If I asked you if your employer would make it onto a list of the best places to work, would you say yes? If I asked you to describe what makes it so great what would you say? “We get 10% off all merchandise, staff happiness days and 2 weeks paid vacation!”  Now I am not trying to brag or boast (well maybe a little bit), but I DO work for a company that would make it onto that list.  Wilderness Adventure was chosen this year for Outside Magazine’s Top 50 Places to Work, which is a nationwide competition.
When I first saw the contest for the best places to work for 2010, I knew I had to nominate Wilderness Adventure.  In the last 3 years I have been lucky enough to be a year round member of this organization.  I have worked my way up from a group leader, to a director.  In that time I have been able to accomplish many dreams, and do things that I never thought I would be able to do.  As I started the application process all kinds of memories flashed through my mind.  Things I had done and things I wanted to let Outside Magazine know about this place, and why I love it so much.  I thought to all the mountain bike rides, staff happiness days doing the broathalon or at the safari park.  So, I wrote a list and prepared my thoughts. I selected the proper check boxes and finished the online application.  To my surprise there was no section for me to complete personally. When I selected submit I got another message that said the staff would be notified with an email and a pass code to access the online survey. What? Everyone had to take a survey? Well this was not part of the plan at all! Not that I thought that they would not give this place the highest marks they could. But this place had given me so much, would they look at Wilderness as just another job?

Flash forward…after 4 tense weeks of waiting and corresponding with the Outside Magazine rep Megan.  I stopped at my Mailbox like everyday to pick up my “Bills”.   Inside the box was the usual, Bills, more bills, and then letters telling me how if I sign up for the Visa/amex mega gold platinum super card , the world would be mine with just a swipe. Under all that in an unassuming white envelope was a letter from outside Magazine and the Best Company’s Group. I rip the letter open and wow…….we made it!  We’re above well known companies like NOLS, Patagonia, KEEN, Timberland and about 21 others.  Now I know how the rest of the Wilderness Adventure staff feels about where they work. Thinking back there should not have been any doubt in my mind. This place we call work and home does way more than offer me a place to go get a paycheck.  It offers me a place to be me, and a place to hang out with all of my friends who just so happen to work for the same great place I do!  It’s more than just a job, it is a decision I, and many others like me made a long time ago. We would not settle for less.  I am proud to be a director, employee, friend, alumni and whatever else you want to call me, for Wilderness Adventure.  It looks like the rest of the employees feel the same way.

My name is Dan, I work for Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing, and I work for one of the best places in the world.

Check out some of the local coverage we have had about this by going to the Roanoke Outside Website, or click here to become our fan on facebook.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When I listened to music, I often would find myself trying to relate the mood of the music with the changes in the melody and supporting chords.  Much in the same way I would rather play sports than watch them on television, I also found myself wanting to take part in the music I heard.  This feeling would eventually lead me to my keyboard, or in most cases, the camps old upright piano; which happens to be the subject of my writing.  (Click here to see all pictures of our Main Lodge)

Pianos currently occupy many households across the United States and all over the world.  Not long ago, they were a thing only the very wealthy could hope to own.  Despite their high cost, they were little to behold; little more than a harps turned on their sides being struck rather than plucked like a harpsichord, by crude lever operated hammers.  They generated weak, tinny sounds that could barely be modulated for volume or duration.  These pianos of history have rapidly gone through a great many transformations to become what we now view as a modern day piano.  Mass production has greatly reduced the cost of building; and the incorporation of scientific principals and revolutionary new ideas have vastly improved the tone, volume, and touch of the pianos we now use. (Click here for more interesting facts about pianos.)

Every instrument is crafted to produce a sound; but few so elegantly, precisely and efficiently as the piano.  There are 88 keys on a standard piano and there are at least 56 different parts that make up the masochism that ultimately drives a single hammer to its respective string or strings to produce a note.  The piano embodies both the science and art of its conception with the unmistakable quality of the sounds it produces.

When I sat to play, I could here our piano calling for help with it’s out of tune unisons, broken strings and poor regulation.  The love and toiling care once given to our piano in its creation was still evident in all the intricacies of its moving parts, but time and use has taken its toll, and our poor piano was again in much need of some TLC.  As the pianos primary user, I felt somewhat obligated to care for our piano, however I was fiscally unprepared to higher a professional for such an endeavor.  This left me with only one option: I needed to attempt to repair the piano myself.

