After the mountain biking festival in Georgia, I ventured up to Asheville, NC to spend two days spreading the wool. From there, I had to make my way back up North to Lake Placid, NY for the BG US Challenge. It was quite a drive, so I planned to stop in Fayetteville, WV on the way. For those not familiar with Fayetteville, it is home to the New River Gorge. This small town has the feel of a mountain town, nightlife like a city and host of athletes that can paddle class V then lead climbing 5.11, in the same day!
I camped out at "Rogers" which is no more than a great, kind spirit that lets climbers camp out in his yard for a small fee. There I met a whole host of climbers that had been there for a month or so climbing. Needless to say, they were super amped to get a free pair of Point6 socks. Below is a photo of the 'lodge' at Rogers Campground. As you may gather, the lactic acid bath is the shower!
After the morning of some quick climbing, I ventured up to New York state for the BG US Challenge. The Challenge is an adventure race of sorts for the corporate world to promote teamwork, critical thinking skills, fundraising for St. Judes and a great endurance test. There was 35 teams of 4-5 people that had to kayak, run, mountain bike and complete brain tests. It was a great event put on by IMG Action Sports and had a competitive, though supportive atmosphere. Each team cheered each other on and made sure that there was enough smiles to go around. If your company is looking for a challenge, sign up for the US Challenge next year or simply head up to Lake Placid for a weekend getaway. The mountains, lakes and vibe of the town will surely not disappoint you.








