The River Gorge Guild
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Even with the most beautiful self-built van kitchen, it’s difficult for the foodiest of foodies to maintain our eating standards while on the road. Smaller cooking and storage spaces, time constraints, and remote campsites far from groceries can put a damper on things. The first fall I spent in my trailer, I found a pick-me-up…
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This is the question on many of our minds as spring approaches. New Jersey has many lovely small parks and endless beaches along the coast, but there are few parks big enough to get lost in. How’s a rock climber or a hiker to get away from the constant din of shopping plazas and the…
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If you care about social justice and have deep community bonds, you know that building those bonds takes time and patience. Breaking those connections is an especially difficult aspect of hitting the road as a nomad. Here are some tips on how I strive to forge new connections, maintain the connections I already have, and…
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Minute by minute, sunlight is coming back to us. With February creeping along, each day brings us closer to springtime thaws in all of our favorite places. I’ve filled this Jam Jar with music local to a place that many of us love: the Red River Gorge. One of the many joys of visiting new…
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Endurance, or the ability to climb for long periods of time without tiring out, is a key skill for all climbers–even if you generally stay away from taller routes. Retaining your strength and technique until the end of a long session will help you with any kind of climbing, regardless of whether you favor bouldering,…
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We aren’t just climbers and outdoorspeople. We’re also neighbors, artists, and humans. Often, we’re counter-cultural, sensitive, and socially aware, too. Either way, we’re all currently living through violent times in which we and our friends are in danger. Here are some songs in the indie genres we all love that capture how we’re feeling about…
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We get it better than anyone. It’s winter, but you still want to get out there–gape at mountains, frolic in the fields, scale cliffsides, and go on birding walks. It can be difficult, though, to do the things you love when the elements are against you. I’m here to tell you how to totally turn…
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I am coming to you with a very special jam jar this month. I’ve decided to feature Bon Iver for early January’s mix, who has been one of my favorite artists and deepest inspirations since I was a child. Bon Iver’s self-titled album was the first vinyl record I ever listened to. At that time,…
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As rock climbers and outdoorspeople, we need a lot of stuff. Hardware like cams, nuts, and quickdraws, warm base layers and heavy coats, durable shoes, and countless other products are all instrumental to our safety and comfort. As a consumer who cares about nature, you’re in a tough spot. How can you best uphold your…
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Everyone’s feet are different. Some of us have dogs that are just meant to be out. We have an affection for hiking sandals here in the River Gorge Guild, and I’ve compiled nine reasons why I recommend them to everyone I know. My friend Charlie pointing at me and my sandals (for unknowable reasons) before…