We know a lot of people have been waiting with bated breath to see their home town featured in this, our November issue. Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine was proud to learn even more about the 36 towns that would each make a perfect home-base for your next adventure, and to hear from so many of our incredible fans and readers from each location. We hope you enjoy our showcase of not only the town that received the most reader votes, but of many of our region’s top towns — including some special conversations with locals bringing us, and you, even more insights into what makes these places special.
Not only were we able to pin down some of the region’s top outdoor towns, but we also spent the last month conglomerating what our experts say are their top gear picks. The mission: find out what gear changed their lives this year, and feature it here for you to feast on – better than Thanksgiving dinner for many of our readers. From packs, shoes, bikes, tents, boats and more, we’ve got you covered on the best gear for your sport of choice. It’s never too early to start a holiday wishlist, right?
Find the November issue on a newsstand near you, pick it up for free, share it around, and let us know your thoughts.
features
PEAK GEAR AWARDS
BRO asked its top outdoor adventurers for their top gear picks—gear that changed their lives, or at least their perspective. Blue Ridge athletes put our Gear of the Year selections to the ultimate test.
TOP TOWNS 2014
Over 85,000 votes poured in for our Top Towns contest. Which outdoor hub did readers select as their favorite?
A LESSON IN GRATITUDE
Thrashing beneath the thundering whitewater, fighting the current to exhaustion, a drowning kayaker thinks: this is it.
BASED IN THE BLUE RIDGE
Keeping it local has never been easier for outdoor enthusiasts in Southern Appalachia. Dozens of outdoor gear manufacturers are now based in the Blue Ridge region. Here are 14 favorites.
departments
EDITOR’S NOTE
Chris Finlay — a hero for the homeless
FLASHPOINT
Coalfields Expressway: Road to recovery or path to destruction?
THE DIRT
Camper sleepwalks off cliff / Pipestem gets creative / Family thru-hikes A.T. / No drones over the A.T. / Jetpack running
TRAIL MIX
Four breaking Blue Ridge bands you need to hear this year.
