Big Beasts of the Blue Ridge
The 8 Toughest Ultras in the South At one time, ultramarathons were a niche sport. They were ridiculously long distance races that only the craziest endurance athletes were willing to attempt. Today,...
View ArticleAlternate A.T.
Looking for a different kind of thru-hike? Try one of these less-crowded long-distance trails Since Earl Shaffer claimed the first Appalachian Trail thru-hike in the 1940s, hikers from around the...
View ArticleAlways Cheat, Always Win: Wilderness Survival 101
Search and Rescue leader Andrew Herrington throws his students into icy creeks and teaches them how to save themselves. Our travel editor Ellen Kanzinger signed up. When I registered for Andrew...
View ArticleBRO Takes on Ragnar
Ragnar Trail Richmond: April 26-27, 2019 It was in the middle of one of our monthly BRO meetings when we started discussing our February trail race issue. Seeing as how we are an outdoor magazine,...
View ArticleA Path Forward
From Industry to Recreation: Turning Rails into Trails Born and raised in Southwest Virginia, Eva Beaule’s family depended on tobacco agriculture for income. Washington County was one of the country’s...
View ArticleKeeping it in the Family
Outdoor parents share their tips and tricks for adventures with kids. Before each backpacking trip, Nick Brooks would take out all of his gear for the weekend and lay it out in the hallway. As a...
View ArticleNo Experience Necessary
Learn how to craft a fishing rod, build a bike, fashion a knife, weave baskets, and test your outdoor skills. With a quick search online, you can find guides and classes for just about any outdoor...
View ArticleA First-Time Trail Runner
The BRO Team took on the Richmond Ragnar Relay at Pocahontas State Park April 26-27. It’s 8:30 at night and I’m in the middle of the woods, picking myself up after falling for the fifth time. I let...
View ArticleIndigenous Trails
The Unacknowledged History of the Land Beneath Our Boots Whose land are we hiking, biking, climbing, and paddling on? When it comes to the history of public lands and conservation in this country,...
View ArticleA.T. Ridge Runners: Not Your Trash Collector
Meet the RidgeRunners—guardians of the Appalachian Trail Hiking season has finally arrived, and Ridgerunners are already out along the Appalachian Trail. Those chosen for the seasonal position hike...
View ArticleUrban Paddling
When you think about paddling in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, rivers like the Gauley, James, Nantahala, and Chattooga get a lot of the love. While these rivers offer paddlers of all types epic...
View ArticleHometown Heroes
Locals reveal their favorite spots for in-town adventure It’s five o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon. You want to get outside after a long day of work or classes, but you don’t have the time to drive...
View ArticleYou Are Being Poisoned
There are known carcinogens in your frying pan, dental floss, and favorite outdoor jacket. Documentary lead Bucky Bailey fights for his family’s health—and yours. The story of C8 and the DuPont plant...
View ArticleRoad Warriors
Have you ever wanted to just head out onto the road and see where life takes you? BRO talked with some people who did just that. We found out how they are traveling, what they wish they had known...
View ArticleThe Best Hiking Partner: Adventure Pets of the Blue Ridge
When Grizel Williams decided to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with Rue, her 3-year-old rescue dog, she knew a lot of people would have an opinion about her decision. “There are people that are...
View ArticleAffordable Adventure
You don’t need a ton of money or expertise to explore the outdoors—especially in Chattanooga Growing up, Bailey O’Sullivan’s family moved about every two years for her mom’s job. They ended up in...
View ArticleAll In a Day’s Work
Nakiesha Bridgers leads a trip on the river. How did outdoor professionals get their start? As more people are headed outside, outdoor recreation is increasingly an economic factor for towns and...
View ArticleBack in the Saddle
Ellen Kanzinger rides her bike around the neighborhood. Photo by Rachel Stone A Newbie Bike Commuter Faces Her Fears It was a few days before my fifteenth birthday. I remember waking up and running...
View ArticleMountain Getaway Guide: Unique Lodging of the Blue Ridge
The Thorny Mountain Fire Tower in Seneca Rocks State Forest, W.VA., offers accommodations 65 feet off the ground. Whether you’re looking to make one last trip this fall or starting to make plans for...
View ArticleClearing the Path: Behind the Scenes with the Trail Maintainers
Photo by Ellen Kanzinger Whether a trail is one mile or 1,000 miles, in a city or in the middle of a forest, someone has to take care of it. Someone has to clear the fallen trees after a storm or put...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....