2024 Adventure X Fest Tread Lightly! Project

When the fall air rolls in and the leaves just start to fall it’s time for me to get excited. I get excited for a few reasons. First, let’s be honest, I am not built for summer. Second, fall is east coast event season. Adventure X Fest in West Virginia is the first event of fall, and is probably my second favorite event of the year (sorry Jason, Rooftop Tent Rally still holds #1 spot).

*The crew setting up camp for the night before Adventure X-Fest in the Laurel Fork USFS Campground*

*I said, “Work Hard; Play Hard” but sometimes we play hard before we work hard.*

The pre-project shenanigans continued with a nice fire, some smoked sausage,
and some epic artisans mustard.

Like last year AXFest kicked off with a Tread Lightly project day in Monongahela National Forest. This year’s project was more about infrastructure than it was just picking up trash. We helped pour four new concrete pads for bear bins. We also painted all the bear bins, the pavillions as well as the bathroom doors, and lastly helped put up some new signage for the camping area.

*Jason from Mountain State Overland giving some local history about where this project is taking place and why it is personally important to him and his mission with MSO.*

Volunteer crew receiving the morning briefing and what the day’s tasks and expectations are.
This is when we start to work hard.

Like with all Tread Lightly projects that I help with, we had a “work hard; play hard” mentality. We managed to work so hard this year we finished a few hours early. No complaints. Once we wrapped up the projects the USFS had assigned us it was time to kick back and relax. Most of the group stayed on site at the campground before heading to AXFest the next morning. Those of us working the event bugged out and headed to the venue to get ready for everyone else showing up the next day.

Concrete work ain’t easy work, nor is it glamorous.
The USFS was more than happy to have us jumping at the opportunity to give back.

One group mixed small batches two bags at a time.
Another crew transported the concrete to one of two pads we were pouring on this side of the campground.
*We latter switched sides and poured two more pads on the other side of the road.*

If you’ve never done concrete work it’s a lot of, “hurry up; then wait.”
In this case we had two well barrels full already poured.
While we waited it was just a matter of doing the edges around the form.

*More hurry up and wait.*
*This time we were waiting on an VERY wet batch to flash off some of the water.*

Once the venue was ready, which we worked head enough they opened the gates two hours earlier than planned, people started rolling in. What I love most about AXFest is that it is a small event with great people in a great location. The Experience Learning facility that hosts the event operates year-round as an outdoor education center and hosts many other events throughout the year in addition to AXFest.

Hearing from our gracious hosts at Experience Learning.
Second year at this location and hopefully many more to come.

Got Maps? Purple Lizard Maps does. So does ECOA!
My task this weekend was to share ideas on places people could go explore.

While there is no true “vendors” at AXFest, I was attending this year in a psuedo-vendor capacity representing Purple Lizard Maps. My job was to provide maps and information for event participants and help them have a small adventure in the surrounding national forest.

One of the cornerstones of AXfest from year one has always been live music.
This year we had live music on both Friday and Saturday nights.

All in all Adventure X-Fest was, as expected, a great weekend full of good people and good times. Already have the 2025 AXFest days inked on the calendar.

Dean