It’s that time of year again! Leaves are changing color, temperatures are dropping, and OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Contest is open! Enter your work in the 2026 Excellence in Craft Contest today.

If it is your first time hearing about OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Awards, we invite you to take a look at last year’s winners. You can find their work here. 

The Outdoor Writers Association of America annually recognizes exceptional work in outdoor journalism through its Excellence In Craft Awards. The 2025 contest opened for entries on Nov. 1, 2025.

Check out the guidelines below and link to the rules for submission! Guidelines and full category rules are posted on OWAA’s Submittable homepage under EIC Contest. 

Categories, deadlines, and everything you need to know to enter

Entry Process

The EIC Contest is open to all OWAA individual members in good standing (i.e. your membership dues are current) and will award first-, second- and third-place winners in 11 Media Categories: Blog, Book, Column, Graphic/Illustration, Magazine/E-zine, Newspaper/News Website, Photography, Photo Essay, Radio/Podcast, TV/Video/Webcast, plus an Open Category.

 All entries must be related to the outdoors, published either in traditional media or online, as a professional effort, meaning the member has received direct payment or otherwise derived income through advertising or other sponsorship related to the published entry.

All entries must be published, broadcast, or sold during the contest period – Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2025, except for the Book Contest which is for works published between Dec. 1, 2023 through Nov. 30, 2025.

Entries in all contest categories can be submitted beginning Nov. 1, 2025. The final deadline for the Book Contest is Dec. 1, 2025. The early bird deadline for all other entries is Jan. 15, 2026. The final deadline for all other entries is Jan. 31, 2026.

The entry process for the 2026 EIC Contest is managed through a partnership with Submittable, an OWAA Supporting Group that specializes in online contest submissions. All entries must be submitted online through Submittable, exceptfor Book entries, which must be mailed to OWAA EIC Contest, c/o Chez Chesak, 3420 Lyleburn Pl, Cincinnati OH 45220 with a postmark no later than midnight EST Dec. 1, 2025.

Members must enter only their OWN work. This eliminates the chance an entry is inadvertently submitted twice (once by the member and once by a co-worker, editor, or someone else). In such cases, the second submission will be disqualified. Entry fees for disqualified submissions are not refunded.\

Accessing Submittable

If you are using Submittable for the first time, create your FREE Submittable account by going to https://owaa.submittable.com/signup. If you are new to Submittable or need a refresher, visit https://submittable.help/en/articles/904856-how-do-i-submit for assistance.

Once your Submittable account is created, you can begin submitting entries at https://owaa.submittable.com/submit, which allows you access to all EIC Contest entry forms. Each Media Category – Blog, Book, Column, Graphic/Illustration, Magazine/Magazine Website, Newspaper/News Website, Photography, Photo Essay, Radio/Podcast, and TV/Video/Webcast, and Open – has its own entry forms.

Deadline to enter

The final entry deadline is midnight EST, Jan. 31, 2026, for all categories except the Book Contest in which entries must be postmarked no later than midnight EST Dec.1, 2025.

Entry fees

The entry fee is $15 per submission if entered by midnight EST Jan. 15, 2026.

Entries submitted after midnight EST Jan. 15, 2026 but before midnight EST Jan. 31, 2026, will be charged an additional $10 late fee. Entries submitted after midnight EST Jan. 31, 2026 will be disqualified.

Entry fee(s) can be paid through Submittable or by check. Credit card payments can be made individually for each entry or with a single payment for multiple entries. Contact eic@owaa.org for guidance. Check payments with single check for all entries (one or multiple) must be mailed to OWAA EIC Contest – c/o Chez Chesak, 3420 Lyleburn Pl, Cincinnati, OH 45220. Checks must be postmarked before the contest deadline.

General rules

Except for the Book Contest, all entries must be submitted online using Submittable. No mail-in entries allowed.

Members may submit up to two entries each in Book, Column, Graphic/Illustration, Open, and Photo Essay. (NOTE: Entries in the Open Contest may not be submitted to any other contest.

Members may submit up to two entries per topic in Blog, Magazine, Newspaper, Photography, Radio/Podcast, and TV/Video/Webcast. For example, two entries in Magazine/Fishing or two entries in Photography/Scenic, etc.

Members may submit one work in multiple topics if the topic description applies. For example, a Photography/Action entry also may qualify for Photography/Fauna, or a story on fishing that includes substantial information about the gear used may qualify for Magazine/Fishing and Magazine/Gear-Technical.

If you have any questions about an entry and what category/topic it best fits in the EIC Contest, please contact eic@owaa.org for guidance.

Categories or topics receiving fewer than three entries will be canceled and entry fees reimbursed.

Categories or topics receiving only three entries will award only first- and second-place prizes.

Entries submitted during a previous contest year that have simply been re-published or re-broadcast are not eligible.

A second or later edition of a book may be entered in the Book contest if 1) at least 20% of the content is new material, 2) it was republished within the contest dates, and 3) the original version was not entered in a previous OWAA EIC Contest.

Book contest entries are not returned to the author but instead donated to the Book contest judges (per Board directive in 2000). Co-authored, co-photographed and co-produced creations may be entered only once in a topic, regardless of how many people received bylines/credits. For co-authored,co-photographed and co-produced entries, all authors/photographers/producers must be OWAA members except in the Book Contest in which only one author must be an OWAA member. The prize will be split among the co- authors/photographers/producers, and one certificate will be awarded with all co-authors/photographers/producers’ names on it.

A letter of verification from the editor or publisher must accompany newspaper and magazine entries published under pen names.

Family or friends may enter deceased OWAA members’ works published or broadcast during the contest year.

