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The race that started 24-hour mountain bike racing has been cancelled this year. West Virginia’s 24 Hours of Big Bear, which started as 24 Hours of Canaan in 1992, has been idled in 2010 by race founder and promoter Laird Knight. A sign of the tough economic times, Knight stated in a press release that [...]

If you were around the Charlottesville music scene in the ’90s, you’re definitely familiar with Baaba Seth. The world jam outfit was one of the region’s most popular bands throughout the decade—mixing a potent ensemble concoction of funk, jazz, rock, African rhythms, and Latin grooves. The high-energy sound was put to good use during the [...]

Cyclists pursue ultramarathon speed records
Last summer, when most guys his age were on the golf course, 64-year-old Gerry Eddlemon set 10 state cycling speed records. Eddlemon, an extreme road biker from Knoxville, Tenn., is part of a small niche of ultracyclists who like to post the fastest times for pedaling across states from one end [...]

In 2006, Jonathan Basham set the speed record for completing the 500-mile Colorado Trail. The monumental endurance accomplishment should have only been reason to celebrate. Basham had just run across the rugged Rockies at an average elevation of 10,000 feet for eight and a half straight days faster than anyone before him. But when he [...]

The small western North Carolina town of Brevard has a big backyard—the Pisgah National Forest. No surprise, the gateway to Pisgah is a hotbed for a variety of adventure junkies and outdoor enthusiasts from hardcore mountain bikers to casual hikers enjoying the area’s many waterfalls. Todd Branham, professional trail builder and race director of the [...]

Dave Matthews will join his old friend Emmylou Harris at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on May 18 at the Music Saves Mountains concert to raise awareness about mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia. The high-profile concert will also feature appearances by Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Patty Loveless, and Kathy Mattea with more artists to [...]

Elite trail runner Clark Zealand steps behind the scenes to direct new race series
Meet Clark Zealand, the new face of Southern ultrarunning. In addition to being a professor at Liberty University, where he is developing a master’s program in outdoor recreation management, Zealand runs Eco-X, which produces the region’s biggest ultra series.
Born in Canada, Zealand [...]

If you like Woodsongs, Mountain Stage, or E-Town, you should check out the new Fret Knot Radio Hour. The free online show being produced out of Asheville, N.C., features a mix of innovative artists, activists, and musicians, who are intent on making the world a better place. Stories of predominantly Southern culture are delivered through [...]

Bonnaroo returns to the farm fields of Manchester, Tenn., this June 10-13, and today festival organizers are creatively rolling out the massive music festival’s line-up. Every five minutes a new band is being announced on the Bonnaroo MySpace page. So far acts confirmed on the always-eclectic bill include Jay-Z, the Avett Brothers, Thievery Corporation, Gwar, [...]

Two centuries ago, native elk roamed the Southern Appalachians. Now, more than 150 years after extinction from over-hunting, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is considering a full reintroduction of a bigger relative—Rocky Mountain Elk—in the southwestern coalfields region of the Commonwealth.
An estimated 150 Rocky Mountain Elk already reside in Southwest Virginia. [...]

Jeff Smith is the owner of Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Charlottesville, Va.  The venerable indie outfitter started as a small operation in 1972 and has since expanded to 12 stores across the region. When Smith can escape from his office, he takes advantage of Charlottesville’s easily accessible adventure outlets—a result of the small city’s [...]

Banjo visionary Danny Barnes has worn many labels. In the 90s he pioneered punk-grass in the popular unorthodox string band Bad Livers. He’s scored films for acclaimed director Richard Linklater (School of Rock, Dazed and Confused). He’s been a reliable sideman for Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen and newgrass ace Tim O’Brien. These days, though, [...]

From a small outpost in Davis, W.Va., Laird Knight took mountain biking to the next level. In 1992 Knight put on 24 Hours of Canaan, the world’s first 24-hour race. The initial ride had only 36 teams, and now the format has achieved global popularity. Knight’s company, Granny Gear Productions, hosts three of America’s most [...]

The Southern Environmental Law Center—the region’s venerable legal eco advocate—has released a list of the top 10 most endangered areas in the South. According to the organization, the 10 areas were chosen out of hundreds analyzed, because their threats are the most immediate and potentially irreparable if not addressed soon.
“Common themes on this year’s list [...]

Next to food and medical supplies, the biggest need in the continual relief efforts in Haiti is shelter. President Rene Preval recently made a plea for 200,000 tents to provide much needed shelter for the many homeless residents displaced by the massive earthquake that struck the small Caribbean island country on January 12.  Regional outfitter [...]