You’ll want gear that fits perfectly, feels comfortable and will last for the long haul. We hope you’ll choose gear that also holds sustain ability in the highest regard.
Finding what works for you and your plans in nature might take a while. But we think it’s worth it. And if we’ve done our job properly,
you won’t be thinking about your gear at all once you’re on the move, leaving you to explore everything that outdoor life has to offer – at your own pace and unconfined. See you out here!
When winter comes, there’s no cooler place for mountain adventure than North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in Haywood County. There’s skiing for every skill level at Maggie Valley’s Cataloochee Ski Area, and adrenaline pumping sliding and gliding at Tube World.
Or maybe you should take a hike. Literally. Winter hiking offers frozen waterfalls, frost-kissed hollows, panoramic Smoky Mountain views, and the renewing lift of crisp mountain air.
And after all your adventures, cap the day with a craft brew and an extraordinary meal in one of our foodie-friendly mountain towns. How cool is that? In Haywood County, the fun never hibernates.
Plan your adventure at VisitNCSmokies.com.
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OUTDOOR AFRO FOUNDER RUE MAPP often asks people to get their “Nature Swagger” on in the outdoors.
“It’s a phrase that evokes an experience of confidence and awareness of how nature can inform and have a meaningful part of your lived experiences,” she said. “Every day people can tap into that wisdom and awareness to live harmoniously with the natural world, adapt, and find strength through that connection.”
Mapp started Outdoor Afro in 2009 with a singular mission: to create a new narrative representing Black people in spaces where they weren’t traditionally seen in. In the last decade, the organization has grown nationally, helping create connections to nature and nurture Black leaders in local communities.
In November, Mapp launched her latest project, titled with her tagline. "Nature Swagger" is a collection of stories from over 100 contributors, including writers, photographers, and Outdoor Afro leaders. Every entry revels in Black joy found outside.
Mapp worked with each contributor to support their stories. “Through interviews and transcribed recordings, I had to tailor the experience to the contributor’s needs and be flexible to make sure the process was accessible for anyone to participate if they were willing,” Mapp said. “So I removed any barriers I could to help more diverse Black voices be heard.”
BRO caught up with Mapp to discuss changes in the outdoor industry, her new book, and her partnership with REI.
BRO: How have you seen the outdoor industry evolve since you started Outdoor Afro in 2009?
RM: One thing that has been exciting to see over the past decade is that more people are finding their voice and community in the outdoors through
affinity groups. These groups have all together helped the outdoor industry understand the need for more people to engage in the outdoors in different ways that might not have been popularized before.
It’s more than being reactive but instead thoughtful and relational, as well as recognizing that it helps the economics of the industry to be more accessible.
BRO: Can you talk about the origins of your new book, Nature Swagger?
RM: I had a book on my heart for years now. I started as a writer. At 10 years old, I was writing in my Hello Kitty diary, sharing my experiences in nature and reconnecting with those experiences every year after. Over the years, I came into contact with many people and their incredible, everyday stories. I thought it was important to showcase these stories.
Overall, this is a new narrative of Black people as strong, beautiful, and free. During the pandemic, connecting to nature became a challenge for many of us. And while the media focused on peril and pain, this book felt ever more urgent to present to the world. Joy and community in nature felt needed to counterbalance the constant portraits of pain in the mainstream. This is why I deeply appreciated learning that my publisher, Chronicle Books, wanted to do
something highly visual.
For me, it was also important that Nature Swagger connects to all levels of literacy to connect with each story. There are short stories, reflections, and poems from contributors from ages nine to 99, with beautiful photos throughout. Nature Swagger is not just about “peak” experiences—tallest mountain climbed or most strenuous trek—instead, it’s very much about how nature can be a joyous part of anyone’s life.
BRO: Can you talk about some of the Black leaders highlighted in the book?
RM: (Soul Fire Farm’s) Leah Penniman—I love how someone like Leah can navigate urban spaces with awareness of oneself and be transformed through their connection to the earth and share that knowledge with the people.
(Washington, D.C.,-based organizer and National Parks Foundation consultant) Akiima Price—how she saw and experienced destruction in her community and found nature was a tool for people to find healing.
Then, the book shares stories from people who meditate on love. We don’t hear enough of Black people in nature and talking about love—that is a theme that echoes throughout the book.
BRO: Where did you go for inspiration when you needed a break
from working on the book?
RM: My grandson was living with me at the time. He was a pandemic baby. I had a lot of good breaks to spend time with him at parks, and it just felt good to lean into my role as a mother and grandmother during that time.
Around the same time, I also established my for-profit enterprise, Outdoor Afro, Inc., and developed a hike collection with REI Co-op. So there was this strong creative current and focus to lean into. Additionally, my national not-for-profit, Outdoor Afro, was growing rapidly with new staff and a growing board of directors.
BRO: Can you elaborate on the Outdoor Afro X REI Collection? How did this partnership come about?
RM: In 2011, I used to do tabling at the REI Berkeley store to get the word out about Outdoor Afro. Our relationship grew from there. REI played an integral part in those early years, supporting and contributing to our volunteer training program as it grew. REI’s leadership team has always been a true thought partner to make the outdoors more equitable. Those tabling days and more than 13 years of relationship-building with REI Co-Op led to serious conversations to address the unmet needs and cultural barriers for Black people in outdoor gear and equipment.
Hit the slopes this winter at Winterplace Ski Resort. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Winterplace has everything you need for an incredible winter adventure. Here you’ll find 27 slopes, 10 lifts, a terrain park and the largest snow tubing park in West Virginia.
Explore more at WVtourism.com/Winterplace
THE SOUTH WOULDN’T BE THE PRIMARY REGION FEEDING new skiers into the sport if it didn’t have professional ski teachers and great beginner terrain to learn on.
Leaving out all the “nursery areas” where never-evers ride conveyor lifts, true “beginner slopes” are where the experience of skiing really starts. These slopes give budding skiers room to run and, hopefully, even roam. Ski instructor Perry
Alliotti calls this “beginner touring.” The Professional Ski Instructor of Americacertified ski teacher, who has taught at Massanutten and Sugar Mountain, knows “proficiency comes with mileage.”
Alliotti says the best way to get that is to focus on the region’s longer beginner slopes, or resorts where a bunch of artfully interconnected green runs multiply your miles. That approach also makes it likely that even novices get a chance to see the whole mountain, reach the highest peak, and soak up the best views that the region’s resorts offer.
The best of those slopes are wide, with spots to eddy out of the flow of
traffic for a rest. These runs aren’t offlimits to experts, but they’re usually not routes that accomplished skiers need to use. That often eliminates speedsters and stabilizes a slower flow of beginners, reducing the risk of collisions, and enhancing relaxed exploration.
Why pick a top five? Because no one ever goes from beginner to expert in one season and, depending on where you live, it’s nice to know there are inviting places to improve at a variety of southern ski areas. Basically, this list is an invitation for novice skiers and riders to target nearby ski areas based solely on finding the perfect beginner terrain.
Sugar Mountain’s Easy Street is a separate slope with side routes that for a bunch of reasons have beginners coming back for more. This has always been Sugar’s self-contained easy ski zone, the best in the High Country, in fact.
In 2019, Easy Street dramatically improved with the regrading and widening of the slope and installation of a high-speed detachable quad chairlift. On these cutting-edge lifts, the dangling padded chairs release from the lift cable and virtually come to a stop as skiers sit down—the ultimate user-friendly feature
for novices. The chair then re-grabs the cable and shoots to the top, before again letting go to almost stop while skiers stand and ski off. That process simplifies using the lift, inspires skier confidence, reduces falls and lift shutdowns, and gobbles up the lift lines.
Perry Allioti especially likes that the new lift loads right beside Sugar’s teaching area, which allows beginners exiting the conveyor to watch and hear his explanation of how to use the lift that many will try next.
In 2015, Sugar installed a high speed detachable “six pack,” or sixperson chairlift; and this year, the
resort is installing its third high-speed lift, this time, a quad, on intermediate Oma’s Meadow, which has also been widened. In recent years Sugar has replaced another conventional lift and reconfigured two others, reinventing how skiers access the mountain, including the resort’s recently opened, acclaimed newest slope, Gunther’s Way.
Upper and Lower X Trail / Upper and Lower Dobie / Lower Diamond Hill Area
Though not a single separate slope, Wintergreen’s upper cluster of greens offers a concentrated easy area to spread out beside Wintergreen Village and Skyline Pavilion. The longest ride is Upper and Lower Dobie, with direct
service back to the top on the sixperson detachable Blue Ridge Express, the region’s first high-speed six pack. Another serves the expert Highlands slopes.
Big plusses for Wintergreen skiers here include lift views down on the Upper Diamond Terrain park, and easy access crossing under the high speed lift to Lower Diamond Hill, a green leading to Checkerberry Cabin. This cozy on-slope eatery with outdoor decks is a lunch and brew spot a lot like those found at ski areas out West. This winter, Dobie and Diamond Hill also get a significant boost in snowmaking.
Adjacent Upper and Lower X Trail form a looping route left around the Potato Patch teaching area that also
takes beginners past another unique, more western sight, the ski tunnel under the road to Ridgely’s Fun Park and the Plunge Tubing Park. This is where better skiers head under the tunnel to Eagles Swoop and a connecting cluster of mostly intermediate runs.
The South’s only ski resort located five minutes from an interstate highway also boasts a system of interconnected green runs that segregate beginners from the speed and steepness of more difficult terrain.
That starts at the bottom where five beginner lifts serve an expansive teaching area surrounding Winterplace's Resort Center that also includes long and gradual Highland Run. Greens step up from there via chairs to mid-mountain. Skiing down, take easy slope Buttermilk for a left on Country Roads or a right through wooded Panorama Glades, back to the base. If you veer off right from Buttermilk onto Milkshake, just past the snow tubing park and Mountain House eatery, two other chairs soar to the summit high above most of the mountain’s expert terrain, including Nose Dive and Plunge.
From expansive views on the peak, Ridge Runner goes green all the way down to Buttermilk, Milkshake, and the
bottom. Also convenient is the fact that more advanced skiers coming down from the summit can avoid all the beginners following Ridge Runner by using a separate intermediate slope, Compromise. It’s a smartly designed trail system, thanks in part to local skier and Southern ski pioneer Bob Ash.
