“All of our jurors this year are passionate about the outdoors, possess a significant and varied photographic background, and have been committed to the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition in some way over the years,” states AMPC Competition Director, Rich Campbell. “We are thrilled to have these individuals be a part of the AMPC who are dedicating their time, talent, and expertise to the competition this year.”

William A. Bake

William A. Bake has photographed the South for over 35 years and has created five successful books as well as booklets, prints, and posters. Considered one of the South’s premier landscape photographers, Bake has captured many of the unique landscapes found in the southern Appalachians.

Among his published photography books are Wayfarer: A Voice from the Southern Mountains with James Dickey; The American South: Four Seasons of the Land and Towns and Cities, both with James J. Kilpatrick; and The Blue Ridge. In addition to being a well-regarded photographer, Bake is also an accomplished writer and interpreter of the natural and cultural heritage of the United States.

Ellen Gwin

Ellen Gwin grew up in a family full of artists and fell in love with photography in middle school. Having graduated from Appalachian State University with a double major in Technical Photography and Communication, Gwin has been working professionally as a photographer ever since. She enjoys shooting photography in both film and digital formats.

Passionate about her home in western North Carolina and the amazing natural and outdoor resources available, Gwin strives to promote these resources at every given chance.

Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller developed a passion for photography in the mid-nineties when he began capturing the wild and unique places he found himself working in as an outdoor educator and guide. He continues to work as a freelance photographer capturing the work of artists for print, web, and archival purposes and has had images published in fine art catalogs and WNC Magazine.

While working at Appalachian State University, Andrew developed the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition and Exhibition and oversaw the competition through the first 8 years.

This year’s competition deadline is fast approaching! Be sure to get your photos uploaded by 5:00 pm Friday, November 18, 2011.

Weather Page Preview

Virtual Blue Ridge now has an updated Blue Ridge Parkway weather information page.  Previously, weather information was being extracted from a daily report that the National Park Service emailed to interested media outlets and park employees. In August, the National Park Service decided to discontinue offering weather reports in the daily broadcast so we had to work on a permanent, more accurate solution.

The biggest problem we had to overcome in developing the new weather content was that we previously offered only a general forecast for North Carolina / Virginia. A general forecast by state is extremely difficult as the elevation changes and geographic conditions can present quite a difference in climate.  You can travel less than 30 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway and experience temperature changes of 10 degrees or more.

The new weather page pulls real-time data from The Weather Channel and allows you to get specific weather details for over 20 cities and towns along the Parkway.  The forecast on the page is currently for 24 hours, but you can click within the weather box for more details and get maps, multi-day forecasts, and more. This system provides a better representation of the weather for the area of the Parkway you will be visiting.  The interface is easy to use and we look forward to expanding it in the future.

Please leave comments below to help us improve the content of the weather information page.

Choose from these link options:

• 468×60 Graphic Banner
• 300×250 Graphic Banner
• 125×125 Graphic Banner
• Detailed Text Link
• Plain Text Link

For the 468×60 Banner

Copy and paste this code into your website or blog:

<a href="http://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com/" ><img title="Blue Ridge Motorcycling" src="http://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com/images/banners/blue-ridge-motorcycling-468x60.gif" alt="Blue Ridge Motorcycling" width="468" height="60" /></a>


Copy and paste this code into your website or blog:

<a href="http://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com/"><img title="Blue Ridge Motorcycling" src="http://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com/images/banners/blue-ridge-motorcycling-300x250.gif" alt="Blue Ridge Motorcycling" width="300" height="250" /></a>


Copy and paste this code into your website or blog:

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Get your free ride maps and information on motorcycle-friendly destinations in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Blue Ridge Motorcycling!

Copy and paste this code into your website or blog:

<p>Get your free ride maps and information on motorcycle-friendly destinations in the Blue Ridge Mountains at <strong><a href="http://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com/">Blue Ridge Motorcycling</a></strong>!</p>


Blue Ridge Motorcycling

Copy and paste this code into your website or blog:

<strong><a href="http://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com/">Blue Ridge Motorcycling</a></strong>


Taking a Break on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Virtual Blue Ridge is announcing the launch of a new website focusing on motorcycling in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Joe Veler, president of Virtual Blue Ridge, said “The launch of the website is perfect timing since May is Motorcycling Safety Awareness Month, and the lack of motorcycling safety tips specific to mountain driving was astonishing – until now.”

BlueRidgeMotorcycling.com features tips for driving in the mountains, an important feature since 27% of motorcycle accidents in 2010 occurred in the mountain region where only 12% of the state’s population resides. “Coordinating with Sgt. Mark L. Brown with the North Carolina Highway Patrol was paramount in getting a lot of this safety information together,” said Veler.

