Day Fire Podcast

This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Andrew Herrington and Matt Jernigan. Andrew is Founder and Team Leader of BUSAR and Matt is Founder and President of BUSAR. Team BUSAR is an all-hazards search and rescue team supporting and assisting search and rescue operations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Andrew’s vision to create the BUSAR team came from almost two decades of search and rescue experience in the Smokies. A Wildlife Ranger, Wildland Firefighter and former backcountry Law Enforcement Ranger, Andrew used these experiences, along with his background teaching wilderness survival and safety, to forge this highly dedicated team. He was recently recognized for the creation of the team with the National Park Service Search & Rescue Award and for his role in the Gatlinburg Firestorm, the Department of Interior Valor Award and the Tennessee Conservation Hero award. Matt is also a founding member of Team BUSAR. He has over twenty-five years of outdoor experience backpacking, mountain biking, trail running and adventure racing. Matt has seven years of search & rescue experience within the Park and holds various wilderness SAR certifications. He has lived, worked, and travelled in over forty countries with significant backcountry experience in many. Closer to home he has a deep knowledge of the Great Smoky Mountains and is a 900 miler, having hiked all trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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This week Dawson and Clint sat down with Moise Baptiste, Ph.D. ! He and his wife moved to a new city to find new opportunities and expected things to go as planned! However, life has a way of bringing you experiences and challenges that you can not plan for. It was in some of those unmet expectations that he found the trail! Now - he helps others breakdown barriers to entry and find their own personal trail experience through his organization: TrailblazUS Outdoors.

His journey includes Haiti, two (2) Miami's, a doctorate, helping people break down stereotypes, a lot of self-discovery, and now some paddleboarding! This was a really good conversation.

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This week Clint and I talked with Rick Huffines and Eliot Berz. Rick is the Executive Director for the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. He joined the organization in 2013 after retiring from a 26-year career of public service with the US Fish and Wildlife Service where he has worked throughout the Southeast in five different states in various capacities. Most recently, Rick served as the Deputy Regional Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Eliot Berz received his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Sewanee: The University of the South. Eliot has worked on public access endeavors on various blueways and greenways, such as the Rapidan River in Virginia and Hiwassee River in Tennessee. When not working, you will likely find Eliot in the river kayaking or fishing.

The Tennessee River Gorge Trust is the perfect example of what can happen when a small group of thoughtful citizens come together to change their community for the better. The Trust was founded in 1981 —later incorporated in 1986 — as the result of a dinner party at Adele Hampton’s house on Elder Mountain. Chattanooga-area citizens gathered around her coffee table to discuss the worrisome development of the mountains bordering Chattanooga. With the help of cooperative landowners, TVA, the State of Tennessee and engaged citizens, our community has protected over 17,000 of the 27,000 acres of the Gorge!

The Gorge consists of 27,000 acres carved through the Cumberland Mountains by 27 miles of the Tennessee River. It is the only large river canyon bordering a mid-size city (Chattanooga) and it is the fourth largest river canyon east of the Mississippi. The Gorge begins approximately 5 miles downstream from downtown Chattanooga (across from Williams Island) and continues 27 river miles to Hales Bar Dam Marina near Nickajack Lake. Through dozens of archaeological sites, evidence of human's presence in the Gorge dates back to 10,000 years ago.

This week Clint and Dawson talked with Paula Hemmerly. Paula has been married for 50 years, has two grandsons and two children. Now here is the thing; Paula is a hiking machine!!!! Here is a list of the hikes/trails she has done since 2008.

Hikes: 2008 Foothills Trail, 2009 Art Loeb Trail, 2010 Appalachian Trail, 2013 Grand Sawtooth Loop (Idaho), 2014 PCT - Oregon, 2016 Long Trail (2010 AT to Killington, 2016 Troy to Killington), 2016 The John Muir Trail, 2018 West Highland Way – Scotland, 2019 Dolomites – Italy/Austria, 2019 Havasupai, 2020 Bartram Trail, 2020-2021 Benton McKaye Trail, 2018-2021 Colorado Trail, 2021 Wonderland Trail, 900 Miler X’s 3 in the Smokys, and the list goes in with many many more in National Parks and state Parks.

