheduled temperature checks for employees, sanitation regimens, and more.

“This ski season is going to be unlike any we’ve ever experienced, and we’re asking visitors for their understanding and patience,” says Kimberley Jochl, the Sugar Mountain Resort vice president. “In return, you can count on us to do everything in our power to help keep you safe and make skiing and snowboarding a reality throughout the winter.”

coolesthikeinvirginia.com

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

TRAIL MIX

EMERGING SOUNDS

NEW ARTISTS YOU NEED TO HEAR 5 ACTS ON THE RISE

BY JEDD FERRIS

rom a folk revivalist to an emerging jazz-funk band, check out these new acts on the rise. It goes without saying that these artists will have limited performance options in the near future, so consider supporting them by purchasing a physical album.

TRE BURT PHOTO BY LOUIS RUA; S.G. GOODMAN PHOTO BY MEREDITH TRUAX

F

TRE BURT Folk revivalist Tre Burt brings back the blaring harmonica, primitive acoustic picking, and craggy vocals of oldschool protest heroes like Woody Guthrie and early-era Bob Dylan. And he became directly associated with another songwriting icon back in January, when he released his debut album, “Caught It from the Rye,” on the recently departed John Prine’s label Oh Boy Records. Throughout the effort Burt exudes plenty of Prine’s enlightening bluecollar sentiments in sparse songs like “What Good,” a country-blues meditation on the passing of time. But with his traditional delivery, he’s largely focused on singing about social ills, rebuking wealth inequality in the powerful “Undead God of War” and lamenting the country’s persisting divisiveness in “Only Sorrow Remains.”

BUTCHER BROWN This quintet from Richmond, Va., is a well-oiled machine, mixing jazz, funk, rock, and hip-hop into a seamless blend of high-energy groove music. The group has honed its sound through their wellreputed live throwdowns—

sharing stage time with the likes of Kamasi Washington and Galactic—but with touring in limbo, earlier this fall they went ahead and released a new studio album, “#Kingbutch.” The record often goes retro, exploring the territory of Parliament Funkadelic and Herbie Hancock’s “Head Hunters,” and the space-soul jams also travel into the realm of 90s rap via the refreshing rhymes of MC Marcus “Tennishu” Tenney, who leads the hardhitting title track. Fusion can be indulgent, but these guys flex their chops while taking it to an impressive level of fun.

S.G. GOODMAN Back in April, S.G. Goodman released a stellar debut album, “Old Time Feeling,” produced by fellow Kentuckian Jim James of My Morning Jacket. Like the Jacket’s early sound, Goodman blends Southern roots music with raw garage rock, but all of her songs are emphasized by her dynamic voice, which features a vibrant bluegrass warble that recalls the pioneering clarion earthiness of Hazel Dickens.

On her new album, Goodman shares the struggles of growing up as a farmer’s daughter and coming out as a gay woman in the rural South, but she also carries a message of instilling positive change. In the title track, a gritty, distorted barn-burner, she sings, “The Southern state is a condition, it's true/ I've got a little proposition for you/ Stick around and work your way through/ Be the change you hope to find.”

KENDALL STREET COMPANY This emerging outfit from Charlottesville, Va., is a top prospect in a field of new young jam bands. Led by singer-songwriter Louis Smith, the quintet blends feel-good pop songcraft with experimental elements of

psychedelic rock, and since forming in 2013 the group has gradually built a loyal fan following while sharing stages with the likes of Umphrey’s McGee and Leftover Salmon.

Last month the band released “The Stories We Write for Ourselves,” a new studio album co-produced by Scott Gordon (Ringo Starr, Alanis Morissette). While “Go On” showcases the group’s instrumental prowess, with a hard-hitting, horn-driven breakdown, lead single “Lady in Green” resonates with the

present moment, as Smith sings about overcoming adversity and looking forward to better days ahead.

49 WINCHESTER Isaac Gibson—leader of upand-coming southwestern Virginia outfit 49 Winchester— channels plenty of Chris Stapleton’s lived-in grit in “Everlasting Lover,” a twangy, homesick ballad that leads off the country-rock band’s third album, “III.” Throughout the effort, the group covers even more familiar ground that will

please fans of Southern roots heroes like Tyler Childers and Drive-By Truckers, but there’s plenty of originality here, too.

With his hearty voice, Gibson offers compelling takes on the rural grind in songs like “Hays, Kansas” and “Long Hard Life,” and in “The Road Home” he sings from the perspective a hard-working musician missing his better half. He’s probably wishing he could play that one for a rowdy bar crowd right about now.