The first tool I needed for the job was knowledge.  I had never even looked carefully at the inner workings of a piano.  I assumed that attempting to tune and regulate it without research would end poorly.  I started my quest for knowledge with the Internet.  (Click here to see what comes up on a google search for “How to tune a piano”)  I found so much information that I decided to buy a $15 book to save my eyes.  After reading through much of the book I was confident that I could proceed with the tuning of the piano; leaving the vastly more technical regulation and voicing work for later.  Of course, for the tuning I would need more tools; and off to eBay I went.  I purchased a tuning kit that included: mutes, felt, hammer and tuning fork for $45.  Lest my ears betrayed me, I also ordered a chromatic electronic tuner for $75.  Having wanted to save money, I mistakenly ordered the tuning kit from Hong Kong and paid the price with a lengthy wait for its delivery.

Upon returning from a visit to my hometown, I found that my package was ready for pickup at the post office.  After retuning and opening the package and finding the contents to my satisfaction, I took care in removing the stuffed deer head, candles, and other trinkets from above or on top of the piano so that I could access the tuning pins.

I took out my electronic tuner and struck middle C to find that it in reality was almost a B flat.  Seeing as I was planning to tune the whole piano it seemed to me that middle C was a perfect place to begin.  Muting two of the three stings of middle C I began raising the pitch of the left most string until it rested to my satisfaction, close enough to middle C.  I continued by raising the other two to meet it and continued onto the next note.  When tuning, I found it necessary to hit the keys firmly to equalize the tension among the various lengths of the strings, otherwise the string would eventually slip on its own and become flat or sharp.  The process was long and tedious.  Throughout the session, my electronic tuner refused to work with the din of the TV in the background, nor would it work for the very high or low notes.  I called it a day after I had tuned 2 octaves below middle C and all but the highest octave on the register.  It was an improvement for sure, but I felt like I had a long way to go before I would be satisfied.

Please feel free to email me with any questions or helpful facts that I learned throughout this process.  If anyone is interested in coming up to visit and play our piano, we can always use some company.

Stay tuned! ;)

All creatures great and small get on their children’s bikes, over sized big wheels and wheeled creations that could be best described as a “Franken-Bikes” and head down the hill as fast as they can pedal. Pretty soon we all file into line and start to gain speed. Lots of headlamps and duck taped flashlights keep the road ahead clear as we barrel down the road. I am lucky enough to be riding a bike that us at WA like to refer to as the “Golden Boy”.   Chris “the T-rex” is behind me on a bike known as the “Sea star”. As we keep gaining speed the road and all the blackness around become a blur.  As I gain speed, all the creatures I saw at the top of the mountain fall behind as I pedal to gain even more speed.  I push to the front of the pack and I see an older lady on a child’s bike. She had to be at least 80 years old.  She is leading the monster race down the mountain. As I speed up this old lady gets on the go pedal and starts to pull away! I decide that no old lady is going to beat me down the mountain, so I tuck in as close as I can and keep the pedals moving. I am reminded  of my good friend Marc Dufour a well known and respected road cyclist.  He said the key to any cycle victory is “Spin to Win” with that mantra in my head I start to increase the revolutions.  I start to close the gap on granny. We pas a few cars going up the mountain and continue onto the main street that heads to an intersection that marks the finish line.  Granny is relentless in her quest for victory but I will not be beat! I decide if I am going to pass I need to make my move. I tuck in behind her and decrease my wind resistance and engage the slingshot maneuver  made famous by a personal hero “Ricky Bobby”.

Click here to view the embedded video.

We are all caught up in our lives, we have deadlines for work, bills, kids, and so many other things that take up our precious time. My new years resolution is to slow down and enjoy the moments that I am not spending stressing about work, or anything else in my life. With a baby on the way and more stress approaching I need to get myself in check before the sleepless nights and poopy diapers start showing up.  Starbomb is one of those small things in life that to some people seem so pointless. But to us Hipsters, bike nuts and adventurers it is a chance to slip into another world and relax. So whatever your new years resolution is, try and take time out for the small things. weather it be watching the sun set, sleeping in or riding sketchy bikes down a mountain.

As always, Ride or Die.