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This week Dawson and Clint sit down with attorney and avid bike rider and competitor - Lee Davis. Prior to biking, Lee was a pretty good runner as well - running 10ks in under 32 minutes and twice sub-2:40 in marathons. We cover a lot of ground - including his preparations for the 'Natchez Trace 444' bicycling event that he will be competing in soon. 'The 444' runs the length of the Natchez Trace Parkway from Nashville, TN to Natchez, Mississippi - no stop signs, no traffic lights, and no turns. The Natchez Trace Parkways was listed as one of - 'The 30 Most Gorgeous Roads in America' by bicycling.com. We talked training - gear - food - biking - and more with Lee Davis.

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This week Dawson and Clint sit down and talk about inspiration and mountain biking with Audrey Tangye! Audrey is a mom, a Registered Nurse, a caretaker, and has over 28 years on the bike. Being on the trail is where she finds energy and balance! In June of 2021 she set out on her biggest bike adventure yet, the "Great Divide Mountain Bike Race" from Canada to New Mexico! Even though she has competed in many big races; this one was special. This adventure was to celebrate and honor the life of her dear friend Grace Ragland; who lived with MS most of her life and passed away in January 2020 to cancer. Grace had completed this race in 2018 and lived by the motto of 'to finish is to win' and in doing so inspired many people to push through hard times and enjoy life! In this episode we share stories and talk emotions - preparing - gear - and most importantly - being inspired!

Part of Audrey's journey was to raise money for the Tanner Foundation for MS in honor of Grace. If you are interested in finding out more or donating please visit: https://divideandconquer.swell.gives/

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This Week Dawson and Clint sat down with outdoor enthusiast and adventure seeker - Tish Webb! In 2020 her attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail was interrupted by COVID. So, when the calendar turned to 2021, she started fresh! This was a fun conversation about her adventure on the trail! They talked about the personalities she met along the way - gear - navigating - lessons learned - and the emotions that being on the trail brings out! PLUS - what's next on her adventure bucket list! As always it was fun and informative listening to and sharing stories about being in the great outdoors! (Bonus - We find out that there are a few words Dawson hates!)

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This week Clint and I sat down with Mary Beth Sutton. Mary Beth is the Executive Director of Waterways. WaterWays works closely with local stormwater departments and many other partners to encourage grassroots community education and action for our streams and rivers in the Chattanooga Tn region. WaterWays is a proud recipient of the Tennessee River Basin Network Communication and Outreach Award for 2020 and TWO BRIC (Building Recognition in Chattanooga Tn) Awards for Best Sustainable Project and Best Collaborative Project with our partners at Propex. When not wading in the water, Mary Beth can be found scouting out wildflowers or hiking and backpacking in the mountains. In 2021, she completed a thru hike of the Colorado Trail. You are going to enjoy listening to Mary Beth's adventures on the Co Trail.

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This week Dawson and Clint sat down with (dramatic pause) Dawson and Clint! Yep - in this episode they talk through conservation. Some families and businesses have the ability to set aside budgets and monies to support parks, projects, and the organizations doing great work - that is outstanding! Some families can only give of their time and money as it's available - and yes - that is outstanding too! Learning what we can do - no matter how big or small - is the key. Whether it's writing big checks, spending a few hours helping clean up a trail, or simply dropping a few bucks in the donation bucket as you enter a park - it all adds up! We talk through the habits we can develop to ensure the land we enjoy today will be available to the generations to come!

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Today Dawson and Clint talk with Mark McKnight - President/CEO and Tish Gailmard - Director of Wildlife; at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center! With over 300 acres and five distinct ecosystems, Reflection Riding is home for many species of animal life. Mark and Tish give us an update about all the great things they are doing and ways they are serving our community. We talked about education - owls - bobcats - tattoos - AND we did a deep dive about the American Red Wolf Safe program! Plus, we share a lot of stories, laughs, and information along the way!

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