Sgt. Brown, coordinator of BikeSafeNC, says the Highway Patrol is very interested in reducing motorcycle fatalities by partnering an education tool such as www.BikeSafeNC.com with an enforcement element. There is no one better to teach this than the motor officers that do it for a living every day. BikeSafeNC is funded by a grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) and partners with local departments to offer courses for motorcyclists. As a joint venture of the GHSP, the Highway Patrol, and local agencies, BikeSafeNC’s common goal is to reduce motorcycle crashes and fatalities statewide.

Enjoying a Sunset on a Mountain Ridge

The new site is dedicated to providing information on routes favorable to motorcyclists including scenic features, mile by mile directions and interactive maps, as well as tips to keep them safe.

Motorcycle-friendly businesses are highlighted on the site to provide information so motorcyclists will have an easier time finding the best places to stay, eat, and play.

Future phases of the website will include motorcycling videos, Road Journal posts, guest ride submissions, additional destinations, community interaction, and GPS downloads of the rides. “We know these features will be instrumental in growing an online Blue Ridge Mountain Motorcycling Enthusiast community, and everyone’s feedback will be instrumental in how well the site progresses,” said Veler.

In addition to Sgt. Brown’s contribution of content, other motorcycling enthusiasts have helped to provide valuable content and popular motorcycle routes.

Misty Journey on a Mountain Road

Wayne Busch, cartographer, explorer, and designer, is no stranger to two-wheeled adventures. Owner of AmericaRidesMaps.com, Busch provides insider info to motorcycle rides with interesting twists. He is also prolific in producing point-of-view videos for the enjoyment of all. Busch has been featured in several publications and worked with SpeedTV on the Speed Channel. Every year Busch travels thousands of miles, selects the best rides, and presents them in a series of motorcycle maps.

Dale Coyner is the author of two books geared for motorcyclists. His expertise and sense of humor have made him a popular author with motorcycle enthusiasts. Coyner has been riding and writing since 1989, and has been featured in dozens of publications, including Rider and Motorcycle Consumer News.

It’s been a labor of love building this website, adding sections and content as the years rolled by, absorbing feedback offered by visitors to make it bigger and better, and in a lot of ways we owe our success to you guys! Our website visitors and advertisers have created a special kind of synergy to make planning your trip to the Blue Ridge region an easier one.

Thank you for taking the journey with us and we look forward to broadened horizons and additional features as the months roll on.

This special anniversary advertising offer is good through 4/30/2011.

If you would like to have a printable version of this promotion, please click here. This PDF file also contains our most recent website stats for the Virtual Blue Ridge Network.

You can contact us by visiting Virtual Blue Ridge’s contact page, or by calling the numbers listed on the advertising special PDF.

*this promotion excludes Top Banner ads.

Happy Travels!

Three-Point Shot
Combine 3 ad spots for 30% off!

Two-Point Shot
Combine 2 ad spots for 20% off!

Free Throw
Content Listing for 10% off!

Beat the Buzzer for the WIN
Purchase a Top Banner ad receive a content listing for FREE!

(Limited Availability)

These discounts will only last through March 31, 2011, so call us to find out which ad spots will work best for your business!

828-964-0607 or 828-265-4823

If you would like to have a printable version of this promotion with pricing, please click here. This PDF file also contains our most recent website stats for the Virtual Blue Ridge Network.

You can contact us by visiting Virtual Blue Ridge’s contact page, or by calling the numbers listed on the advertising special PDF.

Happy Travels!

A screenshot of the new Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore home page.

In 2001, Virtual Blue Ridge opened an online bookstore. The purpose was to complement our online resource with a selection of high quality books and maps that a person could use offline to plan their trips.  As the years went by, and Virtual Blue Ridge became more and more of an authority site on the Blue Ridge Parkway, we increased our offering of products.

In 2005, the success of our bookstore attracted the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation to embark in a joint venture relationship where we operated as their official online store. From November of 2005 through February of 2011 the partnership between the Foundation and Virtual Blue Ridge offered products whose aim was to allow the customer to celebrate and benefit the Parkway at the same time, leading up to the 75th Anniversary celebrations in 2010. It was a wonderful journey indeed!

Shortly following the close of the 75th Anniversary, the Foundation discontinued their online store, and we are once again operating as the Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore. The store as it stands now reflects a new beginning, one that honors our informational tradition by offering the products that visitors to the area want most and one that shapes a path into the future, as we expand beyond the boundaries of the Blue Ridge Parkway to encompass the Blue Ridge region.

Join us on this path of discovery, and learn about all the joys the Blue Ridge area has to offer.

Happy Travels!

Virtual Blue Ridge Staff

Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs is seeking your help in identifying the High Country’s role models and young mountain sports stars. These young men and women will be recognized through the first ever A4 inititiative – Appalachian Adventure Achievement Award. Honors will include recognition on stage at the Banff Mountain Film Festivals, and a selection of prizes made possible by project sponsors.