Award certificates and checks are made out to individuals, not organizations, publications or broadcast stations.

Entry constitutes a waiver of copyright restrictions on reprinting or reproducing entries by OWAA to promote the organization and the EIC Contest.

If you have any questions about the guidelines listed above, please contact the EIC contest coordinator at eic@owaa.org

If you have any questions about using Submittable, contact the help desk at support@submittable.com or the EIC Contest coordinator at eic@owaa.org

View a full list of the 2026 Excellence in Craft contest categories here!

The post OWAA 2026 Excellence in Craft Contest: How to enter your work appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

It could be fair to say the eight people who put their names on the statement creating the Outdoor Writers Association of America had little idea what the fledgling organization would become or that it would last as long as it has.

Their collective interest was elevating the status of outdoor writers, which they felt was being undercut by less reputable storytellers.

Jimmy Stuber, who served as OWAA’s secretary from 1929 to 1944, summarized the situation in an article for the Pittsburgh Press:

“Outdoor writers who had won their spurs through experience were griped at the counterfeit, the phony and the bunkum which crept into so-called outdoors columns and magazine articles as well. The reading public was being duped by ‘pikers,’ ‘quack writers’ and ‘clip artists’ who had never been there.”

The solution came in 1927 at the fifth annual Izaak Walton League convention in Chicago with handwritten words on the back of a banquet menu accompanied by eight signatures. With that, OWAA was born.

Morris Ackerman penned the OWAA Bill of Organization during the convention’s closing banquet. Later, a group of writers gathered again, according to one account, in Jack Miner’s room at the Hotel Sherman to elect officers.

OWAA’s organizers wanted only accredited writers. Once vetted and approved for membership, Stuber said they could “join those who knew the scent of pine and hemlock, the odor of a campfire being wafted to them in the wilderness or the deep stillness of a hidden lake.”

Ackerman was elected OWAA’s first president and was reelected in 1928 and 1929. Most of the other seven founders had leadership roles over the next few years. Buell A. Patterson was OWAA’s first secretary, and Edward G. Taylor was chosen honorary president in 1927 and 1928. Miner and W.S. Phillips (aka El Comancho) later served on the board of directors.

Records from the early years are incomplete, but recently uncovered evidence indicates Cal Johnson was elected president four times over the next decade. Peter P. Carney and Mrs. Hal Kane Clements, whose first name was Hazel, were the only co-founders who didn’t serve OWAA in some capacity.

At the time, Taylor was the oldest (71) and Patterson the youngest (32). The others ranged in age from 35 (Clements) to 61 (Miner).

Who were these people? Where were they from? What did they do to get a seat at the table on that April night in 1927 when OWAA was formed? Each of the eight had noteworthy and varied careers. Here are the stories for four of them.

Photo above: Morris Ackerman fishing with Spanky McFarland. Photo retrieved from theCleveland Public Library.

Morris Ackerman (1883–1950)

Georgia-born Morris Ackerman earned a law degree from Western Reserve University in Cleveland—not so much to be a practicing attorney but to earn enough to support his true interests: fishing and hunting.

His degree took him to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he clerked in a law office and coached high school football. After his mother’s death, he returned to Cleveland to work in his father’s food brokerage.

While attending a food brokers convention in Baltimore, he noticed the local newspapers published tables of tidal, sun, and moon activity. Thinking such information might be helpful to anglers and hunters, he pitched his first outdoor story to the Cleveland Leader in 1912.

“I took a gamble,” said Ackerman, who was paid $5 for the article.

What followed was an illustrious career that included stints as outdoors editor for the Cleveland Press and Scripps-Howard Newspapers, syndication through the Newspaper Enterprise Association, and time as publisher of an annual fishing and hunting guide that grew to more than 300 pages before he turned it over to his son, Bill, in 1941.

He somehow found time to organize the American & Canadian Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show that began in 1927, took a break during the Great Depression, and after resuming in 1937, ran it for several decades before it closed.

Atlanta Journal outdoor writer O.B. Wells called Ackerman “one of the exceedingly few men I have met who earn an honest living doing exactly what they want to do.”

In a 1938 feature article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Joe Williams wrote:

“There is little about fishing that Mr. Ackerman does not know. He can tell you the domestic habits, political leanings, and social eccentricities of all the known denizens of the deep.”

At least twice, Ackerman had brushes with death—once as a boy when a gun discharged and grazed his forehead, and later while hunting grizzly bears in Alberta when a massive female rose behind him.

Ackerman fished or hunted with famous writers such as novelist Rex Beach, sportswriter Grantland Rice, and Hugh Fullerton, who broke the “Black Sox” scandal of the 1919 World Series. His outdoor companions also included baseball stars Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Tris Speaker.

“I have fished and hunted with prize fight champs, baseball champs, football stars, bankers, brokers, actors, authors, millionaires, and poor men like myself,” he once said. “Any fishing or hunting shack is my home.”

Ackerman traveled widely in pursuit of fish, game, and stories—visiting all 48 states, plus Alaska, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and the West Indies. He spent three months each year in Quebec’s Gatineau Valley, where he leased 75 square miles of territory. By 1934, he’d made more than 50 trips to Canada and died of a heart attack in 1950 during his 23rd trip to Florida.

Cal Johnson (1892–1953)

Despite a career full of achievements as a magazine and newspaper outdoor writer and editor, radio and television broadcaster, and publicity director for outdoor manufacturers and the Izaak Walton League, Cal Johnson is best remembered for what he did after retirement.

On July 24, 1949, Johnson caught a massive muskellunge on Lac Courte Oreilles near Hayward, Wisconsin. It was weighed, measured, and certified as a world record—67 pounds, 8 ounces.

