Come on out to the GW National Forest this weekend! Three ridges is a hike I have wanted to conquer for some time now, and with highs of 80 degrees I think it’s a perfect weekend to go for it. The total distance is 14 miles and we will most likely split the days into 7 miles each. Anyone is …
Announcements
Rolling Clinic/ Intro to Kayaking
Hey guys, I’m going to lead another Rolling/ Intro to Kayaking clinic this Thursday afternoon. It will be in the same format as the summer ones in that I am going to limit it to two or three people (probably two) and it should only take about an hour. We will meet at 5:30pm on Thursday next to Echols, head …
Intro to Backpacking: Mt Pleasant + Cold Mt (11.5mi, 25 Hr)
***REACH ME at jdr5bd@virginia.edu or 757-630-7971*** Pitch: This Saturday, come stretch your legs, meet some fellow adventurers, and see the beautiful high mountain meadow of Cold Mountain while it’s just cool mountain. We’ll catch sunset and sunrise at one of the prettiest campsites in all of Virginia and make it back to grounds in time for you to finish your …
Birthday Hike!
Happy Birthday National Parks! Let’s celebrate more successfully than these people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0jO30tIje0 In honor of the NPS Centennial, I thought it appropriate to head up to Shenandoah this weekend. Admission fees to get into the park are waived! We’ll be hiking the White Oak Canyon Trail to go find this awesome natural water slide: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-4YYr6RT7w) It’ll be a hot day, …
Intermediate/Advanced Mountain Biking – Narrowback Mountain Loop
It’s me, the shred doctor. I’m here to give you all a shredsciption to partake in the indulgence of some massive doses of essential shredibiotics this Saturday. THE PLAN: We’ll meet at the side entrance of the Echols dorm (closest to O’Hill) to load up the bikes and roll out at around 8am. Estimated arrival at the trailhead is around …
Humpback Humpday!
*Drivers needed! Welcome nature lovers to the first humpback humpday hike of the semester! For everyone new to the club this is our weekly Wednesday sunrise or sunset hike to humpback rocks. It’s beginner and time friendly! We’ll leave at 5:30pm which means be there at 5:20. Nothing sucks more than missing sunset on a sunset hike. Things you need: …
Afternoon Mountain Swimming
What’s up outdoor friends! Join me on a quick trip to one of the coolest spots in the Charlottesville area. If you’ve never been, this is a place you want to check out! It’s a beautiful drive out past Foxfields and the Sugar Hollow Reservoir, leading to a leisurely hike that culminates in a great swimming hole with a rock …
Intro Kayaking/Rolling
Hey guys, I’m going to lead another Rolling/ Intro to Kayaking clinic this Thursday afternoon. It will be in the same format as the summer ones in that I am going to limit it to two or three people (probably two) and it should only take about an hour. We will meet at 3:30pm on Friday in the parking spaces …
First Humpback Sunset of the Semester!
Ladies, gentlemen, and variations thereupon, Welcome back! Come join me to the fabled Rocks of the Humped back, as the “sun sets over a new semester at UVa”- officer Sam “Clifford” We’ll shoot to take off from the Echols Brick Wall at a 6:45pm. PLEASE DON’T BE LATE. It’s the kind of thing where if we are just too late …
Kanye West’s Workout Plan: Crabtree Falls Edition
***DRIVERS NEEDED!!!! and greatly appreciated*** This adventure starts out with everyone waitlisted, and then as drivers sign up, folks will get off the wait list. Hey homies!!!! Guess who’s back?? That’s right, I’ll be back in the ‘ville a week early and am eager to indulge in the beauty of Virginia’s mountainous visage after spending a summer living the metropolitan …
Peakstravaganza (Jk, Just Ur Average Peak)
Meet at Echols and we’ll head out to climb for a bunch of hours (i.e. till they close at 10) If you’re belay certified at peak, great! You’re good to go. If not, you’ll need to call ahead and sign up for a belay test. If you do not know how to belay, you can sign up for the class, …
Into Kayaking/ Rolling (See Bottom of Description for Details of a Trip in August)
Hey guys, I’m going to lead another rolling clinic this Thursday afternoon. It will be in the same format as the others in that I am going to limit it to two or three people (probably two) and it should only take about an hour. If you have any interest in learning a bit of kayaking and learning or improving …