There are two age categories for the A4: 17 and under, and 18-24 years old. Nominees must either reside or attend school in the High Country of NC (Watauga, Ashe, and Avery counties) to be eligible. Nominations can be submitted for individuals in successive years, but a nominee can only receive the A4 once for their age category. The April 1 screening of Banff will recognize the 17 and under A4 winner, while the April 2 screening will honor the 18-24 year-old A4 winner.

Deadline for nominations is March 18, 2011. For more information on nominations, and to actually submit a nomination, please check out the A4 Nomination Form.

These films focus on themes of environment, culture and adventure in the mountains and represent the best of the best. Hundreds of entries were submitted from around the world and Outdoor Programs has selected films for this viewing that will not only educate, but will also inspire and entertain you.

Online ticket sales for Banff can be purchased through Farthing Auditorium, or if you’re in downtown Boone, NC you can pick up your tickets at Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters. Tickets are $9 (students can grab tickets at $7).

Check out the Banff Mountain Film Festival trailer for 2010-2011:

For more information on the Banff Mountain film festival, please visit Outdoor Programs, including a list of sponsors that make this event possible, and to see clips of other films available for viewing.

Limited Motorcycle Sponsorships are now available. Do you want to advertise to the ever-expanding motorcycle enthusiast market? Contact us for more details.

If you would like to have a printable version of this promotion, please click here. This PDF file also contains our most recent website stats for the Virtual Blue Ridge Network.

You can contact us by visiting Virtual Blue Ridge’s contact page, or by calling the numbers listed on the advertising special PDF.

Happy Travels!

MerleFest 2010

In late April, we were able to attend MerleFest 2010, one of the best Bluegrass music festivals in the United States. It is billed as “Traditional Plus” and rightfully so. The array of the types of bluegrass music at this event is incredible.

I have been able to attend almost every year of this legendary four day music festival. As usual, I saw many excellent performers and took a lot of great pictures. If you like bluegrass music, you owe it to yourself to check this festival out. This is the largest music festival in the Blue Ridge Mountains and one of the best organized music festivals in the business. It is a great attitude adjustment for early spring.

FloydFest 9

In late July we were able to attend FloydFest 9, in Floyd Virginia. This is a family friendly music festival. It is a four day celebration of music and art that bridges the gap between music genres, generations and cultures. The schedule of performers is really good and the venue is awesome. It is an 80-acre compound located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This festival has come a long way in its short nine year history. This is definitely one of the best music festivals in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Music on the Mountain Top

On August 27-28, we are attending the Music on the Mountain Top festival located in Boone, North Carolina. This is a newer music festival that has just extended to a two-day event. It is an ecologically driven music festival that offers great entertainment and provides a unique education of current environmental issues.

The list of performers keeps getting better every year. We attended last year and were really stoked when Sam Bush joined Acoustic Syndicate on stage. This was awesome. Sam Bush has become the ambassador of bluegrass and is known for jamming with other great groups when he plays at music festivals. When he is in the house, great music is going to happen. Both of these groups will be playing again this year along with Railroad Earth, one of the most prominent Americana music groups in the world. I just saw them at FloydFest and look forward to seeing them again. I highly encourage all to attend this event. It will give you a great fall attitude adjustment.

And what giveaway would be complete without the official “Parkway Guide Kit” donated by the Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore.

Your chance to win this amazing prize package worth over $700 is just a click away! ENTER NOW

Find more details plus those pesky rules and regs at http://www.virtualblueridge.com/giveaway.

If you’d like to promote our giveaway on your website or blog, you can grab code for banner images here:
http://www.virtualblueridge.com/giveaway/banners-for-sponsors.html

The Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore got involved by donating an official “Parkway Guide Kit” to help Katie prepare for her amazing trip. This kit included the popular book Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway by Victoria Louge, a laminted Parkway map and a Virtual Blue Ridge CD-ROM.

Thanks to everyone who entered! Keep your eyes peeled for more chances to win, our next giveaway will be announced within the month! Giveaway information is posted at www.virtualblueridge.com/giveaway.

Story by Randy Johnson

May will offer High Country trail enthusiasts critical opportunities to help Blue Ridge Parkway paths reopen for the summer travel season after last winter’s damaging storms.

The Parkway is staging two late May volunteer days when local hikers can come out and help reopen the Tanawha Trail, still covered with storm debris and impassable in places from Grandfather Mountain to Price Park.

Saturday May 15 and May 22, the National Park Service will commit two chainsaw-certified employees each Saturday in hopes of having two brush-clearing crews working at a time.

The Watauga Tourism Development Authority, organizers of the recently successful High Country Outdoor Summit, is supporting the effort and is asking volunteers to sign up in advance, preferably with an e-mail to WTDA planner Eric Wooldridge (eric@exploreboonearea.com, or 828-266-1345).

