Roanoke Outside Blog

Weekend Recommendations (3/12-14)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:04:27 EST

Looking for something to this weekend? Here are your weekend recommendations for what's going on OUTSIDE in and around the Roanoke and Blacksburg areas!

Festivals, Events, & Outings

Camp Roanoke Open House - 3/12
"A Park Ranger's Life" Book Signing - 3/13
Bike Safety Workshop - 3/13
Spring Trail Work Days - 3/13
Hike Andy Lane Trails to Tinker Cliffs - 3/14
Bike Repair Class Series - 3/15
Banff Mountain Film Festival - World Tour - 3/17
For non-outdoor events visit

Pete's Picks! - What's my recommendation?

Looks like we have another great weekend of weather ahead of us!

On Saturday - head out to your favorite hiking trail and check out the trail conditions. All this snow will have taken a toll on the trails and we need to know the conditions. When you get back send me an email with an update. Looking for hike? Choose one from our hiking list.

On Sunday - now that you've seen the condition of the trails, join a group of volunteers as they do some trail repair work at Mill Mountain Park. Remember, it is volunteers like you that have helped create such a fabulous trail network throughout the region.

Got an idea? Send it to pete @ roanoke.org

Get OUTSIDE!

Pete Eshelman (friend me on Facebook)
Director of Outdoor Branding
Roanoke Regional Partnership

Check out the Outdoor Calendar for upcoming events you need to keep your eye on!

Volunteers Wanted! - Blue Ridge Marathon

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:10:28 EST

On April 24 runners from England and just about all 50 states will descend upon Roanoke for the inaugural Blue Ridge Marathon. This is a great opportunity to show off Roanoke and it is going to take all of us working together to truly roll out the welcome mat.

The marathon committee is seeking individuals and/or groups to help make this event spectacular. Whether you are an individual, a church, business, civic group, scout group, club, or just a group of friends, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Here is a partial list of volunteer opportunities:

Racer Check-In
Expo Volunteers
Logistics
Water Stations
Medical Stations
Post Race Events
and more...

Drop the committee an email if are interested. This doesn’t commit you to anything (not yet at least). Be sure to include your availability on Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday.

Fish with a Pro (on ESPN)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:10:25 EST

Have you always wanted to fish like the Pro’s?

BASS has a Marshal Program where you can be paired with an Elite Tournament Pro Fisherman and watch from the rear of a pro’s boat during the April 15-18 Blue Ridge Brawl at Smith Mountain Lake. If your Pro does well you will experi-ence 3 days of learning from the best of the Elite Anglers.

Marshal Entry Fee $100
Deadline: March 16, 2010

All Elite marshals entries are due by 3/16. The entry fee deadline date applies only to the marshal.
Marshals may enter online at www.bassmaster.com
Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable regardless of date of cancellation if you are in the tournament.
Marshals on the waiting list entry fee are refundable if they do not get into the tournamet.

For more pre-tournament information, Click Here>>>

Roanoke to Hold Mill Mountain Conservation Easement Public Information Sessions

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:10:20 EST

ROANOKE, VA - Roanoke Parks and Recreation invites citizens to attend a public information session to discuss the potential conservation easement on Mill Mountain Park. The first session will take place on Tuesday, March 16, and the second will take place on Thursday, March 25. Both will be held at the Mill Mountain Discovery Center from 5 to 8 p.m.

These informal information sessions are designed for citizens to learn more about the conservation easement process, ask questions, and provide comments.

For more information, please contact Donnie Underwood at (540) 853-1166.

Congrats - Sharebike.org Earns Silver

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:11 EST

Roanoke's Sharebike.org was recognized by the League of American Bicyclists with a Silver Level award as a Bicycle Friendly Business.

The Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) program recognizes employers’ efforts to encourage a more bicycle friendly atmosphere for employees and customers. The program honors innovative bike-friendly efforts and provides technical assistance and information to help companies and organizations become even better for bicyclists. This new initiative complements the League’s Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) program, which has been recognizing cities and towns for their bicycle friendliness since 2003. Roanoke has submitted its application to the BFC and is awaiting the results.

Learn more about Sharebike.org and Cyclo-ward

Fleet Feet Customer Appreciation Weekend

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:00:21 EST

Fleet Feet Sports wants to THANK YOU, our customers, for SEVEN great years in the Roanoke Valley. As a thank-you, Fleet Feet Sports is having a Customer Appreciation Weekend on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13. The weekend will consist of the following:

A gift with every purchase of a non-sale shoe.
Select apparel $10 and $20.
With every purchse of $50 or more, be entered into a raffle drawing to win the following: a pair of Asics shoes, one of four pairs of Saucony shoes, one of four pairs of Brooks shoes, a Suunto T3 heart rate monitor, one of two Timex watches, or one of four $50 Nike apparel gift certificates!
Mention this ad and receive $7 OFF an apparel purchase of at least $50 OR $14 OFF an apparel purchase of $100 or more (coupon is valid March 12 and March 13, 2010. One coupon per customer. 2XU and CWX are not included. In stock items only).

