Outdoor Calendar of Events

This Calendar of Events is created specifically for outdoor users! You won't find any bowling league events here... just outdoor activities, events, festivals, and initiatives.

Want to add an event? All events must be approved before going live. You can include a photo and a web link. Submit your outdoor event!

If you are looking for non-outdoor related events check out our friends at MyScoper.com. They maintain the most up-to-date list of what's happening in the Roanoke area.

<< February 2012 >>

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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Mountains of Misery Training Group Interest Meeting

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: East Coaster's 3544 Electric Rd Mountains Of Misery Training Group
What is Mountains of Misery?

A 100 mile bike ride located in the mountains of Giles and Craig Counties.

TriAdventure is leading a training group in Roanoke to prepare cyclists for this test of endurance. There will be 2 group rides per week, a long ride on the weekend and a short hill workout during the week, as well as 3-4 "on your own" rides for each week.

There is also a 16-week training plan included with the training group which will help prepare you for the challenge of Mountains of Misery.

Program Cost: $75

Informational Meeting
East Coasters Roanoke (3544 Electric Road)
7:00PM

More info: http://www.Triadventure.com Link:

Wednesday Night Road Ride

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Roanoke Starting Address: 2901 Orange Avenue NE (Cardinal Bicycle Shop).
Ride Distance: 23 Miles. Terrain: Rolling hills. Traffic: Light.
Ride Leader: David Mayhew.
Ride Leader Email: cardinalbike@verizon.net
Ride Leader Phone: (540)344-2453

Ride Description: A relatively fast ride with rolling terrain!

Additional Info: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/303408 Link: http://brbcva.org/calendar/?entry=20&display=month

Chicky Mountain Bike Ride

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Mill Mountain Advanced Beginner - Intermediate Level mountain bike ride. CHICKY's ONLY!!!! NO BOYZ!!!

Every week at Mill Mountain until spring 2012...then it's back at Carvins Cove.

Ride distance/length to be determined by the group depending on who comes.

The ride starts at 6pm from the Discovery Center Parking Lot. Headlights are required and red, blinky rear lights are encouraged as we do use the road to connect to some trails. The ride is intermediate pace and length. Link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/146346982112153/?ref=ts

Wednesday Morning Estrogen Ride

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Wasena Park The Estrogen ride is for ladies who are new to biking or refreshing their bicycling skills. Learn ABC quick check, saddle height, pedal power position and greenway etiquette. Instructional rides will leave from Wasena parking lot next to the bridge at 10:00am on Wednesdays. The planned ride is on the Roanoke River Greenway. FMI contact

Barbara Duerk: barbgary@cox.net or 540-580-1621.
Link: http://www.brbcva.org/RideCalendar.asp

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Pandapas Mountain Bike Ride

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Location: Pandapas Pond (Blacksburg) Time: 6:30PM
Location: Pandapas Pond Upper Parking Lot (Blacksburg)
Ride Type: Single Track, off road
Ride Length: depends on who shows
Contact: Blacksburg@eastcoasters or call 540-951-2369 Link: http://eastcoasters.com/page.cfm?pageID=37

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Winter Tree ID

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Mill Mountain Discovery Center Winter is the hardest tie of the year to identify trees. join us as we walk the top of Mill Mountain and learn techniques to identify trees without their leaves. Ages 10 and up. $5 fee. The deadline to register is January 27, 2012. Link:

EAST COASTERS WOMEN'S RIDE

Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Location: MEET AT EAST COASTERS BIKE SHOP, BLACKSBURG WOMEN'S ONLY ROAD RIDE. EVERY SATURDAY, 9:30AM. MEET AT EAST COASTERS BIKE SHOP, 1301 N. MAIN ST., BLACKSBURG.