To read more about trail cleanup efforts and how you can help please visit Virtual Blue Ridge.

There are road closures still in place due to downed trees and debris in the roadway. While National Park Service personnel have been working hard to ensure that the remaining cleanup is completed as quickly as possible, contracts are also being accepted from small business contractors to help with the volume of work.

For an updated look at road closures you can visit our dedicated Blue Ridge Parkway Road Conditions and Closures page on Virtual Blue Ridge, or call the Parkway Hotline at 828-298-0398.

Today the National Park Service released a schedule of anticipated cleanup and opening dates for the remaining closed sections of the Parkway. Read the full press release and schedule on Virtual Blue Ridge.

With our new upgrades to Virtual Blue Ridge we hope to be able to answer both of those questions quickly and accurately.

We’re proud to introduce a new 3-day Parkway Weather Forecast page. Day and nighttime forecasts for both Virginia and North Carolina are updated 5 days a week.

Our goal is to be the ultimate resource for helping people plan their vacations on the Blue Ridge Parkway and providing an up-to-date forecast page is just another benefit we are excited to offer.

Our next bright idea was a new page dedicated solely to road conditions and closure updates. This information has always been available on our home page but we found that sometimes, especially in the winter, there are more closures than we have room for! As a result the new road closures page was born.

This new page will provide details on all closures and any other special road condition statements that the National Park Service might make.

Both of these new information pages are easily accessible through quick links on the home page of www.virtualblueridge.com. Visit our site today and see the new upgrades for yourself!

The staff at Virtual Blue Ridge is always happy to receive feedback from our visitors. If you have comments, suggestions, or just want to say hi, feel free to contact us anytime.

Most people in the area have been reeling from the news of this man’s untimely death. A stark reminder of how short life can be, and how quickly things can change. All of us here at Virtual Blue Ridge are thinking of this man’s family.

You can read a press release containing more details here: Blowing Rock Man Drowns in Trout Lake.

Everyone be careful out there!

Don’t miss your chance to win a relaxing retreat to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Retail Value up to :: $1,473.87

The lucky winner will receive:

* Two Nights Cabin Rental from Blue Ridge Vacation Cabins
* A Half-Day Fly Fishing Trip for 2 from Foscoe Fishing Company
* Dinner for Two at Joe’s Italian Kitchen
* Two 2-day Go Blue Ridge Card Vacation Attraction Passes
* A complete “Parkway Guide Kit” courtesy of the Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore

This sweepstakes will last from Monday, October 12, 2009 to Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Drawing will be held on Friday, December 04, 2009 and winner will be announced by email. No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited.

Visit Virtual Blue Ridge today for your chance to win. Refer your friends and receive bonus entries!

The highlight of our week was attending App State’s Football 101 program Wednesday night. The food was great, the company was entertaining and loud, and the wine was even better (wink wink). I’m guessing around 100 women decked out in their best black and gold attire swarmed the Yosef Club, and we were both extremely excited to be there.

Diana, on the left in the above picture, graduated Appalachian State in 2003, while I, on the right, graduated in 1999 (shhh, please don’t tell). There was a really great age range in the crowd, too, which is nice to be reminded that you’re never too old to scream your head off for your favorite football team.

After dinner, and the Black and Gold fashion show put on by the coach’s wives, we were separated into two groups – offense and defense. We piled out of the club room shouting “APP!” “STATE!” (you can never practice this cheer too much) and made our way down the halls into the classrooms.

Diana and I were in Shawn Elliott’s class first – he’s the Offensive Line Coordinator. We got to watch an amazing recruiting video (I really need to get that on DVD) and then watched Shawn draw up offensive schemes and strategies. I admit, it made sense to me while listening to him explain it, but if you asked me right now to reiterate what it was he talked about I’d have to change the subject.

After offense 101 with Shawn, we went down the hall to meet up with John Wiley, our Defensive Line Coordinator and coach to our Defensive Backs. He was very nice to field all of our questions, although I think Diana’s question on the difference between a nickel back and a dime perked his attention. (Diana comes darn close to knowing just about everything there is to know about football).

The best part of the night was when we all got to go down to the locker room. I felt like I was walking into an inner sanctum, but then I saw the carpet and thought I was going to faint. The pattern is so dizzying it’s about all you can do to not fall over! (Yay Athletics Facilities Enhancement Campaign – different carpet!)

Usually Football 101 participants get to go on the field to run through plays with the coaches, but due to current construction this was a no-go. So we got to go to the Locker Room instead and of course we both made a bee line to a particular locker. Yes, we know he’s not the whole team, but by golly, Armanti Edwards is a very special player. And we love him for that!

So here we are, posing in front of Armanti’s locker looking every bit foolish and giddy like we had just met a rock star and he wasn’t even there. Who can blame us?

