Featured Stories: Back to Basics

Standing on top of Big Bald you can understand how people used to think the world was flat. On a clear day you can see everything from on top of this mountain. And today it’s clear. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think there was nothing past the horizon. I’d think the world just ended. At 5,516 feet, Big Bald isn’t the tallest mountain in these parts. It’s not even close. But right now it feels like it.

Featured Stories: Forecast: Is the Future of Southern Snowsports on Thin Ice?

The Southern Appalachians don’t get no respect. West Coast elitists take jabs at our comparatively low elevation, our relative lack of wild terrain, and our supposedly redneck outdoor community. They seem to overlook our world-class whitewater paddling rivers, nationally-heraled mountain biking singletrack, acclaimed climbing crags, and the most popular hiking footpath in the country, the Appalachian Trail.

Featured Stories: Skiing 101: Expert Tips for Slope Success

I spent my formative years in Florida, so winters were usually on the beach. Call me deprived, but my family caravan never made it out to Vail or up to Killington, so in my rearing I never learned how to ski. In college when I finally did make it out to a white-capped mountain, snowboarding was all the buzz, and I figured all of those years skateboarding at the mall would give me a leg up, so I went in that direction.

Featured Stories: Choosing the Best Camp for Your Child

There are over 8,000 residential summer camps in North America. Picking the best camp from so many may seem like a huge task. Follow the “top ten” list below and you will find the best camp for your child. It may not be the same camp that I would choose for my son or that your neighbors would choose for their daughter, but it will be the best camp for your child.

Featured Stories: Cool School

You’re not as cool as you used to be. I’m not trying to be mean—I’m just stating a fact. I’m not as cool as I used to be either. Few people know this, but there’s a point in our lives when we stop being cool. A specific but universal point when we all begin the downhill slide from Coolsville to Lameville.