Tinker Cliffs Sleeper Among Virginia Treks

Tinker Cliffs is a beautiful gemstone in the Virginia Triple Crown and actually probably my favorite of these three stellar hikes. Less congested and nicely shaded for most of its span, the hike northeast of Roanoke definitely challenges with nearly 2,000 feet in elevation change from parking lot to summit. The big payoff is a

Tread Carefully the Dragon’s Labyrinth

Located just a few miles north of McAfee Knob along Route 311 near Catawba is the renowned Dragon’s Tooth. This epic hike is short on length (just under 5 miles round-trip) but packs a keen punch that places it deservedly into Virginia’s Triple Crown mountain climbs. The first two-thirds of the journey up is a

McAfee Knob: Bucket List Triple Crown Topper

Featuring arguably the most iconic geological formation along the entire Appalachian Trail, McAfee Knob draws thousands of hikers each year to this tailor-made photo opportunity. The incredible views from the rocky plateau are indeed hard to match.  Located a dozen or so miles north of Salem, The Knob is the best known of Virginia’s Triple

RVA Community Fridges Answers the Call

Fueled by the kind heart and fiery passion of local shining star Taylor Scott, RVA Community Fridges has stepped into the breach to address basic food needs in the Capital City with multiple cold storage units around the metro area. This incredible growing local non-profit addresses a dire need directly by allowing members to bring

Virginia’s High Bridge Ultimate Rail-to-Trail

As you note a slight incline and the heavily wooded trail opens up to reveal the High Bridge, the question of how this incredible structure five miles east of Farmville came into being smacks you squarely in the face. Featuring a span of 2,400 feet, a dizzying 125 feet above the Appomattox River and valley

American History you can’t learn in the Classroom

As a Virginian, the American Civil War has always held a particular fascination. So when I found myself travelling through Natural Bridge with daughter Olivia after a strenuous mountain hike last week, I couldn’t resist a quick stop to further that knowledge …. at an unlikely spot along State Route 11 …. Dinosaur Kingdom II.

Devil’s Marbleyard: Virginia’s Premier Rock Scramble

Our first thought at glimpsing The Devil’s Marbleyard near Natural Bridge was an overwhelming curiosity as to how this immense, awe-inspiring rockscape had been created. The answer is not the glaciation I had first suspected (too far south), but a process of frost-wedging in which ice formation exploited gaps in the rocks to pry them

Black Widow Spirit A Credit to Capital City

I’ve been extremely fortunate enough to get to know a couple really dedicated Richmond Black Widow women footballers over the last few years. Athletes for this Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) squad receive no salary, few headlines and not nearly enough sympathy when they take their game injuries back into their full-time professions. They are truly

Virginia’s Waterways Boldly Beckon the Eager Explorer (Part 3 of 3)

. . . continuing to wax lyrically on one of my great loves . . . kayaking the Commonwealth’s wonderful waterways. Rapid Classifications A quick study of how rapids are rated can lead you to the proper route for your group as well as highlight the tougher rapids that may need some special attention on

Virginia’s Waterways Boldly Beckon the Eager Explorer (Part 2 of 3)

With spring upon us, I can’t help but wax lyrical on one of my great loves . . . kayaking the Commonwealth’s wonderful waterways . . . Ah, the memories In my couple decades of kayaking, we’ve seen every animal you can imagine – from turtles, beavers and snakes to catfish, bass, eagles, foxes and