ALL LEVELS, ALL BIKES WELCOME. ON LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROADS AND PAVED TRAILS. Link: http://WWW.EASTCOASTERS.COM

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

Kayak Roll Class - Open Session

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Gator Aquatic Center Already own your own boating gear and looking for some cheap pool time to nail that roll? Join us at the Gator Center this fall for open kayak roll sessions on Sunday nights. Professional staff will be on-hand to assist you and ensure water safety but no formal instruction or equipment will be provided. You must be able to swim. Link: http://activenet8.active.com/roanokeparksrec/servlet/adet.sdi?activity_id=2072&show_all=&pagenum=&paid=&hide_sort_field=&sdireqauth=1325860647618

MountainXCross Race Series

Time: 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM Location: Falling Creek Park Sunday-2/05/2012 at 1:30 P.M. Falling Creek Park Bedford, Va.

Saturday-2/18/2012 at 6:00 P.M. Falling Creek Park Bedford, Va.(Lights Required)

Sunday-2/26/2012 at 1:30 P.M. Falling Creek Park Bedford, Va.

Mountain Cross!….what is it? The Mountain part refers to many of the same aspects that you might encounter in a mountain bike race. There will be single track with rocks, roots and log overs but will only make up approximately 50% of the course. The Cross is similar to a cyclocross race mixing in grass paths, short sections of pavement or gravel road and similar lap distance. The racers will also be required to dismount to clear barriers on the course. The race course will be 1.5-2 miles per lap and will be changed for each race. When combined these two cycling disciplines mesh nicely to make up what we call Mountain Cross. The races are short, intense and loads of fun! We will adopt the Equalizer Format to score these races. This is similar to the golf handicapping system . In golf, players of different abilities can play fun and competitive rounds against one another. Since their handicaps equalize their scores the golfer that plays his or her best, regardless of their level of experience, can win! The equalizer format allows riders/racers of all ages and ability levels to race for the overall race win. (A bonus of the format is that fast experienced racers who normally only have to worry about finishing ahead of the other top racers now have to push themselves to compete with beginners! The winner is the racer who does the most laps. Series winners will be the racers completing the most laps combined from all the races. In the event of a tie the racer with the most laps in the least amount of time wins. (Ex. 20 laps in 1:55:05 beats
20 laps in 1:59:00) Link: http://bedfordtrails.wordpress.com/2010-bedford-county-mountain-cross-championships/

NRV Bike Ride - Radford Social Ride

Time: 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM Location: Park Road/Sundell Parking Lot of the Riverway Time 1:00-2:00 PM - 13 mile hill ride @ 14-16 mph
2:00- 4:30 PM - 20-25 mile social ride @ 12-13 mph (no one gets dropped)
Location: Park Road/Sundell Parking Lot of the Riverway
Route: Varies
Contact: Katrina, 239-1552, kcometa@jetbroadband.com
Link:

Hoop Hole Trail Exploratory Hike (10+ miles)

Time: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM Location: Hoop Hole - Botetourt County The Roanoke Outdoor and Social Club (ROSC) is the region's best resource for meeting other people who share your passion for the outdoors. It's free to join and you only need to participate in the events that interest you.

Join the ROSC for an exploratory hike via Hoop Hole Trail.

This is a modified version of the Hoop Hole Loop hike on Trailhead Finder. We plan to go up the left side of the lower loop – and cross over and go up the right side of the upper loop. Once at the ridge top, we will try to find a rumored trail that goes up to the summit and the cliffs. We have no idea how far it is (estimating .5-.75 mi one way by looking at a topo map) or how steep – or how rough. We may be bushwacking and climbing. It could also be an easy walk from the ridge – we just don’t know.

Visit the link below to join ROSC (it's free) and learn more details about this event...and others. Link: http://www.meetup.com/Roanoke-Outdoor-Club/events/50317582/?a=ea1_grp&rv=ea1

Coffee Pot Sunday Ride

Time: 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Roanoke, VA Coffee Pot Afternoon Ride
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Nations Bank across from MoJo’s on Brambleton
Ride Type = Road Ride
Terrain = Gently Rolling
Ride Length = 25 – 30 miles
Average Pace = Decided by the Group! Usually a Moderately Fast Ride. Link: http://brbcva.org/calendar/