Into Kayaking/ Rolling
Hey guys, I’m going to lead another rolling clinic this Thursday afternoon. It will be in the same format as the others in that I am going to limit it to two or three people (probably two) and it should only take about an hour. If you have any interest in learning a bit of kayaking and learning or improving …
Intro Whitewater/Rolling Clinic
Hey guys, I’m going to lead another rolling clinic this Friday afternoon. It will be in the same format as the two or three I led this spring in that I am going to limit it to two or three people (probably two) and it should only take about an hour. If you have any interest in learning a bit …
Early Morning Bouldering @ the Forest
Hey y’all, I was looking to heading over to the Blue Ridge Parkway to do some early morning bouldering at The Forest! It is a little more than an hour from town and am planning on being back by 12/noon. There is all levels of routes but this is a trip for people with some experience bouldering/climbing. What & Where: …
Peakpeakpeakpeakpeakpeakpeak
Summer Peak on the Thursday. Wootwoot Meet @ Echols, 6:00, climb ’til you drop for $10. Will be back in Cville around 12 pm. If you do not know how to belay, you can sign up for a class ($20, call to reserve a spot: 804 897 6800.) Once you take the class, you can get belay certified as early …
Intermediate Whitewater Kayaking on the James
Yo it is hot as balls outside, and what better way is there to cool down than some laps of the lower james?? Come on out Saturday and have some good old fashioned whitewater fueled fun. We’ll head out in the lateish morning around 10 and be back sometime in the afternoon, like 2 or 3 depending on the # …
Advanced/Intermediate Mountain Biking- Lookout Mountain Loop
Shred dogs in and around C’ville this summer come on out to the George Washington National Forest this Saturday and hit one of, if not the best trails in Virginia (#1 in Va, #7 in the USA according to MTB Project). This is an intermediate/difficult trail and is 13.3 miles, so only sign up if you have mountain biking experience …
Intro Kayaking/Rolling at Darden Towe
Hey guys, I’m going to lead another rolling clinic this Friday afternoon. It will be in the same format as the two or three I led this spring in that I am going to limit it to two or three people (probably two) and it should only take about an hour. If you have any interest in learning a bit …
Shreddy Preddy Intro to Mountain Biking ~All Skills Welcome~
Are you still in c’ville this summer? Do you want to try your hand at mountain biking? Do you want to shred this weekend, and just haven’t realized it yet? Do you live the ride or die lifestyle? If you have answered yes to one or all of these questions then this is the trip for you! I am going …
Summer Thurspeakday
Summer Peak! Lets go to Peak. And lets climb those fake rocks. Meet @ Echols, 6:00, climb ’til you drop for $10. Will be back in Cville around 11 pm. If you do not know how to belay, you can sign up for a class ($30, call to reserve a spot: 804 897 6800.) Once you take the class, you …
Rolling Clinic/ Intro to Kayaking
Hey guys, I’m going to lead another rolling clinic this Friday afternoon. It will be in the same format as the two or three I led this spring in that I am going to limit it to two or three people (probably two) and it should only take about an hour. If you have any interest in learning a bit …
All Level Bouldering at the New River Gorge
Hi I’m Liz. Get your gnarslippers and let’s go climbing!! This is a beginner friendly bouldering+camping trip. If you haven’t been to the New, it is arguably one of the best places to climb around. We’ll go to an area with a lot of variation, probably Hawk’s Nest Dam(n) or one of the other places that the club’s shiny new …
Sunrise Humpback Hike and Coffee
For those of you folks that ares still around, come join me for a sunrise hike this Thursday morning! Once at the top, I’ll be brewing a pot o’ joe for any interested in imbibing. The plan? 5:15am meet at Echols brick wall and depart for the mountain 5:45am hike up and watch the sunrise 7:45am leave the trailhead and …
Virginia Beach Scuba Diving/Spearfishing
Divers and Anglers, I plan to take the raft out to Virginia Beach this Saturday to do some fishing and diving. Chesapeake Light Tower is 16 miles offshore, that means the water visibility is much better. Also, popular sport fish such as mahi-mahi and wahoo can be caught around that area. Just let me know what you like to do …