Dano

Contributor #1: Yours truly…Julia Bradford for those of you who don’t know that I am working on updating all the content and pictures for the new site.  That’s me and the best dog in the world up at McAfees Knob this past fall.  That hike has become a fall tradition for me and my little family (my fiance and my furry dog baby), and I would definitely recommend making it one for your family too.  If you have any suggestions about the site or for the blog I am mostly open to them, unless it’s something I’ve already dwelled over for days on end.  Then I might mutter things about you under my breath, but it won’t really be your fault.  Here at camp I am the Group Program Director which basically means that I book groups for day trips and into our lodges year round.  I also get to make brochures, coordinate marketing when we have the resources to do so, respond to general email inquiries and oh so much more.  You can expect my blogs to cover a potpurri of topics such as snowboarding & rock climbing trips, upcoming events at camp such as the New Years Eve Party blog soon to come, and detailed accounts of the awesome things that happen around basecamp.  If you would like to make suggestions or even contribute to our blog please email me and keep those comments coming!

Contributor #2: Dan Lucas who is our Base Camp Director and mountian bike guru did a great job of blogging before we had the big switch over and we hope he will keep them coming.  This picture was taken of Dan at the Devil’s Marbleyard on one of our summer youth trips near the Natural Bridge.  Nice product placement too with the Colonel’s Four Principles of Success shirt on.  Dan spends more hours of the day then you would ever dream possible, researching bike parts and the ins and outs of the biking industry.  If you ever have questions about what kind of bike is best for you, mountain biking with Wilderness Adventure, or 101 ways to spend your hard earned money on biking contact Dan.  So he might have some input for a baby blog seeing as his wife Ashley will be having their first baby girl in February 2010.  Watch out, biker chick in the making.

Contributor #3: None other than Steve Allen, our activities director, which is just another term for guy that is good at everything. The picture here shows him during our summer youth program instructing at the Lignite Site on Bald Mountain.  Steve is more than proficient in anything from mountain biking to piano playing/tuning, rock climbing to wood carving, and even chain mail making.  We never know what trick Steve will be pulling out of his bag so while you may never know what to expect from Steve’s next blog, one this is for sure it will be highly entertaining and amazingly informative.  If you have any questions regarding our wide array of activities or impeccable safety record he is the guy to talk to and to thank for keeping us safe.  He also has all the used gear sale information memorized and ready to give to any potential buyer at a moments notice so feel free to email Steve anytime.

Contributor #4: Although this saying is a little played out it still needs to be said that Patrick Boas, our Director of Operations, is last but certainly not least.  The picture featured here show Patrick giving instruction during our swift water rescue class that is given to all our white water trips on the beautiful New River.  We should all feel especially lucky that he will be taking a moment out of his busy day to contribute to our little ole’ blog.  Typically Patrick is working on all the tedious yet extremley important everyday tasks that allow a business to run.  Patrick is in charge of our finances, managing and hiring our crazy staff, paying the bills, and all the other behind the scenes stuff that never gets fully appreciated.  If you feel sorry for him because he doesn’t get to do any of the fun stuff anymore, don’t.  His alter ego, “the ruckus”, creeps out pretty regularly and shreds up the mountains and rivers whether it be on a bike, snowboard, kayak, or his personal favorite extreme hiking.  Regardless of whether he is just regular Patrick or the ruckus he has a lot of valuable information rattling around up in that brain of his that he will be sharing with us once a month on the blog, and that you cannot miss.  Click here for questions or to contact Patrick.

So everyone stayed tuned to learn more about our contributors and the crazy stunts they pull.  Now that you’ve been sitting around on the computer for a while Go Find Your Adventure!

Realizing that most people were setting up for their parties, probably out fighting the crowds at the grocery stores trying to grab some chips & salsa and a couple 2-liter bottles of soda, we had hopes of accomplishing something more adventurous.

Being it was one of the nicest days we had seen in a couple months, and not wanting to do the typical bike ride at Carvin’s Cove, we invented what is known currently as the BROathlon. A BROathlon consisted of 4 of our male staff members (Eric, Anthony, Chris and Patrick) spending 4-5 hours trekking the New Castle countryside on;

1) a 7 mile bike loop around Fenwick Park back to Base Camp,
2) a 1.5 mile run to the 2nd ford creek crossing and then
3) a 3 mile paddle down Craig’s Creek in our open cockpit white water kayaks back to Base Camp.

All started out well, we planned out the trip in the Administration building, drawing a rough map that we would follow, as well as deciding what prep work we would need to set up before we hit the trail. We decided that we should drop off the boats, pfd’s and paddles at the second ford before we did anything else so they would be ready for us when we arrived after our jog. Then headed back to camp to get our bikes ready for the loop. It took a good 30 minutes to get set up and be on our bikes on the camp road headed to Fenwick Mines. Our start was time 2:15pm with a goal of finishing the event in 3 hours.

