Hiking
From day hiking on the Appalachian Trail to thru-hiking the Smoky Mountains, hit the trail with us. We’ve got all the guides, tutorials, gear reviews, trip reports, and location suggestions to make your next adventure great. Plus, find news and information about the region’s best areas and explorers here. Look no further than Blue Ridge Outdoors for all your hiking needs.
Click here to read the whole article Any good doctor, veterinarian, or mechanic understands that wellness isn’t just about fixing what’s already broken. Maintenance and preventative care are vital, if not the most important components of a healthy lifestyle. My truck often gives me grief — unsurprising, considering its age and the odometer reading. Several…
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Four of our favorite winter backpacking trips, from overnighters to full blown three-day excursions.
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Hiker killed in freak Christmas Eve accident after redwood tree falls on him A hiker enjoying a walk through Muir Woods National Monument on Christmas Eve was killed after a redwood tree toppled, pinning the man beneath it. First responders were called to the scene and found Subhradeep Dutta, 28, “unconscious and lifeless” beneath the…
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Appalachian Ecotherapy and Why We Need it Now Click here to read the whole article The beeping of the EKG machines were testing the last remnants of my sanity. Chinese water torture in the form of sound, a shrill metronome marking the growing distance between myself and reality. Forty-eight sleepless hours in the ICU. I…
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Sachi Rome’s “If I were a Bird (looking for Peace),” located on the Atlanta BeltLine. Photo by The Sintoses, reprinted with permission from Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. There are many ways to enjoy a trail—a long run, a hard ride, a contemplative stroll. Much like a path winding through the woods, art is also wide open…
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Hiker attacked on Appalachian Trail plans to finish her thru-hike Kirby Morril, the hiker who was attacked by a man with a knife while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail earlier this year, has announced that she plans to return to the trail next year. In May, Morril was camping with three other thru-hikers when she and…
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Little Occoquan Run – Photo credit: Sarah Vogel Appalachian Ecotherapy and Why We Need it Now Click here to read the whole article I dipped my paddle into the water. No rhythm — a couple of haphazard and lazy strokes every now and again was enough. Propel, drift, repeat. Occasionally, I made an effort to…
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Appalachian Ecotherapy and Why We Need it Now Click here to read the whole article False Promises and Re-thinking ‘Normal’ When Plato looked at the night sky, his heart brimmed with optimism that human curiosity would “compel the soul to look upward and lead us from this world to another.” A lofty notion perhaps, but…
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Appalachian Ecotherapy and Why We Need it Now Click here to read the whole article Part 2: Why We Need Ecotherapy As I sit here pecking at my keyboard in the darkness of my basement apartment, F.lux dims my computer monitor and transitions to a warm, yellowish glow. Every evening when the sun goes down,…
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Opt Outside at a Virginia State Park Thanksgiving weekend From the first Thanksgiving at Virginia’s Berkeley Hundred plantation in 1619, Virginians have gathered to give thanks and enjoy family, friends, and fun during the holiday. Special time together can continue past the last slice of pie with a visit to Virginia State Parks. From Nov.…
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With winter fast approaching, the U.S. Forest Service urges outdoor enthusiasts to ‘Know Before You Go” and follow simple tips to stay safe when visiting the Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie, and Croatan National Forests during the colder months. “The forests can provide stunning scenery and recreational opportunities during the winter, but it is important to be…
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Appalachian Ecotherapy and Why We Need it Now Click here to read the whole article “¿Cuál es tu trabajo?” Cocho asked me. What do you do for work? It was a difficult question to answer, especially since my Spanish skills amounted to the capabilities of a toddler. Before I began traveling, I was a qualified…
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Hiker rescued from AT in southern Vermont A Massachusetts man was rescued from the Appalachian Trail on Wednesday after phoning police to tell them he was cold, weak and suffering from an injury that prevented him from hiking out of the forest. Rescue workers located Eric Wrisley, 36, near the Goddard Shelter in Glastenbury, Vermont…
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Thinking of thru-hiking the PCT next year? Pay attention to these permit changes Anyone hiking the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail should snag a permit, which replaces all of the individual wilderness permits a hiker would have to obtain along the way. Permits are available now for the 2020 hiking season, with a few notable changes.…
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The Virginia’s Western Highlands Travel Council made up of tourism offices from Craig, Alleghany, Bath, and Highland counties has published a guide to hiking, biking, and riding trails. The 48-page guide includes descriptions and maps of trails in all four counties, including some that span multiple counties. The booklet uses icons to indicate which trails…
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