Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

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Heart of Appalachia
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Connect with April Peterson:
River Rock Outfitter I (540) 372-8708 I [email protected]
Trail Hut, Richmond
Good Wolf Gear, Reston
HighTor Gear Exchange, Charlottesville
Roanoke Mountain Adventures, Roanoke

20. Thru-Hiking with Kristen Musselman I Chief Hiking Officer, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company

Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

12/14/21 • 55 min

“Some of the things that continue to draw me back to the outdoors are the connections I make with others, which tend to be richer when I'm connecting with them outside. The connections I make with myself tend to be more introspective and fuller when I'm outside, and the spiritual connections I have with nature are things my eyes are significantly more open to when I'm lacking the distractions of the front country.” -Kristen Musselman, Chief Hiking Officer

Imagine your outdoor dream job. It might look something like this…Kristen Musselman spent six months hiking and camping full-time as the Chief Hiking Officer for Devils Backbone Brewing Company in Nelson County, Virgina. She traveled from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail and many other local trails along the east coast. Kristen speaks to the unique joys and challenges of solo backcountry travel and her deep love for getting outside. She also tells us what is in her pack, shares tips for long distance backpacking, and reveals some of her favorite trails in Virginia. Let’s Go!

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Connect with Kristen: Instagram I Chief Hiking Officer Blog
Appalachian Trail
Shenandoah National Park
Bear’s Den Trail in Bluemont/Leesburg
Harper’s Ferry, Loudon Heights Trail 8 miles
Old Rag Trail, Shenandoah National Park
BearFence Rock Scramble Trail, Shenandoah National Park
Grayson Highlands State Park
Appalachian Gear Company
Facebook groups:
Solo Female Hikers & Adventurers
Virginia Backpacking
Appalachian Trail, Virginia
Women over 40 Who Hike and Backpack
Women Hikers & Outdoor Adventurers
Shenandoah National Park Hikers
Northern Virginia Hiking Group
Virginia Hiking Adventures
Virginia Hiking

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Scenic Hikes in Southwest Virginia: Breaks Park and Pine Mountain Trail (Ep 61, Part 2)

Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

10/15/24 • 25 min

Get ready to uncover the hidden gems of Southwest Virginia's scenic hiking destinations. Tyler Mullins of the Pine Mountain Trail Conference, takes us on a journey highlighting the must-do trails of Breaks Park set against the majestic Russell Fork Gorge. Then it’s on to the lesser-known but equally captivating Pine Mountain Scenic Trail that weaves along the Virginia-Kentucky border.

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Tyler continues our journey on the Pine Mountain Trail. This developing long-distance path offers unique opportunities for solitude and scenic beauty away from the crowds. We discuss the mesmerizing Jenny Falls, the panoramic 360-degree views from Birch Knob Fire Tower, and a unique ecosystem that makes this region a true outdoor paradise.

Don’t miss last week’s Part 1 where Tyler entices us with trails inside Breaks Park that include awe-inspiring sandstone cliffs, unique rock formations, serene lakes, and stunning vistas. Let’s Go!

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Virginia State Parks
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Mentioned in this Episode:

Breaks Park Hiking Trails

Episode 55. Appalachia’s Greatest Conservation Story: Elk Restoration in Southwest in Virginia

Episode 31. Rock Climbing in Breaks Park and Southwest Virginia

Pine Mountain Trail Conference

Birch Knob Fire Tower

Pine Mountain Scenic Trail

Contact Tyler Mullins: [email protected]

Haunted Hikes, Cabin Gear Packing List, Backpacking and First Aid Gear Discounts, Podcast Behind the Scenes, Fan Mail Bag, and more (Ep 63, Part 1)

Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

11/07/24 • 32 min

Join me for a spine-tingling episode filled with spooky stories from a haunted hike— perfect for those who love a good thrill! Plus, we’ll dive into your fan mail, so keep those messages coming by clicking on “Send Jessica a Text Message!” in your show notes.

Tune in next week for part 2 when we’ll catch up on my recent adventures, including a rescheduled trip to Onancock, one of Virginia’s Adventure Towns. I’ll share highlights from my latest newsletter, featuring discounts on backpacking and first aid gear. We’ll wrap up with a complete list of everything included in my cabin stay bag, to help you prepare for your own park visit. Let’s Go!
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Virginia State Parks
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Virginia’s Adventure Towns: Big Stone Gap – Mountains, Music, and Culture with Town Manager Steve Lawson (Ep 73, Part 1)

Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

04/22/25 • 29 min

The mountains of Appalachia wrap around Big Stone Gap like a warm embrace, creating a community where outdoor adventure, history, and culture converge.
Town Manager, Steve Lawson, describes how the community has transformed from its coal mining roots into a vibrant outdoor recreation destination.
The town's crown jewel is the Greenbelt Trail, a scenic paved path following the Powell River through the heart of town. Just minutes away, the Powell River Trail offers a rail-to-trail experience featuring historic tunnels and visible coal seams that tell the story of the region's mining past.
Adventure seekers will fall in love with scenic Big Cherry Lake, which offers fishing, hiking, paddling, and wildlife watching.
Round out your Big Stone Gap experience with museums, outdoor theater, music festivals, and a culinary scene that tops off this adventure town’s charm. Let’s Go!
Join us next week for Part 2 as Steve and I dive into Big Stone Gap’s local attractions, including museums, outdoor theater, music festivals and dining. You won’t want to miss an exciting giveaway for a pair of tickets to Blue Highway Fest, one of the largest Bluegrass festivals that celebrates Appalachia’s rich music heritage.

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Heart of Appalachia

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Visit Big Stone Gap

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Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, Host Steve Adams on Thru Hiking in Virginia (Bonus Episode)

Virginia Outdoor Adventures: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking, Local Travel and more!

03/05/25 • 12 min

This week I’m sharing a conversation I had with my friend, Steve Adams, or known by his trail name, Mighty Blue. Steve is an AT thru hiker and host of the popular podcast, Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, The Ultimate Midlife Crisis.
I find Steve’s podcast inspirational for hikers and non-hikers alike. Steve interviews thru hikers while they are on the trail. The result is a raw and unfiltered conversation with people who are in the process of undertaking over 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine.

In this convo, Steve shares his favorite memories and highlights from his thru hikes in Virginia.

As podcasters with similar audiences, Steve and I did an episode swap, so when you’re done listening to this episode, be sure to hope over to Steve’s podcast to listen to my guest appearance on his show, where I share an outrageous story about getting stranded on an island in the Chesapeake Bay when our boat was washed out by the tide.

I hope you enjoy this one-on-one with Steve Adams, of Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trial.

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Listen Now: Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail
Jessica's guest appearance on Mighty Blue

Virginia State Parks

Heart of Appalachia

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