A factor we did not put into our estimated time was the pack of camp dogs, Rocky, Jackson and Charlie. They must have been looking for something to do this Sunday as well, and it seemed as if they decided that a Dogathlon was a great idea. Hoping we could out ride the dogs we started to pedal faster, even the littlest of dogs (Charlie) picked up his pace and followed us all the way to the 615/611 intersections. A little frustrated we decided that we needed to head back to camp and chain them up before we hit the road again. New start time: 2:45.

We completed the loop successfully the second time around in about an hour, put our bikes away and started our 1.5 mile run to the second ford. Again the dogs started to follow us; luckily they were distracted by some of the stray rabbits on the property. We reached the house in about 20 mins, grabbed a quit bite to eat (pb&J) and then grabbed our boats and carried them down to the 2nd ford.

Though it was a beautiful day outside the water was still extremely cold, flipping your boat and or dragging our boats through shallow areas would be a horrible idea. Along the way we found some ice formations that had drained off of the ridge and froze before getting to the creek.

Not something you want to see as you are sitting in an open kayak with shorts and t-shirts on. Though it was a long paddle on flat water, it turned out to be a very peaceful paddle, soaking up some sun and remembering warmer days where we found ourselves on this creek almost every week. The creek looped around and we found ourselves pulling the boats out at Base Camp in less than 2 hours, finishing our BROathlon in roughly 4.5 hours. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon and we have hopes of setting out on one that would include more of our staff, meaning we might have to change the name from BRO to BRO/GALathlon.

Un-till next time…….

Patrick R Boas
XOXOxxOxoOx

The first day we drove from my house to St. Louis Missouri. We got there around 5a.m. Checked out the Gateway to the west. Then we caught some much needed z’s before heading further westward. We passed Kansas City and said “Sayonara” to Topeka. We traveled ever farther on Interstate 70 till we got to the Great Plains. Flat and somewhat boring is what most people said about them, but I did not really mind driving through the Great Plains it felt somewhat joyous to finally be on planet earth somewhere west of Ohio. Then we entered into Colorado. As the sun was setting we were approaching the Rocky Mountains, but we wouldn’t actually see them till dawn.

The next morning we awoke after spending the night at a motel 6. We left for Rocky Mountain National Park. We headed for the east entrance. We got there and were awestruck by the size of the mountains and the natural beauty that surrounds them. We got there Paid for our America the Beautiful all inclusive visitors pass and went to the backcountry office. There we were helped by Lyle. He gave us a suggestion where to go snowshoeing and all we needed to know to go into the backcountry in Rocky Mountain National Park.

We Got back to our car and prepared to Snowshoe up to Mill Lake. We were planning to then camp a little bit further up the trail past Jewell Lake. We made camp around an Altitude just above 10,000Ft. My buddy Dj was feeling a little under the weather so I was left to take care of dinner by myself. We then slept the night away listening to the wind howl with gusts up to 55MpH. The next morning we arose packed up camp and snow shoed over to Loch Lake. Loch Lake was one of the most amazing views that I have ever seen in my Life. The clouds and sun were just amazing. To walk up over the edge of the hill and see the ridge towering over the frozen lake was a feeling that is indescribable. The weather again was quite amazing in the 20s with wind 25-35 MPH with gusts up to 55Mph. We then left Rocky Mountain National Park and we headed towards Moab a Mecca for the Outdoor Industry and also the location of our next stop Arches National Park.

Arches National Park has amazing rock gardens and breathtaking features. We started by driving into the park trying to take in everything we could with our eyes. We first saw Delicate Arch and Fiery Furnace. We then wound up at the Devils Garden Trailhead where we hiked to Tunnel Arch, and Pine Tree Arch. Then we worked our way to Landscape Arch, Which is probably the most impressive spanning over 300 ft. and only 11ft. thick in one spot. A portion of the arch fell off in 1991. We then left Arches and headed to Zion National Park on the way we had one of the most spectacular sunsets we have ever seen.

The next day at Zion we first drove through the park and explored what it had to offer. Zion is a Beautiful canyon land offering a unique landscape unparalleled in any other park. We wound up hiking the river walk and then we hiked the Patriarchs trail where we saw the most wildlife on our trip. We saw Turkeys, Mule Deer, Woodpecker, and Blue Jays. We got back to The Bull and went to the furthest west our trip would take us, the land of giants, Sequoia National Park.

