You look out over the horizon. Touching the vastness of the sky, you see the rounded apexes of the world's oldest known mountains shimmering blue in what appears to be a hazy dream. Below you see a multifaceted carpet of reds, yellows, and greens. Like ever-swirling colors of Fantasia, the carpet of color goes for what looks like eternity. There are shapes constantly in motion, never stopping/always changing to the omnipotent forces of the wind. Beside you and below you is a quarter mile of a rock. A sheer face that bends only to time, and you are hanging 500 feet in the air, by a string.

All This, and You Are Bored?

Many students here at RU wake up in the morning, take a shower, go to breakfast or lunch depending on how many classes they slept through, go to class, go to the library to work on pressing projects, hang out with their friends in the evening, and go to bed. After a few weeks of doing this they go home and when asked what they think of RU and the area, they say it is boring. Most RU students are disillusioned with the area due to a lack of knowledge of what they can do while here. I will attempt to help you have a better time while here by discussing some of the many things you can do, with some help from RU Outdoors, to make the most of the areas natural beauty.

Have you ever been repelling? Until a few years ago, I didn't even know what repelling is. Repelling is slowly descending down the sheer cliff of a mountain. Your only safety is a rope designed to hold 10 tons of weight, and a belayer who holds the rope in a series of metal 8's and C-clamps to stop you in the event that you fall. My opening portrait is a scene from the repel at Seneca Rocks in WV. You don't have to travel that far, either, because Barney's Wall, Dragon's Tooth, Claytor Cliffs and many others are easily challenged by a beginner, and are all within an hour's drive. Just make sure you take an experienced guide. RU Outdoors can help you locate one.

Another option widely available is the Cascades in Jefferson National Park. The 2 mile hike offers easy walking on a well maintained, well used trail, a captivating view of 2 nests of bald eagle's, the seasonal color change, and a spectacular view of a mountain stream dropping over 30 feet to a swimmable, wadeable pool below.

Minutes away from the Cascades is White Rock's recreation center which offers trails for everyone, with special trails for horses/mules/llamas (yes llama's), and mountain bikes. Some seasonal activities that are among the locals' favorites are canoeing, fishing, and swimming in Claytor Lake, and in the New River. With documented catfish over 3 feet long, trout and bass to fill a freezer, Class 2 and 3 rapids, and water that stays about 62o during the summer, the area's waterways are some of the best in Virginia . Of course, not all of these are especially popular activities to do on a date. One of the classical dating activities (since of course, dating will alleviate boredom), is to go on a picnic in the park. Picnics are easy if you plan ahead, and more importantly, they are cheap.

Recently two of my friend's planned a 3-couple "super date" which consisted of a campfire in a nearby field, some hot dogs and condiments, and s'mores. Add champagne glasses, drinks, and other assorted supplies and our total came to less than $20 for all six of us. Considering a standard date consisting of dinner at a decent restaurant ($20 plus tip), a movie ($14), and some "night cap" dessert like ice cream ($4) totals well over $20, picnics become another cheap way to have fun on a student's budget.

If you have a car and a map, you can always get out and drive until you bust; just don't drink and drive. Some final suggestions are visiting night clubs like Preston & Co. in Blacksburg, visiting the Mill Mountain Star in Roanoke as well as the city market while you are there, or in times of real desperation, with 3 centers of higher learning in the area, there are always frat parties. Most importantly, take advantage of the resources in the area. Many of them do not advertise their services (like the Long Way Home--outdoor drama), but are wonderful places to do things to improve yourself while having fun in the "not so boring hills of Western Virginia."