Asheville has long been in the spotlight as a top spot for such outdoor activities as trail-running, mountain-biking and kayaking. But whoever heard of rowing here? Shell game: Members of the Girls’ Junior Rowing Program gather with their coaches and racing shells. Photos Courtesy Asheville Rowing Club And no, this isn’t going out with grandpa […]

Our mountains have long been considered a place of retreat, an escape from the pollution and scorching summer heat of the flatlands. But the world has arrived on our doorstep. Today, Western North Carolina is an internationally known hot spot for outdoor pursuits. Still, a handful of local magicians regularly perform a vanishing act, evading […]

When fishermen tell you that they plan to get out on the water “early,” they mean early in a very different way than, say, runners, mountain bikers or climbers. O captain, my captain: The author’s friend and guide to the French Broad, Kenneth Tucker, shows off a smallmouth pulled from the river. Photo by Jonathan […]

Editor’s note: As we edge toward the dog days of summer—all dust, smog and sultry nights—the image of a cool spring outing might seem a pleasant one to press against your fevered brow. Writer Jonathan Poston insists otherwise. Going to extremes: High-country weather is changable — and has little to do with conditions down below. […]

Trail construction and maintenance is not what many people imagine: a crew of woodsmen packing an arsenal of chainsaws, dynamite and bulldozers, parting swaths of earth with brute force. Although trailblazing has never been a true art form, it’s rapidly becoming a more complex and elegant process, especially in light of our increasing focus on […]

There are many places in the world where being outdoors and staying alive don’t mesh well. South African waters harbor 2,000-pound great whites that ambush their prey from below; Australia is home to saltwater crocodiles known for snatching unknowing victims; and the milky sap of the Caribbean manchineel tree is so poisonous that indigenous tribesmen […]

Worth all the bunions: The payoff for Appalachian Trail hikers comes in views like this one from the Roan Highlands. Shown here are hikers Andrew Downs and Ken Revell. photo by Daniel Seed, courtesy Appalachian Trail Conservancy Imagine a small black ant, marshmallow in tow, marching over the backs of 400 Bactrian camels that suffer […]

It’s not unusual to see serious athletes gobbling greasy cheeseburgers and washing them down with rivers of draft beer after a hard workout. But while the urge is understandable, it’s a bit like dumping tar into a racecar’s gas tank. The truth is, a body needs premium fuel, timed accordingly, in order to perform well. […]