Trail Days 2016: Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiking Fiesta
It’s gonna so lit, y’all. On Friday the 13th, we’ll head down to Damascus, Virginia to take part in Appalachian Trail’s the premier backpacking festival, Trail Days. AT Thru hiker alumni (like our very own Sam Clinard), current hikers, and casual hikers like the rest of us will convene for a weekend of revelry and fellowship. There will be life …
Caving – Hide from Finals Inside the Earth
Let’s explore my favorite cave during the midst of finals. Anyone is welcome on the trip; no caving experience is necessary. The plan: -Meet at echols dorm at 730am on Tuesday morning -Drive 1.5 hours to Lockridge Aqua Cave -Gear up and travel through the cave for about 4 hours -Clean off and drive home -Arrive back around 3 Caving …
Bryce Mountain Bike Park Opening Day (Intermediate-Adv Mtb)
The time has come, Bryce Mountain Bike park is opening for the season this Saturday May 7th! Come shred the new and improved trails with us! Bryce mountain bike park takes advantage of the resorts ski lifts to allow riders to focus on the downhills. The day will be filled with a short lift ride followed by blisteringly fast descents …
Friday Morn’ Riding of Bikes
The title says it all. Come on out and discover yourself on the trails of the fabled O-Hill. the plan: -meet at echols brick wall at 8:30am -shred for an hour or two -part ways, but not spiritually what you need: -bike and helmet -desire to shred -water
Humpday Humback… on a Thursday
For all you folks who can’t get out to the usual Wednesday humpback sunrise hike (like myself), I will be leading a group on Thursday morning. Dear woodsy ones, Come join me on an early morning jaunt to the fabled Rocks of the Humped back. We’ll shoot to take off from the Echols Brick Wall at a 5:15am. PLEASE DON’T …
Bike Demo at Massanutten ~Intermediate/Advanced~
Hey y’all, Found out about a bike demo at Massanutten Sunday (4/24) at 9AM-4PM and was interested in checking out. Apparently Santa Cruz will be out there letting people check out some of their new models fo free. This is not for beginner riders, sorry y’all. All the deets for the event are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1081697971852305/ Met at Echols at 8AM …
Intermediate-Advanced Mountain Biking Double Header: the 2 Best Rides in Va*
* According to mtbproject.com Last week a group of us rode a fantastic loop in the GWNF near Braley Pond. It is one of my favorite rides and I was surprised to find that mtbproject.com has it ranked as the 21st best ride in VA. WTF? That prompted me to look up their #1 pick in VA, and found that …
Saturday Blue Hole Day Hike
Outdoors enthusiasts, Join me in a brief jaunt of a hike to Blue Hole, otherwise known as Moorman’s River or Sugar Hollow. This is a classic Cville hike and won’t take too much time away from your studies or shredding. Depending on how crowded it is and if the heat gets to you or not, we can pop into one …
Saturday Hike – Bear Church Rock
Do you like bears and/or churches? I’m not sure if this hike actually has either of those but if you are itching to get out this weekend for a hike with waterfalls, swimming areas, and a nice view at the top, this is the hike for you! We’ll leave for the trail with full tanks of gas around 10:00, drive …
Into Kayaking/ Rolling
This is the second of the two trips this week. See previous email for description. TLDR: Learn to roll/kayak in a small group We will meet at Echols on Friday at 4, head to Darden Towe, learn some ish, and head home around 5:30. Bring water, non cotton layers, towel, change of clothes, shoes you dont mind getting wet.
Intro Kayaking/Rolling
What’s goin on, As things start to heat up, I am going to try to lead more short, small group, intro kayaking/ rolling clinics in the afternoons during the week. So if you wanna learn how to roll or work on your roll, I am going to lead two trips this week. This one will be on Thursday, meeting at …
Sunrise Humpback (Whale Watching?)
Fellow adventurers, I’ve stumbled upon a tapestry, written by my ancestors, which contains a prophecy referring to the morning of April 20th, 2016. I spent all of last week decoding it, and its a pretty big deal. The symbols on the tapestry depicts Paikea, the legendary Maori whale-rider, visiting the summit of Humpback Rocks under a rising sun (on his …
Anti-Foxfield Old Rag Day Hike!
