Happy shoulder season!

No, I'm not talking about working out your deltoids. We're in the thick of the shoulder season - that in-between time of year when all the leaves are down but Old Man Winter hasn't settled in for the long haul. If you're into adventure sports, this can feel like the doldrums. Too cold for some things, not snowy enough for others. We take it as an opportunity to catch up on reading and do those home-based workouts that nobody really likes in order to get in shape for ski season.

But don't fret - the shoulder season isn't that bad. We usually get one or two early season snows that build the stoke for that first big snowstorm. We were fortunate to get out for our first official cross-country ski of the season on November 13. The outing took place in our yard on two inches of wet snow, culminating with an exhilarating eight-second glide down seven feet of vertical.

After the ski, we went for a hike up on Canaan Mountain. Winter is by far my favorite season. It's a feast for the senses: the visual beauty of a snowy forest, the smell of crisp air in the nostrils, the feel of cold air on the cheeks, and the taste of hot tea in a thermos just can't be beat.

Two days later, we were gifted with another little snow dump, which the snow-farming wizards at the White Grass Ski Touring Center were able to collect and groom out for a fleeting day of kicking-and-gliding. Praise Ullr!

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Winter mag is on the way!

We're bringing the snowy stoke early with our new winter issue, which we sent off to the printing press on November 23. It will start hitting the streets on December 6, so keep an eye out for a fresh stack at one of our 130+ distribution locations around the Mountain State!

With features on Civil War battleground camping, WV's first Dark Sky parks, telemark skiing culture, the science of snowflakes, and more, this is - and we really mean it this time - our best issue yet.

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Be the first to get it on your doorstep

Our subscribers are among the first folks to get a new issue when it's released, all without having to venture out to find a copy. Become a subscriber in the next two weeks and get your copy of the new winter issue in the mail! Subscribing is the best way to guarantee that you'll receive every issue that follows, so what are you waiting for?

It's also the best way you can help us out. We need your support to continue making Highland Outdoors in the years to come. If you love the mag and want it to continue, please consider joining our 138 subscribers (thank you!) to get each issue delivered right to your door - and to continue reading it in the future.

Subscribe Here

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Have you seen these yet?

Highland Profiles: Laird Knight

If you’ve been anywhere near a mountain bike in West Virginia, you’ve likely heard of Laird. Through decades of promoting races, including his globally recognized 24-hour races, Laird has cemented his legacy through mud, sweat, and gears.

The Unknown: Surveying the Subterranean Frontier

Join frequent contributor and cave photographer Ryan Maurer on his arduous and adventurous journey to map the features of an unknown cave passage.

Over the Hill and Picking Up Speed

What do you do when you and a group of friends all turn 40 in the same year? You go out for a four-day, 200-mile bikepacking trip around the spectacular Monongahela National Forest, of course!

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Stay tuned for our next installment, which will hit your snowy inbox in mid December.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading #westvirginiasoutdoormagazine!

Dylan Jones

Editor-in-Chief

Highland-Outdoors.com