Sep 30, 2010

From Out of the Shadows...


Hey there folks. Just a little introduction, which Crash had alluded to earlier this week.

You can call me Kirby. I've helped Crash on the technical side of this website since its inception, long before it ever took on its current format. Though I am also a Pittsburgh native, unlike Crash I am quite content to stay in the city and do not feel a need to run around with his 'Team Crash' in whatever strange scheme he comes up with for a weekend. That said, I do find his exploits intriguing and hate to see his website floundering... especially after all the help I've contributed in its creation and maintenance.

I've always been a behind the scenes guy here, but as per Crash's request I'm going to take a more obvious role; at least for awhile, so Crash can get priorities straightened out as Law School continues to devour his soul. As stated, I do not join the Captain nor his comrades on his ridiculous crusades... but I have been given full access to Crash's knowledge and photos from the adventures.

As such, I will be adding a few new 'adventures', but for the most part I will simply be reinstating pages that were previously posted but are lurking in cyberspace in the old formats of this website. I will also be restoring the different sections of this website, fixing up the design and such, and reinstating ongoing, regular 'features' that left the website when Crash lost his internet access when moving to the mountains. I am a writer afterall, so this should be a fun exercise for me. It is apparent that in the realm of 'guerrilla tourism' this truly is the authoritative source for the Pittsburgh region.

It is likely that I will lack the sarcasm, humor, and uncanny writing style that the Captain maintained here, but I hope I can really hope entertain in his absence in my own ways. Crash will still be posting from time to time, albeit infrequently. In the meantime, you may look forward to the reemergence of lost adventures, event coverage, outfitter recommendations, and more. I hope you will enjoy my presence in the forefront here at the Adventures of Captain Crash!

//Kirby//

Sep 28, 2010

The Results Are In... And an Announcement is Coming!

Cue the Price is Right Fail Trombones...



Team Crash's exciting result in the Warren County Great Race.................. did not finish!!!

Team Crash's exciting result in the Pittsburgh Most Amazing Race................ did not run!!!


Yep, it's true. After all the hype, all the preparation we totally failed. We started out kicking ass in the Warren race, but a few mistakes slowed us down until we came up one challenge short of finishing the race. In our defense, most teams didn't finish. Can't even give a real place number, but we were told we were around 35 or so out of like 100. So top third-ish for a race we really had no clue about. Bilo, Sparky, and Gunz did a great job and we will definitely make a big time run at it next year.

Due to personal reasons beyond my control, I was forced to drop out of the Most Amazing Race at the last minute and Gunz didn't have enough time to find a replacement. Huge bummer, but it was for charity and I'm glad that the funds we raised will still be getting put to good use; the Salvation Army was the real winner of that race, afterall!

I didn't get any pictures from the Warren County Great Race. I may recap it later like I did with the 2009 Most Amazing Race if I have time, I might not. We'll see.





Speaking of circumstances that limit my shit, you've probably noticed that despite my full reign of internet now that I'm back in the city my updates are few and far between. I just have too much going on right now. So an old friend has come forward to help keep the blog rolling while I catch up on this whole "law school" thing. He should be popping up soon!
Just sayin...

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Sep 17, 2010

Get Ready, Get Set...

On the eve of our first adventure race of the year!

This year will be Team Crash's first entry in the Warren County Great Race. This race will send us all over Warren County up near the New York state line in the heart of Pa Wilds. Along the way we will have some adventurous tasks, but for the most part there's going to be a lot of strategic puzzles and such. Assembled Team Crash accordingly; joining me will be Bilo, a local to navigate, Sparky, to help solve the puzzles, and Gunz to handle any of the physical tasks. Good team, eh? Wish us luck.

Next weekend will be me and Gunz as a duo in the Most Amazing Race, which is the Pittsburgh edition of the CBS reality game of the same name... 'cept its for charity. We're still looking for sponsors so please throw a few bucks to a really really great charity that helps underprivileged families! Click here to donate on our behalf!

More updates on that race later this week... for now, we gotta hit the road!

