Exploration Local

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I sit down with Lee Trebotich, aka “Natty”. He created Food For Adventures for the outdoor athletes and weekend warriors who seek adventure, and to share the stoke of eating well in the outdoors. We talk about the long line of cooks he comes from, and how he grew up helping his mom in the kitchen where he learned how to cook exclusively with cast-iron.  Besides bei...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Steven Reinhold, The Appalachian Adventure Company Co-Founder + Steward of the Stoke, who has been a force in the outdoor industry for many years. He is an avid explorer and adventure philanthropist who has been fortunate to pursue his passions around the globe. After climbing several of North America's most iconic peaks with the industry&apos...

Send us Fan Mail This is a special episode because it is a story of a remarkable place and fascinating history, told through the eyes of third generation resident, John Nichols III, whose grandfather helped restore Lake Toxaway to its former glory in the early 1960s. We talk about John’s earliest recollections of growing up in Lake Toxaway, living in what is now known as the Greystone, warm days s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins owners Joe Balcken and Shelton Steele dropped by the studio to hang out and talk about their love and vision for Wrong Way , the transformational qualities of the outdoors, and the intentionality of creating a sense of place. Both are former whitewater raft guides turned trailblazing entrepreneurs. They came up with the idea for...

Send us Fan Mail The word community is, without question, central to the human experience. It conveys a sense of togetherness and positivity. Being a part of a community can make us feel as though we are a part of something greater than ourselves. And in some outdoor pursuits, community is key for a safe and enjoyable experience. That is definitely true when it comes to whitewater kayaking. In thi...

Send us Fan Mail Damascus is a small town with a big claim to fame: Seven nationally known trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail intersect within the town’s borders.  The Damascus lifestyle is adventurous and creative, yet laid-back and well-paced. It’s a place where you can be super-active, or where you can reconnect with nature, rejuvenate, and find your inner pe...

Send us Fan Mail I recently had the privilege of attending the 4th Annual Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina, where 600 outdoor industry businesses, conservationists, public land managers, development experts, nonprofit & government leaders, and entrepreneurs are looking to grow the outdoor industry in their communities and craft an economy that’s intimately tied to the qua...

Send us Fan Mail The Hickory Nut Gorge is a magnificent jewel in the mountains of Western North Carolina. This 14-mile-long canyon cuts a picturesque pass exposing spectacular sheer granite cliffs, and contains an abundance of undisturbed forests. In this episode, I sit down with Peter Barr who led the development of more than 20 miles of new sustainable trails as well as the legislative authoriza...

Send us Fan Mail Nearly 10.2 million Americans today consider themselves digital nomads—people who travel and explore while working—and that number is only expected to go up. In fact, when COVID started to wreak havoc in 2020, the number of digital nomads in the US increased by nearly 50% from 2019. In the case of fulltime RV’ers Peter and Allison Barr, they started making plans for a 5-year journ...

Send us Fan Mail It’s no surprise the last couple of years have been a challenge for small businesses. And it’s likely that we all know someone whose life and business has been adversely affected by the pandemic. We’ve seen longtime businesses struggle, companies pivot, bankruptcies filed, and doors closed. But thankfully there are also positive stories and good that has come about because of the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I head to Banner Elk, NC to visit with Tracy Tilley & Sheri Moretz for a behind the scenes look at the iconic Mast General Store . We take a trip back in time and learn how the Mast's down-home way of doing business is still alive today. Drawing on it's own story of resurgence, its no surprise that part of what adds to the nostalgic charm of the Mast...

Send us Fan Mail Our public lands are among the most visited in the Southern Blue Ridge. The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests receive over 10 million visitors annually, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are in the top 3 most visited parks in the Country. DuPont State Recreational Forest had its most crowded year ever last year, recording 1.3 million visitors....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Kieran Roe, Executive Director of Conserving Carolina and we talk about how this organization works to protect & restore natural resources, as well as inspire others to love and care for our natural world. We talk about some of the areas that make up the 46,000 acres Conserving Carolina has helped to protect like Chimney Rock State Park , DuPon...