Three months later, Louie Spray claimed a bigger catch. Debate over the true record lasted decades, with different organizations recognizing each fish.

Johnson’s life before and after that day was equally remarkable. He wrote for Outdoor Life, edited Outdoor America, hosted Chicago radio shows, and contributed to Collier’s, Esquire, and Liberty. Diagnosed with a heart condition in 1947, he found healing through fishing and lived another six years.

“The outdoors is the greatest doctor in the world,” he said. “If you feel yourself slipping, go fishing—it is the world’s most soul-satisfying pastime.”

Jack Miner (1865–1944)

In a 1940s newspaper poll of North America’s most influential people, Jack Miner ranked fifth—behind Edison and Ford.

Born in Ohio and later moving to Ontario, Miner became one of the early 20th century’s most important conservationists. He founded the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary and pioneered bird banding, helping track migratory patterns of ducks and geese.

He was also a charismatic public speaker and an early advocate of game protection. Honored with the Order of the British Empire in 1943, Miner’s work continues today through Canada’s annual National Wildlife Week, held in his honor.

Photo above: Edward G. Taylor. Photo retrieved from the Chicago History Museum.

Edward G. Taylor (1856–1945)

Taylor was a Chicago newspaper writer whose career began with the Chicago Inter Ocean and later the Chicago Daily News. Known for his column “With Rod and Line on Lake and Stream,” Taylor was one of the most prolific outdoor writers of his time.

He also wasn’t afraid to challenge authority—famously writing President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 to criticize him for using worms as trout bait, calling it “slaughter.”

Taylor’s influence was wide-ranging. His articles combined news, technique, and philosophy, and his contests and reader engagement helped build enthusiasm for fishing as both sport and lifestyle.

OWAA in the 1920s

After OWAA was formed and its first officers were elected, the group’s focus was on discrediting “nature-faking” writers and strengthening relationships with editors.

By 1928, members met again in Cleveland, voting to standardize the names of fish and game species. The “musky” was officially adopted as the preferred spelling for muskellunge.

At the 1929 convention in Chicago, OWAA saw growth and its first female member since Mrs. Hal Kane Clements. Proposals covered dues, insignia, and ethical standards for outdoor writers.

Not everyone applauded. A Detroit Free Press column in 1929 lumped OWAA with groups like the Rotary Club and the National Pickle Packers Association, accusing them all of shaping public thought—a humorous footnote in the history of an organization that continues to shape the voice of outdoor communication nearly a century later.

Phil Bloom is two-time president of OWAA and a lifelong resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The post Writers who changed outdoor journalism: The founding of OWAA appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Blue Ridge Paddling after hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Paddling.

Media members of OWAA touring the new home of Blue Ridge Paddling in July of 2024 were duly impressed. The recently-completed, lodge-like building in Erwin, Tennessee was bright, airy and full of light. There was ample space for retail. Boats, paddles, throw bags, personal flotation devices and branded merch covered the racks and shelves. 

The building included the Blue Ridge Taphouse which served up an array of beverages, presented multiple TVs, and had a patio filled with yard games like corn hole, ladder-ball and giant jenga. You could see the Nolichucky River running peacefully by, just a few hundred yards away. For an outdoorsperson taking it all in, it really was a beautiful thing. 

OWAA members tour Blue Ridge Paddling in 2024.

But the night of Friday, September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene arrived, having worked its way up from the Gulf Shore the day prior. As the rains fell, the waters ran down the ridges, consolidated in mountain streams and started feeding the rivers. Throughout the region, the rivers started to rise. 

Before Helene

For companies large and small, the outdoors is big business here. 

Steven Foy, the Director of Outpost Operations at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) noted that just for rafting alone, they would see about 105,000 clients per year. And 2024 was on track to just about hit that, perhaps topping 108,000. After years of planning, Foy and his colleagues at NOC were especially excited as they prepared to open some new lodging units on their property, bungalow-style cabins with kitchens, private decks and king bedrooms. 

On the other end of the business spectrum, Blue Ridge Paddling was just starting to get traction. Founded by two brothers in 2022, they saw their first full season in 2024 and with a focus on taking smaller, more intimate groups rafting, they catered to nearly 600 clients in 2025. 

“We were finally getting into our groove,” said co-owner Mason Schmidt. “As most people know, as a small business, if you can get through your first three years, your chances of survival are much better. We were finally able to take a deep breath and realize we’d made a good decision and were growing at a good pace. We were just so close to breaking through…”

Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel, Cabins & Camping is located just about forty feet from the Appalachian Trail (AT). Originally built in 1998, the previous owner of Uncle Johnnys battled a long illness, to which he succumbed, passing away in 2018. Having thru-hiked the AT in 2021, Terry Wise came in, bought the neglected property and then spent two and a half years fixing it up. 

He said, “The work on the hostel was really coming along. I felt good about it. I was resolved that I was going to spend the rest of my life putting band aids on it, fixing the electrical, the plumbing, a warped floor and what have you, but it was coming along.”

The Projects & Attractions Director and Whitewater Director at Ober Mountain Adventure Park and Ski Area, Lacy Bramlett has also guided on the Pigeon River since 2010. As a boater, she always watches the weather as it comes toward them. Bramlett went rafting twice the day before, on Thursday the 26th.

“There were some big water flows at 4,000 and 10,000 CFS [cubic feet per second] but it was odd to have a big water event in September after drought conditions through the summer. I usually like to see water coming in. But as I started looking at the maps, it raised a red flag as the system became stationary.”

Helene had a herald in that a predecessor rain (which happens 24-36 hours ahead of a tropical storm) already dropped 6-12 inches of precipitation in the mountains – and the hurricane hadn’t even arrived yet. 