NOVEMBER 2020 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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PADDLE

RIDING THE TIDE ON LOW COUNTRY’S AWENDAW CREEK

BY MIKE BEZEMEK

I

t was a warm and sunny morning in early spring when we arrived at Awendaw Creek Canoe Launch, the type of day when better-known put-ins across the country would be swamped with paddlers. But we were the only two boaters in sight.

Looking around, I didn’t see much evidence of a topnotch paddling destination. The creek channel was engorged with inky blackwater that moved sluggishly upstream from the peaking tide. It didn’t look particularly inviting for paddling in our intended direction, toward the Intracoastal Waterway.

The wooden boards on the walkway down the sandy bluff were warped and weather beaten. The floating dock was damaged, with one corner jutting skyward and the other underwater. A few reminders of recent hurricanes and that, in Low Country, first impressions can be misleading.

I’d studied the tide charts and knew that within minutes, the tide would start falling. The current would reverse downstream, snaking through plains of golden cordgrass toward the Atlantic Ocean. In the meantime, we prepped our gear and waited for the shift.

To say I never imagined paddling in a place called Low Country would be a major understatement. For a dozen years, I was mostly a whitewater paddler who did occasional flatwater trips with friends. Then my wife and I relocated to a college town near Myrtle Beach.

Surrounded by swamps and a lack of topography lines, I wasn’t particularly pleased with the move.

I quickly identified what I thought were the main outdoor opportunities in the area. A few short hiking 50

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS

trails through what I called the wildlife refuge of lowered expectations. A flatwater section on the Waccamaw River where the excitement came from dodging speedboat wakes. A local dunes trail for mountain biking. And a 5-mile loop through suburban neighborhoods where I could road cycle laps until my brain numbed enough to forget where I lived. Every chance I got, I’d hit the road heading uphill.

Then, one day, a friend shocked me out of my coastal complacency by mentioning Cumberland Island National Seashore, five hours south in Georgia.

After paddling, biking, and hiking around this amazing near-wilderness, I had a sudden realization: I hadn’t given Low Country enough of a chance. I began searching for other adventurous spots I must have missed. One of the first images that popped in my head was a sign on Highway 17 for Awendaw Creek Canoe Launch.

So here we were. When we began paddling at 10 a.m., the current was moving slowly downstream.

Being new to the area, I’d spent some time learning about tides on the Southeast Coast. There are four tides every day, two highs and two lows, with a typical range of about four to five feet around South Carolina’s Low Country. Each rising or falling tide lasts six hours, and the bulk of the water moves through during the middle third of a changing tide, when the current is fastest in either direction.

Sure enough, during our first hour on the falling tide we moved lazily downstream through sweeping meanders between pine forest. Bald eagles perched and herons circled. Fish jumped. I paddleboarded into a narrow side channel before thinking about gators and hustling back out.

Several times we passed beneath the Awendaw Passage Trail on the creek-left bank, which runs for about four miles between the canoe launch and Buck Hall Recreation Area, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.

As we continued downstream, the current quickened and the water level within the creek channel dropped. This revealed cordgrass roots, mud banks, and eventually tidal flats covered by oyster

reefs. A few slightly elevated islands of hardwood trees rose up from the marsh grasses.

These islands are shell middens, built by Native Americans who piled oyster shells above the high tide level. Archaeologists are uncertain about the precise purposes for these platforms. They were probably created for a few reasons, including fishing, camping, religious ceremonies, oystering, and collecting refuse.

In the distance, I spotted a green navigation marker.

Odd, because the Intracoastal Waterway itself was completely hidden from view. When a tugboat passed by, it looked more like a tractor plowing through tallgrass.

Stretching 3,000 miles from Massachusetts to Texas, the ICW is a linked series of channels, bays, and dredged canals. Through Low Country, it follows tidal rivers and inlets between the mainland and the barrier sea islands. Recalling my previous trip out to Cumberland, a thought occurred.

“Maybe we’ll see dolphins today?”

My wife perked up curiously as we approached the waterway. Not much was happening on this sleepy Saturday in late February. A few fishing boats floated about. A single pelican soared across the channel.

Some bored cormorants tried to look busy. We passed the waterfront campground of local paddling outfitter, Nature Adventures Outdoors. But their season was still a few weeks from starting and their floating dock rested on a mudflat.

From my paddleboard, I saw two shapes moving through the water in front of the Buck Hall dock.

“Is that a dorsal fin?”

“No way,” said my wife.

Two bottlenose dolphins were swimming directly toward us, their fins rising every twenty feet. Approaching within 20 feet, they circled playfully around us for a while, before continuing their way south.

After lunch at Buck Hall, while waiting for the current to switch, we paddled back to our vehicle on the rising tide. We’d found a great new Low Country paddling adventure. And two weeks later, we were back.

PHOTO BY MIKE BEZEMEK

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