{"id":7533,"date":"2014-09-25T09:30:29","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T13:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hagarty-on-wine.com\/OnWineBlog\/?p=7533"},"modified":"2014-09-25T09:30:29","modified_gmt":"2014-09-25T13:30:29","slug":"take-a-hike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hagarty-on-wine.com\/OnWineBlog\/take-a-hike\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a hike!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boots \u2018n Beer: Rescuing overworked men one hike at a time<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Twice a month the hard-charging owner of a Warrenton land-use consulting firm takes to the mountains with a bunch of guys in tow.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few hours of walking in the woods are the greatest form of stress relief I know of. It\u2019s therapeutic and the quickest way to get out of your own head and relax,\u201d said Jim Carson, owner of Carson\/Ashley. The firm specializes in land planning, civil engineering and land surveying.<\/p>\n

Given the moribund economy of the last several years, stress relief is in high demand among working men in Fauquier County. The proof? The five-year-old club has over 100 members. A typical hike will see 10 to 20 men navigating the trails of the Shenandoah National Park and other mountain venues.<\/p>\n

But is it all heart pounding, sweat inducing physical labor that eases a worried mind? Not at all. Each hike is followed by a rehydration stop at a local tavern for a burger and beer. The club frequently descends on Griffin Tavern in Flint Hill to enjoy its varied selection of microbrews and tasty menu offerings.<\/p>\n

\"Boots-n-Beer-Logo-Updated-e1388253792240The club\u2019s motto states its charter succinctly: \u201cA drinking club with a hiking problem\u201d. Its whimsical logo depicts a pair of hiking boots, one with a mug handle and foaming beer head, and the other lying on its side in dreamy beer-induced repose.<\/p>\n

Nobody\u2019s taking anything serious here; except physical and mental health.<\/p>\n

In the beginning<\/strong>
\nSo how did it all start? \u201cOver 15 years ago, my wife Kim and I would go out on mountain hikes. We laughed about how out of shape I was. I don\u2019t think I would have gotten out on my own and started this journey if she wasn\u2019t the type of person who loves being out in the woods,\u201d said Carson.<\/p>\n

Carson, 52, further explains that for years he was just, \u201cgrinding it out, building my business, paying the bills and tending to all the responsibilities and obligations of life\u201d. He realized he wasn\u2019t taking time out for himself. He thought lots of other men might be in the same trap.<\/p>\n

And he was right.<\/p>\n

After a few years of the idea incubating in his head, Carson gathered his first 10 club members and headed out to climb Mary\u2019s Rock in the Shenandoah National Park in December 2009. Word soon spread that anyone could join the club. The only criteria? You had to be male.<\/p>\n

In the politically correct world of today, a male-only anything tends to bring cries of outrage. But Carson stands firm. \u201cThe club allows men the freedom to be men. Guys being guys are not always what the ladies enjoy. But a non-judgmental environment builds esprit de corps and is unifying.\u201d It\u2019s also lots of fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cTruth be told, the wives are the best endorser of our club. They see their husbands more relaxed and healthy and they appreciate it,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

The ladies are welcomed participants at the club\u2019s annual dinner held at a local restaurant or club.<\/p>\n

Any \u201cwell-oiled\u201d organization needs a set of by-laws to operate by. In keeping with the simple Boots \u2018n Beer philosophy, there are only two:<\/p>\n