Anna Rawlins is the Chief Marketing Officer at Eagles Nest Outfitters, Inc (ENO) in Asheville, North Carolina. “We were at work the day before. We saw that there was going to be some normal flooding. We brought our laptops home in case we had to work from home ‘for a few days’ and then the next day we were texting before the cell towers went out. We just kept telling everyone to stay safe.” She was worried about missing ENO’s 25th Anniversary party, which was scheduled for that Saturday.

As rafting company owners, Schmidt and his brother are always watching the weather and the conditions of the rivers. Having received a surprising amount of rain that week, the Nolichuky was already up around 25-30,000 CFS and Helene hadn’t even arrived yet.

He said, “We knew it was going to get high, but we had no idea just how high.”

Helene hits

Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel after hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel.

Schmidt was on the Blue Ridge Paddling property on Friday morning. “We went out to look at the river and saw it was coming up even more, like 50-60,000 CFS. We started to see spaces in the floodplain filling with water. Then we knew that this was something we’d never seen before. We sort of went into shock.”

Luckily a friend came by and encouraged the Schmidt brothers to start loading up everything they could. They grabbed rafts and whatever they could carry from their boat barn, threw it all onto trailers and hitched them to their vehicles. Schmidt, who was living on the property, barely had time to grab his laptop, a cell phone and a charger. They drove the vehicles to a ‘safe space’ in front of the boat barn, but then noticed water around the tires. So they moved the vehicles again, this time across the street. About 40 minutes later, they saw four to five feet of water in their buildings and again water was lapping the tires of their vehicles. They then drove the vehicles higher, to the local high school which was now being used as an emergency shelter.

Inside Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel after hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel.

“That’s when it sunk in that we’d just lost everything that we’d put our lives into. It wasn’t like when a river rises and you can predict it. It just happened so darn fast.”

During the night of the 27th, the flow of the Pigeon River accelerated, speeding up and building in volume all night long, reaching an astounding 98,000 CFS – until the gauge stopped working.

The Schmidt brothers didn’t sleep at all that night and were back on property at about six A.M. 

“We showed up to the site [of the business] and it was a scene that we’ll never, ever forget. It was a total apocalyptic zone. There was nothing. No road. The boat barn was completely gone. A quarter of the main building had been ripped off and was 100 yards downstream.”

Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel after hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel.

With their mother, the two brothers walked as near to their property as they could and just cried. 

Bramlett went out and got coffee about 8:30 A.M. She wanted to see what the flooding was going to be like but saw that her town of Hartford, Tennessee was already under water. As she watched a shipping container float by, she realized she just had to get out of there. She grabbed her cat and went west to a hotel in Newport, Tennessee.

“While I was there, I heard that the dam broke. It turns out that wasn’t true but I didn’t know that at the time. Just in case, I immediately left and went to Morristown so that I wasn’t stuck in that situation [in Newport]. The river peaked at about eight or nine that evening, I just assumed that my belongings were gone, that my town was gone.”

“We started making our way back the next day, but topographically things had changed, between the landslides and the tree debris that came down the river. Once we got downtown, we saw that two or three feet of water was still in the cafe and the BP had at one point had water up to its ceiling, at about ten or twelve feet. We went to find friends and check on them. I mean, day one was just mind blowing, like, ‘What happened here?!?!’ Day two was boots on the ground and people responding. I was very happy and proud to be a river guide right then, as in those moments you saw our community come together.”

Rawlins’ home has a well. With the electricity out, the pump couldn’t work and so she had no water. But as an outdoors person, Rawlins pulled out water filters, propane stoves and other gear and started teaching her neighbors how to use them. They then simply fetched buckets full of creek water to flush their toilets as some families rationed their use, flushing just once per day. 

The day after the flood, residents take stock of what’s left of their town – and find some provisions that had been dropped for residents on Trail Hollow Rd before the road was made accessible again for car traffic. Photos courtesy Lacy Bramlett.

“We turned to our neighbors and were all talking to each other, not having an idea of the scale of the thing. We wondered, ‘Are we the only ones without power?’ Our daily routine was checking in on everyone. We tried going to downtown Mars Hill and everyone was walking around, all the gas stations and groceries all shut down. There was no communication. No one knew what was happening.”

In situations like this, with the skills and equipment the outdoor community has, they can provide a certain level of additional disaster assistance, almost de facto emergency responders. 

Noah Wilson is the Director of Sector Development for the Asheville-based incubator, Mountain BizWorks: “In the midst of all that devastation, there was a bigger recognition that our outdoor community can be a key lifeline. It was the outdoors community who supplied people that knew how to do complex chainsaw work. The white water guides became swiftwater rescue (or recovery) crews. We had people who stood up and said, “Hey, I’m a ‘Woofer’ [Wilderness First Responder], I can help!” 

Volunteers started backpacking supplies and insulin up to ten miles to get necessary items to isolated homes that couldn’t be reached any other way. Outside Asheville, ATV rental companies just loaned out their vehicles so that people could distribute aid to isolated mountain communities. Ober Mountain opened up its resort for displaced people to stay. Rawlins’ company, ENO, made sure to continue to pay their employees while shuttling supplies out to them and tracking how everyone was doing. On a broader scale, the Outdoor Business Alliance stepped up with micro grants and funding to small brands in the area, primarily to help keep employees paid. 

Eventually Rawlins made her way to downtown Asheville. “There were posted flyers (on paper mind you) from aid groups and various community meetings all over. There were people with solar chargers in parking lots letting people charge up. It was beautiful to see everyone come together but also devastating.”

