 Elwood's Hatchet House & Tavern is Boone's "first & only indoor Axe Throwing Tavern." Shannon, the owner, greets guests with a warm welcome while teaching proper axe-throwing skills to newbies, like myself. This makes for a fun and safe activity to get out of the house while still practicing Covid-safe measures during these times.
Elwood's Hatchet House & TavernI had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Shannon about the detours of opening a business during 2020. While it has been a struggle, she is pushing through with local support and navigating these times in style and safety. Elwood's practices Covid-safety measures by sanitizing axe handles, tables, and seating between groups and enforcing masks when outside your specified seated area and throwing lane. Hand sanitizer is provided, and all employees will be wearing masks at all times. Elwood's Hatchet House is currently opened Friday- Sunday by reservations. Something Different
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Grab a Friend
No adventure is truly complete going solo. Having a friend to share the journey with raises every outdoor experience up a level, plus you can watch each other's backs in the face of danger. The neat thing about bootpacking Appalachia is there is no worry about avalanches.
A cold, windy day on top of East Coast mountains in higher elevations can still prove to be brutal. And if you are not adequately prepared, these mountains can be very dangerous. Extreme winds combined with single digit temps can quickly turn a fun sitch into a disorienting and treacherous one, so know your skill level and grab a buddy before heading out on a DIY adventure in snowy conditions.
East Coast Backcountry Checklist
Base Layer
Mid-Layer (Fleece)
Shell
Gloves & Liners
Performance Socks (I prefer Stance)
Boots (A must for bootpacking)
Steed of Choice (I ride switch on an outdated Roxy Silhouette that in my opinion ages better with time, though my peers will you tell you it's like an old embarrassing pick-up truck~ shrug)
Eyewear
Warm, cozy hat
4WD/ AWD
Face Mask (Plenty of these around)
Mid-Layer (Fleece)
Shell
Gloves & Liners
Performance Socks (I prefer Stance)
Boots (A must for bootpacking)
Steed of Choice (I ride switch on an outdated Roxy Silhouette that in my opinion ages better with time, though my peers will you tell you it's like an old embarrassing pick-up truck~ shrug)
Eyewear
Warm, cozy hat
4WD/ AWD
Face Mask (Plenty of these around)
Let 'er Rip
Photo By: Megan Burnette
After a heavy snow, the best part about sunrise is throwing your snowboard into the truck and heading out for a snow day on the mountain! First tracks on the road and early bird (or only bird) on the mountain is a motto to live by, because if you know you know. There is no feeling in the world better than fresh tracks in fresh powder. Toss in a dose of treelines and earn-your-turn carves, and you can place all your bets it's gonna be one heck of a great day.
Let's just put this out there- adventure girl's days are the BEST THING EVER. Getting outside with the girls for some fresh air, trekking up a mountain, and exploring new ground together is priceless. As we get older and life takes us on new paths, it takes effort to keep and grow our friendships- so these moments are truly a blessing.
While our friends on the West Coast see upwards of 12"+ of that good-good snow, we salute you and will continue to watch the forecast here in Tennessee, dance our butts off for snowy weather, and seize every opportunity we can for a couple hours of that backcountry pow.
Plan your 30+ Mile Through hike
with your best friend
on the Art Loeb Trail in Pisgah This Spring!
Mountain Biking is not only a challenging outdoor sport but also a culture of growth for any community it arises in. The community engagement that comes along with the mtb culture goes far beyond the sport. It starts with interactions at the local bike shop to networking in group rides, and eventually volunteering to build and maintain trails.
While freshly groomed trails are a perk for bringing tourism to our hometown region, it’s important to share and build our community together as locals. The local engagement at Winged Deer Park brings a sense of community to this area like no other. The park has evolved from lakeside movies and volleyball to emerging disc golf champions and one of the best after-work riding spots around the Tri-Cities.
While freshly groomed trails are a perk for bringing tourism to our hometown region, it’s important to share and build our community together as locals. The local engagement at Winged Deer Park brings a sense of community to this area like no other. The park has evolved from lakeside movies and volleyball to emerging disc golf champions and one of the best after-work riding spots around the Tri-Cities.
Cover Photo By: Collin Wheeler
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Growing Confidence
Roll the Bones
The sport of mountain biking is a great way to build confidence personally, as an athlete, and on a social level. Starting out on green trails and advancing by speed, climb, or drops are just a few examples of how you can build up your skill level. While building skills, you are also stacking the foundation of confidence that will not only carry over into your next bike ride but also throughout aspects of daily life. Completing that trail or hitting that jump you’ve been eyeing down will boost endorphins and have you feeling overall in a more positive mood.
Roll the Bones, a black diamond trail at Winged Deer Park, is a great confidence builder with long rock gardens, boulder drops, and plenty of ground to practice and grow in the sport.
It’s important to know your skill level when leveling up to black diamond trails like Roll the Bones. Seasoned riders will roll their bikes through the riding area first to assess the landing and level of comfort for hitting jumps and drops. It’s important to have your bike tuned ahead of time or rent one from a local shop who will do this for you.
Havin' Fun
YYZ
YYZ is the park’s newest trail! This one is rated blue but can ride like a black with plenty of room to get speed and air. After an immediate rock roll and jump into the valley, you pedal up to a large boulder roll and three back-to-back jumps.
Have fun, know your limits, and make new friends to build skills with. If you don’t feel confident the first time, walk the bike back up and do it again. Community parks bring everyone together for a good time and are accessible for after-work evening rides or group meets. Winged Deer Park is close to town and a great playground to venture off to no matter what your skill level is.
Making Friends
The bike trails at Winged Deer Park have grown from pavement to boulder drops and big air jumps. This didn’t happen overnight, and it took dozens of sunrises and sunsets to grow these trails to where they are now. Volunteer organizations, like SORBA Tri-Cities, are why these mountain bike trails even exist.
Spend a day on the trails together, and ride away knowing each other on a whole new level. Biking is a fun way to meet new people and spend time outside. The best way to get to know the trails and the builders is to attend volunteer trail maintenance and building days. It is a great activity to make new friends, get to know the locals who make these trails happen, and appreciate the trails for more than just primo dirt. After a volunteer day, you will feel really good about taking a ride at the park knowing you contributed to the trail’s longevity.
Volunteer
.John Snyder, VP of SORBA Tri-Cities, has a passion for being on two wheels and keeping trails accessible for our community! Working with land managers and obtaining grant funding are only a small part of the formula for expanding a network of trails around the Appalachian Highlands region. Check out the video below to find out how you can get hands-on with building these trails!
Author
Traveler. Writer. Mom.
Great Adventurer of Life.
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