BEST OF WNC
Outdoors
Bicycle cluB or group 1 Asheville on Bikes ashevilleonbikes.com
2 Blue Ridge Bicycle Club blueridgebicycleclub.org
3 Pisgah Area SORBA S P pisgahareasorba.org
hiKing cluB or group 1 Carolina Mountain Club D P.O. Box 68, Asheville 28802 carolinamountainclub.org
2 Outward Hounds Hiking Club S 31 Glendale Ave., Asheville 575-2699 • bwar.org
3 Hiking with Cameras meetup.com/Hiking-with-cameras
running cluB or group 1 Asheville Track Club D P.O. Box 7334, Asheville 28802 AshevilletrackClub.org
2 Jus’ Running N 523 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 252-7867 • jusrunning.com
3 Girls on the Run of WNC D 50 S. French broad Ave., Suite 249, Asheville 713-4290 • gotrwnc.org
hiKing trail 1 Mountains-to-Sea Trail ncmst.org
2 Art Loeb Trail avl.mx/xf
3 Appalachian Trail nps.gov/appa
hiKe with a view 1 Craggy Gardens
Asheville on Bikes: Best Bicycle Club or Group
Milepost 364, blue Ridge Parkway avl.mx/wt
PHoto by MAx CooPeR
N
atural beauty may be the defining characteristic of WNC, and we can thank those stunning views and accessible natural areas for the thriving community that is Asheville. From soaring peaks to crystal-clear streams, the mountain region boasts a landscape nearly as diverse as its populace. And this year’s voting reflects the stunning range of opportunities to connect with that environment. From paddles to wheels, races to leisure areas and clubs to tours, we celebrate the beauty and magnitude of the breathtaking terrain Ashevilleans call home, along with the shops that keep us prepared to enjoy it and the athletes who brave its most challenging elements.
Whether you’re a professional competitor, occasional car camper or afternoon dog walker, you’re sure to recognize many of this year’s winners. With any luck, you may even discover a new favorite swimming hole, hike with a view, mountain bike trail or club of like-minded nature lovers. Campsites in Pisgah Forest and Hot Springs are no secret to locals, but swimming holes like Hooker Falls may be a revelation. Similarly, Olympic silver medalist Lauren Tamayo is well known in the community, but did you realize that Asheville is also home to highly decorated, internationally known ultra marathoner Anne Lundblad? Luckily, there’s still time to enjoy this year’s winners while it’s warm, so read carefully and be sure to experience the Best of WNC outdoors for yourself. — Dane Smith mountainx.com
2 Max Patch avl.mx/x8
3 Looking Glass Rock Trail avl.mx/x7
canopy/zip-line tour 1 Navitat N P H 242 Poverty branch Road, barnardsville 855-628-4828 • navitat.com 2 French Broad Rafting & Ziplines N P 9800 U.S. Highway 25/70, Marshall 800-570-7238 • frenchbroadrafting.com
auGuSt 7 - auGuSt 13, 2013
BEST OF WNC
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