Hootenanny, Flume, Powder Monkey Area
Aliotti says, “Snowshoe’s Basin slopes are ideally set up for beginner touring.” That happens on green runs that form big exes across the mountain. Between the Powderidge lift on the right, and the Soaring Eagle Express on the left, trails like Hootenanny, Flume, Powderidge, Whistlepunk, Powder Monkey, and Whiffletree, link lift to lift, from one side of the slope system to the other. Also inviting: while the main runs named above crisscross the mountainside, there are also other clusters of green side trails to shake up the tour.
Of course, all those options
create a visual overview of the whole mountain and provide easy access to summit eateries and The Boat House restaurant at the base of the Ballhooter Express. Two of the five Basin lifts, Ballhooter and Soaring Eagle, are high-speed detachable quad chairlifts, another plus for beginners.
Silver Creek is also part of Snowshoe. That nearby resort’s leftmost lifts access a triangular green grouping of Cubb Run, Cant Hook, Skill Builder and Greenhorn, with great views of terrain parks, food at Black Run Sugar Shack, and, shhh, fewer people at busy times.
Two-mile Salamander is the region’s longest ski run, which may argue for it taking the top spot among the South’s greens. Virtually anyone with a lesson or two under their belt can ski or ride it. That length and the “long switchback” design makes it more of a trail and less of a slope, that’s nevertheless also very wide and very gradual.
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Best of all perhaps is that after a few lessons far below on Timberline’s First Flurries teaching area or the cluster of greens just above it, heading for Salamander takes you to Timberline’s summit, a spruce and hoarfrost-covered peak perched on the flank of the alpine-appearing Dolly Sods Wilderness. That gives beginners a big tour of epic scenery. Salamander is the only ski slope in the South that crosses U.S. Forest Service land.
Another great plus; the Canadian forest and heavy snowfall at this elevation offers the chance to weave off trail to the right as you ski, into powdery evergreen glades beside the Dolly Sods, an experience found at ski areas out West. And on the left side at the top, there are a few other named
If you’re an advanced skier or rider, or a cross country or telemark skier, there are backcountry trails that link Salamander into the Sods, permitting a bunch of routes that easily re-enter the slope where it switchbacks left on the long descent to the lodge.
Luckily, in the three years since Timberline was purchased by Indianabased ski company Perfect North, there have been a raft of upgrades at the resort, including the new sixperson chairlift to Salamander’s start.
Best advice for beginners? Take a vacation day if needed, but hit these beginner runs and ski schools during mid-week cold snaps for the best conditions and the most successful possible start to a life on skis.
BY MIKE BEZEMEK
THE TRIP BEGAN WITH A WHITEOUT. I WAS paddling my packraft down the middle of the Crooked River, watching the fog thicken around me. My fatbike was lashed in thirds to the deck, and somewhere beyond, in the swirling whiteness, was Cumberland Island.
After three miles, I tepidly paddled out from the river channel into Cumberland Sound. Soon I couldn’t even see the shore behind me. Hearing the whirring motor of an approaching boat, I swung my red paddle blade over my head.
“Hey, I’m in the water here!” I shouted.
The motor throttled down, and I heard the boat slosh to a near-halt. The faint outline of its hull emerged from the mist nearby. Then it turned and zoomed away into the fog. Phew. That was close.
Bike-rafting to the largest barrier island in the Southeast was not my original plan. There are no roads to Cumberland Island National Seashore,
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just an NPS-affiliated passenger ferry from the quaint town of St. Mary’s, Ga. Once arrived, most visitors hike or backpack on the sandy roads and trails that cross the 18-mile-long island. But bikes are also welcome most places except a few interior foot paths. Pockets of private land remain on the slightly developed southern half of the island, which also has a seaside campground. Meanwhile, the northern half is designated wilderness, where a few primitive campsites can be reserved.
Given this would be my first visit to Cumberland Island, the original plan was to take my fat-bike on the ferry and bike-pack around for four days over New Year’s. But then a government shutdown suspended the service. In my living room, I had pumped up my whitewater packraft and disassembled my fatbike into pieces. It would be a tight fit, but it seemed manageable. The paddle-out from Crooked River State Park was about five miles through channels known for four swift tides per day. With printed maps and tide charts, I hit the road for Georgia.
In the fog-filled Cumberland Sound, I paddled onward, hoping for any glimpse of the island. After a quarter mile that felt much longer, a squat bank of tidal muck and reeds appeared. I exhaled in relief and followed the shoreline north. After accidentally turning down the wrong side channel, I fought the current
back into the main channel. Luckily, I soon found a series of buoys leading to the dock at Plum Orchard. As I approached, an empty private vehicle ferry was departing.
While I carried my equipment to a picnic table, an armadillo playfully snacked on insects in the grass. Nearby was the impressive Wild Plum mansion, once owned by the Carnegie family, steel magnates from Philadelphia. After a debate over conservation versus development, in 1972 the heirs sold most of the island to the National Park Service. While switching from boat to bike, I watched a pair of SUVs arrive—visitors taking advantage of the shutdown to explore the island in private vehicles.
With my fatbike rebuilt, and my gear packed into bike-packing bags, I rode north on the sandy main road into the wilderness, still shrouded in fog. It’s one of the few such areas where bikes are allowed to ride through. Emerald saw palmettos lined the tunnel-like roadway, while massive live oaks, with salt-pruned branches draped in Spanish moss, arched overhead.
At Brickhill Bluff, I set up a primitive basecamp with my backpacking tent and chair. While pumping water from the well, I met my only neighbors, seven sea kayakers who had also paddled from Crooked River State Park for the holiday. Hanging out
together that night, we wondered if we were the only eight campers on the northern half of the island.
Early the next morning, I de-rigged my bikepacking bags and pedaled south on a day ride. Passing by Plum Orchard, I stopped to chat with two older birdwatchers. They had come over with their vehicle on a private ferry and now were admiring a roseate spoonbill and some juvenile storks in a tree-top rookery. Their astute grandchild pointed at dense algae floating on a freshwater pond, where supposedly a 14-foot alligator sometimes lurked around the edges.
“That’s not very fresh,” the boy commented.
I next met four recently arrived canoers who, like me, had brought a copy of “Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland
Island” by Will Harlan. The book tells the story of Carol Ruckdeschel, who lives in a ramshackle compound near the northern tip of the island. A self-taught biologist, she studies local sea turtles and has long advocated for preserving the island.
When I continued south on the main road, an oncoming ATV whizzed past me. The driver was an older woman, grinning and waving, wearing a floppy fishing hat folded back from the wind. Wouldn’t you know? It was Carol Ruckdeschel.
Reaching the southern half of the island, limited signs of development appeared. A line of planted oaks overhanging the road like arched streetlamps. The restored buildings of the Stafford Plantation, still owned by a Carnegie descendent. In the clearing for the old
airstrip, a few wild horses grazed while others galloped. Two young cyclists, riding rental bikes, stopped to say hello. They were staying at the Greyfield Inn, the only private lodging on the island. Curious, I turned in there next, finding a high-class estate of manicured lawns and cozy cottages. After learning the price to stay, I quickly rode away.
The southern road seemed less wild than its northern counterpart but equally impressive. In the bushes, armadillos startled and jumped. A few more private vehicles passed, but everyone was wellbehaved, friendly, driving slowly with heads out the windows, awestruck at the scenery. Reaching the end of the road, I pedaled through the open gates of a formerly wealthy estate.
At Blue Ridge School, we are experts in how boys learn best. The result is a college prep program that guides boys to reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond. Our 750-acre campus at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is home to a renowned Outdoor Program that fosters a respect for nature and leadership skills that last a lifetime.
The ruins of Dungeness were once the largest mansion on the island, rising near its southern tip. The mansion burned in 1959, allegedly by arson. Where once there were windows, now there are empty rectangles and naked brickwork—yet another metaphor for this remarkable and wild island. I imagined a raucous Great Gatsby-like party during the estate’s heyday in the early 20th century, the halls and grounds overflowing with people. A single photographer, with a flashbulb camera, perched on a ladder above the gushing fountain.
I really wanted to capture a photo from that same vantage point (minus all the flappers—the island seems perfect as is). So, I picked up a massive palm frond, fallen from a recent storm, and attached my camera with a GorillaPod. While the timer went off, I tried to minimize the sway like I was hoisting a gymnast. Just then, of all moments on this nearly empty island, a couple walked by and stared at me like I was a 1959 arsonist.
The next 48 hours were a blissful blur. On my way back to camp, I checked out the Sea Camp campground, already planning a return trip with my wife and friends. For the first time in my adult life, I didn’t stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve—instead I rested up for another day trip. Some mornings, I saw the dorsal fins of frolicking dolphins rising in the Brickhill River, just outside my tent.
I rode the beach to the northern tip of the island. Swam in the ocean. Hiked trails through the woodland interior and coastal pine forests. I visited the Settlement, where a small community of African Americans lived after emancipation. I may have mildly tried to stalk Carol Ruckdeschel, but we never crossed paths again. Instead, I bumped into a raft guide I met years ago at the Gauley—he and his partner had the same idea and canoed out for a wilderness weekend.
One day, hearing piano music coming from inside Plum Orchard mansion, I stumbled upon an NPS volunteer behind the keys. She’d stayed on the island to work for free, just like she always did.
“It’s kind of a free for all right now,” said the volunteer, shrugging off the private vehicles, which kept to the main road and beach. “But that’s fine, something different. Everyone’s behaving.”
She was right. On an island with a daily limit of 300 visitors, I saw maybe 50 people per day during the New Year’s holiday shutdown. And unlike a few other parks around the country, I never saw any evidence of opportunistic vandalism—a very welcome sight.
On my fourth day, I shoved myself into that tiny packraft. Then I reluctantly shoved off, with lashed fatbike, into the tidal current. My bike-rafting trip was sadly over. But as luck would have it, only 10 months later, with my wife and three friends, I’d be back.
Adventure?
You’re on the right track.