Of course my favorite “symbol” or “sign” for ASU is the “Today I give my ALL for Appalachian State” sign. I love this sign so much in fact, that I made 50 miniature versions of it one year as Christmas ornaments for all of my alumni friends. Mine of course stays out all year long right by the door so I can see it on my way out every day.

All in all it was a fabulous time with beautiful Appalachian women. The Office Goddesses plan on going again next year, perhaps we’ll see some of our Virtual Blue Ridge friends next year!

You’ll notice in the picture that Jon is holding a bunch of bananas. Yes, that’s right, bananas. Jon is a healthy eater, so much so in fact that he would sometimes eat 3 to 4 bananas a day while he was in the office.

The Office Goddesses would tease him and ask if he had ever tasted chocolate. He said he’s eaten it before . . . but we’re still not convinced!

Please join us in congratulating Jon on his recent graduation from Appalachian State University and to wish him well on his upcoming year-long vacation from student life as he travels abroad. Good luck, Jon with all your future endeavors and we look forward to seeing you again when our paths cross down the road.

Happy Travels!

The total prize package is valued at over $900 and includes:

2 Nights Lodging at one of Paradise Valley Estates’ Luxury Log Cabins

• A Unique Horseback Riding Adventure for 2 from Dutch Creek Trails
• Dinner and Dessert for 2 at Valle Café Restaurant
• Two 2-day Go Blue Ridge Card Vacation Attraction Passes
• A complete “Parkway Guide Kit” courtesy of the Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore

Visit Virtual Blue Ridge today for your chance to win. Refer your friends and receive bonus entries!

Check out our partner giveaway to win more cool prizes!

Part of the allure to this region for many visitors is checking out the many wineries located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding areas, as well as participating in the various winery tours that many wineries currently offer.

We have included information about wine tasting techniques as well as descriptions for most of the varieties of wine that are currently out there for the public to enjoy.

Many wine trails offer complete flexibility to the visitor enabling you to go at your own pace and in whatever order you please, while other wine trails are more full service, providing transportation and even lodging options.

Families travelling in the region will have fun reading about all that gem-mining has to offer. Learn about the many precious and semi-precious stones that can be found in the area, as well as characteristics for each gem you could find.

We have a gemstone identification guide the entire family will enjoy learning from, but nothing is as much fun as getting your hands dirty and finding a genuine surprise hiding in mud!

The organizers, sponsors and supporters of the 6th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition would like to congratulate this year’s winning photographers. Entries to this year’s competition were from across the United States and for the first time included international submissions. Photographers of all levels from novices to professionals are represented among the 47 finalists on exhibition at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts through June 6, 2009.

Planning for next year started before this year’s competition was wrapped up and we are looking for your feedback to help us continue to grow and innovate. AMPC is funded through the generous contributions of our partners, sponsors and supporters. You can provide needed operational support to AMPC by choosing to make a donation and/or offering us feedback on your user experience. Your input will be crucial in helping us to prioritize our limited resources as we plan upgrades for next year’s competition.

This year’s competition saw many “firsts” — the most impressive being an image in the Adventure category for the first time taking Best In Show. Eric Heistand’s Best In Show winner “Splash or Trash” was also selected as the People’s Choice Award winner, the first time a single image has received both of these prestigious awards. Congratulations Eric!

Below we have listed the the winners for top honors and categories.

Judges were also asked to identify images of distinction and merit to receive Special Mention honors and an additional eight photographers have been recognized.

Thank you photographers for submitting to this year’s competition, and for sharing your vision and interpretation of the people, places and pursuits that distinguish Southern Appalachia. In doing so, you have made outstanding contributions in support of Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions at Appalachian State University. We hope to see your submissions in 2010!

For press & media resource information, please visit:

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/contests/app-mtn-2008/media-and-press/

Virtual Blue Ridge’s latest giveaway has started and we’re sure you are going to love this fun-filled package! Valued at over $870.00, this vacation giveaway includes:

• Two Nights Lodging at the Lazy Bear Lodge, one of Valle Crucis’ finest bed and breakfasts (dates of stay based on availability)
• A Half-Day Fly Fishing Trip for 2 from Foscoe Fishing Company
• Dinner for Two at Joe’s Italian Kitchen
• Two 2-day Go Blue Ridge Card Vacation Attraction Passes
• A complete “Parkway Guide Kit” courtesy of the Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore

Visit Virtual Blue Ridge for your chance to win this incredible prize. Don’t forget to refer a friend for bonus entries!

You should check out our Partner Giveaway, too!

The selected images from this year’s competition are currently on display at the Mezzanine Gallery in the Turchin Center of the Visual Arts. This year’s exhibition opens to the public on Friday, March 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The gallery opening coincides with the launch of this year’s PCA which also opens March 6 at 7:00 pm.