In my ongoing quest to avoid having the quintessential UVA experience, I am trading not-watching-horses in a field for not-watching-horses on a mountain & would be honored to have you join me! Old Rag is one of the best hikes in Virginia & offers some gorgeous 360 degree views. It’s an 8 mile round trip with a fair amount of …
Lets Go Skydiving
April whether is beautiful. What better way to enjoy it is there than to jump out of a plane. Important Details: Location is Skydive Orange only 45 minutes away 13,500ft Tandem Jumps with over 1 minute of freefall! Cost: $225 with our $30 discount. Add $15 if paying with a card. You must bring a valid government issues photo ID …
Waterfalls > Foxfield
Don’t spend frivolous amounts of money joining the rest of the UVA population in this bizarre tradition of wearing ridiculous clothing and not actually watching a horse race. Come kayaking instead~ The plan: We’ll head up to WV Friday afternoon for a relaxing evening of camping and fraternizing. (Remember, this might be the last weekend of relaxation before exam season!) …
Creekathon– Wilkin’s Trail/Luke’s Loop Hiking & Trail Explorin’
As a part of the Creekathon festivities we will be setting off on a 5 mile hike (Wilkin’s Trail + Luke’s Loop) that skirts about half of Walnut Creek Park. After the hike, we will reconvene with all of our awesome outdoor friends and spend the remainder of the afternoon in relaxation and a food coma. I’ve never been on …
Intermediate-Advanced Mountain Biking Near Braley Pond
Greetings fellow mountain bikers! Come check out one of the best downhill trails in the GW National Forest. Braley Pond is a “Day Use Area” that offers access to numerous trails. The downhill I referred to isn’t like your typical mountain descent – numerous tight switchbacks along the mountain side – oh no, Bald Ridge Trail takes you straight down …
Friday Sunrise Mountain Biking
Let’s break the mountain bikes (in) this Friday morning. We’ll meet up at Echols dorm and ride/get driven to the top to get our shred on, as they say. BRING -water -clothes -bike/helmet (club can provide) Beginners are welcome on this trip! O’hill has some tough trails, but also some mild ones, so there’s something for everyone.
Intro Kayaking at Creekathon
So this coming Sunday is Creekathon, and as it is supposed to be 75 without a cloud in the sky, it would be a shame to not splash around in the water a little bit. If you have never been kayaking before, or have and wanna practice some skillz, or you just would like to hang out, this is the …
Peak Thursday
THURSDAY 5:30 I’m coming straight from class so waitlisting everyone until there is a driver New to climbing? No prob, you can boulder or use the autobelay. You ~must~ get gear from the gear room if you need it. I do not have access to gear We’ll depart from Echols at 5:30, climb until 10 pm for $10, then make …
Humpback Humpday Sunset Hike
Timeline: 6:30pm leave echols promptly with full gas tanks 7:00pm reach the trail head 7:51pm sunset 8:15pm descend mountain 9:30pm home You bring: – a car (gas will be immediately reimbursed and you’ll get off the waitlist first) – layers of non-cotton clothing – food/snacks – 1L water I bring: – communal hot cocoa/cider – first aid kit – jetboil …
Saturday Mcafee Knob Hike
Come hike McAfee knob this Saturday, April 16th!! McAfee Knob is a popular spot on the AT and has spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley. We will head out from the Echols brick wall at 9:00 am with a full tank of gas and drive about 1.5 hours. We’ll hit the trail, hike for 4.4 miles at a moderate pace …
Humpday Humpback and Breakfast Potluck!
Dear woodsy ones, Come join me on an early morning jaunt to the fabled Rocks of the Humped back. We’ll shoot to take off from the Echols Brick Wall at a 5:15am. PLEASE DON’T BE LATE. It’s the kind of thing where if we are just too late the experience loses quite a bit of value. The sun rises at …
Creekathon Adv Mountain Biking – Exploring Consciousness Through Shred
If you want to truly shred at Creekathon, then let’s get out there early and show those trails the sweet pains of love that mountain biking brings. This is the trip that your mama warned you about. Please pay special attention to the third requirement for this trip. REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN THIS TRIP: -Must be willing to turn the shred …
Creekathon Mountain Biking – Journey to Shredtopia
Creekathon is upon us, and the sky is opening up its heart to our deepest, darkest, shreddiest desires. Even if your extremities tremble at the very thought of riding a mountain bike (Will it be hard? kinda. Will I fall? probably.), this trip is still for you. Let us share and learn the art of Shred together. Beginners and Regulars …