Colorado Spring, Co

Hey Sooner - where are you at in Virginia? I'm in the New River Valley now (just came up from Asheville, NC) - that lovely half-highway town/half-Blacksburg's ugly stepsister known as Christiansburg. All your talk about the West is making me miss the Pisgah mountains even more.

I'm actually between Roanoke and Lynchburg - right near the Peaks of Otter area. Yeah, I can understand missing the Pisgah Nat. Forest area. Did the App. Trail through Fontana Dam, Pisgah area years ago. I've "studied" the area for a possible move; but I'm really thinking of Co Springs in a year or two. Give me an idea of some laid-back towns in the Asheville area if you could. (The Mtns. of NC are still wild enough to get lost in.) I'd like to visit some out-of-the-way towns.

I guess it all depends on what you mean by "out of the way." If it were access to the woods, endless trails and dirt roads, but still being a little out there, Brevard, NC would be the obvious choice. Access to Pisgah is less than 10 minutes away, with most of the major trailheads, good hikes, and the top of the Blue Ridge Parkway less than 30 minutes away. Throw in being able to get to North Mills River and Bent Creek recreation areas in a half-hour or so, DuPont State Forest with its 87 miles of trails being 15-20 minutes away, and Asheville still within 40 minutes and Brevard is good...but at the same time, it's a growing, has about 6000 people, 3 or 4 grocery stores, an endless strip mall area on US 64/276 heading into town, and is a bit touristy (especially during the summer). So while it's paradise, it does have it's downsides.

That means you can go one of two directions, if Brevard is too commercial. You can head deeper into the mountains, toward the Nantahala Nat'l Forest, where smaller town like Franklin, Sylva, etc. are. The only major trapping there is Western Carolina Univeristy. You could also head north toward Boone, Blowing Rock, and Linville.

If you want to stay closer to Asheville, Black Mountain is a micro-Asheville - half hippie, artist, alternative community/half Southern, conservative and rural. Weaverville's 10-15 min. north, more rural. And then there's the Hot Springs/Marshall area, which is really starting to get more rural and mountainous. They're in Madison Co., which doesn't have much going for it except true small town living.

That was a ramble. Anyway, if you want more specific details or info just email me at

croatoansage@yahoo.com

- my fiancee was out at Colorado Springs for a med school conference last year, and the pictures were amazing. So I would never blame you for heading that way - but if you want to stay more local and want some info, I'd be happy to help.

As a long time member of the Colorado Springs running community, I have a tough time comprehending how anyone could choose CRC over Runners Roost or BRC. Are the majority of people posting employees of CRC or is it John O'Neil just posing under different names?? How can a store that doesn't sell the top selling specialty running shoe brands (top 4 in fact) be considered the best running store? The employees at Runners Roost and BRC are not only extremely knowledgeable but are always friendly and poliet. Don't let the former employee Peter Flemming dictate your perspective, the new staff and owners of Runners Roost are amazing. Not to mention, Runners Roost is the primary sponsor of the biggest local races including the Grand Prix Series and the infamous Triple Crown and has been serving the Colorado Springs community for over 27 years. Enough said!!