“The Best Lunch in the Whole World”

First of all, a mountain pie is not a mud pie, and please don’t confuse it with a cow pattie. A mountain pie is born by putting pie filling between two pieces of sliced bread in a cast iron mechanism and inserting directly into a fire. The result is unbelievably tasty!
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Fresh Tracks in Highland Park

Highland Park was nothing short of a winter-wonderland during our February 13th Family Snowshoeing Intro and Hike! The persistent sunshine highlighted little comfy flakes of snow that fell throughout the afternoon. Surprisingly, we found few other tracks left in the snow around the park.
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Snow and Hot Cocoa at Highland

So what’s better than going for a snowy ramble through Pittsburgh’s Highland Park? Getting to drink hot cocoa afterward of course! Thanks to everyone who came out on our Hot Cocoa Adventure this past Saturday. The day proved to be quite cold with fresh snow up to most of our shins and, for some of us, our knees!
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Snowshoe Intro and Hike

This winter’s snowshoe season kicked off Saturday, December 19, and we couldn’t have asked for a better day for our first trip of the season! The Snowshoe Intro and Hike at Harrison Hills Park had everything an ideal snowshoe outing needs: plenty of snow (over 5 inches), a beautiful winter day, and great Trip Leaders providing historical facts about the park throughout the hike.
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Stews and Microbrews Hike

What better way to warm up after a winter hike then with hot stew and craft beer? This was just the scenario on the Venture Outdoors Stews and Mircrobrews Hike on Saturday, January 31. Almost 30 people gathered for a hike covering several miles through the hills and valleys of North Park. Snow covered the landscape making the trees sparkle and the wildlife visible against a white background. Read more

Winter Camping Introduction

On Friday night the group met at the Flatwoods exit of I-79. The weather was relatively warm in the 40’s and we drove as a group to John Hayden’s mountain property. Staying in his warm cabin, we each found a bed, bunk or place on the floor to sleep. On Saturday morning we had pancakes and hot coffee for breakfast, then packed our heavy gear up to the top of the mountain – just far enough away to be able to enjoy the wilderness, yet be able to make a return, if needed.

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Warren Miller Success!

The Warren Miller film festival on Saturday, January 10 was a success! Even mother nature stepped aside to allow folks an easy drive to the theater. Almost 400 people attended the three events. There were many kids and families at the matinee and a mob of them in the lobby after the movie seeking an autograph from professional skier Chris Anthony.

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Telepalooza 2009

The Appalachian Telemark Association is proud to present Telepalooza 2009 Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1. Telepalooza features ski clinics, professional ski instruction, equipment demos and the 7th annual Jack Zoppetti G.S. Telemark Race, the longest up hill/down hill fun race in the Mid Atlantic Region. Read more

Winter Members’ Day: February 7

Join us at Ohiopyle from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM for outdoor winter fun and food!

Ohiopyle State Park encompasses 19,052 acres of rugged natural beauty and serves as the gateway to the Laurel Mountains. Weather permitting, we’ll feature cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and the ever-popular snowcreature-making competition. There will even be an opportunity to relieve the winter stress with a chair massage. Kids will enjoy art activities with the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

We’ll also feature the annual Camp Stove Cook-off, which allows you to show off your culinary skills by preparing your favorite dishes on an outdoor stove. Venture Outdoors staff will be on hand to judge entries and awards will be given for: best entrée, best appetizer, and best dessert.

This event is free and open to all Venture Outdoors Members and their friends and family.
Food will be provided (separate from the Cook-off) but please bring a potluck dish to share if you wish.

To participate in the Camp Stove Cook-off call the Venture Outdoors office by Wednesday, February 4 to reserve your spot as a chef or judge. Please specify the categories which you are competing in when you register.

Click the green sign up button below to register for this free event!

Special thanks to Wilderness Voyageurs for providing the winter party site!

Brrrrr … the winter biking challenge!

Sunday, December 28, 2008
By Kate McCaffrey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Freezing temperatures, biting wind, slick roads, black ice, snow, rain, sleet, frozen stiff fingers and toes … It’s all part of the daily commute for dedicated — really, really dedicated — winter cyclists.

Aimed at keeping bicycle commuters on the road through the cold weather, The Solstice Cycling Challenge is simple: Ride to work as often as possible over the next few months and occasionally share a brewski and swap hell-on-wheels stories with fellow commuters at the OTB Bicycle Cafe on the South Side.
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