Discover the beauty and adventure of winter amidst the snowy mountains of Tucker County. With miles upon miles of trails to climb, slopes to shred and plenty of activities for the kids like tubing –exploring top-notch terrain is just at your fingertips. You’re sure to make lasting memories in West Virginia this season.
Explore more at WVtourism.com/TuckerCounty
ICE CLIMBING IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS requires the right conditions. Since many popular crags in the region experience “freeze-thaw” fluctuations all winter long, safety is a big concern when it comes to ascending what can be brittle, unpredictable ice in the South. Because routes are limited, regional climbers tend to be tight-lipped about the best spots to ascend a frozen rock face with crampons and picks. But there are a few wellknown ice climbing routes in the Blue Ridge, many best accessed via guided trips.
The area around Wintergreen in the central Virginia Blue Ridge is great for year-round climbers on both rock and ice. It features routes that are beginner-friendly, but it also offers moderate and advanced options. During the summer and fall, this area is a good after-work crag, drawing small crowds to the 30-120
foot single-pitch climbs. Its close proximity to Wintergreen Ski Resort also makes it a notable destination with plenty of access to creature comforts.
Most of Wintergreen’s ice crags are located along the Blue Ridge Parkway above 3,000 feet. This area features granite cliffs with reliable rock. Temperatures need to be below freezing at the crag for almost a week in order for reliable ice to form.
Pennsylvania holds a number of top East Coast climbing destinations. But arguably one of the best spots in the state is located at the Nockamixon Cliffs Natural Area in Kintnersville. What’s known as the Narrows features 300foot shale cliffs that turn into ice in the dead of winter. But another popular feature of this area is its small approach, as an accessible parking area makes it possible for climbers to make their way from their cars to the climb in just
minutes. But make sure to look out for loose rock both in the parking lot and near your climbs, as scree has been known to drop unexpectedly here. Rob Ginieczki’s “Ice Climbing Pennsylvania” is a great resource for this and other ice crags in the state.
North Carolina is home to one of the tallest ice routes on the East Coast. Located on Celo Knob, the Black Mountains' northernmost peak, Brown Creek Falls provides climbers with 800 feet of grade III sheer ice. Even when the route is frozen, the
water will still probably be flowing, which makes bringing the right gear essential. Due to North Carolina’s moderate temperatures, the climb doesn’t freeze very often. But when it does, it’s one of the top ice routes in the region.
Additional ice climbing routes that are more beginner and intermediatefriendly can be found along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Those who want to keep tabs on conditions in the areas should follow the well-reputed Fox Mountain Guides on Facebook. And the "Southern Fried Ice" guidebook by Michael Crowder provides more beta on the area’s climbs.
Go Guided: Not only are local guides familiar with the best ice climbing spots in the area, they’re also trained to manage risk. And, in some cases, they may even provide gear for your trip. Finding a guide or a mentor is a great way to reduce the level of risk that’s associated with climbing at a new ice crag. A few reputable guiding services in the Blue Ridge Mountains include Blue Ridge Mountain Guides and WILD GUYde Adventures, both based in Virginia, as well as Fox Mountain Guides in North Carolina.
Befriend the Locals: Since ice climbing beta is so guarded, one of the best ways to find information and adhere to the local ethic is by befriending the locals. Employees at regional independent outfitters are often very helpful.
Watch the Weather: Ice climbing in the Blue Ridge Mountains is notoriously fickle. To save yourself from disappointment or danger, keep a close look on the area’s weather to make sure that your routes will be climbable once
WHAT PETE RIPMASTER REMEMBERS MOST ABOUT the moment that irrevocably changed his life was the loneliness.
It was 2014, and the Asheville-based runner was in the vast Alaskan wilderness, somewhere between Knik and McGrath. Days prior, he had set out to complete the Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI) 350, a grueling marathon in which participants must endure sub-zero temperatures, gale-force winds, and waist-deep snow as they navigate the historic Iditarod Trail.
Ripmaster knew finishing the ITI 350 was not
optional. He had to finish to be eligible for the ITI 1000—one of the toughest winter footraces on the planet.
And yet, as he stared out into the blinding white expanse before him, all he could think about was his isolation. It sank into the marrow of his bones like a disease, feasting on scraps of ambition and will. He was left wondering, "How can I move forward when I feel so alone?"
That’s when a snowy owl appeared. Silently, the bird flew to the crown of a tree and looked down at
Ripmaster, its feathers the color of milk. For a few minutes, maybe more—Ripmaster stared back into the owl’s piercing, titanium-yellow eyes and was overwhelmed with a wave of emotion.
He knew then that the creature was not a bird. It was his late mother, sent to soften the loneliness of his journey ahead.
“Her spirit had come to remind me that I wasn’t alone,” says Ripmaster. “The experience changed my whole outlook. All of a sudden, I was an entirely different person.”
After conquering one of the toughest races in the world Asheville Ultrarunner Pete Ripmaster has a new goal—running 100 miles in all 50 states.
Enlivened by the presence of his mother, Ripmaster went on to finish the race, placing last. The next year, he returned to place third. Then, after two failed attempts, the runner emerged as the champion of the ITI 1000, finishing the course in 26 days, 13 hours, and 44 minutes.
Now, the 46-year-old has set his sights on a different challenge: being the first person to run 100 miles in all 50 states. Through what he calls the Owl Run Hundreds project, Ripmaster hopes to raise $50,000 for the Owl Research Institute, a Montanabased nonprofit that works to protect vulnerable species like the bird he saw in Alaska.
“That snowy owl really resonated with me,” the runner says. “Even after I finished the race in 2014, that story stayed in the back of my head for a long time.”
Owl Run Hundreds will be Ripmaster’s second major philanthropic endeavor. From 2008 to 2013, he completed a marathon in every state, raising more than $60,000 for breast cancer research. The project was a way of honoring his mother, Hillary, who died of breast cancer in 2000.
Hillary had always been the “family glue,” says Ripmaster. She was smart, honest, and even-keeled—a counterbalance to Ripmaster’s father, Chris, who struggled with alcoholism and depression.
“My mom was my sounding board for life,” says Ripmaster. “I opened up to her about everything.”
When Hillary was diagnosed in 1996, Ripmaster was floundering. A year prior, he had left home for the University of Kansas, where he began rushing a fraternity. But after two semesters, he left to follow Widespread Panic around in his truck.
“I was living a hollow existence,” Ripmaster remembers. “I was pushing the boundaries, going down paths that would either lead me to jail or death.”
Hillary worried for her son. “She thought I was following in the footsteps of my dad,” says Ripmaster. “I was so immature, entitled, and selfish. I felt like the world revolved around me.”
Two days before Hillary’s death, Ripmaster promised her he would straighten up and make something of himself. He has spent the past 22 years trying to keep that promise.
In 2007, after a few collective miles of trail running, Ripmaster decided he would run a marathon. It was all on a whim. He had his wife, Kristen, drop him off at the Blue Ridge Parkway and he just started running toward Mount Pisgah. After 13.1 miles, he turned around.
“That’s what got me started,” he says.
Since then, Ripmaster has made running his life’s purpose. Already, he has tackled more than 20 states as part of his Owl Run Hundreds project, raising nearly $30,000.
Some of his runs have been official races, like the Pinhoti 100 in Alabama. But most have been what Ripmaster calls a “homemade hundred.” In South Dakota, for instance, Ripmaster started and finished his 100-mile slog at Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, the place where vigilante Wild Bill Hickok was murdered in 1876.
In other states, he has simply repeated a 10-mile loop 10 times. It’s not all that exciting, Ripmaster admits. But with thousands of miles under his belt, the runner knows he has already impressed the people who matter most: his wife, his two daughters, and his mother.
“I know my mom would be amazed,” Ripmaster says, his voice cracking with emotion. “She would be proud that I found something that’s not easy— something that fights back.”
To learn more about Pete Ripmaster’s Owl Run Hundreds project, visit peteripmaster.com. You can also follow him on Instagram @owl_run_hundreds.
When Ripmaster isn’t traipsing through the Alaskan wilderness, he’s running near his Asheville home. Here are three of his favorite winter trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Difficulty: Challenging Length: 9.7 miles round-trip
If you want to gobble up some vertical gains, Kitsuma and Point Lookout Loop in Old Fort is a tasty option. Running along I-40, the trail greets you with 14 thigh-busting switchbacks and then a second steep, but brief, climb. From there, you’ll follow a ridge before descending to the Old Fort Picnic Area.
Difficulty: Hardest Length: 67 miles point-to-point
Few runs compare to the epicness of Pitchell: a 67-mile route following the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from Mount Pisgah to Mount Mitchell. Dishing up 16,000 feet of elevation gain and a hearty dose of gnar, “Pitchell is just awesome,” says Ripmaster.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate Length: 25 miles total
Believe it or not, Ripmaster isn’t one for brutal training plans. “All too often, runners show up to the starting line already tired,” he says. With this in mind, Ripmaster frequents Warren Wilson College, where he can piecemeal a mellow afternoon run using the school’s 25-mile trail system.
I HAVE NO FONDER WINTER MEMORY THAN summiting the frozen top of Mount Mansfield with my wife outside of Burlington, Vermont, one cold February. Snow-covered spruce trees, solid frozen creeks, and icy gusts painted the mood of that day. The ground, covered in two feet of snow, could not have been traversed without my trusty snowshoes. Strapped and ready, we pushed through the powder and made it to the top of the tallest mountain in the state in a matter of hours, rewarded with a joyful butt-slide down the entire mountain to where we began.
It was a wintery adventure for the ages and when I returned home to western North Carolina, I thought “Why the heck don’t I do this where I live?” In my search, I realized that Southern Appalachia is home to some truly incredible places to explore via snowshoe in the coldest months of winter. Though a two-foot snowfall is rarer here than farther north, there are some prime spots in the region to explore with snowshoes when the conditions are right.
Few places are as splendid to wander in the winter than the icy, snowpacked Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenic road has many closures during the winter, but these only exclude motor vehicles. Hikers, crosscountry skiers, and snowshoers may enter and explore no matter the depth of snow.