“The hardest day was the day we got cell service back because then we could see the true breadth of everything. By then our days were all about unloading semi-trucks of water, food, and toilet paper by hand with people of all backgrounds working side by side. Everything was day-to-day, just surviving and helping other people.” 

She credits the outdoor community in Asheville with their response as, once she got cell service back, she had messages from people with tractors, chainsaws and other resources. 

She said, “I honestly think if this had happened in another city, the response would have been much, much worse. It’s a unique place because there are so many outdoors people and jack-of-all-trades who have equipment and are uniquely qualified for a situation like this.”

At Uncle Johnny’s, Wise saw almost all of his work undone. “The hurricane pretty much negated everything I’d done over those two and a half years. Everything was either full of mud, wiped away or had tree branches through the roof.”

He estimates that debris washed up and covered over 60% of his property. Some buildings on higher ground, like the bathhouse and some cabins, survived while the store, hostel and several other cabins were completely destroyed. 

Schmidt and his brother sat tight for the first few days, allowing crews to do their work to find and recover bodies and as the remains of their own property was checked several times by local fire and rescue. After about a week, they posted on Facebook to see if they could get some help removing the more than four feet of mud, sand and wet sludge that had impacted itself throughout what remained of their building. Some forty friends showed up, so the brothers bought as many shovels and they all spent the next two weeks cleaning out the building, taking the walls down to the studs. They even had to contend with some looters who a neighbor spotted one night. After that, they were sure to remove everything of any value that was still left in the building. 

In Asheville, it took four days to get power back. It would be another month for the water to come back on. Further, in the midst of this exceptionally stressful time, all of these outdoors people were suddenly bereft of their favorite activities. 

“That was the other challenge at that point,” Rawlins added. “So many of us go outside as therapy but then the trails and parks were all shut down. So they were no longer the places for respite that they once were, instead they were just devastated.”

While so many lost their solitude and their connectivity to nature, others lost their livelihoods entirely. One campground owner told the Mountain BizWorks team, “I have no way of being in business right now. I had a campground on the river. But now I can’t get people to the campground, the campground itself is an absolute mess and we can’t take people on the river. We don’t know how we can operate.”

The Aftermath

In the months since the storm hit, Foy said, “It’s amazing to see the amount of progress and improvements and recovery but it’s still just immense in terms of the work that still needs to be done.”

NOC has been at reduced capacity but is still booking as much business as it can, including legacy youth groups that come every year. He says it’s still too early to get a pulse on what overall tourism demand is going to be like. 

He added, “We were really unsure until about a few months ago if the French Broad and Pigeon Rivers would even have access points.”  

The U.S. Forest Service generously allowed them to do a scouting trip along with American Whitewater. “When we went on the French Broad River we were overjoyed to see the river had stayed in the same condition. There was lots of debris but nothing of major concern. The run is the same, although the aesthetic value has changed. Now, the Pigeon is a different story. It runs along I-40. When that highway got washed out, much of it went into the river so now it’s a different run, a different river entirely. Further the take-out was damaged. Worst of all, we not only lost the put-in, we lost the entire road TO the put-in.”

He continued, “There are plenty of outdoor resources that won’t be able to open for this season and that’s heartbreaking. I mean, there are still places where there’s no difference between the road and the riverbed. Some Nolichucky businesses have no confidence in being able to open this year and taking a year off means you’re unstable for up to three seasons after that. There are still resources that won’t be able to support tourism and that’s gut wrenching.” 

Schmidt’s business is a case in point. While their first GoFundMe quickly raised $55,000 and they were able to get grants from local nonprofits Rise Erwin and Region AHEAD for $20,000 and $25,000 respectively, the damage was in excess of $2,000,000. He mentioned that they got no assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and that it was impossible to take out any loans, since they were already in debt as a new, small business. 

Yet Foy is effusive in his praise for the agencies that stepped up to support initial recovery efforts. He quickly rattled off how helpful and responsive Duke Energy and the North Carolina Department of Transportation were while FEMA and then Tennessee Emergency Management Agency got to work removing debris. 

He praises work by the staff members of Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Ted Budd, Senator Thom Tillis, Congressman Chuck Edwards and Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger and credits their teams for being instrumental in advocating for supplemental relief funding, which was passed by the 118th Congress. Although the approval process was relatively quick, the funds weren’t confirmed until December and only came through in early 2025. Further, the states wouldn’t release their own emergency funds until the federal funds came through, so speedy implementation was crucial.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development then launched a campaign to promote recreation on their rivers while the state outdoor recreation offices for both North Carolina and Tennessee were, in his words, “Critical in their response in getting infrastructure back on line and getting the right people to be at the table together.” 

The Future

If you go to the website of Blue Ridge Paddling now, you’ll see a photo of their devastated headquarters building. Other parts of the site bely a better time, before Helene. The page for their taphouse shows a bright, sunny bar filled with people enjoying beverages and still asks you to, “Come enjoy a cold beverage poured in a frosted glass and share your river stories!”

The Schmidt brothers were eventually able to secure some $515,000 from the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund, which they’re using to develop architectural drawings and engineering plans to rebuild. They’re focused on getting their building back up and running and reopening the taphouse by the new year. They hope to start rafting again in the spring of 2026. 

The GoFundMe site for Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel has raised more than $25,000 toward a $45,000 goal. The page is also full of images of the destruction that Helene wrought upon this business. 

While he noted deep appreciation for the donations received, which came from local organizations, national organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, and individuals, he said it’s still a fraction of what he needs to rebuild his passion project. 

