Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and Fayette County, West Virginia…both are experiencing growth spurred by the outdoor economy. I participated in two unrelated tours last month, but quickly realized there were overlapping themes.
Trails and Nature
Cycle Forward’s Curiosity Series: Wednesdays in October
We have to disrupt our thoughts, assumptions, and practices to move forward. That’s why I’m offering the Cycle Forward Curiosity Series…so that we can get curious and envision a better future for trail communities. We’ll consider one curious question per week in October.
Great Allegheny Passage Economic Impact Report: A Gift to the Trails World
There’s been a buzz about the trails community since the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy released its latest economic impact report. It’s the first economic impact study on the GAP since the trail was completed in 2013. The economic growth is impressive: the GAP Conservancy attributes $74 million in direct spending (2019) to GAP trail use, […]
Shoulder Season Bike Touring Calls for Preparation, Trail Angels, and Grace
Thoughts on fall bike overnights I’m part of a Facebook group that’s dedicated to the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath. The group has more than 14,000 members, many of whom are planning and celebrating their trail trips and offering each other support along the way. It’s fun to see how many people are […]
Getting Outside in a Time of Social Distancing
Life has changed pretty significantly over the last couple of weeks. I sense that we’re all doing the best we can to get by despite the very real hardships that so many of us face. One of the things that’s been on my mind, like many of you, is how safe is it to go […]
Rolling Into Summer Retreat
This very moment is everything I noticed yesterday that I had “Rolling Into Summer?” (with a question mark at the end) on my calendar for June 1-2. That’s because when I first penciled it in, I wasn’t sure that I would go on to host my first overnight nature retreat. Truth be told, I didn’t […]
My Two Days on the GAP
I’m a casual cyclist with little interest in bike touring. And yet, over the last year or so, I’ve felt the urge to do a solo trip on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). I don’t know for sure what need I’ve been looking to meet with a solo ride. Maybe it’s the need for adventure […]
Rebel Rebel Float Trip
Whiskey, kayaking, and the music of David Bowie are all things that I enjoy. But it would be fair to say that I’m not an aficionado when it comes to any of them. I add mixers to the whiskey, don’t even own a Bowie album, and kayak just once or twice a year. So how does […]
Fireflies add Magic to the Allegheny National Forest
Last weekend, I sat in the Allegheny National Forest in a spot so dark that I couldn’t see my own hand. My birthday is coming up, and this was an early present. Of course, you’re wondering, “You call that a gift?” But, yes, really. It was one of the best gifts. We were there to […]
A Mindful Hike Recap (with Photos!)
Note: Please don’t miss our group members’ photos at the end of the post. Where have the last few weeks gone? It was three weeks ago yesterday that I hosted a mindful walk – A Mindful Hike (with Camera) – in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park. It felt and looked like fall that day, and yet autumn […]