Over the years I have trekked near my home across the Craggy and Black Mountain ranges in the dead of winter and found pure solitude. The only signs of life along the road were the bobcat and coyote tracks I followed from Bull Gap high up into the mountains near Asheville. Along the road, which goes from Rockfish Gap, Va., 469 miles to Cherokee, N.C., there are countless trails that spur off, allowing winter adventurers to take smaller wooded paths. Along such trails I’ve encountered frozen waterfalls, massive ice sheets, and five foot icicles.
The parkway is just a day's drive or less for many
people across the region. However, it is important to locate the access points to high elevation areas, since these tend to be the places where the snow falls and sticks. The Blue Ridge Parkway has a handy interactive map (blueridgeparkway.org/parkway-map/) that allows visitors to see the access points and road closures year-round.
Anyone who has spent time in the Smokies knows their glory. While most visitors come in the spring, summer, and autumn, winter is a uniquely beautiful time to hit the park. Tourists are few, many roads and trails are closed, and for several months the most visited National Park in the country is a place where one can find solitude.
Clingmans Road, which leads to breathtaking views of the park and surrounding mountains, is closed through the winter, making for a wide path to navigate via snowshoe. Like the parkway, there are multiple trails that spur off from the road, including the Appalachian Trail. If there is sufficient snowpack, you can snowshoe the crest of the Smokies and see some of the most epic parts of the park in their wintery state.
Newfound Gap Road is typically kept plowed through the winter all the way up to the parking lot, making cold-season access easy. If there is fresh snow and Newfound Gap Road is closed temporarily, it’s a prime spot to whip out the snowshoes and hike up the mountain.
As with any of these spots, it is important to keep an eye on the weather and make sure that there is ample snow before setting out on this type of trek. This is made particularly easy when heading to Newfound Gap, as the park has a camera that takes live shots every 15 minutes and posts them to air-resource.net/ grsmnfgap/.
In southeastern West Virginia lies a massive and remote wildland called the Cranberry Wilderness. This nearly 50,000-acre forest has an elevation profile ranging from 2,400 to 4,600 feet. Anywhere above 3,000 feet can get regular snows throughout the winter, and this off-the-beaten-track setting makes for a perfect overnight snowshoeing getaway. There are many loops in the wilderness that range in length from 10 to 30 miles, giving winter backpackers the perfect routes to plan overnight trips.
Because it is a vast wilderness, some trails in the Cranberry are overgrown and markers can be hard to spot in the snow, so some map reading and orienteering skills will likely be required. Additionally, it is crucial to bring a vehicle that can handle winter conditions, as Highway 150, the main access road to hiking trails, is not maintained during winter. Though challenging, with proper planning this is a great place for experienced snowshoers to find some solitude.
Many ski resorts in the Blue Ridge have designated trails for snowshoeing.
Canaan Valley Resort in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia holds 35 kilometers of marked and ungroomed trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, while
Sugar Mountain Resort offers one-hour guided snowshoeing tours on its vast acreage in the North Carolina High Country.
Pocahontas County is a true vacation destination with its surreal beauty and charming mountain towns. This season, immerse yourself in the local scene and savor one of the sweetest experiences during the Mountain State Maple Days on February 18 and March 18. Explore maple farms with experiential tours, educational activities, product samples and more.
WVtourism.com/PocahontasCounty
The beginning of endless discovery.
ON DECEMBER 5, 2021, SCOTT
BENEROFE embarked on an intense undertaking that would lead to months of summiting peaks in whiteout conditions, breaking trail for hours at a time, slogging under a 70-pound backpack, and fording icy rivers in the midst of winter. His southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) was completed on May 5, 2022—exactly five months after he began this journey of self-reflection on a trail near and dear to his heart.
After thru-hiking the A.T. northbound in 2019, what made you turn around and want to do it again, but as a southbound winter-thru-hike?
I wanted to spend a winter outside. I realized this would be an awesome chance to revisit the trail and see it in another light. I have all these memories over all these different phases of my life in these mountains. On my most recent thru-hike in 2022, I remember as I was going further south how I felt coming north back in 2019. The closer I got to Georgia, the younger the shadow of myself got and it was interesting to reconnect with how I felt during those early days on trail. I had more to get out of the trail, and this was a good way to do it. I never felt like I really had my back up against the wall in 2019, and I wanted to see what I was capable of.
Did you ever consider quitting? How did you overcome challenges on the trail?
Almost every day. It was really tough to grapple with just how slowly I was moving. The days were shorter, so I hiked in the dark a lot. My pack, at its heaviest, was about 70 pounds. For the first two months, I averaged about nine miles per day. Some days, I’d be breaking trail and/
or weathering a storm, and could only muster two or three miles for the day. When you don’t see or talk to another person for almost eight days, you have to be your own support system.
Every morning, I’d wake up and my body ached. It’s so bitterly cold and I know exactly what it’s going to take to get through the day. It felt like a tsunami every morning, just too much to handle. My head would already be at the end of the day, and I was still sitting in my sleeping bag in the morning, not knowing how to get there. I had to learn to not let myself spiral out of control in those moments, how to be kinder to myself. Every day I got through these challenges made me feel more capable.
Tell us about some of your favorite moments on trail.
I just love hiking. The days are shorter in the winter, but that also meant I got to see almost every sunrise and sunset. I was always hiking late and the stars were beautiful. I was fording one of the rivers in Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness, breaking through ice, and wading through freezing water, and I just stopped in the middle of the river for a second. I looked around in awe—it was sort of a surreal moment where I really understood the gravity of what I
was doing. I love feeling so small in this huge wilderness. Just feeling the power of everything around me was incredible. Having those really hard moments out there were also beautiful too, in their own way. They didn’t feel that way in the moment, but that’s why I’m out there— for the difficult moments.
You claim you’re just an ordinary guy who accomplished an extraordinary feat. Elaborate on this.
I’m just some dude who really likes hiking. It’s as simple as that. It’s hard to compare my winter thru-hike to anybody else’s, winter or not. At the end of the day, what it all boils down to is getting what I wanted out of my hike and having a good time. This mindset takes a lot of pressure off of needing to go faster or do more extreme things. Check in with your intentions. Are you doing this hike for the right reasons? It forced me to check in with where my boundaries are and not feel bad about that.
What did you learn from this trip and how did it change you?
I had to practice my inner dialogue. At the end of the day, instead of beating myself up for not handling something better, I would take a step back and recognize it was hard, and give myself
a little more grace. This was a chance to sit with everything going on in my life, good and bad, and give myself the space to think. We get so busy in our lives and it’s too easy to cut out time alone. I really leaned into letting everything come up. But there's nothing quite like standing on a mountain with everything I need on my back and looking at the horizon, only to show up on that horizon days later. It’s humbling, really. This experience really changed the way I treat myself, and helped me discover what I’m capable of, mentally and physically.
THE SOUTHERN LANDSCAPE LENDS ITSELF TO secrecy. Its hidden hollers and dark forests are shadowy places.
But it’s time for the South to spill one of its most important secrets. It’s a little-known hush-hush that should be shouted from the Southern Appalachian mountaintops. And it should be a source of pride that runs as deep as college football: when it comes to biological diversity, the South is #1.
Most folks think that the purple mountain majesties out West shelter the most wildlife. The vast Western landscapes are home to a lot of large, charismatic wildlife. But the most biologically diverse place in the country is actually right here in our backyard: the South is the most species-rich spot in the U.S. and a global biodiversity hotspot.
We’re ancient. We’re one of the oldest places on the planet. The Appalachian Mountains first formed around 500 million years ago, which has given life a long time to flourish and diversify.
The South also escaped thousands of years of Ice Age glaciers that covered most of the continent. During that time, many carpetbagger species from the North found refuge here.
In addition, the South has an astonishing diversity of landscapes: atop the Southern Appalachian summits are cold-adapted species commonly found in Canada. Just a few hours away, the marshes, estuaries, and rivers of the Southern coastal plain are teeming with life.
We’re also hot, wet, and wild. Parts of the South are temperate rain forests with more annual rainfall than Seattle. As a result, the South is a global hub of aquatic species—especially salamanders, mussels, crayfish, aquatic reptiles like sea turtles, and fishes. We have the most aquatic species of any temperate region in the world.
Why are we not celebrating the astonishing biodiversity that resides here? We have a lot of bragging rights at stake.
For example, the South is the salamander capital of the world. More species of sallies are found here than anywhere else on the planet.
When it comes to fish, trout and bass are the most popular, but the South also harbors nearly 500 other species of fish—that’s 62 percent of all fish species in the U.S. They display a stunning variety of colors and adaptations. One group of fish called darters talk to each other using underwater knocks, groans, and purrs. Virgin births have been documented in Florida sawfish.
The South also boasts 269 species of mussels— more than 91 percent of all mussels nationally. Mussels are the ultimate impostors. These bivalves are usually fastened to rocks and don’t move around much, so they have devised a dastardly deceptive way to transport their babies: they create “lures” out of their fleshy parts to look like minnows. Mussels have engineered these fake minnows even though they are completely blind. When an unsuspecting fish tries to eat the fake minnow, the female mussel sprays her fertilized eggs into the mouth and gills of the fish. That host fish carries her babies to other parts of the river.
Does any of this matter? Who cares about a bunch of slimy salamanders hiding under rocks? What do mussels do for us?
It turns out that mussels are better than Brita when it comes to water filtration. Mussels clean the water we drink: a single mussel filters up to 20 gallons of water a day. Mussels once blanketed riverbeds by the billions, but today, they are disappearing faster than any other group of animals.
Pound for pound, salamanders are the largest source of biomass in Southern forests. They are feeding a lot of the critters that feed and nourish us. And fishing is synonymous with Southern pride—whether casting into a lake or fly-fishing in Appalachian headwaters.
There’s no clearer example than Alabama. Home to way more than football championships, ‘Bama also has the most freshwater fish and turtles of any other state in the country.
Unfortunately, the South is tops in another wildlife category: most endangered species. We lead the nation in total number of endangered species (with the Hawaiian Islands close behind). Southern endangered species
include everything from the orangefoot pimpleback pearlymussel to the red wolf: The South is home to the last red wolves, and fewer than 15 remain in the wild.
Dams, logging, mining, and development are the main causes. Climate change and invasive species are making things even worse. We are facing an extinction crisis.
What can we do? Taking pride in our Southern natural heritage is a good place to start.