But to see what Team Crash is up to in events, you can always check out the recently renovated EVENTS section of this site!

Cuz Team Crash is out to win, and a seven nation army couldn't hold us back.

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Sep 2, 2010

Adventure: ORDA Rock Course

As promised, it's another Nemacolin adventure!

The Offroad Driving Academy at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort provides a unique opportunity for guests who have never let their tires touch dirt to learn the skills and enjoyment of offroading. The fleet of modified Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicons lets the instructors and guests have the best of the best as far as capable vehicles goes as they traverse miles of mountaintop trails at the resort featuring rocks, mud, inclines, and water crossings. ORDA trips start, however on the Rock Course, a test track including all the obstacles that challenge a Jeep's capabilities all in one course.




I was privileged enough to serve as a guide/instructor at times on the course, driving one of the mighty Rubicons. Hell I could even watch the Jeeps go by from my perch on the Ropes Course when I was guiding up there (view pictured below).


So of course it was only a matter of time before I brought my own Jeep over to put through its paces, and some of the ropes course girls took a few pics of my little rally for me.

Headed to the log crawls...

40 Degree Incline... 
 

40 Degree Decline...

60 Degree Incline!

40 Degree Side-Slope... way tougher and more intimidating than it looks!

Coming out of the Rock Garden...
 

Water fording trench...

The Jeep and myself in my sweet Nemacolin uniform...

The Jeep with some of the Adventure Center girls... what a trio!

My Jeep ZJ posing on some rocks with one of the Nemacolin Rubicons... good team, good team...

It may not have been the greatest challenge my Jeep has ever faced but it sure was nice to get it out on some trails and get a chance to team it up with the Rubicons I got to use at work. All a part of being an outdoor guide, kids. You know you love it!

If the Offroad Driving Academy interests you offroad novices, you can find out about making a trip of your own at the Nemacolin Woodlands Adventure Center.

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Sep 1, 2010

Adventure: Lake Paige

As promised, I'm updating with some adventures from the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. And while this one isn't particularly adventurous, it was practically a religious experience for me. Because let's face it, I am obsessed with canoes.


Nemacolin is a place of true class with more money to spend on amenities and features than any place probably should. One of those features is the inclusion of a canoe museum on the banks of the largest lake on their property, Lake Paige. Yes, you read that right... a fucking canoe museum. I discovered this unpublicized feature while hosting a canoeing event on the lake for work. Small in size but big on historic value, this little lakeshore building is stocked with some of the coolest old canoes you can ever imagine from around the world dating back through centuries. I utilized an off day at the resort to check them out while Lavaricky had come to visit to worship the old vessels appropriately... and of course do a little paddling of my own.

The collection did not fail to impress. Native American canoes, Thames Racers from London, Venetian gondolas from Italy... they were all there, as were some practically ancient pieces of gear like paddles, rudders and sails. Awesomely historic. Am I the first person to become a canoe nerd?

Just wish ol' Joe Hardy bought a few more canoes to throw in there! But of course I couldn't see all those canoes and not do a little paddling. Once I ran out of old boats to gawk at I unloaded my own canoe of the WJ and humped it down to the docks. It was a nice leisurely paddle around Lake Paige with Lavaricky in the bow, surrounded not by wilderness but by mansions and a PGA golf course. Interesting change of pace, eh?

Simple. But satisfying. I got to combine the classy resort I worked at with my inner history nerd and one of my favorite pastimes: paddling! Too bad Lavaricky was there to practically ruin it.

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Welcome!

This blog focuses on the travels of Captain Crash, a Pittsburgh native and outdoor guide with a knack for adventure. With a few sidekicks and two great Jeeps, Crash finds incredibly unique and scenic areas throughout Western Pa, WV, NY, OH, MD, and beyond. The adventures are typically off the beaten path to places almost completely unheard of today and often involve camping, offroading, ATVing, paddling, biking, hiking, backpacking, climbing, urban exploring, rappelling, cliff jumping, ghost hunting, urban legends and more.
Follow CaptainCrash95 on Twitter