Weekend Recommendations (3/5-7)

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:32:33 EST

Looking for something to this weekend? Here are your weekend recommendations for what's going on OUTSIDE in and around the Roanoke and Blacksburg areas!

Festivals, Events, & Outings

Explore Your Limits (5 & 10K) - 3/6
25th Annual Blacksburg Classic 10 miler & 5K - 3/6
Traffic Skills Bike Class - 3/6
Hike Mountain Lake Trails - 3/6
Odyssey Advanced Land Navigation Clinic - 3/6
Bedford County Mountain Cross Championships #3 - 3/7
Trout Creek to Dragon's Tooth Hike w/ Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club - 3/7
Mill Mountain Star Trail Hike w/ Roanoke Outdoor & Social Club - 3/7
Bike Repair Class (Rim Brakes) - 3/8
Group Trainer Rides & Movie at Keirin Culture - 3/9
Climbing 101 Class w/ Roanoke County Parks & Rec - 3/10
For non-outdoor events visit

Pete's Picks! - What's my recommendation?

Have you seen the weather forecast? With a high of 60 degrees I know many of you will be heading outside for the first time in several months.

Many of the trails are going to be soggy and overuse when they are like this can cause serious damage. So, if you must go hiking or riding this weekend please choose a trail that takes you up and away from low lying areas. Choose a new hike from our hiking list and get outside. Need a recommendation? Ask one of our outdoor ambassadors.

I know many of you will think this is a crazy recommendation, but I suggest a canoe float trip on either the James or New River. There are several sections of flat water that most of you could successfully navigate without flipping over. Check out our list of canoe outfitters and head out on an adventure you'll remember.

Got an idea? Send it to pete @ roanoke.org

Get OUTSIDE!

Pete Eshelman (friend me on Facebook)
Director of Outdoor Branding
Roanoke Regional Partnership

Check out the Outdoor Calendar for upcoming events you need to keep your eye on!

Win some ski tickets!

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:36:28 EST

If you can’t beat the snow, you may as well enjoy it! Roanoke Outside has several pairs of tickets to Massanutten Resort to give away. All you have to do is send us a picture of yourself playing outside! Click here to learn more!

You can also ski free as part of their Heroes on the Hill day March 14. Show a military ID and ski free. Click here for details.

Appalachian Trail License Plates

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:32:07 EST

In 1921, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail was simply an idea. Benton MacKaye proposed the idea of the Trail as the connecting element of “a project in regional planning.” The efforts of countless volunteers made that part of MacKaye's idea a reality. Today, the Appalachian Trail is best known as a simple footpath.

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,175-mile trail following the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine, 544 miles of which are in Virginia.

Help preserve this natural wonder buy purchasing The Appalachian Trail license plate. The Appalachian Trail license plate offers a way for you to easily support the Trail, because $15 of your $25 specialty plate fee is returned to ATC annually to support its work in Virginia. If you sign up today, by the time the snow melts, you may just have your brand new A.T. license plate in your hot little hands! It’s easy, and more importantly, it shows what you value!

The aftermath of all the snow we’ve experienced this winter will certainly amount to additional work for ATC, its A.T. clubs and volunteers, and agency partners to get the Trail back in shape. Recognizing the work ahead, we offer a great “thank you” in advance to all the volunteers who will contribute thousands of hours to benefit the A.T. in 2010. A license plate is one way to show your support for their hard work since it will help protect the Trail long into the future. Click here to learn more and purchase your plate.

Spring is in the air – can you smell it?

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:26:41 EST

We can’t either, but our local outdoor stores can. There are so many deals out there that we thought we’d share a few with you.

East Coasters: Get your bike ready for spring riding with their comprehensive tuneup - 50% off. Normally $69, now through the end of March it is only $34.50.
Walkabout Outfitter: All winter jackets, fleece, hats, gloves and clothing are discounted 40%.
Keirin Culture: Get any t-shirt for only $10 (we can attest to the coolness). Any purchase gets you a free issue of Cog Magazine. If you’ve been looking for a Torker U-District city bike (normally $350), you can get one for $250. Also, Michelin Pro Race 3 tires for only $35.
Riders Up Outfitters: 20-50% off all winter merchandise and select other items (not limited to) North Face, Life is Good, Merrell, Keen, Redington, and all Fly Fishing gear.
Outdoor Trails: All winter clothing, including some hats and gloves are 30% off – some items are even 70% off.
Radford Bike & Paddle Shop: 15-25% off most clothing and get a complete bike overhaul for $100 (normally $140) until March 21^st. This overhaul includes a complete disassembly of the bike, drive train cleaning in ultrasonic, complete reassembly with lubrication, tuning, and adjustments.