Perhaps we can extend Southern hospitality to the species clinging to survival. We can make space for them and the last scraps of their habitat, no matter the cost.
And in a region that prides itself on deep roots, maybe we can defend the generations of native residents who have been here long before we were.
We’ve got a lot to be proud of. Let’s fight for it.
Two salamander species found only in the South have recently been proposed for Endangered Species Act protections. These sallies have called Southern Appalachia home for tens of millions of years, but they could soon go extinct without urgent help.
The yellow-spotted woodland salamander lives only on rock outcrops in central Appalachia—the same places targeted for mountaintop removal coal mining. Yes—that’s still happening. We’re still blowing up mountains to reach the coal seams below. 56 new mountaintop removal permits were issued in the past three years—all in the yellow-spotted woodland salamanders’ range. Only a few thousand yellowspotted woodland salamanders remain.
The Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander is found only in the 14-mile Hickory Nut Gorge just southeast of Asheville, N.C. Development and habitat loss are the biggest threats to this species, and climate change is making things worse for this gorgeous, green-splotched arboreal salamander. It has been clinging to these gorge walls for millions of years. To keep holding on, it needs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list it as an endangered species.
The region’s rich biodiversity isn’t well known, but we should be shout ing it from the mountaintops.A YELLOW SPOTTED WOODLAND SALAMANDER. PHOTO BY KEVIN HUTCHESON
BY MARY BETH SKYLIS
A dip in a hot spring hits just right after spending a chilly day in the mountains. The water heats your core and relaxes your muscles while you sit back and unwind. While the Blue Ridge doesn’t hold as many hot springs as the backcountry forests of the West, there are some options in the South for idyllic cold-weather soaks. Unlike many western springs, most of the accessible hot springs in our neck of the woods can be found closer to creature comforts like resorts, which means that outdoor lovers can pamper themselves while they enjoy the warm waters.
Hot Springs, N.C., was aptly named after Native Americans discovered pockets of mineral water at the confluence of the French Broad River and the Spring Creek. Today visitors can head to the Hot Springs Resort Spa, which manages the only natural mineral hot springs in the state of North Carolina. Set in a small mountain town, the resort offers a hot tub-style experience with 100-degree water that can therapeutically relax stiff muscles and increase circulation. Tubs can be reserved by the hour.
Virginia is home to two well-known hot springs, located at the Jefferson Pools in Bath County (currently closed for renovation until 2023 or 2024), and the Omni Homestead Resort in the quaint town of Hot Springs. The latter features two outdoor pools that can be accessed year-round. The Allegheny Springs were developed into a two-acre waterpark, while the Serenity Garden Pool provides a relaxing experience for those aged 18 and up. Those who head to these hot springs can stay in one of the Homestead’s upscale rooms, and,
Experience extraordinary lakeside dining against the backdrop of Toxaway’s fascinating history, including antique wooden boats, timeless photos and a historic caboose and firetruck.
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D.D. Bullwinkel’s Outdoors & Moose
Tracks Footwear is your local go to for gear, apparel & footwear. Serving as WNC’s destination for the outdoors for 28 years.
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Discover holiday magic in a town that knows a thing or two about making the season bright.
Welcome to a Transylvania County landmark, family-owned and much loved local eatery celebrating a half-century of great food and down-home hospitality.
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when the snow falls, earn a soak by skiing all day on the resort’s nine trails.
West Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains hold the rejuvenating mineral waters of White Sulfur Springs, which have been a Southern destination for more than two centuries. The springs are now enclosed on the ground of the spa at the Greenbrier Resort, which sits on a sprawling 11,000 acres and includes 710 guest rooms and 20 restaurants and lounges. The Greenbrier Spa was first built in 1913 around the White Sulfur Springs and current visitors experience an average temperature of 85 degrees during their soaks. The surrounding Greenbrier Valley also holds an abundance of recreation opportunities, including hiking in the remote Big Draft Wilderness and biking on the 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail.
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Berkeley Springs is known as “America’s First Spa,” as visitors including George Washington
have been seeking out the area’s warm mineral waters for their healing properties since the mid-1700s. The hot springs are found inside of Berkeley Springs State Park and those seeking warm waters have multiple options for soaking, including a main bathhouse and a historic Roman Bath House on the park’s north end that holds nine private walk-in tubs available for private use by the half hour. The park also has open pools filled with runoff from the springs. Also appealing: soaks at Berkeley Springs are priced in the $30 range.
Know Temperature Ranges Before You Go: Since hot springs are created by geothermal heat, they come in a lot of different shapes, sizes, and temperatures. For example, hot springs that are situated near volcanoes may produce extra hot water, making them unsafe to use. Other hot springs may be warm or lukewarm since they’re further removed from the thermal heat. Most developed hot springs hold mineral water mixed with cooler water to maintain safe temperatures for guests. But those who are sensitive to heat should check the spring’s temperatures prior to submerging themselves.
Know the Local Etiquette: The culture of each hot spring is unique and etiquette varies at different locations. In some places, nudity is welcome. In others, it’s strictly prohibited. Some resorts also offer gender-specific pools.
Bring Water: Hot springs will make you sweat just like a hot tub does. So it’s important to bring water, and pay attention to how much time you’re spending in the spring. Staying in a hot tub or hot spring for too long can potentially cause overheating, raising your body’s core temperature over 98.6 degrees.
This winter, escape the daily hustle and bustle to live your adventure in Berkeley County. Explore snowy wide-open expanses, dine on local delicacies or simply cozy up with a book in a cottage in the woods. It’s all awaiting you in Almost Heaven. Explore more at WVtourism.com/Martinsburg
You’ll get into the winter scene here.Beacon Trail Overlook
While Massanutten is a four-season destination, there’s nothing quite like seeing its trails covered in a fresh layer of snow. This family and dogfriendly resort has all of the amenities on hand to make your stay an action-packed adventure or a relaxing getaway.
Over a dozen runs and eight lifts will keep you plenty busy during your visit. Beginners will feel safe on Southern Comfort while experts will feel the thrill kick in as they ride Paradice down the mountain. The 4,100-foot-long, black-diamondrated run boasts moguls on one side and outstanding views the entire way down.
Whether you’re skiing or snowboarding, Massanutten’s rental shop has everything you need for a day on the mountain. Looking to finetune your skills or get a first-timer on the slopes? The resort offers private lessons, group lessons, and a children’s program on site.
When you’re not on the slopes, make sure to check out the ice skating rink and tubing run as you revel in the winter wonderland. There’s even more fun by the water when you visit the heated pools in the recreation centers or the Indoor WaterPark with its water slides and lazy river.
This winter, the resort’s annual Snow Moon Fest will happen on March 3-5, 2023. Between the torchlight slope parade, fireworks, 4K on the Fairway Race/Walk, an Arctic Plunge, and kids’ activities, the whole family will have a blast celebrating the end of the season.
NEW APRÈS SKI
VA • 37 inches of average snowfall • 4 beginner, 7 intermediate, and 4 expert trails, plus 2 terrain parks.
Three new trails—Mueller’s Mile, Ridgecrest, and Slot—opened this season for more fun on the slopes. Stayed tuned for even more new trails coming in 2023 and 2024, including a double black diamond. An additional 84 new semi-automatic HKD low-energy snow guns and 21,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe means the powder will stay fresh out on the mountain.
FUN FACT
Spotsylvania is celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2021 with a series of programs and events throughout the year!
There are plenty of spots around the resort to relax and warm up. Sit by the fire slope-side at Base Camp, or warm up inside at Encounters Lounge in the ski lodge. A short drive from the lodge you can find hand-crafted pizza, chicken dumplings, and more at Campfire Grill. Work together as a team to solve the mystery in the immersive escape rooms or treat yourself to a relaxing day at the spa. massresort.com
As temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall, ski season is heating up at Snowshoe Mountain. Located at 4,848 feet above sea level, you won’t find powder like this anywhere else in the region. It’s time to pack your bags and head to Pocahontas County for an adventure you won’t want to miss.
Novices should start at Silver Creek where they’ll find the trails are wide, mellow, and lightly trafficked while intermediate skiers can head out to the Basin for some fun on Gandy Dancer, Spruce, and Skip Jack. Advanced skiers looking for a thrill will find the best runs in the Western Territory. Cupp Run, the resort’s crown jewel, was designed by Olympian Jean-Claude Killy. With 1,500 feet of vertical descent over 1.5 miles, it’s a run you’ll want to ride again and again. Thirteen lifts and five terrain parks with all types of features mean you can fill your days with fun and powder. You might even try something new with night skiing or uphill skiing at Silver Creek.
Make sure to reserve your equipment rentals before your trip or check out one of the retail shops in the mountaintop village. The Mountain Adventure Center is the best spot to demo new skis or boards if you’re in the market for new gear. The mountain
also offers lessons and clinics for firsttimers and seasoned riders looking to hone their skills.
Plus, with events and activities throughout the year, this is a destination you can return to no matter the season. Gather with friends for the most exciting cycling action at the only UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in the U.S. or jam along to your favorite songs at 4848 Festival.
Pickin’ & Pedalin’ Festival combines fun on bikes and great live music with plenty of cold beer and delicious food. Then you’re off on your own to explore, whether it’s riding the IMBA certified bike park, paddleboarding the lake, or taking in the sights from the scenic chairlift.
There’s always more to the mountain when you visit Snowshoe.
The Snowshoe team has been hard at work this fall getting ready for another season of stoke. In addition to revamping the Skidder beginner slope and adding automated snowmaking fans throughout the park, the resort has rolled out a new mobile app that will allow you to buy tickets, track your stats, navigate the mountain, and check the snow report with ease. When you’re done on the slopes, sit down
for a meal of classic Italian dishes at the new Al Dente Ristorante located in the Mountain Lodge. This place just keeps getting better every year.
While the resort may center around the slopes, there’s so much more to discover beyond the trails. Cruise around the
• 150-180 inches of average snowfall
• 24 beginner, 20 intermediate, and 16 expert trails, plus five freestyle terrain parks and four glade areas
winter wonderland by way of snowmobile, off-road vehicle, horse, or sleigh as you take in the sights and sounds of the resort. The whole family will love tubing down the mountain or playing in the Bear’s Den fun zone while the adults can choose from a variety of classic apres bars, including Hoot’s, Junction Ale House, and Sugar Shack.