Everyone will have the opportunity to vote for three of their favorite images. The image with the most votes will be declared the winner after voting closes at 5:00 pm on Friday, March 27.

Final judging for this year’s AMPC will take place mid-March, and a public announcement will be made April 1. Of the seven categories, each will have one winner, and one image will be selected for Best in Show, and one will be selected for the People’s Choice Award.

For your chance to vote, or more information on the competition, please visit the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition site and get your mouse hand ready!

The system came in from the southeast and met up with a cold front coming in from the northwest. If you live in North Carolina and the mid-atlantic region… you know this pattern are the real snow-dumpers.

Usually, it’s the kind of snow that packs real easy. Ya’ know, the kind that you can build snowforts and snowballs out of. Well, on Wednesday it was warming up a bit and the snow was packing REALLY well. It was about 50 degrees and I told my Office Goddesses (Tanna and Diana) that we should build a snowman.

We asked the building owner if he minded and then we set out to play in a midafternoon snowman break. It was loads of fun and I think we all had a chance to express our creative inspirations.

Our snowman lasted until Friday, when he became only 2 little balls as the head and hat had melted. The temperatures that day were in the high 60’s and needless to say… he never made it through the night.

Here at Virtual Blue Ridge, one of our favorite events is the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour that has come to Boone, NC for the past 13 years. In fact, our president regularly attends this event.

If you have never had the great fortune of attending this special film screening, all of us here suggest you do so. The quality of work is amazing. Check out the Banff Movie Trailer:

Based on the other previews, it looks like this year’s screening is going to be another huge hit and tickets will probably sell fast. Find out about tickets and showtimes, as well as links to more trailers by checking out the Banff Festival press release.

I asked Andrew Miller with Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs what the relationship was between the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition and the film festival. He said, “We see it as a way for people to more actively engage with the various themes that are presented in the film and it brings attention to our own local resources at a time when we are exploring them through the Banff films.”

Based on previous screenings, I really couldn’t agree more!

Below we have listed the forty-seven images that have been selected for exhibition at the Mezzanine Gallery of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

This year’s category winners are:

A huge round of applause and congratulations for this year’s winners of the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition!  High Country Photos will be posting a gallery of this year’s winners as soon as the People’s Choice Award voting goes live March 6, 2009.  Thanks again to all of you for participating in this year’s competition.  Each year the level of competition gets raised with more and more entries and quality of images submitted.

I can barely wait for next year!

The web site support staff would like to thank all of you for your patience as we implemented an alternate method of submitting photos and responded to your support tickets. Situations like that provide learning opportunities for everyone, and we are meeting soon to discuss improvements for upcoming competitions.

Please feel free to make a comment on improvements you would like to see for next year. Your feedback is invaluable and our number one goal is to make this process as smooth as possible. What did you find confusing? What worked well? What kind of features would you like to see? All comments will be weighed and considered with all seriousness.

Regardless of the technical issues, we had another record breaking year for number of photographs submitted – over 900!. We applaud all of you for submitting images that represent the Southern Appalachian region so well.

Today the finalists chosen for exhibition will be notified and we should be sending out an announcement with a list of the finalists early next week. We will also be posting an exhibition gallery online at HighCountryPhotos.com.

Thanks again for participating in this year’s competition and as I like to say, Happy Shooting!

The AMPC is open to amateur and professional photographers 13 years of age or older. Entries may include traditional 35mm film, digital photography, color, black and white and alternative processes, and must be digitally submitted. Images must have been taken within the past 5 years. Up to three images can be submitted per category with a $5 per image entry fee. For full competition details, entry procedures and guidelines visit www.appmtnphotocomp.org, or www.VirtualBlueRidge.com, or call Appalachian’s Outdoor Programs at 828.262.4954.

Approximately 46 images will be selected for exhibition and awards will be given in 9 separate categories. A single image will be chosen as “Best in Show” and winning images will be selected from each of the seven categories.

Proceeds from the Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition are used to subsidize Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions at Appalachian State University.

Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions (SOLE Trips) are 21-55 day active educational adventures of discovery. Outdoor Programs partners with various academic departments across campus and the Office of International Programs to provide students with unique and intense international and domestic adventure travel opportunities that are life changing experiences. Students spend extended time exploring rugged and remote wilderness and become immersed within new and different cultures. Academic credit is offered for all SOLE Trips. Previous destinations include New Zealand, Fiji, Wale, Alaska, and Wyoming.

AMPC is a Partnership between Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

AMPC is sponsored by Virtual Blue Ridge, the premier Blue Ridge Parkway resource with support from Bistro Roca Inventive American Cuisine, Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters, Mast General Stores, and Peabody’s Beer and Wine Merchants.