When we got to Sequoia we didn’t know that high up in the sierras there was over 2.5 feet of snow and would need to rent snow chains to be able to see the giant marvels. We drove up and up seeing spectacular views all around us. While passing through many types of ecosystems traveling to see the largest trees on earth we were smitten by the biodiversity of our planet. We finally get to the chain up point, hook up the chains, and take off again. We round two corners and there are trees that you cannot even imagine how big they are! We get to the top after passing Sequoia after Sequoia and we decide to get out and walk around. We are now in the zone where these giants live 6000 to 9000 ft. in elevation and are also only found in the Sierra Nevada’s in California. We walk over to the General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing on the planet and the largest tree in the entire world. We cannot believe our eyes again on this trip. We just cannot even start to take in all the sights we have now seen because of the amount of beauty we have tried to process in the last few days. Moving on we leave the land of Giants and go to the land of Death…Death Valley.

At Death Valley we hiked Mosaic Canyon, which is a beautiful limestone canyon. We then drove through the sparse landscape, past many water barrels for cars that overheat in the summer, to the most famous point within Death Valley Badwater Basin. Badwater Basin is the lowest place in the United States at an elevation of -282ft. below sea level. From that point you can also look at the highest point in the park at over 11,000ft. Leaving Death Valley we worked our way towards Las Vegas. Then after having a night on the town we hit our final park.

The Grand Canyon is one of the biggest wonders in the world. Created by the water of the mighty Colorado it continues to be shaped and changed which you can see by looking at all of the exposed layers of rock and earth. At the Grand Canyon there was about 2 feet of snow up on the rim. So we decided to not hike into the canyon for safety purposes. We decided we could still see plenty and it wasn’t worth the risk. The canyon is an amazing sight, from whatever angle you see it from. Most of the other visitors that we met in the park were not Americans but travelers from other countries. We drove through the park and after experiencing all that these parks had to offer. I asked my friend Dj anything else you want to see. He replied “what else is there to see” in a tone like we have seen everything. We had just seen the Grand Canyon and 5 of more of the best National Parks in the United States. I had no answer, but “I guess we go home then.”

These are just small examples of my trip and many more stories can also be shared. The experiences from this trip will stay with me forever and the fun times that I shared with my good friend. I can’t ever imagine something better than what I had just done. So who wants to go to Alaska?

Are you going to lose weight this year? Be more productive? Call in sick less? Brush your teeth more? There are plenty normal and boring ways to try and be a better person in 2009. This year, as 2008 was rolling out and 2009 was becoming a reality I was trying to decide what my new years resolution was going to be.

Should I mow the lawn more? “Nah.” Should I try and save more money this year? ”Phhhhh…..yeah right!” Should I make more of an effort to keep in contact with my friends? ”No that’s what Facebook is for.”

What is it going to be? Maybe I should ride my bike more! If you think about it, It is perfect! I will ride my bike more in 2009. I will be working out, losing weight, having fun, spending time with friends and making new ones almost every time I go for a bike ride. Sounds like the best New years resolution ever right?

The first day of the new year and it is time to test my theory. 12:00pm Jake Janine, Anthony, and I are suiting up. We hit a low loop at Carvins Cove for our first ride of the new year. It was cold, it was windy, and I had to wear all the cold gear I had. But it was such a great ride!

You can’t get much better then spending time with people you really enjoy and being in nature. There is just nothing like it. Only 365 days left to make this years resolution the best it can be. I may not be saving money, and I am sure the lawn will look worse than ever this year. But for me, and I am sure for some of you, this new years is going to be the best yet. Good luck with all the new years resolutions!

Ride or Die……Maybe my new years resolution should be to change my motto…

~Dano

I know it has been a while since my last blog update.  It is a new year and a time to start over, a time to grow change and learn from the year gone by. now lucky for all of you, you do not have to read a blog about me going on for ever about any of that. Instead I am going to post up an essay composed by one of our very own alumni from WAEL. Thats right “Bobo”!

Enjoy!

Caryn Maconi
October 19, 2008

I was introduced to backpacking at a summer camp called Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing when I was eleven years old. After learning about the program at a local camp fair, my mother signed me up on a whim, unaware that the experience would have a lasting impact on my life.