When you’re ready to turn in for the night, take advantage of slopeside lodging options for easy access to all of the mountain’s activities. There’s something for everyone, from studio condos to six-bedroom houses, so invite as many friends as you want.
Rising amongst the mountains of Virginia, The Omni Homestead is renowned for its hospitality, elegance, and comfort. This winter, treat yourself to a peaceful getaway that will leave you feeling rejuvenated.
The Allegheny Mountains are beautiful this time of year with a blanket of snow. While staying at the resort, you’ll have access to ski and snowboard rentals as well as private and group lessons. Make sure to hit Upper Main for beautiful views of the valley.
• 30 inches of average snowfall
• 3 beginner, 5 intermediate, and 1 expert trail
• 60 inches of average snowfall
• 4 beginner, 9 intermediate, and 2 expert trails
The historic Warm Springs Pools are reopening this December. Naturally warm, mineral-rich waters feed the two bathhouses, helping melt the stress away.
When you’re done soaking in the springs, there are a whole host of activities to try, including carriage rides, sporting clays, ice skating, tubing, archery, massages at the spa, and the Homestead S’mores Express. Guests ages six to 12 can try out the mini snowmobiles at the ski area while the adults in your party should check out the Virginia Wine Experience to enjoy a specially curated flight of Virginia wines. omnihotels.com/hotels/ homestead-virginia
Nestled in the ancient mountains of southwest Virginia, the charming town of Saltville welcomes birders of all ages to experience the winter migration in person. Located just a few miles off of I-81 near the highest peaks of Virginia, it’s an easy three-hour drive from metro areas like Asheville, Winston-Salem, and Roanoke.
Lake Drive provides multiple spots to pull over and watch for waterfowl from your car, while the Helen Williams Barbrow Interpretive Trail is a great spot to learn about the area’s history dating back to the Ice Age. The true gem is the Saltville Well Fields, home to a rare inland marsh habitat, where you might spot Great Blue Herons, Lesser Yellowlegs, Redheads, Golden-Crowned Kinglets,
Blue-Winged and Green-Winged Teal, Northern Pintails, and Yellow-Rumped Warblers.
Pick up a famous footlong hotdog from Buck’s Drive-In, one of the oldest drive-ins in Virginia, after a long day outside. It’s easy to find a cozy spot to relax at the end of the day. Spend a quiet night surrounded by nature at Old Rich Valley Cabin or Spenceville Farms
The most certain thing about birding in Saltville is that you’re never really certain what you’re going to see! exploresaltville.com
This winter, pack up the whole family and head out for a snowy getaway at Wolf Ridge Ski Resort. Skiers and snowboarders, young and old, will love this family-friendly destination in the mountains of North Carolina.
A variety of runs, equipment rentals, lessons, and a tubing hill make it easy for everyone to enjoy the mountain. The fun doesn’t stop after the sun goes down as lights lining the slopes allow for some epic nighttime powder runs.
Once the snow has melted, you can return to Wolf Ridge for mountain biking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, caving, and hiking.
APRÈS SKI
Hungry after all that winter adventuring? Head to the resort cafeteria for a bite to eat. They’ve got everyone covered with a menu full of salads and burgers, plus classic and dessert pizza pies.
When it comes to finding cozy lodging, there are endless opportunities to choose from with amazing views. A range of vacation rentals, Airbnbs, and hotels make it easy to travel on a budget.
Find your winter adventure at The Wolf! skiwolfridgenc.com
No matter what type of winter adventure you’re looking for, Shenandoah County has a spot away from the crowds.
There’s a host of activities to enjoy at Bryce Resort, from skiing and snowboarding to ice skating and tubing. You can even take a sunset snowshoeing trek around the resort with Rev3 Endurance. Gear and guides will be provided as you take in the slopes after hours.
You never know what wintery sights you’ll see on a hike in George Washington National Forest or Seven Bends State Park. When you’re done on the trails, warm up inside at one of the eight wineries in the county as you taste a flight by the cozy fire
Don’t forget to sample the local fare, like a warm, homemade biscuit from Freed’s Biscuits or European dishes with a Latin fire at Rhouse. During the ski season, the Copper Kettle at Bryce Resort is the place to be, featuring a menu full of seasonal ingredients and live entertainment in the bar.
Find a quiet spot to rest at the end of the day, whether it’s a cozy vacation rental or a comfy winter cottage at Shrine Mont. It’s all waiting for you in Shenandoah County. visitshenandoahcounty.com
PHOTO CREDITS TO MONICA HOELWhile temperatures are dropping, don’t let the colder weather stop you from visiting the gorgeous mountains of Dawsonville, Ga. Take advantage of the less crowded trails and views for miles as you make memories during your winter getaway.
No visit to Georgia is complete without a stop at Amicalola Falls State Park
Home to the state’s tallest cascading waterfall, the 729-foot Amicalola Falls, it’s easy to see why it’s referred to as one of the seven natural wonders of Georgia. Other highlights include the southernmost terminus of the Appalachian Trail, including the eight-mile Approach Trail to Springer Mountain, plus an additional ten hiking trails in the 829-acre park.
Anglers can find a quiet spot on the water to cast a line. Follow the Edge of the World Trail, a 2.5-mile nature trail with an ADA-accessible boardwalk along Amicalola Creek, to the class II-IV rapids at the end of the trail. This popular fishing spot is a fee-user area, so a fishing license or Georgia Lands Pass is required. Cool temperatures also mean there’s still trout to catch on the Etowah River flowing through Dawson Forest.
Back on land, head out to Etowah Valley Sporting Clays for a day of clay, skeet, trap, and five stand shooting. Multiple courses of varying difficulties mean beginners and veterans alike will have fun on the 150 acres. Lessons and youth programs are available on-site. Plan a return visit around one of
GA
Dawsonville’s exciting upcoming events, like the challenging Mountain Madness 15K Trail Run in the spring and the popular Fausett Farms Sunflower 5K and Fun Run in the fall. No matter the season, it’s always a good time to visit Dawsonville.
When you’ve had enough of the outdoors, there’s still plenty to keep you occupied. Visit the North Georgia Premium Outlets, featuring more than 140 stores, for up to 65 percent off some of your favorite brands. Fill up on dishes from the eclectic menu at The Blue Bicycle, a chefowned restaurant where tastes of France and the South come together.
Then, head downtown for a stop at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Museum to learn about Dawsonville’s role as the “Birthplace of Stock Car Racing,” as well as other local restaurants and shops.
While Dawsonville has plenty of lodging options, there’s nothing like booking a stay close to the action. At Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, you can choose from a room with a mountain view or a cabin nestled in the woods. The park also offers an
additional 24 wooded campsites and RV sites or a luxurious stay in a fully-furnished safari tent at Timberline Glamping. Don’t forget to visit Cascades, the onsite restaurant, for panoramic views while you dine on southern classics.
The more adventurous traveler may spend the night in a place that’s not just a lodge–but an experience. The Len Foote Hike Inn is Georgia’s only
backcountry lodge, only accessible by a five-mile trail from the top of Amicalola Falls. You can travel light: bring a change of clothes, layers for the weather, and toiletry items, and the inn will provide you with everything else you may need. Bond with other hikers during the two family-style meals served daily in the dining hall. During your stay, you will have easy access to all that Chattahoochee National Forest has
to offer. There are nearly 450 miles of hiking trails within the 750,000-acre forest, which means there is no limit to your exploration.
One visit to Dawsonville in the winter, and you’ll be making plans for next year.
Sign up for a race or attend a festival this winter and spring at one of the many outoor happenings across the region. Check out some of our top picks here and online at blueridgeoutdoors.com
Winter Brewfest
December 17, 2022
Snowshoe, West Virginia
Snowshoe's annual Winter Brewfest is the ultimate après experience. Ski all day and then get ready to sample from a smorgasbord of IPA's lagers, porters, ciders and everything else you can think of. This year's event will also feature live music from Kristen Federer and the Shane Meade Trio
SNOWSHOEMTN.COM
Sunset Snowshoeing Tours
December 29, 2022 - January 22nd, 2023 - February 5th, 2023
Basye, Virginia
These guided snowshoe excursions are a great way to experience winter in the mountains. Event includes snowshoes, trekking poles and a guided tour on the slopes after hours. Post-adventure drink voucher for Copper Kettle Restaurant located at the base of the slopes (hot cocoa or an adult beverage).
REV3ENDURANCE.COM
Countdown in the Village at Beech Mountain Resort December 31, 2022 Beech Mountain, North Carolina
Countdown to 2023 at Beech Mountain Resort, beginning at 7PM. with the Red Bull DJ Party. Enjoy beer and wine from Beech Mountain Brewing Co., hot chocolate from First Chair Coffee Shop, and grab pizza from Brick Oven Pizzeria’s food truck before the fireworks at midnight. Free.
December 31, 2022 Marion, North Carolina
Ring in 2023 in downtown Marion, NC. This street celebration takes place on December 31st between 9:00 pm and midnight. Horse-drawn carriage rides, scavenger hunt, 5k Resolution Run, costume contest, mini train rides for the kids, and at midnight we drop a giant gold nugget from the sky!
BLUERIDGETRAVELERS.COM
New Year's Eve at Upper Crust Pizza December 31, 2022 Wintergreen Resort, Virginia
All ages are welcome to ring in 2023 with us at Wintergreen Resort inside Upper Crust Pizza! Fireworks will launch at 8:30pm and Mad Maxx & The Groove Train Band will be playing at Upper Crust from 9PM12:30AM! Food and drink will be available for purchase.
WINTERGREENRESORT.COM
College Nights Special
January - March, 2023
Massanutten, Virginia
Select nights from January through March, college students can ski or snowboard at a discounted price with valid college ID. Visit massresort.com/ ski for full details.
MASSRESORT.COM
January 13-16, 2023
Hot Springs, Virginia
Join us for special activities to celebrate the long winter weekend at The Omni Homestead Resort. From outdoor winter sports to indoor culinary experiences and craft classes there is something for every member of the family.
