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This newsletter is brought to you by the Pocahontas County CVB

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Our Summer 2023 issue is on the way!

I fondly remember last summer, when I said in our 6/1/22 newsletter that "Nikki and I actually got an issue done, on time, without any stressful last-minute writing." Welp, it looks like we didn't learn much, because we rushed back from our annual Colorado spring road trip (more on that below) just in time to get our Summer 2023 issue wrapped up. We uploaded and approved the files one minute past our printer's 5 p.m. deadline. Phew, that was close!

But all self-induced cortisol spikes aside, we got 'er done. With features on ultrarunning, life on the Cranberry River, climbing, seasonal outdoor businesses, and wild orchids, plus the announcement of our second-annual photo contest, I have to claim, once again, that this is our best issue yet. Look out for a copy near you starting June 13. And if you can't grab one or want to support the mag, subscribe using the button below to get this issue delivered directly to your doorstep.

Big thanks to star photographer Molly Wolff, who has graced our pages with her superb photography many times, for the great cover shot of ultrarunner Dominic Colardo running in the 2023 Falling Water 100K!

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Colorful Colorado lives up to its name

Finally! The state that boasts about its technicolor palette is usually a monochromatic spread of brown when we visit in April. But this year, we delayed our annual spring road trip until the end of May, and boy did we get lucky. We arrived in Colorado following nine straight days of rain and have never seen the grandiose landscapes of the Rocky Mountains painted in such verdant hues.

We kicked off the trip in Denver to see Sugar Nova play their first live show. Comprised of Rachel Eisenstat, my lifelong friend with whom I've played music for decades, and Luke Miller, guitarist and keyboardist for famed band Lotus, Sugar Nova is an indie-electronic duo with Sylvan Esso vibes. They put on a heck of a show for a packed house, and I couldn't be more proud of Rachel, who's really put in the work to take this project to the next level. I foresee greatness for Sugar Nova—check them out here!

Sugar Nova, an electronic duo comprised of Rachel Eisenstat and Luke Miller, rocked their inaugural live set at The Roxy on Broadway in Denver. Photo by Dylan Jones

After the show, we scooted all the way across the Rockies to the high desert and the bike-centric town of Fruita for some superb mountain biking and flower peeping. The previous week's rains resulted in a super-bloom along the benched rimrock of the Colorado River. What appeared to be millions of flowers speckled the buff-colored soil with splashes of white, pink, red, and yellow, and the fresh grasses created gradients of purple. I don't know my desert plants well, but there were tons of desert primrose, prickly pear, yucca, and other wild things I didn't know existed until this trip. Nikki and I slammed our brakes every 10 feet to drool over another flowering plant, and both of us agreed that this was one of the most impressive ecological displays we had ever seen.

A patch of desert primrose against the towering cliffs of the Colorado National Monument. Photo by Dylan Jones

What is it? I have no idea, but it sure was beautiful. Photo by Dylan Jones

Nikki on one of the many stepped-down ledge drops on the iconic Horsethief Bench trail. Photo by Dylan Jones

Me enjoying an endless playground of stone. Photo by Nikki Forrester

Our buddy David catching some air on the Lunch Loops trail system. Photo by Dylan Jones

Technical lines galore on Horsethief Bench! Just don't mess up. Photo by Nikki Forrester

Nikki doing what she does best—having all the fun. Photo by Dylan Jones

After we crushed ourselves with four days of hot, dry desert riding, we headed east into the Rockies to the high-altitude town of Silverthorne to enjoy some mountainous adventures with our friends Nina and Brock. We really packed it in, getting a day of rafting on the Upper Colorado, a day of spring snowboarding at A-Basin ski resort, and a final alpine mountain bike ride near Breckenridge. This trip out to the good ol' Rockies was our best one yet and we can't wait to go back for more May adventures in the Centennial State.

Gendarme sticker from Seneca Rocks spotted on a BLM entry post (and we tagged it too, of course). Photo by Dylan Jones

Extra-oar-dinary paddler Nina Waters on the sticks. Photo by Dylan Jones

Nikki getting her first rows in with ship captain Osa sitting front and center. Photo by Dylan Jones

I also logged my first rows on the oar rig, and even got to navigate a few class III rapids—thanks, Nina, for the great lessons and the trust! Photo by Nikki Forrester

Some bighorn sheep stopped down for an opportune photo-op with the HO Mobile. Photo by Dylan Jones

Trying hard to breathe at 13,000 feet. Photo by Dylan Jones

Nikki carving up the glorious slush at A-Basin—what a late-season treat! Photo by Dylan Jones

Alpine views and cool temps on our final MTB ride of the trip. Photo by Kelly

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Submit your entry for the inaugural Haiku Contest for a chance to win a HO Swag Bag!

I was listening to a podcast recently where the two hosts were discussing their love and fascination for Japanese culture. I too have long been enamored with Japanese culture, including the architecture, food, music, ancient culture, and, of course, anime films. I would love to travel to Japan one day—especially to shred the legendary powder among the steep, forested slopes of Hokkaido Island. I've also long enjoyed the haiku, a beautiful form of Japanese poetry that follows a strict format. A haiku is a three-line poem where the first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables, and the third line is five syllables. Because there are no rules about subject matter, cadence, or rhyme scheme, a haiku can be about anything so long as it follows the 5-7-5 format. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the haiku is using vivid imagery and a mere 17 syllables to transform something seemingly mundane into a well of deep meaning. Here's an example:

Bimonthly it comes

Inbox springs forth endless joy

Email newsletter

OK, that example was clearly a piece of subversive propaganda designed to make your subconscious crave our email newsletter even more, so here's a more poetic example about a sunset in the woods to get your creative juices flowing:

Gold light filters through

Interwoven hemlock hands

Dusk blankets us all

Now that you have a firm grasp, it's your turn! Send in your best haiku for a chance to win a HO Swag Bag, featuring a one-year gift subscription for you or a loved one, our famous NRG Bride Tee shirt, and a sticker pack. Remember, it can be about anything as long as you follow the 5-7-5 syllable format.

Send your haiku to me (dylan@highland-outdoors.com) in an email with "Highland Outdoors 2023 Haiku Contest" in the subject line. All entries must be received by 6/26. We'll publish the winning haiku in our newsletter at the end of the month. Happy haiku-ing!

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Remember back when...

This is the second installment of our section that looks back fondly upon some of the best of Highland Outdoors. We'll recap events, articles, fun stories, and whatever else strikes my (and hopefully your) fancy.

Who remembers when Putnam County native Kevin Adkins found a giant ground sloth skull in a stream bed that had been recently scoured by a flash flood? We sure do! Since his initial discovery, Adkins has been on a journey of geologic discovery, and you can keep up-to-date with all things giant ground sloth on his skull-centric Facebook page here.

WV Turkey Hunter Finds Ultimate Ground Score

If you didn't read Nikki's initial write up that was originally published in our Summer 2022 issue, or want to read it again, check it out here!

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You know the drill—subscribing is the best way to support Highland Outdoors. If you love the mag and want it to continue, please consider joining our 390+ 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 this yet?

Wears Your Paddle? Low-Water Paddling is as X-Stream as it Gets

Low-water paddling is exactly what it sounds like: taking your beloved watercraft on an aquatic sufferfest when the river gauges are well below suggested levels.

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Stay tuned for our next installment at the end of the month, featuring the winning haiku, summer travels, our summer mag distribution recap, and much more.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading #westvirginiasoutdoormagazine!

Dylan Jones

Editor-in-Chief

Highland Outdoors