Mountain Lake Trails Hike with RATC

Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Location: Giles County Sunday, February 5, 2012 8:00AM
Mountain Lake Trails Hike with RATC
10.0 miles, Strenuous, $5.00 carpool fee
54 miles from Roanoke

We will be hiking on trails in the Mountain lake area. Located in Giles County, Mountain Lake is one of the few natural lakes in Virginia.
Chris Wilson 757-202-3331 or theshoelesswanderer@gmail.com
Edward Wilson 757-202-3331
Link: http://www.ratc.org

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Monday Night Mountain Bike Ride

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Wiley Drive at River’s Edge soccer complex. Starting Location: Pedestrian bridge over Roanoke River, River’s Edge. Starting Address: Wiley Drive at River’s Edge soccer complex.

Ride Distance: 10 Miles. Terrain: Off-Road.

This is a Show and Go Ride: There is no ride leader.
Ride Description: Explore the amazing trails on Mill Mountain, and the urban alleyways that lead there.. The trails are not particularly technical, although expect at least 1000′ of climbing per loop. Generally, an hour to an hour-and-a-half in duration. Lights needed on the season fringes. Link: http://brbcva.org/calendar/

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Tuesday Tuneups

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Sharebike - downtown Roanoke Sharebike members now have access to a great bike education, building and repair opportunity hosted by board member John Johnson. Members have the option to make minor repairs and tune-ups to their bikes or even build new bikes from scratch from Sharebike's vast collection of new, reclaimed, and scrap bikes and parts. Prices range from $1 to $10 for parts, or $35 for an entirely new bike.

Tune-up Tuesdays provides new and experienced riders with the skills to maintain their bikes for safety and performance for a reasonable rate. Plus, you get the benefit of hanging out with other area cyclists and supporting the valley's only community bike shop.

Contact Sharebike.org or visit their downtown location for more information about becoming a member. Link: http://www.sharebike.org

Famous Tuesday Night Ride

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Virginia Museum of Transportation Location: Transportation Museum Parking lot

Ride Distance: 20.4 Miles. Terrain: Rolling hills. Traffic: moderate.

Ride Description: The weekly BRBC Tuesday Night Ride starts at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and follows one of several routes depending on your skill level. The more challenging ride climbs up Mill Mountain, down the Blue Ridge Parkway, and back to Downtown Roanoke via Vinton. The easier Lowlander ride remains largely on neighborhood streets. In both cases, riders join up at the Cornerstone pub for post-ride thirst quenching and fellowship.

Additional Info: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/209573 Link: http://www.brbcva.org/RideCalendar.asp

Mill Mtn. Night Rides

Time: 6:45 AM - 8:15 PM Location: Mill Mountain Park - start/finish at Fork in the Alley Brought to you by East Coasters Bike Shops.

Meet at 6:45pm every Tuesday at Fork in the Alley restaurant (2123 Crystal Spring Ave). Ride the trails on Mill Mountain and then head back to the Fork for a bite to eat and a beverage. Intermediate level ride.

Need a light? Contact www.eastcoasters.com - they have a few demos available. Link: http://www.eastcoasters.com

Nature Lab Series- Discovering Animal Behavior

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Mill Mountain Discovery Center Nature Lab is a unique educational experience for home-schooled students offering hands-on lessons, games and crafts. This popular series teaches environmental science topics that supplement your student's curriculum. Class meets every Tuesday morning for six weeks. In this series, participants will learn about some of the adaptations that animals of our region have for communication, movement, protection, finding food, building homes and raising their young. Ages 6-10. $30 fee. The deadline to register is January 17, 2012. Link:

Founder of Jansport to Speak

Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Roanoke College Skip Yowell, a founder of JanSport will speak as part of the Honors Conference Week at Roanoke College. The event is open to the general public and admission is free.

Skip Yowell is one of the founders of JanSport. He is also an avid outdoorsman, a businessman, an author and much more. Here is his website: http://skipyowell.com/.

Link: http://webapps.roanoke.edu/webcal/detail.cfm?id=3717

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Wednesday Morning Estrogen Ride