“The longer term goal is about rebuilding and the longest term goal is getting back to the place we were before the storm – thriving,” noted Rawlins passionately. “But a lot of the brands and companies here right now are still in that initial phase. If you lost a building, the insurance hasn’t come through yet. Or you’re paying a mortgage and for repairs, but you have no revenue. So much of that land that was buildable and flat by the river just isn’t there anymore. A lot of the day to day isn’t totally focused on the long term planning yet, but we’re getting there.”

While the scars to the landscape and structures are still very obvious, there are unseen emotional scars that will linger on as well. One local official said that she still can’t talk about Helene without bursting into tears and openly shared that she’s suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from it. 

Foy said, “It’s been months since the storm hit. It’s amazing to see the amount of progress and improvements and recovery but it’s still just immense in terms of the work that still needs to be done. Still, we’re feeling better than a month ago and a month ago we were feeling better than the month before that. We completed guide training, have been hiring and are just feeling good about operating this season, albeit in limited capacity.” 

“We pride ourselves on the outdoors and try to be a tourism town,” said Wise. While the rafting industry has been devastated, it will come back and it will survive. The hikers will keep coming down the trail. I’ll be okay this year.”

He paused, then added, “To this day it’s remarkable to look up and down the river and it just looks so different from even several months ago. It’s hard to convey the force that ran through there for a day and a half that affected millions of people. But there is recovery and optimism here. The whole town wants people to not be afraid, to come out, enjoy the outdoors and pump money into the economy.” 

But while some areas were deeply affected by the storm, many were virtually untouched and still ready to welcome outdoors people to come recreate. Other areas are recovering quickly.

Schmidt is optimistic. “Yes, we will come back. And we’ll build back stronger than what it was before. But it will take time, comebacks take time. There are now plans in the works to redesign the entire Nolichucky River Corridor, to add parks and more parking lots and better access and better community spaces. We have a blank slate and people are working to create some really cool stuff here.”

“The next step now is to convince people to come back,” said Foy. “We certainly have the capacity and if folks want to come here and go rafting, we sure can take ‘em, I tell you what.”

The post After Helene, the outdoor community rebuilds appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

 

As outdoors folks, we love gear. We particularly love GOOD gear, the stuff that keeps us dry, comfortable and safe in the backcountry. So we thought we’d pull together some of our latest finds for you here — including gear from brands who are OWAA Supporting Groups (corporate members). But this list isn’t just about our Supporting Groups and it’s certainly not sponsored, so we’ve filled it with gear that our staff have personally tested in the field and would recommend to friends and family. It’s a list of great gear for outdoor media professionals – and outdoor enthusiasts alike!

Here’s a quick peek a the entire list (with further descriptions and links below):

• Outdoor books
• Adirondack Fragrance Farm – Bug Wipes
• B3nth underwear
• Bug Bite Thing
• Dragon Alliance Upcycled Opus sunglasses 
• Duckworth Sawtooth shirt
• Duer No Sweat Relaxed Taper Pants
• Epicka 105 Pro electrical adapter
• Gordini’s MTN Crew Artist Mitts
• GoSun Chill Solar cooler
• Head Peace headband
• HercShirt 3.0 t-shirt 
• Helly Hansen LIFA Active Solen Graphic Hoodie 
• Lowa FORTUX GTX trail runners
• Maglite XL50 Flashlight
• MantisX Firearm Training System
• Matador Refillable Toothpaste Tubes & Flatpak Soap Bar Case
• MyTopo maps
• Papa’s Pilar rum
• Six Moon Designs All Day Carry backpack
• Solo Stove tabletop fire pits
• Star Brite cleaners
• Tentsile Trillium XL 6-Person Camping Hammock 
• Teren Daily Driver Puffer Jacket
• The Outdoor Afro Inc and REI Co-op collection
• WorldNomads travel insurance
• XTRATUF Sharkbyte kicks

 

Outdoor books

We always like to promote the gift of reading. Many OWAA members are authors and have written guide books, children’s books, ‘how to’ guides, instructional manuals and even fiction! Our curated list of members’ works on Bookshop.org now includes more than 130 titles. You can also check out the wide array of outdoor offerings from our friends at Far Country Press and Mountaineers Books. 

 

 

Adirondack Fragrance Farm – Bug Wipes

These handy wipes come in packs of 18 and are great for kids as well as adults. Great to keep in the car (or boat, camper or UTV) too. – $12. Learn more.

 

B3nth underwear

Quick-drying, men’s undies that come with a ‘pouch’ to handle your goods (“It lifts and separates!”). My underwear drawer is pretty much full of nothing else now and they come in boxer briefs, trunks, briefs and full lengths. $32 (for the boxer briefs). Learn more.

 

Bug Bite Thing

When someone sent me a sample of this product, I was super dubious. Then I tried it and was amazed at how well it works! Now we have them stationed all over the house in the warmer months. It’s a chemical-free suction tool that alleviates itching from bug bites by removing the insect saliva from underneath the skin. $9.99. Learn more. 

 

Dragon Alliance Upcycled Opus sunglasses 

Classic shades with a rounded silhouette, color optimized lens and 100% UV protection. Not only are they made of 100% recycled water bottles, they also fold relatively flat to better fit in your car, backpack or pants pocket. $140. Learn more.

 

Duckworth Sawtooth shirt

Warm and toasty 100% Merino Wool flannel shirt, forged into existence at the nation’s oldest woolen mill. Great for the backcountry – or a brewery run! This quickly became a ‘go to’ piece for me. $279. Learn more. 

 

Duer No Sweat Relaxed Taper Pants

I tried a pair of these once and immediately fell in love. I grew to love that pair so much that I eventually stocked up and now most of the pants in my closet are these (in various colors). Super comfortable with plenty of give to sit and move – but still look sharp! A great pant from ‘trail to tavern’. $129. Learn more. 

