Labor Day Weekend, September 4-7, 2009
By RoanokeOutside.com

Weekend Update – OUTSIDE!

First Friday’s Festival 9/4 featuring the band Worx
Smith River Festival 9/4-7
Blue Ridge Mtn. Sports Labor Day Sale 9/4-7
Outdoor Trails Labor Day Sale 9/3-5
Falls Ridge Preserve Hike 9/6
Land of Goshen Hike 9/7

Pete’s Picks

Get Hiking – Each week a new hike will be added to the list as we compile the Top 10 Hikes in the
Roanoke Region. Click on the name and you will be able to download directions, a map, and some tips:

1. McAfee Knob section of Appalachian Trail
2. Dragon’s Tooth section of Appalachian Trail
3. Chestnut Ridge off the Blue Ridge Parkway
4. Star Trail on Mill Mountain
5. Roaring Run Recreation Area (and natural water slide)

Action Packed Day! When putting together Hike #5 above it got me thinking about how how much of a hidden secret that part of the Roanoke Region is. Alleghany, Botetourt, and Craig Counties offer the most pristine outdoor recreation opportunities. My recommendation for this weekend is to put together any combination of these suggestions:

• Rent a canoe or kayak and explore the James River w/ Riders Up Outfitters
• Go tubing on the James w/ Twin River Outfitters (they also rent canoes)
• Go for a hike at Roaring Run (be sure to try out the 40′ natural water slide). You can spend as little as 2 hours here or the entire day (take a picnic lunch)
• Grab some friends (or kids) and spend the day at Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing. Try out their 50′ climbing wall, ride the 900′ zip line, go caving, or take a leisure canoe trip on Craigs Creek
• Sample some wine at one of three local wineries
• Stop by Outdoor Trails for their labor day sale!
• Add a scenic drive to the day by driving Rt. 311 and then CRT. 615 through Craig County, or hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Like donuts? Then you have to try the gourmet donuts from Blue Collar Joes
• Support local farmers – stop by Ikenberry Orchards for some farm fresh produce and value added goods

Got an idea? Send it to pete@roanoke.org

Get OUTSIDE!
Pete (friend me on Facebook)

Win a canoe Trip and a Lafuma Backpack at the Get Outside Expo (Sept. 30)

Between now and the September 30 Get Outside Expo & Radical Reels Film Festival I will showcase some of the outdoor organizations you can meet at the expo as well as the prizes they have donated. To be eligible for the prizes you need to have completed the survey located on RoanokeOutside.com.

Tickets are on sale now: tickets are limited and 100% of ticket price goes to benefit Mill Mountain Theatre!

Riders Up Outfitters has kindly donated 2 canoe rentals/shuttle as well as a Lafuma Backpack!
Riders Up Outfitters, owned by Tom & Dawn Kirlin, is located in Clifton Forge and provides the following services:

• Canoe & Kayak rental on the James, Jackson, and Cowpasture Rivers
• Guided Fly Fishing Trips on public and private water
• Outdoor Store that carries Heritage Kayaks, canoe/kayak accessories, Life is Good products,
• Columbia clothing, Planet Dog, Buddy Biscuits, equestrian goods, fishing equipment, and more!

Labor Day Weekend is a great time to experience the James River! Call Riders Up (540.862.7999) and ask them for some trip suggestions!

Citizens Encouraged to Take Bicycle-User Survey

Roanoke is working toward becoming a more bicycle-friendly city. To support that effort, citizens are encouraged to participate in an online bicycle-user survey to assist in updating the 2005 Bikeway Plan for the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (RVAMPO). The online survey, which is being conducted in cooperation with the participating local governments, VDOT, and other stakeholders, is designed to glean information on bicycle use, perceptions, and preferences in the region.

This survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete – so grab a cup of coffee and start clicking.  Click here to access the survey! The survey will be available until Sept. 15.

Additional information about RVAMPO and the Bikeway Plan is available at www.rvarc.org.

Veer The Movie (sept. 11)

Veer explores America’s fast-growing bicycling culture by profiling five people whose lives are inextricably tied to bicycling and the bike-centric social groups they belong to. The film follows these characters over the course of a year, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their personal struggles and triumphs. Veer examines what it means to be part of a community, and how social movements are formed.

Admission price is $8.50 and tickets are available at the door, or in advance by calling 540-342-5760.  The event takes place at 7PM at the Taubman Museum.

Watch the movie trailer and learn more about the event

Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty License Plate

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway is partnering with the Blue Ridge Parkway Association to sponsor a Blue Ridge Parkway specialty license plate in Virginia. Virginia has the largest number of specialty plates of any state and potential revenue is minor but both organizations hope this specialty license plate will bring attention to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. The specialty plate features a photo of Mabry Mill (milepost 176.2).

In addition, if this tag becomes a reality FRIENDS wishes to donate the income in 2009 and 2010 to the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th anniversary celebration.

Click here to learn more and to apply for the Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty License Plate.

Upcoming events to keep your eye on

• Weekly happy hour float with Riders Up Outfitters on the James River
• Weekly bike rides throughout Roanoke & NRV Valleys
• Veer The Movie (Taubman Museum) 9/11
• New River Trail Bike Ride 9/12
• Conservation Celebration (Western VA Land Trust) 9/13
• North Mountain Trail Hike 9/13
• Grassy Hill Natural Area Preserve Hike 9/13
• Hoop Hole Hike (Roanoke County Parks & Rec) 9/17
• Marine Corp 5K Mud Run 9/19
• Trail Running Rampage at Douthat State Park 9/19
• Girls Sports Clinic (ages 7-13) 9/19
• Gauley Fest – worlds largest whitewater gathering 9/19
• Hike Balcony Falls Trail 9/19
• World Carfree Day 9/22
• The Artie Levin Memorial Ride to benefit MS Society 9/26-27
• Big Lick Triathlon at Smith Mountain Lake 9/26
• Middle Mountain Mama Mtn. Bike Race at Douthat State Park 9/26
• National Public Lands Day at Carvins Cove 9/26
• Virginia 10-Miler September 26
• Banff Radical Reels Film Festival & GET OUTSIDE Expo 9/30
• Poor Mountain Hill Climb 10/4
• Kid Bike Race (Bike Blast) 10/4
• Into The Darkness 4 Mile Trail Run (at night) 10/24
• Blacksburg Brew Do 10/24
• Rowdy Dog Mtn. Bike Race 10/25
• Drumstick Dash 11/26
• Blue Ridge Marathon (full & half) April 24, 2010

Want to meet other outdoor folks? Need a Group to hike, BIKE, or Paddle with?

Here are a few outdoor social groups that allow you to meet other people and get outside!

• Meetup Roanoke Outdoor & Social Group this group seeks to bring together people from around Roanoke and the New River Valley who are interested in outdoor activities. They attract a wide variety of people with varying interests and experience levels and provide a mix of activities (hiking, backpacking, biking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, caving, etc.) that can be enjoyed by all. Events range from hikes to whitewater rafting to social mixers.
• Roanoke Cycling Organization, Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, and New River Bike Association are three great cycling groups to check out.
• The Creek Freaks is a local paddling club that does events throughout the year
• KIVA (Kids In the Valley Adventuring) is a group that helps families and kids connect with nature
• Roanoke Sunday Hiking Group (on Facebook only – request to join the group).This is a group formed by “people who don’t have free time on Saturdays. We seek to create a group of friends who want to explore the world around us. Whether it is walking in the woods, cooking out, or visiting something new and exciting, we seek to do something other than just lay around on Sundays.”