The founder of the organization, Colonel Gene Nervo, is a wise, friendly, balding man in his sixties who started the camp after serving in the Marines. His goal was to create a program that builds character in young people by having them experience firsthand the challenges that the outdoors can hold. Throughout my five years as a camper and one year as a staff member at Wilderness Adventure, “Colonel”, as he is lovingly called, has taught me about the two main principles of character that I base my life on: a strong work ethic and a positive attitude.

When Colonel talks about the “principles of success” in his discussions at the start and finish of every youth backpacking session, he explains their usefulness in the outdoors, but especially emphasizes their importance in the rest of life.

During my summer working as a Wilderness Adventure employee, I really learned to understand what a good work ethic was all about. I was excited to spend six weeks at Wilderness Adventure, getting paid to backpack, rock climb, kayak, and mountain bike – all of the activities that I have grown to love during my years as a camper. It was easy to put forth my best effort with these. I soon realized, however, that the ins-and-outs of running an outdoor adventure camp require a lot of work that is not so exciting.

For example, I spent entire days digging a drainage pipe out of the ground with a pick axe and a shovel. I worked hours in the base camp kitchen, washing dishes, taking out the trash, and mopping floors. I would frequently help out after work hours were done, loading a boat trailer or preparing a re-supply for a group out on the trail. This task consisted of collecting mail, food, fuel, water, and other items to be distributed to backpackers in the middle of a long trip, and it often took more time than expected. Still, I remembered Colonel telling me that a good work ethic meant doing every task, no matter how big, small, or smelly, to the best of my ability. I followed his advice, knowing that I was lucky to have a job at Wilderness Adventure and that I would be given an opportunity to have an action-packed day off if I only kept up the effort.

This principle carries over into my life at home in countless ways. As a cross-country and track runner, I train hard every day, never slowing down or cutting a run short when the coach isn’t looking. At school, I study for tests until I know I am well prepared, and I complete every homework assignment, even if it won’t be checked by a teacher. To me, “slacking” is a bad word, and when I notice somebody slacking off, I feel compelled to encourage that person to set his or her goals just a little higher.

I love the personal feeling of accomplishment that a good work ethic provides, and I know that every challenge I meet with perseverance and effort makes me a stronger, more confident person.

I believe that a positive attitude is one of my most outstanding traits, and Colonel consistently strengthens that trait within me. He has shown me the value of keeping my head up whatever difficulty comes my way, always trying to find something good in the situation. A positive attitude is extremely important at Wilderness Adventure, because while living purely outdoors and carrying your life in a pack is an amazing experience, it certainly has its share of obstacles.

Backpackers must find ways to deal with poison ivy, rainstorms, bug bites, hikes that last into the night, flavorless freeze-dried meals, and worst of all, no showers! Still, I see all of this as part of the package; I realize that with each obstacle overcome I build character, and I know that each experience will be another exciting story to look back on with pride.

With a positive attitude, I find life so much more enjoyable and challenges so much more fun to meet. I get excited about my eleven-mile cross country practice, and instead of dreading and procrastinating that term paper, I look forward to the moment when I can say it’s completed and I can read over my impressive work.

Approaching life with optimism helps me to be fearless and believe in learning through every opportunity. Most of all, having a positive attitude means being happy, and spreading that happiness to everyone I meet with a bright smile, a hug, or a few encouraging words.

Perhaps I have always possessed the qualities that Colonel advocates, and he has really only brought them to the surface through his program and its unique challenges. When I feel like something in my life is not quite right, like my plans are not working out the way they should or my frustration level is a little high, I think of Colonel and those two powerful virtues. I take his lessons to heart, for they have helped me to see life’s bigger picture. I have learned to look at life with optimism, motivation, and a kind heart. By sticking to the values that have come to define me, I find that I am always ready and determined to commit to challenges, to take risks, and to build character with every experience.

Well here at WAEL we have a different set of perks. Perks that I feel are worth far more than a desk with your name on it or even your own company computer. What perks am I talking about you ask? I am talking about perks like: lifelong friendships, new experiences, getting up in the morning and wanting to go to work, the support of your peers to be whatever you want to be, the memories you create, and the people you meet. There is nothing like it.

I was writing the above paragraph for another blog I was going to do for the website. Now fast forward 2 days to Wednesday morning…….

What is worse than getting up at 5:00am on a weekday to drive to Ohio? The answer is waking up at 4:00am on a weekday to drive to Ohio. Yes, us WAEL staff are at it again. Another trip, more memories, more new people and awesome experiences. This time we are headed to Cleveland Ohio, to Rays Indoor Mountain bike park!