 

Epicka 105 Pro electrical adapter

For your long haul adventures, this little, all-in-one adapter includes four different plugs that adapt to 200+ countries & regions and allows you to charge up to six devices at once. $22.99. Learn more.

 

Gordini’s MTN Crew Artist Mitts

These synthetic leather mitts are waterproof, windproof, breathable – and stylish AF. They have a 600-fill DownTeck with high-pile fleece lining and there are eye-catching, heat-embossed designs from environmental artists for both the men’s and women’s versions. $89.99. Learn more. 

 

GoSun Chill Solar cooler

Great for car camping, overlanding or boating, this portable cooler doesn’t need ice. It will keep food cold, frozen, dry, and organized while the included PowerBank lets you charge devices and power your Chill day and night. $399. Learn more.

 

Head Peace headband

A ‘necessary accessory’ to absorb sweat during a yoga session, hide fly-away hair when you’re running late, and warm your ears on a chilly day. They use a fair trade, ethical manufacturing company in Nepal that helps women coming out of slavery and sex-trafficking earn a living by providing them employment opportunities in the garment industry. $15. Learn more.

 

HercShirt 3.0 t-shirt 

This shirt utilizes innovative metal infusing technology, blending beechwood, copper, spandex, and a few other materials, into one shirt that keeps you looking, smelling, and feeling good. The manufacturer says that the shirt can go over 100 days without having to be washed. (I haven’t gotten to 100 days yet, but it’s doing great so far!) $100. Learn more. 

 

Helly Hansen LIFA Active Solen Graphic Hoodie 

Ideal for adventures with long sun exposure (like sailing, spring skiing, hiking, etc.) this hoodie was designed to deliver sun protection and comfort on hot days. It boasts two particularly cool technologies too. Their S.Café process infuses the hoodie’s fabric with used coffee grounds, giving it UPF 50+ sun protection without the use of chemicals. Cool, right? Meanwhile, their LIFA ACTIVE tech wicks moisture away from your skin to keep you dry. So it’s quick-dry, odor-resistant and durable. $64 (women’s). Learn more.

 

Lowa FORTUX GTX trail runners

While I’ve been a big fan of this German company’s footwear for sometime now, I’m really digging their new trail runners. It’s a waterproof, distance-focused shoe designed for longer runs/hikes on trails in all weather conditions. Features include a speed lace, smooth rocker, durable jacquard upper and cushioned midsole to provide maximum comfort mile after mile. $190. Learn more.

 

Maglite XL50 Flashlight

This powerful little water-resistant light has a sleek, tactical design and includes next gen LED technology. There are three modes: momentary, full and strobe and other colors are available. Run time is six hours and 45 minutes in high or a whopping 25 hours in low, while beam throw is 224 meters. $100. Learn more. 

 

MantisX Firearm Training System

Are you a a hunter or target shooter – or do you know one? Help them further improve their accuracy with this dry-fire gun training system. It takes a data-driven approach toward achieving shooting mastery and it works with any firearm (pistol, rifle, or shotgun). The system analyzes every shot and generates actionable data to help improve accuracy quickly. Starting at $99. Learn more. 

 

Matador Refillable Toothpaste Tubes & Flatpak Soap Bar Case

I was excited to discover this brand at a travel goods show as they’re truly dedicated to adventure travel and not just trying to add ‘travel’ as a category. I mean, for years I wondered why someone hadn’t invented a better, smaller, packable case for a bar of soap, or a refillable toothpaste tube. Well, these guys did, and so much more. $10 and $14 respectively. Learn more. 

 

MyTopo maps

With more than twenty years of experience providing custom-printed maps, MyTopo will ship your custom map within 24 hours. They offer United State Geological Survey 7.5′ topographic maps, and aerial/satellite photographs custom centered on any place in the US or Canada. They can also overlay private land boundaries to provide landowner names and parcel boundaries on topo or satellite maps. Then add public land boundaries, U.S. Forest Service roads and trails, lake bathymetric contours, and GMU boundaries, if you like! Prices vary but topos start at $16.95. Learn more. 

 

Papa’s Pilar rum

As a bunch of outdoor writers, we often like to sip something nice after a long day in the backcountry. And what better thing to sip than a high-quality, artisanal  rum named after Earnest Hemingway’s boat – and that comes in a bottle shaped like an old-school canteen? I enjoyed all their flavors but was most impressed (and surprised by) their white rum. Starting at $32.99. Learn more. 

 

Six Moon Designs All Day Carry backpack

Designed for walking trails and hut-to-hut adventures, I quickly fell in love with the ‘ADC’. Super lightweight, well-designed, intuitive pockets, large volume and a beefy (and comfortable) suspension system. Excellent as a longhaul trip carry-on, weekender bag or, as designed, for adventures like the El Caminito del Rey in Spain or hut-to-hut hiking in Switzerland. $335 (35L). Learn more. 

 

Solo Stove tabletop fire pits

I had to review Solo Stove’s tabletop fire pits for an article and my whole family quickly fell in love. Great for chilling on the front porch or a deck, using it on a picnic table at home or at a campground, for lighting up parties and more. We use ours often now since it’s so much easier than building a ‘real’ fire. They also offer a variety of fuels to burn in the stoves too. Starting at $39.99. Learn more. 

 

Star Brite cleaners

If you’ve got the toys, you need to take care of them. Not only is Star brite the marine industry’s leading manufacturer of waxes, polishes, cleaners, teak finishes, motor oils, and more – they also have cleaners for recreational vehicles, homes, powersports equipment, motorcycles and even aircraft. Prices vary. Learn more. 