OMNIHOTELS.COM
PRIDE Weekend
January 20-22, 2023
Snowshoe, West Virginia
You don't want to miss out on Snowshoe's first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride weekend! The event will include parties, DJs, Queens, a dual slalom Drag Race, and more!
SNOWSHOEMTN.COM
Ribs & Jibs
January 21, 2023 Wintergreen Resort, Virginia Wintergreen Resort presents its second annual, Ribs & Jibs, Ski and Board
Event. Participants will compete in age brackets for medals, prizes, and bragging rights. This event will have obstacles for all ability levels. (Beginner – Advanced)
WINTERGREENRESORT.COM
Cupp Run Challenge February 6, 2023
Snowshoe, West Virginia
One of Snowshoe's oldest traditions takes place every year on the first Monday in February. The region's top racers head to Snowshoe's Western Territory for a giant slalom race down the mountain's legendary Cupp Run. Even if you're not racing, the event is good times guaranteed with an all-day party at the finish line.
Valentine’s Weekend
February 10-12, 2023
Hot Springs, Virginia
Celebrate your valentine with an early trip to The Homestead. Indulge in culinary delights or spend a day relaxing together at the Spa.
March 5 & 6, 2023
The Paramount Theater Charlottesville, VA
Tennis and Tunes
February 14, 2023
Wintergreen Resort, Virginia
We play tennis and pickleball year-round at Wintergreen! Devils Knob Racquet Sports Complex has indoor courts open year-round and outdoor courts open during Spring, Summer, and Fall. Join us for Tennis and Tunes on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2023! Open to Members and Resort Lodging Guests.
WINTERGREENRESORT.COM
President’s Day Weekend at The Homestead
February 17-20, 2023
Hot Springs, Virginia
Join us as we celebrate our presidents with an array of food and activities the entire family will enjoy. From snow tubing to skiing and snowboarding plus much more!
Snow Moon Fest March 3-5, 2023 Massanutten, Virginia
Massanutten’s most popular winter event featuring a torchlight slope parade, fireworks, 4K on the Fairway Race/Walk, an Arctic Plunge, kids’ activities, live music, beer and wine tastings, and more.
MASSRESORT.COM
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival
March 5-6, 2023 Charlottesville, Virginia
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour highlights the best short films that capture inspiring moments and thought-provoking action in mountain sports and culture from around the world. Proceeds benefit the Shenandoah National Park Trust, the official philanthropic partner of the Shenandoah National Park.
Maryland Coast Bike Festival Save the Date- May 6, 2023 Registration opens January 1, 2023
Worcester County, Maryland
Join us on one of three amazing bike
routes to explore Maryland’s scenic coastal region.. Start and finish on the scenic waterfront. This fully supported ride will become of one of your favorites!
Appalachian Trail Days Festival
May 19-21, 2023 Damascus, Virginia
It’s the biggest event of the year in Damascus! Every May, the town swells to 20,000 people for a celebration of the Appalachian Trail and hiker culture. Massive hiker reunion, over a hundred vendors, packed schedule of music and events.
Come out and enjoy the last 2 Hours that the slopes are open at a discounted rate. Available Tuesday through Thursday during ski season.
North Carolina
2 For Tuesday – Buy 1 Lift Ticket, Get 1 Free
Men’s Monday – 1/2 Price Lift Tickets For All Men
Women’s Wednesday – 1/2 Price Lift Tickets For All Ladies
College Night (Thursday night) – $15 Night Session Lift Tickets With Student ID
Home Schoolers (Tues-Thurs) – $65 Lift Ticket, Rental and Beginner Group
Lesson (for ages 8 and up and at the following times: 9am or 1pm). $50 Lift ticket and rental. Rates are for the Day Area Pass 9am-4:30pm. *State registration card required*
SKIWOLFRIDGENC.COM
THE OTHER MORNING, MY WIFE ROLLED over in bed and said the three sexiest words a woman can say to a man: “Let’s ride bikes.”
She had the day off, and when she’s not working, she assumes I’m not working too, which usually means I get to spend the day knocking out various tasks around the house. But there would be no cleaning of the gutters on this particular day. On this glorious day, my wife was talking dirty to me.
“Let’s ride bikes.”
Just a few words, but so many possibilities. We could strike out for the lesser-known Big Ivy and do a big, sevenmile gravel climb, followed by a bone rattling singletrack descent. Or head in the other direction and do an out and back on the aptly named Heartbreak Trail, where I once dislocated a shoulder! Or we could do a full circumnavigation of Bent Creek Experimental Forest, a 20+ mile sufferfest full of steep climbs.
None of this sounded good to my wife. She stared at me with a look that suggested I should find the ladder and hang out with the gutters all day. I was doing it again— I was smothering the flickering flame of my wife’s love of bikes with my enthusiasm, like Lennie petting his rabbit to death in "Of Mice and Men."
My wife had been riding bikes regularly— going to spin class and doing weekly gravel and mountain bike rides with girlfriends. She was enjoying bikes for the first time since she was a kid, and I saw it all and thought, “this could be great for me.” I had visions of the two of us doing long weekend rides together. Taking vacations that centered around riding bucket list trails all over the world. We would knock out epic date rides, go bikepacking for our anniversary, maybe. With proper training, we could attempt a thru-ride of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I saw my wife’s interest in biking and translated it through my own lens of addiction. My wife just wanted to casually ride bikes and see pretty places, but I was ready to sell the house, buy a tandem, and
ride across the world. I do this a lot. Whenever someone in my family shows a mild curiosity in any of the adventure sports that I love, I automatically assume they’re all in like I am. Kids smiling after a ski run down the mountain? We should put them in lessons and look into Northeastern boarding schools with solid ski racing programs. My daughter liked a show about surfers in Australia, so I ordered a couple of foam boards and started looking into surf retreats.
More often than not, my intense enthusiasm just scares them off from the adventure altogether. My wife thinks it has something to do with my “love language.” Remember that book from a few years ago that suggested people express and accept love in five different ways? Like your love language is either “words of affirmation,” or “acts of service,” or “gifts.” My wife thinks my love language is doing hard cardio together.
She might be right. Last year, my daughter joined the cross-country team at her middle school, and I was ecstatic. I saw us taking long runs together in the woods, where she’d tell me her hopes and dreams, and I’d impart the wisdom that comes with my age and white beard. We’d become best friends and
form a bond so strong it could weather any storm. We’d probably get matching tattoos when she got old enough. She didn’t have the same vision that I had. Turns out, she just wanted to run with her friends after school.
Cool. I definitely didn’t cry myself to sleep for a month.
My enthusiasm doesn’t seem to backfire as much with my son. I guess we naturally like a lot of the same things. He thinks my music is too loud (Nirvana, Beastie Boys) and I think his isn’t loud enough (I don’t know the name of the lame pop bands these days), but otherwise we’re on the same page. Riding bikes is fun. Skiing is fun. Surfing is fun. We should do those things as often as we can for as long as we can. Rest and repeat. Every year, we have a countdown until Ski Season starting at Halloween. And yes, we capitalize “Ski Season.”
But with the ladies in my house, I’m a complete Lennie, so desperate to forge a connection through adventure, I ruin any chance of fun for either of them. It’s a problem, and I’d like to say I’m learning from my past mistakes and know better than to smother my ladies with too much enthusiasm. If I’m not growing as a husband and father, then what’s the point, right? But here we
are again, me about to drag my wife on some epic mountain bike ride because she casually suggested we go for a spin. And she’ll probably suffer through it too, because she’s nice and she loves me and she knows I love riding bikes until I develop calluses on my tender parts, and marriage is about suffering together, right?
Fortunately, my wife does what she does best and tells me how wrong I am about things and convinces me to find a route that’s a little more casual. Because my journey is about personal growth, I take a step back and realize the error of my ways. I take her on a mild 10-mile gravel spin around Bent Creek that doesn’t gain a lot of elevation. And you know what? It’s lovely. We have a good time. We pedal. We talk. We sweat. It’s more smiles than grimaces and it’s not intense and that’s ok. And when it’s over, my wife tells me she had fun, and suggests we do it again on her off day next week.
In my head, I immediately start planning something epic. Something that challenges our legs, navigational skills, and probably the strength of our relationship. Because personal growth doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey. Two steps forward, one step back.
Understanding a partner’s idea of adventureBY DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN CEP
The Resolution: I want to hike more—and focus on recovery.
The Solution: Compression socks improve circulation, especially after intense cardio activity when blood can sink down to the feet and stay there. With a touch of retro style, these socks (available in men’s and women’s) not only put a lift in your step and speed recovery on the trail, they also offer extra support with a tighter knit at the ankle. $55; cepcompression.com
The Resolution: I want to hike more.
The Solution: Trekking poles make it easier to hike— assisting with the navigation of rocky terrain and taking a load off your knees. These three-piece adjustable poles weigh just 8.8 ounces each, and the Aergon Air grip features an easy to hold rubber and a slight incline to take stress off your wrist.
$140; leki.com
Vidda
The Resolution: I want to hike more—but I need new pants
The Solution: Fjallraven’s famed trekking pants have been perfected in the wilds of Scandinavia to endure miles of abuse on the trail and rambling in the woods. The versatile Vidda Pro is not only water-resistant with easy ventilation options, it’s also made to move with just enough stretch. Like all the brand’s apparel, it's built from sustainable fabric, and it even has a handy loop made specifically for carrying an ax.
$175; fjallraven.com
Immix Jacket and Bib
The Resolution: I want to get outside more this winter— but I get cold.
The Solution: The folks at Oros created an insulative layer for apparel from the same material NASA uses to insulate spacecraft. While the space insulation is too brittle to wear, Oros figured out how to make it work with foam and crafted a super thin and light but extremely insulative layer. The result, called Solarcore, is used in strategic zones in this jacket and bib, giving you a warm piece of apparel that doesn't make you feel all bulked up. $480 jacket, $400 bib; orosapparel.com
The Resolution: I don’t want to ruin the environment with my technical gear.