Send us Fan Mail We have a special episode in store for you today as we focus in on our Top 5 Most Listened To Episodes of 2021…but with a little different twist. This year I hit rewind and invited our guests back on to bring us up to speed with anything new they have going on. You are DEFINITELY going to want to listen in because there are some pretty RAD things happening here in the Blue Ridge M...

Send us Fan Mail The mountains of North Carolina offer some unexpected treats for skiers and snowboarders. Snowmaking capabilities are outstanding and allow for a constant supply of fresh snow and great conditions. They emphasize family skiing, with a good mix of beginner runs to get first timers interested in the sport, and more advanced trails and surprisingly good vertical to provide ample stok...

Send us Fan Mail Virginia’s Blue Ridge is made up of the City of Roanoke at its heart and surrounding communities within an hour radius, including the City of Salem , Botetourt County , Franklin County , and Roanoke County . The region offers a refined, authentic, Metro Mountain adventure nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains . It’s a premier destination for outdoor recreation offering over 1,000 mi...

Send us Fan Mail Gorges State Park, located about halfway between Cashiers and Brevard, is set in the midst of plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls and a high concentration of rare species. The Park receives over 80 inches of rain each year which is enough rain to qualify the area as a temperate rain forest. Most people are drawn to the park to explore Rainbow Falls, and Turt...

Send us Fan Mail In 1975, 80% of the clothes Americans purchased were made in the USA, but in the 1980’s, the decline in American made apparel began. By the 1990’s almost no apparel was manufactured in the USA.  Western North Carolina fell victim to this overseas manufacturing trend. In the ’70s, there were five manufacturers operating within the limits of Old Fort. They made furniture and clothes...

Send us Fan Mail The Blue Ridge Mountains are synonymous with beauty, adventure, ruggedness, exploration, & discovery. They are filled with iconic trails and highways, and home to a rich biodiversity. They contain the most incredible waterfalls & wildlife, trails, and rivers, hunting and fishing…and our quaint, throw-back mountain towns are growing increasingly popular as people look to es...

Send us Fan Mail The Green River Game Lands contains just over 18,000 acres of wilderness and lies along the Blue Ridge Escarpment in Henderson and Polk counties. It is home to the Green River which cuts a rugged chasm as it descends the Blue Ridge escarpment providing numerous whitewater sports opportunities like kayaking, canoeing, tubing, and fishing in wild trout waters. At its most impressive...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I sit down with the G5 Trail Collective, US Forest Service, People on the Move for Old Fort, and the Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation to discuss plans to expand the trail system in the Grandfather District to include 40+ miles of new multi-use trails. We talk about how expanding the trail system will allow for greater recreation opportunities for the co...

Send us Fan Mail The 100-Mile Fonta Flora State Trail will connect Morganton to Asheville with hiking and biking trails along the Catawba River, creeks, around Lake James, through the mountains and into our charming downtowns like Morganton, Marion, Old Fort, Black Mountain, and Asheville’s River Arts District. It will provide an unparalleled experience for people of all ages and abilities. The fu...

Send us Fan Mail There are over 1.6 million acres of national forests in Western North Carolina. That means there are FAR more places to explore than just what’s turning up in your social media feed…So, with a little planning ahead, you just might be able to enjoy a relaxed and uncrowded Blue Ridge Adventure, and NOT have to backpack into the middle of the wilderness to find it.  In this episode I...

Send us Fan Mail The First Peak of the Blue Ridge is more than a just day-trip or overnight destination. Here you can explore for days and check out historic downtowns, incredible arts and culture, delicious local restaurants, amazing outdoor adventures, relaxing scenic drives, an ultimate destination for all who love horses, delicious wines and even locally made craft cheese.  In this episode, we...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Part 2 of the Exploring North Carolina Lookout Towers with Peter Barr. If you missed Part 1, I really encourage you to check out that episode where Peter and I discuss the history and backstory of Forest Service lookout towers and how a lifechanging trip on the AT and sketchy climb up his first lookout tower completely changed the trajectory of Peter’s life. We talk abo...