 

Tentsile Trillium XL 6-Person Camping Hammock 

The world’s largest production giant hammock, and the biggest suspended hang out space anywhere on the market. Made from tough black mesh and with enough space for six adults – or ten kids! It’s a great option for large group trips. Even better, if building the ultimate basecamp is your plan, you can set it up underneath any Tentsile Tree Tent to create the ultimate, one-of-a-kind, multi-storey hammock tent stack for serious fun. Currently on sale for $384.30 (normally $549.00). Learn more. 

 

Teren Daily Driver Puffer Jacket

Right out of the box, I was loving this piece. The fit was great, the lines were super smooth and uncluttered and I was immediately impressed by all the pockets (eight of ’em!) for your gear. This Chattanooga-based company was founded by local guides and they use Bluesign certified fabrics & recycled water bottles in Primaloft Gold insulation to reduce waste and conserve natural resources. It’s also equipped with both DWR finish and is naturally hydrophobic to keep you warm even if caught in the rain or on the slopes. $269.95. Learn more. 

 

The Outdoor Afro Inc and REI Co-op collection

Gotta give some love to these two great brands who came together to develop this inclusive clothing collection. REI said of the collection, “Together with Outdoor Afro Inc., we co-created a camp and hike collection in collaboration with the Black outdoor community, offering a range of sizes and colors so everyone can feel like themselves outside.” Heck, yeah! $6.95-$98.83 Learn more.

 

WorldNomads travel insurance

Why not make sure that you (or your loved one)  are covered for your next big outdoor trip to another country? Even their Basic Plan covers over 250 activities, up to 180 days per trip. It includes emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation & interruption, coverage for lost or stolen baggage and emergency evacuation and repatriation. Prices vary based on coverage amounts and your home country. Learn more. 

 

XTRATUF Sharkbyte kicks

As someone who’s worked from home for decades now, I’ve searched long and hard for the perfect work-from-home-shoe. Well, now I’ve found it. Super comfy, amazingly light and yet still shoe enough to run outside for the mail, grab something from the car, run the kids to school, etc. And, if you happen to have a boat, they’re designed as a deck shoe, so you can wear them there too! $85.00. Learn more.

 

The post Gift guide: 2025 OWAA staff picks appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Out in far west Texas lies the beautifully diverse city of El Paso. Best known for its 300+ days of sunshine, charming hospitality, and for boasting a mountain in the middle of its city limits, El Paso is an outdoor adventurers best-kept secret when it comes to enjoying all things cycling. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a casual rider, the cycling community in El Paso and its surrounding region offers an array of trails and resources to fuel your passion for two-wheeled adventures. 

Scenic cycling trails for all levels

El Paso offers a diverse range of cycling trails that cater to all skill levels, offering both road and mountain biking experiences. The city’s road cycling routes span dozens of miles, winding through the urban streets of downtown and scenic rural paths like the Transmountain Highway. For those who prefer mountain biking, the rugged terrain of the Franklin Mountains State Park provides a thrilling ride with trails that challenge even the most experienced cyclists. 

El Paso’s road cycling routes are perfect for those looking to explore both the city and its outskirts. Popular routes like the River Trail along the Rio Grande provide a serene ride with beautiful views of the river and surrounding landscapes. Riders can also venture out on longer rides that take them from El Paso into the neighboring state of New Mexico, experiencing the unique blend of Texan and New Mexican scenery. 

For mountain biking enthusiasts, the Franklin Mountains State Park is a must-visit attraction. From the challenging Rock Gap Trail to the scenic Lost Dog Trail, riders can experience the thrill of rugged mountain biking while taking in panoramic views of the desert and mountains. 

One of the exciting aspects of cycling in El Paso is the opportunity to venture beyond the city limits and explore nearby regions. Riders can embark on journeys that take them into New Mexico, discovering charming small towns and picturesque landscapes along the way. These cross-state rides are a testament to the connectivity and expansiveness of the cycling routes in this region. 

Where to find essential gear and services

The cycling community in El Paso wouldn’t be complete without the essential gear and services to keep riders on the move. El Paso is home to several popular cycling-related businesses that specialize in all things cycling. 

Podium Finish Sports Boutique and Cafe

The Podium is more than just a bike shop; it’s a hub for cyclists to gather, refuel, and share their passion. Offering a variety of cycling gear, accessories, bicycle maintenance and servicing, as well as a cozy cafe, The Podium is a favorite among local riders and self-proclaimed foodies. 

Crazy Cat Cyclery

Crazy Cat Cyclery is a cornerstone of El Paso’s cycling community. Known for its extensive selection of bikes, gear, and accessories, Crazy Cat Cyclery is a one-stop shop for cyclists. Their knowledgeable staff and excellent service ensure that riders find exactly what they need. 

Trek El Paso

Trek El Paso is one more business in the Sun City’s cycling scene. Specializing in Trek bikes and equipment, they provide quality gear and expert maintenance services. Whether you need a new bike, a tune-up, or a quick repair, Trek El Paso has you covered. 

With an abundance of scenic trails, excellent cycling stores, and the opportunity to explore neighboring regions, El Paso is a cyclist’s paradise. Grab your bike, hit the trails, and ride along the beauty of the beautiful Southwest. 

Are you an outdoor media professional or do you work for an outdoor-industry organization? We’d love to have you join us September 20-23 in El Paso, Texas for our annual conference.

Learn more about our annual outdoor media conference in El Paso, Texas today!

The post Push your pedal to the metal in El Paso’s cycling community  appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

The post Join us for OWAA events! appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

The post OWAA 2019 Membership Meeting Minutes appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.