· Community & Lifestyle
Rail-trails and the small-town comeback along old railroad grades
How abandoned railroad lines became trails, why some trail towns thrive while others stall, and a practical checklist for riding a long rail-trail well.
Theo Barrientos
Theo is a trail runner and whitewater paddler who has written guides to hiking and paddling routes. He writes about getting outside safely, trail towns and the practical side of mountains and rivers.
Pieces by Theo
· Community & Lifestyle
Brownfields explained: how old industrial sites get cleaned up and reused
What makes a lot a brownfield, how site assessments and risk-based cleanups work, what old sites become, and the questions neighbors can ask along the way.
· Outdoor Recreation
Paddling small rivers: how to read a stream gauge before you go
Stage, flow, trend and lag time: a step-by-step way to read a stream gauge and tell whether a small river is too low, about right or too high to paddle today.
· Outdoor Recreation
Chasing fall color by elevation, from high ridges to valley floors
Fall color starts on high ridges and works downhill for weeks. Here is why, what turns at each elevation, and how to plan a color chase on short autumn days.