Yes you are reading that right, an indoor park! Only in flat, corn filled, Ohio will you find a place like this. 115,000sq ft of ladders, jumps, logs, rocks, and a half mile XC loop! All jammed and crammed into a huge old warehouse that looks all but abandoned.

Steve and I were lucky enough to meet up with Jake, Janine, Sarah and Chris for a few days of riding, and good times. So Steve and I get into Columbus at around 1:00 and meet up with Jake, Janine, and Sarah. We had just enough time to cram 5 people 4 bikes and clothes into Jake’s jeep and get on the road. 2 hours later we are at Rays.

Rays is open from 5:00pm to 10:00pm every weeknight. We went on a Wednesday and Thursday night. The first night we got there just after 5:00, we took enough time to change, get our bikes together and throw a helmet on. Everywhere you look at Rays there is something fun to ride on, or jump off of. Or if you want you can watch other riders hit the stunts while you build up your courage.

It did not take long and the building was full with all sorts of people. There was a wide variety of riders. BMX, XC Jake was on his All Mountain rig, and even a down hill bike made it in, “Cough” Steve “Cough” . It was awesome to be in a place where all you needed to fit in was a love for bikes. There were some older XC guys riding the same stuff as the BMX kids. I saw people that were Pro quality riders, beginners, first timers. Families, and senior citizens! There was even a 8-10 year old kid throwing 1 foot Can’s off a small jump on the pump track. I wanted to talk to the little dude and give him some info on our mountain biking trips, but his mom called him out of the park because he needed to go home and do his homework.

Ray’s is divided into 7 main areas with other trails and stunts shooting off. Jake and I spent a lot of time in the GT Sport section, and the Mongoose expert section. The GT Sport section had lots of cool stuff laid out all over the place. There were ladders that challenged even the most skilled riders, rythym jumps, and a large platform that the BMX guys liked to pulling tricks on platforms and the staging area’s. The Mongoose section was filled with Ladders, skinny’s, and tons of cool stunts. There were teeters, double teeters, and even an elevator! The skinny’s and ladders in this section were even harder than the GT section. You had plenty of room to try new things and hone those skills. To the far left side of the GT section there was the Gary Fisher, pump track. Talk about a workout, and a heck of a lot of fun.

It was a perfect place to work on your trail flow, and work on getting every ounce of pump out of each corner. there was even a beginner room for people new to biking, to work on their skills without the worry of being in the way or making a fool of yourself in front of the pros. Scattered around the park there are a number of lounge areas. I am not talking just some chairs to rest on. The SRAM lounge has 3 full gas fireplaces, wireless internet, food, comfy chairs and music playing around the clock. The lounge is a great place to rest, eat some pizza and get your energy up for another round. Just off the Lounge is the entrance to the XC loop. You would think that a Indoor Mountain bike park, would be kind of limited to the type of riding you can allow in such a small space. Well Ray has thought of everything, and devised a way to fit a half mile XC loop into a warehouse that is already busting at the seams. How did he do that? He built it into the rafters!!! That’s right you heard me! You have climbs, decents and a small but very fun ride in the rafters, where you can look down on the park and your fellow bikers shredding it up in the other various area’s Ray’s has to offer.

If all of that was not enough, Ray did one more thing to solidify this as one of the best bike parks in my mind. He put in a foam pitt! Heck yeah! Now you can try all those tricks you are scared to pull on your local trails or jumps. That’s right, now you can work on turn down’s, or the elusive 360. Or if you are looking to challenge yourself, you can try to polish up that backflip, 360, turndown, flair, that you can’t seem to pin.

I guess what I am trying to say is that Ray’s is amazing. The icing on the cake is the people. I can’t say enough about the people of Cleveland. Everyone we met was down to earth and friendly. We became friends with Bob, “the guy behind the counter at Ray’s” he hooked us up with some free stickers and gave everyone in our group a free Ray’s water bottle.

What a great trip! This brings me back to the point in my first paragraph. A perk can be something as simple as a good time with good friends you work with. I feel lucky to have worked with all of them. It’s a perk I would not trade for anything. Not even a sweet WAEL tie.

P.S. if you are in the area hit up Melt. It is a awesome place specializing in the art of making the best dang grilled cheese sandwiches on earth! You will not leave hungry!

As always, Ride or Die……and have some fun in between.