The Solution: The longstanding inconvenient truth of the outdoor industry is that many fabrics and treatments that keep us comfortable damage the very environment we love. Top among them has been the membranes that make jackets both waterproof and breathable but rely on PFCs which harm the environment. Gore, which produces the best known waterproof/breathable fabrics, has removed harmful PFCs from its products and introduced ePE, a PFC membrane that’s lighter to boot. Gore has partnered with several brands to launch the technology but it shines in Arc’teryx’s Ralle, which provides the same reliable waterproof protection and breathability as PFC-based membranes without the environmental cost. $400-$600; arcteryx.com
The Resolution: I want to paddle more—but I hate hauling around my SUP.
The Solution: Inflatable stand-up paddleboards are
great—you can fit them in your trunk, pack them in your closet, and haul them to tricky put-ins. But the reality is they are a beast to actually pack in somewhere. No longer. Weighing a scant 12.9 pounds and compressing down to the size of a rolled sleeping bag, this packraft is ready for true deep adventure, with the ability to access lakes and streams in the backcountry (or just store in even less space). The compact package includes a four-piece paddle and pump.
$999; kokopelli.com
The Resolution: I want to support local brands and supply chains.
The Solution: North Carolina-based Recover Brands does sustainability right. It crafts its performance tees from recycled plastic bottles and its USA-made products rely on a local supply chain that’s within a 250- mile radius of its Charlotte headquarters. It also supports good causes, as this Protect Our Parks shirt champions Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is made of upcycled cotton and post-consumer recycled PET (putting those wasteful water bottles to some good use).
$30; recoverbrands.com
Men’s Hemp Hoody Sweatshirt
The Resolution: I want to support sustainable crops. The Solution: Patagonia has made hemp the main fabric in its sturdy workwear collection, for good reason. The crop—the fiber used in apparel comes from the stem— requires little water and helps replenish the soil, and Patgaonia has been experimenting with hemp grown in the U.S., though the processing technology here is not yet up to speed to produce fabric stateside. The fabric feels great in this rugged hoody, which is certainly a good choice for the jobsite (or just chilling with a latte).
$119; patagonia.com
The Resolution: I want to minimize my gear.
The Solution: Is your gear closet stuffed with a pack for every occasion but you hate all the clutter? The modular ImpetroGear system starts with a Base Unit that includes shoulder straps and a ventilated back panel. Zip this on to the Bike pack, Ski pack, or Mountain pack and you have three options in one that ring in at a cost far below three separate packs. You can buy it all in one bundle or mix and match pack options for your personal needs. Built in Austria and featuring durable nylon fabric and breathable mesh, the pack(s) can handle abuse out in the wild.
$220–$140 depending on option, baltoro.com
The Resolution: I want to bike more.
The Solution: Don’t fear the ebike. Sure it makes it easier to get out there and spin your wheels if you are a casual rider, but it also makes it easier to tackle big, ugly adventures that would be hell on a non-powered bike—and it makes the ride fun. With 29-inch crosscountry tires, 10 gears on the rear cassette, and a 100mm air fork, this baby is ready to take on dirt roads and singletrack with the aplomb of any highend hardtail, but it also gives you 205 watts of power and 80 Nm of torque in a battery that can run up to 60 miles (plan for less if you are riding hard). That opens up a whole new world of adventure for those with open minds.
$3,399; econicone.us
The Resolution: I want to bike more—but my car is too nice for a janky rack.
The Solution: A bike rack is great on an old beater, but it looks junky or actually damages that vehicle you really care about. There are no excuses with this pneumatic rack that can be operated with one tap and does not contact the bike frame to hold it secure. It’s adaptable for a wide range of bike sizes, includes builtin LED taillights for safety, and Küat specifically worked to keep it wobble-free.
$1,389; kuat.com
The Resolution: I want gear designed by women.
The Solution: The women at active apparel brand Roark stepped up and took over the production and design of its new line for women. The result is a tough but classy line of pieces like this Primaloft-insulated jacket, inspired by a trip to New Zealand, that can handle a day shearing sheep, a walk in the woods, or a trip to the store. Light yet warm, it packs away easily for travel.
$199; roark.com
Long Sky 2
The Resolution: Simple and classic—I want to run more. The Solution: Comfort is key in this techy trail runner that fits your foot perfectly thanks to an internal bootie and stable midsole. But the real selling point is in the sole: Vibram’s MegaGrip is just the ticket for the slippery roots and loose rock you find on Blue Ridge trails. It’s a shoe that gives you confidence—and that’s
just what you need to stick to that running resolution.
The Resolution: I want to ease my pain. The Solution: CBD, the soothing non-psychotropic cannabidiol from the marijuana plant, has flooded the market, and with more and more states legalizing cannabis in all its forms, we will only see more and hear more claims about its uses. Here’s the thing—it works, at least in our experience, rubbing it on after big hikes, rides, and gym sessions. Juiced with 2000mg of hempderived CBD, meaning the plant never had significant amounts of THC, and recovery-focused oils, this soothing stick is the perfect antidote to those pains you feel after giving it your all out there.
$65; albermarecannabiscompany.com
The Resolution: I want to buy less new crap.
The Solution: In addition to cruising the aisles for the latest in new gear, you can also shop the “UnNew” used gear marketplace, which can save bucks and minimize the carbon footprint of new gear production. If you are looking for preloved outdoor gear, take a gander at geartrade.com, which stocks its virtual shelves with lightly used or repaired gear from everyday consumers, as well as leading brands like Ortovox, Dynafit, and Stio. In addition to finding great deals, you’ll get a warm fuzzy feeling for saving stuff from the fate of more than 85 percent of new apparel (around 25 million pounds), which ends up getting thrown away each year. geartrade.com
EVERY MONTH OUR EDITORS CURATE a playlist of new music, mainly focusing on independent artists from the South. This winter we’re highlighting new tunes from King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Pony Bradshaw, and a collaboration between Andrew Bird and Phoebe Bridgers.
“I felt a Funeral, in my Brain”
Andrew Bird’s latest album, “Inside Problems,” was largely inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem, “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,” and here he puts that 19th century work to music with permission from the late poet’s publisher. As he sets Dickinson’s somber words of inner tumult among sound, Bird enlists help from indie folk hero Phoebe Bridgers, who sings patiently in step with the song’s haunting, cinematic arrangement. Bird, as usual, blends classical and folk influences, as sweeping strings guide his stately voice. – J.F.
The Bad Ends is a new supergroup featuring old-school music lifers from the thriving scene in Athens, Ga., including Bill Berry of R.E.M. and Mike Mantione of Five Eight. “All Your Friends Are Dying,” a fast-paced jangly rock tune from the band’s debut album “The Power and the Glory,” is a life-is-short anthem about seizing opportunities before time runs out. Specifically, Mantione references a buddy skipping a memorable concert, but the sentiment about thinking twice before missing “just another Friday night” carries universal weight. – J.F.
Billy Joe Shaver lived every country song ever written. He married and divorced the same woman twice, lost a son to a heroin
overdose, and had two fingers amputated in a sawmill accident. As heard on the recently released “Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver,” those stories barely scratch the surface of a life hard lived. Margo Price, with the help of Joshua Hedley, admirably takes on the weight of a marriage on the rocks in her rendition of “Ragged Old Truck.” Heavy on twang and harmony, Price nails what she once admitted to Shaver was a song that saved her life. – D.S.
“Backwoods Sound” Isabel and Evan Humphreys honed their musical chops at their mother’s knee. When mom is longtime Charlottesville singer/ songwriter Kathryn Caine, it makes sense to get the family band together and put out a record. As one hears on “Backwoods Sound,” Isabel and Evan, now students at North Carolina State University, aren’t just coasting on mom’s coattails. Isabel’s voice is mature beyond her years and Evan anchors the low end with his bass play. Reminiscent of classic Alison Krauss, this song is the perfect introduction to Ogden Heart, built on a driving bluegrass rhythm coupled with stellar harmonies that only a familial bond can create. – D.S.
For the uninitiated, it’s hard to know where to jump into the weird, wide world of Australian rock experimentalists King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, especially considering the group has released six albums this year alone. Perhaps it’s best to ease towards the band’s 15-minute prog journeys with the more easygoing “Hate Dancin,’” a breezy, three-minute pop tune from the October-released album “Changes” that will actually inspire wallflowers to get moving. – J.F.
Goodbye Road is a collaborative side project that brings together Tennessee singer-songwriter Drew Holcomb with JOHNNYSWIM—the roots duo featuring married couple Amanda Sudano Ramirez and Abner Ramirez. This standout from
the group’s second EP, “Goodbye Road: Volume 2,” was written in early 2020, just as it became apparent the world was going to drastically change. But in the face of despair, the musicians decided to craft an uplifting folk-pop song, reveling in one last harmony-fueled celebration before it was time to hunker down. Standout line: “Screw Armageddon/ the dance floor stays open for me.” – J.F.
“North
Anyone described as a rounder has an itinerant soul. It’s that spirit that defines the folk musician, and Pony Bradshaw captures it perfectly in the title track from his newest record, which drops in late January. Awash with wanderlust and a kaleidoscope of images from the road, Bradshaw sings soulfully about living a life with no master, letting the music lead him, gathering experiences as they come. Over a country rock groove and
honky tonk guitar, Bradshaw’s tale of romance with the road reminds us to live spontaneously and without constraint. – D.S.
Justin Hiltner surely understands how the drone of the banjo adds a rawness to the story unfolding in a song. On “1992,” there is something distinctly powerful about the chorus between his banjo and voice as he recounts the juxtaposition of the joy and pain at the moments of birth and death. As a young gay man, he realized that he was born as the AIDS epidemic was ravaging the gay community. His first cries of infancy were offered as others were despairing over the loss of loved ones just doors away from his bassinet. Hiltner beautifully captures this dichotomy over sparse, rolling banjo in this eulogy to those who suffered so greatly. – D.S.
To hear these songs and more, follow the Blue Ridge Outdoors’ Trail Mix playlist on Spotify.
Our lives are filled with warning labels reminding us to use the good stuff in moderation. And then there is snow. Particularly, the kind you find at the top of a mountain, on slopes, and in tubing hill lanes. It’s our chance to pile on as many extra servings as we like, without a label reminding us to use only sparingly. Snow – when in doubt, take one more run. Welcome to the Mountain.
snowshoemtn.com
