Views from the Treehouse

Charles Merritt and his team at Buddy Insurance offer something novel: On-demand accident insurance for mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking and any other outdoor pursuit (except wingsuiting). Find out why they think the concept will fly...

When Anne Poarch tired of a career in financial services, she turned to hospitality and showcasing the region she loves. Five years later, Basket and Bike, her bike-touring brainchild is growing steadily -- showing visitors and locals alike how to slow down and enjoy the ride.

In the world of paddlers, mountain bikers, surfers, and other outdoors enthusiasts, "dirtbag" isn't a pejorative; it's a lifestyle choice, one Michael Stratton -- local kayaker, ultrarunner, and MTBer -- lives despite also holding down at least one real job. Stratton straddles worlds, but it's hard to keep a girlfriend when home has no heat and a sleeping bag beckons every night.

Scott Turner and his company, True Timber Arborists, have reimagined what tree work looks and feels like in Richmond. It starts with caring about the natural world.

What do you do when your Phd work isn’t doing it for you anymore? If you’re local Richmonder, Max Pendergraph, you take a sabbatical to work for Backroads bike touring company. And when you realize guiding trips and fixing bikes is your true passion?...Well, why not just go for it?! Check out what Max is doing to help people plan and have an awesome experience on long distance cycling trips throughout Virginia and beyond.

This summer Virginia became the 12th state to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation. Meet Cass Rasnick; she's in charge.

McLane Grow discovered a talent for distance running after through-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Now the local science teacher and Blue Ridge Marathon winner wants to figure out how good he can really be.

For a year and a half, Andy Thompson and Matt Perry have put the questions to Richmond’s outdoor recreation leaders. Now they’re on the other side of the table, bringing in a guest host to help interview each other about how they got to this point in their outdoor lives. In this second installment, Andy Thompson and Brad Cooke, Collegiate School's Director of 'Outdoor Collegiate,' interview Matt Perry on the past, present and future of his own outdoor pursuits and where the RVA outdoor rec scene is headed.

For a year and a half, Andy Thompson and Matt Perry have put the questions to Richmond's outdoor recreation leaders. Now they're on the other side of the table, bringing in a guest host to help interview each other about how they got to this point in their outdoor lives. In this first installment, Matt Perry and Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream owner, Will Herring, grill Thompson on the past, present and future of his own outdoor pursuits and where the RVA outdoor rec scene is headed.

Buck Robinson is a co-founder of Outdoor Access, the Richmond-based company that wants to pair landowners with hunters, anglers, campers and other outdoorsy types. Can his model become the AirBnB of the outdoors?