The Roanoker - January/February 2015 - 89

BRIAN BATTEIGER COORDINATES the Pathfinders for
Greenways activities, which has helped turn Carvins Cove
into a major recreation destination: "In 2015 Pathfinders will
finish the Rattlin' Run trail which connects Bennett Springs
Loop ...to the Song Bird trail," says Batteiger. "This trail
will be around 3 miles long and is the most technical trail
at Carvins Cove due to all the large rocks. [It's] very scenic."
Another new path for hikers, runner and mountain bikers - the two-mile-long Rock-N-Roll Trail - is also slated for
debut at Carvins Cove in 2015; it connects the Arrowhead
and School House trails.
"It will be an easy-intermediate trail for the most part
with some alternative technical sections," promises Batteiger.
Carvins Cove is Roanoke City's principal water supply
and used to be treated like Area 51 - sort of off limits. In
recent years, however, via kayak rentals, races held there
(like Conquer the Cove by the Mountain Junkies group)
and a 2.4-mile access trail from Hollins University property
(near exit 146 on I-81) it has become more utilized by the
general public. There are now well over 40 miles of trails
at Carvins Cove.
Liz Belcher, the relentless Roanoke Valley Greenways
Commission coordinator who was and has remained a
sort of pied piper for greenway systems since the idea first
took root in the mid '90s, says, "lots of funding requests
are pending," for the Roanoke River Greenway and other

parts of the system. Finishing off the last four-mile gap
that would connect Roanoke City to Salem is the principal
line item.
In Vinton the smallish Glade Creek Greenway could
launch this year: "They need a little more money," a familiar
refrain, notes Belcher. She does have "increasing concern
about accidents and fatalities," especially on local roads
where cyclists and runners share space with vehicles. In
recent years Belcher has also been stressing "greenway
etiquette" as the Roanoke River Greenway and other urban
pathways welcome more and more users.
Finally, not to toot our own horn ...oh, why not,
LeisureMedia360 has now launched a magazine devoted
to the outdoor activities in the Roanoke and New River
Valleys, and in the lower Shenandoah Valley towards
Lexington. Life Outside debuted last fall and is scheduled
to publish three times in 2015.
"LifeOutside is another tool that will continue to help
develop our outdoor brand and community narrative," says
Pete Eshelman from the Regional Partnership, which encouraged LeisureMedia360 to take the plunge and has a
seat on the magazine's board of directors. "It's a resource
that helps reach another segment of our market."
Speaking of resources, see the detailed compilation at
theroanoker.com/newcomer for websites, Facebook pages
and phone numbers to get you outdoors. I

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ROANOKE
LEXINGTON
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The Roanoker - January/February 2015

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