Photo: Randall Holcombe
Energy Miles
Hiking a mile uphill is as difficult as hiking 1.6 miles on flat ground, according to a new study performed by Western Carolina University.
Must Do Adventures
Watch the Shredders The East Coast Surfing Championship in Virginia Beach is the longest-running surf contest in the country. Last year, they were treated with head-high surf thanks to Hurricane Danielle. August 24-28. surfecsc.com
Moonlight Hike August 13 is the full moon. Find a lonely peak and try a night hike sans headlamp, or head to Tallulah Gorge State Park and take a guided night hike deep into the gorge and across the 250-foot long suspension bridge that joins the 1,000-foot rock chasm.
Forage for Fruit August is the end of blackberry season at high elevations. Check out the West Virginia Blackberry Festival in Clarksburg on August 4-6 for a blackberry baking contest. August 6 is also the annual Blackberry Harvest Festival at Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery in Virginia.
Ride Across America, By the Numbers
30: Number of years bikers have officially been racing across the United States.
3,000: Miles solo bikers and team relays pedal during RAAM, which is 30 percent longer than the Tour de France.
170,000: Distance the bikers climb as they travel across 12 states.
12: Days allotted to solo bikers to finish.
8 days, 8 hours, 6 minutes: Time it took Christopher Strasser, the solo category winner, to reach the finish line last year.
Unbreakable Determination
Sleep deprivation, dehydration, and a fractured pelvis—three challenges that Katie Spotz faced during the Race Across America, a 3,000-mile, around-the-clock bike race from Oceanside, Ca. to Annapolis, Md. Spotz fractured her pelvis during a training ride days before the race. Instead of scrapping plans for the ride, Spotz switched vehicles from her road bike to a handcycle and completed the ride with teammate Sam Williams.