Dano

P.P.S. we will be uploading a video to the site soon, but it is not finished yet. So these screen shots of me and Jake in the foam pit will have to do till it is done. Thanks!

My alarm goes off and I am once again upset that morning came so early. I can’t really complain too much, I am going to Snowshoe for gosh sakes! Well a half an hour later I am at the staff house meeting Jake and Patrick. Another half hour later we have left WA and are on the road. We get to Snowshoe around 10:00am ready for some H-Core biking action!

The Day could not be much better. We have a perfect temp around 58-60, the sun is out and I get to do some biking with 5 of my very close friends. The crew is, “Me” Dan, Jake, Ruckus, Anthony, Chris, and Steve.

We start the day with a great run, and warm up on the basin side with a trip down M, and N. We are all feeling great, Chris got his first taste of freeride and I think he liked it! After the first Run we hit the drop park for around 30 min getting ready for some airtime in the Western territory. We drop in on the sport Corse. A short but rocky trail with tight trees and some steep drop off camber spots near the end. We then make our way down to Ninja Bob, which is a fast east coast style type of trail. Lots of red clay rock drops and trees to avoid.

Next we get to Ball Jack and the beginning of Missing Link “The New Trail”. It was SICK to say the least. It was fast, flowy, and has Berms and tables and jumps sprinkled in everywhere. When you make it to the bottom you are tired, pumped, out of breath and psyched for another run.

The last section of the journey to the bottom of the mountain is a trail called Powerline. Now powerline in a trail you can ride as a novice or pro and anywhere in between. A great place to work on getting some air or just cleaning a berm at full speed. It is fast and full of tabletop’s, big berms. A short ride and you are at the pickup for the buss to the top of the mountain.

We broke up for a while, Patrick rode the XC stuff , Jake and I killed the Basin, Anth, and Chris did a little of both, and Steve made some new friends on Missing Link. The Basin side or “Freeride” side is Awesome. Full of drops, man made features, Boulders, Rocks on top of rocks, roots, and a thin layer of mud. It is such a great place to work on speed and your trail vision. It seems the Theme on Snowshoe’s Basin side is huge Ladders and big wall rides.

All in All it was an epic day. The rest of the Day was a blur. We could have all stayed and rode again the next day. It was once again amazing, and worth every penny. I am sorry to see that it is again “that time”…….the end of the season. I can’t think of how better to spend a day off. A great day, good friends and one awesome Ride.

Ride or Die….

Dano

But it wasn’t until 10 years later that I returned to be utterly blown away at the immense quantity as well as quality of boulders that swarm the mountain.

Since my return, I’ve had a lot of fun being a part of what I’d consider the “knob renaissance.” My main partner in ushering a new era on the mountain was Adam Walker – also author of ‘Distilled Bouldering,’ a blogspot dedicated to bouldering in VA with a lot of emphasis on the knob. A guide was put out by my buddy, Jay Shultz and posted on drtopo.com a few years ago with coverage on past development, as well as the early resurgence at the turn of the millennium. Dislaimer: The list of motivated developers and first ascentionists span the decades and any list would be non-exhaustive…I apologize if your name is not mentioned.

Even with all the ‘local’ buzz (consisting of a small handful of motivated people from Blacksburg, Roanoke and WAEL, McAfees carries an almost ghostly spirit. On any given day, with the exception of curious hikers, you’ll find solitude and rarely see another climber. Walking up the jeep road and passing the roadside boulders, you’ll see fresh chalk on the crimps and slopes as if you’ve just missed the guy before. Higher up the road, the boulders and chalk fade out and open up into an extensive and clear view of blue ridges and rolling valleys.

About 1/4 mile from the summit, you hit the Main Area. This is where the most classic problems lie as well as the biggest concentration . Keep going to the summit and you’ll be rewarded with awesome views, refreshing breezes (sometimes windy enough to blow you off the summit when you’re wearing a crashpad) and even more bouldering. I’d be conservative to say that there’s at least 100 (small to house sized) boulders up there and even more to be discovered in the forest. Heidi (my wife) and I discovered two new boulders in the forest off the jeep road two years ago and put up about 7 great problems…adding a whole new area to the roadside circuit. We even found a 100′ w x 50′ t wall (although mostly chossy) off the lower jeep road that day!

In short, McAffees is a place unlike any other – a beautiful forest, classic boulders, no crowds and more climbing to be found for the adventurous – with one of the best views in the state. If you’re a climber in or traveling through VA, you owe it to yourself to check it out!

Truc