Virtual Blue Ridge began sponsorship in 2008 for the 5th annual competition, and was instrumental in moving the competition to the digital age by offering online submissions for photographs. After last year’s overwhelming response in digital entries, this year’s competition features only digital submissions instead of a combination of digital and print submissions.

The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts has partnered with Outdoor Programs to offer the AMPC since its inception. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation became a partner for the 2nd Annual competition in 2005, and sponsors the Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas and Blue Ridge Parkway Share the Journey ® category prizes.

In 2006 Peabody’s and Bistro Roca joined the list of supporters for the 3rd annual competition, while Footsloggers and Mast General Store joined in 2007 for the 4th annual competition.

The public will have the opportunity to view all images selected for exhibition online beginning March 6, 2009 and vote for their pick for the Footsloggers People’s Choice Award. A public reception will be held on Friday, March 6th at the Turchin Center and a photographer’s invitation reception will follow.

It’s the moment everyone has been waiting for. Trails will be trampled, new roads will be driven, new treasures will be discovered, and dogs will have a chance to pose on the Blue Ridge Parkway? Yep, even dogs will have their day for this year’s competition!

One of the newest features for the 6th Annual AMPC is that the Share the Journey® category will rotate and feature a new theme every year. This year’s theme of course is Dogs on the Parkway. Stock up on your flea shampoo and practice your brushing skills!

Another important change is that the competition will only accept digital submissions for the first time ever. More importantly, the competition now has it’s own permanent home in cyberspace at www.appmtnphotocomp.org.

Still here? What are you waiting for? Get registered already!

“Dog owners love their dogs,” states Houck Medford, executive director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. ‘’It is part of the Parkway journey!” It seemed only fitting that we make this the theme for the Share the Journey® category. Entries will be judged on impact, lighting, composition, and effectively conveying the idea of traveling, hiking, motorcycling or whatever Parkway activity with your dog. Posed or studio photographs will be disqualified. Also make sure that your favorite photo shows your “dog on a leash” if out of the vehicle . . . ahem, newly enforced regulations! Ouch, the fines hurt!

Registration for the 2009 Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is scheduled to begin toward the end of September of 2008. Start gathering your camera gear and get those ideas churning!

Virtual Blue Ridge is hosting another fun-filled vacation giveaway this summer, and this time, we are helping the lucky winner get here with a $100 gas card. The 2008 Parkway Fishing Vacation Giveaway is sure to get all the couch potatoes out of the house and into the great outdoors, even if it’s just for a weekend.

Starting July 15th, people can visit VirtualBlueRidge.com and register for their chance to win. Thanks to our partners Foscoe Fishing Company, Alpen Acres, and the Virtual Blue Ridge Bookstore, VBR is able to offer an incredible vacation package valued at $886.87!

With soaring gas prices a lot of people are cutting back on their vacations. So this may be just the thing for people looking for a great summer vacation. What better deal is there than free? And, now you won’t have to worry about filling up your gas tank to get here if you win. So warm up your mouse-clicking finger and get over to VirtualBlueRidge.com before the August 31st deadline for your chance to win!

Enter Now!

Over 25 attractions in the Blue Ridge area currently participate in the program, and the savings can really add up. Best of all, the card is completely flexible. Parts of your group may want to visit a certain area, while others will want to go to another. This allows your group to split up and meet again later.

To learn more about this exciting discount program, please visit the Go Blue Ridge Card section of the VBR website. We know you will love the savings this special card can create for you and your family!

Jennifer will receive a 2-night stay at Alpen Acres’ Mountain Chalet as well as two 2-day Go Blue Ridge Card Vacation Attraction Passes for a wonderful weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

We had over 1400 entries for this giveaway, with growing interest in future opportunities. Please stay tuned by visiting here often, or you can sign up for the Virtual Blue Ridge Newsletter.

Congratulations once again Jennifer!

Don’t want to miss the news? Sign up for our eNewsletter!

Dale King and his image Solitary Cloud entered in the Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas Category took top honors receiving Best In Show.  Category Winners acknowledge the top image in each of the seven competition categories and will receive Mast General Store prize packages with a retail value of $275.

This year marked the largest participation in the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters with more than 1,100 individually registered voters casting nearly 2,400 total votes.  In the end Scott Hotaling and his image Mountain Calm will take home the $350 cash prize.

Judges were also asked to identify images of distinction and merit to receive Special Mention honors and an additional ten photographers have been recognized.

All forty-six images selected for the 2008 exhibition will remain on display in the Mezzanine Gallery of the Turchin Center for the visual arts through June 7 and images can be viewed at HighCountryPhotos.com.   This summer the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will take select images on the road to community and art centers along the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor.

The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is a partnership between Outdoor Programs and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.  Support for AMPC is provided by Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters, Bistro Roca Inventive American Cuisine, Peabody’s Merchants of Fine Beer and Wine, Mast General Store, and VirtualBlueRidge.com.

