Throughout last year, Blue Ridge Outdoors remained the steady voice of the mountains, giving readers authentic perspectives and essential coverage of key adventures and current events in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Before we turn our focus to this year’s explorations ahead, here are some of our most popular stories of 2024.
1. To Build a Fort: Kids Process the Disaster of Hurricane Helene—by Graham Averill
In November, we dedicated our Top Adventure Towns Issue to the communities in our region affected by Hurricane Helene. The issue highlighted the winners of our annual Top Adventure Town contest, some of which were heavily affected by Helene, while also covering how communities mobilized to provide hurricane relief across the region. One writer reflected on the emotional effects Helene had on his family, both difficult and productive, and how it helped them get outside and unplug.
2. Native American Name of Highest Peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Restored—by Shannon McGowan
In September, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names (BGN) voted in favor of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’s (EBCI) request to change the name of the highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Formally known as Clingmans Dome, the peak’s name was restored to the Cherokee name, Kuwohi (pronounced koo-WHOA-hee and spelled ᎫᏬᎯ in Cherokee syllabary), which translates to “mulberry place.
3. Cold Case of Two Women Murdered in Shenandoah National Park Solved, According to FBI—by Shannon McGowan
Nearly three decades after the bodies of two women were discovered in Shenandoah National Park, officials found the man responsible for the brutal crime. In June, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Field Office in Richmond, Vermont, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia announced that the man responsible for the brutal murders of Laura “Lollie” Winans and her partner Julianne “Julie” Williams was Walter Leo Jackson Senior, a convicted serial rapist who died in prison in March 2018 at 70 years old.
4. Rapid Response—by Mike Bezemek
In late September, Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction in the Southeast, causing severe structural damage, flooding, injuries, and the loss of over 230 lives. We covered how paddlers, climbers, and other members of the outdoor community sprang into action after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina.
5. Walk on Water: 6 Paddleboarding Spots—by Eric Wallace
From our June Paddling Issue, we highlighted six family-friendly river paddleboarding trips that featured beautiful mountain scenery. From Virginia’s South Fork Shenandoah River to Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, the story covers a variety of locations across the Blue Ridge region with info on each put-in, paddling beta, and nearby guiding services.
6. Fish Hooks Found in Dog Treats Scattered Along Appalachian Trail—by Shannon McGowan
Back in May, we reported on a horrific incident that was happening along the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania where an unknown person was scattering dog treats with fish hooks stuffed into them. According to the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, a non-profit conservation organization located in Lehigh Gap, over a dozen treats stuffed with multiple fish hooks were found between PA Route 873 and the George W. Outerbridge Shelter.
7. Survival 101: Experts Provide Five Essential Skills for Backcountry Safety—by Lauren Stepp
From our October Hiking Issue, we spoke to several wilderness medicine experts from across the Southeast for backcountry safety tips and skills they think every adventurer should know.
8. Two Types of Cicadas will Emerge this Summer for the First Time in 200 Years—by Shannon McGowan
Back in March, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that for the first time in 221 years, two broods of cicadas would emerge in the U.S. simultaneously across states in the Southeast and Midwest. What made that most exciting was that both types of cicadas were periodical, meaning unlike their annual copart, they only emerge from the ground to mate, lay eggs, and die every 13-17 years.
9. Bikepacking for Beginners—by Malee Oot
Our region is full of fantastic bikepacking routes that range from entry-level to expert. In our September Biking Issue, we covered some of the best beginner routes with plenty of amenities for those getting their rigs dialed.
10. Trail Troubadour: A Musician Finds His Way Outdoors—by Andrew Marshall
A favorite from our March Fly Fishing Issue, we covered the musical evolution of Virginia singer-songwriter Will Overman, after he was processing a divorce and reflecting on the lasting impacts of his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.
Cover photo: North Carolina’s Black Mountains courtesy of Getty Images.