For press & media resource information, please visit:

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/contests/app-mtn-2008/media-and-press/

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In addition to offering this great prize, you can also share the information with a friend and gain a bonus entry if that person enters the giveaway! The deadline is April 30, 2008 at 11:50 PM ET, so be sure to enter while you  can!

The selected images from the 2008 Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition are now on display at the Mezzanine Gallery of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on the ASU campus. The public will be able to view the prints from March 7 through June 7, 2008. These finalists are also eligible for the Footsloggers People’s Choice Award, which kicked off on March 7. To vote for your favorite image, please visit the Virtual Blue Ridge voting gallery.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation for six years has been a part of this contest and this year has created a new category to represent the brand and trademark, Share the Journey.

Remember! Your vote counts!

Final judging for this year’s Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition will take place in late March and awards will be publicly announced on April 14. A winning image will be selected from each of the seven categories, one image will be selected as People’s Choice and one image will be chosen as Best In Show.

Thank you to all the photographers who submitted images to this year’s competition. A portion of your entry fee goes to support Outdoor Programs Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions (SOLE) at Appalachian State University. SOLE trips are 21 to 55-day, active educational adventures of discovery that immerse ASU students in unique and rugged landscapes. To learn more about Outdoor Programs and Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions visit www.op.appstate.edu.

This year’s category winners are:

A huge round of applause and congratulations for this year’s winners of the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition!  Virtual Blue Ridge will be posting a gallery of this year’s winners soon.  Thanks again to all of you for participating in this year’s competition.  After seeing the stiff competition from this year, we look forward to next year more and more.

Beginning with a public reception on Friday, March 7, 2008 and running through June 7, 2008, this year’s selected images will be available for viewing in the Mezzanine Gallery of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Images selected for exhibition will also be available for viewing via the Internet and the public is invited to vote for their favorite images as part of the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters. We will make an announcement in this blog when the voting procedures are posted.

The 2008 Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is a service of Outdoor Programs at Appalachian State University and serves to subsidize students participating in Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions (SOLE trips). SOLE trips are 21 to 55 day educational journeys of discovery to remote and exciting destinations including New Zealand, Fiji, Wales, and Alaska. Outdoor Programs has been offering human-powered, adventure-based programs to the students, faculty and staff of ASU for more than thirty-five years.

The 2008 Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s 5th annual contest. Virtual Blue Ridge will be sponsoring the competition by offering online registration and submission forms for entrants, as well as hosting a gallery for this year’s finalists and previous year’s winners.

Banister Pope

Describing himself as “an extra-large, middle-aged, bearded-american studio artist and photographer,” he brings a lot of experience and creative eye to the table for this year’s contest. His imagery captures the whimsy of our most ordinary surroundings.
www.banisterpope.com

Heather McClintock

“Acknowledging a growing discontent with her studio pursuits and seeking a deeper connection to documenting the commonalities of our existence, along with a deepening desire to pursue humanitarian work and simply to get a little dirty again . . . .” Heather McClintock has had work exhibited all over the globe and is sure to bring a worldly view to the AMPC.
www.heathermcclintock.com

Pac McLaurin

“I learned a little bit about photography in my career which related to medical imaging, and then by my own self teaching and going to workshops. I have learned the most from the students I teach and I thank each of them.” Pac currently teaches photography at Appalachian State University where he has lead several student workshops overseas for “endless photographic opportunity.” Pac is an inspiration to the amateur, and proof positive that practice really can go a long way.
www.pacmclaurin.com

After all, it’s what the Virtual Blue Ridge Team does!

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting each and everyone of those who took the time to visit our booth.  Your eagerness and smiling personalities really made the day fly by.  Thank you for your interest and participating in this year’s fair!

We had a giveaway this year for participants and the lucky winner is…

Andrew Huffman, a Computer Science major, has won a beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway Tee and Hat! On behalf of all of us here, I hope you enjoy wearing it on your adventures on the Parkway.  We would love to hear about your favorite moments visiting one of the most gorgeous places on Earth. And that goes for all of you! Please visit our contact page to share your journey or post a comment to this blog post.

Thanks again to all of you who participated and we will be in touch soon regarding our internships.

Happy Travels!

Tanna Baumgardner

Almost 3,000 sun seekers entered the contest, but only one can win the grand prize. We will be announcing the contest winner within 5 business days on the Contest Winner page of the Virtual Blue Ridge website.

Remember, Virtual Blue Ridge will be having more giveaways soon, so stay in touch, or sign up for our free newsletter to keep up-to-date with the latest goings on for the best Blue Ridge Parkway Guide around.

Cheers to a much anticipated spring and we hope to see you on our site and on the curves and dips of the Blue Ridge Parkway!

Happy Travels!