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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 stoke for even the most experienced skiers and riders.

In this episode I turn my attention to Beech Mountain Ski Resort, known as the highest-elevated outdoor adventure destination east of the Rocky Mountains. I sat down with Talia Freeman who is the Director of Marketing for Beech Mountain Resort, and we discuss what gives Beech its unique vibe that sets it apart…and keeps season pass holders and first timers coming back year after year.

We talk about the Resort’s great mix of runs for all levels, state-of-the-art snowmaking capabilities, upgrades to the Village including beautifully constructed fire pits & seating areas near the Beech Mountain Brewing Company, and 5506 the slope-side Skybar at the Peak of Beach Mountain. We also talk about the community of Beech Mountain, specially themed events like 80’s weekend & Runs for Buns, a unique co-op degree program with Lees-McRae College, and après-ski opportunities that allow guests to enjoy Beech from the first chair to last call.

And, just when you think it couldn’t get any better, we talk about how Beech Mountain Resort continues to deliver in the summer with downhill mountain biking, lift rides to the Skybar, and the summer concert series that delivers big entertainment for the whole family every summer.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Talia L. Freeman
Director of Marketing
Beech Mountain Resort, Inc.
Beech Mountain Brewing Company
Town of Beech Mountain
Banner Elk, NC
Lees-McRae College
Summer at Beech Mountain

Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: [email protected]

Website Link
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Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/ 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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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 miles of trails for adventure. Roanoke is the largest city along the Appalachian Trail, and the region is home to the Virginia Triple Crown, showcasing three of the best hiking trails in the Commonwealth of Virginia - Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs.

In this episode, I sit down with Kristine McCormick, Outdoor Experiences Manager at Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge, and we talk about many of the things that have earned Roanoke the distinct honor of being nominated as the top “Place to Raise An Outdoor Family.”

We talk about the Farmers Market that dates back to 1882, museums, restaurants & craft breweries, festivals, and an interpretive greenway that allows visitors and locals alike to explore from downtown to the summit of Mill Mountain, Roanoke’s highest point. We also talk about multi-purpose trails, southern hospitality, fine arts, and the fact that you don’t have to leave the City of Roanoke to experience outdoor adventures. But we also talk about the surrounding areas that are close by too; where you can experience trails, rivers, lakes, and easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I’m excited to branch out of my beautiful area here in western NC and return to the state where I first fell in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains. I truly hope you enjoy this episode.

Kristine McCormick
Outdoors Experience Manager
Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge
101 Shenandoah Avenue, NE
Roanoke, VA  24016
www.visitVBR.com
Phone: (540) 342-6025 Ext. 125

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Triple Crown
Roanoke, Virginia
GO FEST
Hiking in Roanoke
Mill Mountain Park
Be A #Trailsetter

Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: [email protected]

Website Link
Instagram: explorationlocal
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/ 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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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 Turtle Back Falls which lies just upstream, as well as Bearwallow Falls which lies in the northern section of the Park. Backcountry-style recreation has been a hallmark of Gorges with distance hiking & backpack camping…but trout fishing, mountain biking and horseback riding are also welcome in various parts of the Park’s rugged interior.

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Bischof, the new Park Superintendent for Gorges State Park, and we talk about many of the things that make this park so special. Kevin goes in depth to describe the new front-country campground that is nearing completion, the challenges of managing a remote park that shares a boundary with a National Forest, waterfall & hiking safety, and environmental education programs. I was also surprised to learn there are actually 20 named waterfalls within the park, but due to the steepness and rugged nature of this park, they are only accessible to the most arduous and experienced hiker.

If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to explore the western North Carolina mountains without the large crowds, this episode is for you.

Photo Courtesy: Thomas Mabry

Kevin Bischof
Park Superintendent
Gorges State Park
976 Grassy Ridge Rd.
Sapphire, NC 28774
Tel: 828-966-9099
Fax: 828-966-4526

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Gorges State Park
Hiking in Gorges State Park
Brevard, NC
Cashiers, NC
Rainbow Falls
Turtle Back Falls
Pisgah National Forest

Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: [email protected]

Website Link
Instagram: explorationlocal
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/ 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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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 and car parts, but they started closing in the ’80s, when the Old Fort Finishing Plant, a textile company, shut down its operations and let go 500 employees. The trend continued with most of the other manufacturers ceasing operations in the last two decades. But a new story is emerging. A modern-day renaissance really…and Kitsbow Cycling Apparel is an integral part of this resurgence. 

In this episode, I sit down with David Billstrom, CEO of Kitsbow. We talk about the company moving their headquarters from Petaluma, California, to Old Fort, North Carolina, and the 60 new jobs the company has created to date. We also talk about why Old Fort was the perfect fit for this young company, and how they, along with Hillman Beer, sought to restore and convert the former Parker Hosiery Building into prime manufacturing space, and a destination pub that also serves remarkable locally sourced food. Kitsbow has since opened The Ride House, a retail space and café that serves as a meeting point for cyclists and a de-facto visitor’s center for people hiking and riding in the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest.

We also talk about partnerships with the local community, offering careers vs jobs, as well as environmental and sustainability initiatives that are driven by their lean manufacturing & made to order approach.

Regardless of whether you are a mountain biker or not, I think you will enjoy learning about supply chain issues related to batch manufacturing, and how Kitsbow’s lean manufacturing of American made apparel is good for the environment and the economy.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Kitsbow
Kitsuma Mountain Bike Trail
Old Fort, NC
Old Fort Trails Project
Fonta Flora State Trail

Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: [email protected]

Website: https://explorationlocal.com/
Instagram: explorationlocal
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/ 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
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Instagram: explorationlocal

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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 escape urban spaces. These are precisely many of the reasons that international wildlife photographer & Canon Explorer of Light “Chas” Glatzer wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

 In this episode, Chas visits the studio, and we talk about his 38-year career with photography, his favorite wildlife subjects to shoot, some of his favorite places to shoot, and his love for teaching others in the field so THEY can grab the perfect shot. Chas is a master storyteller, and he draws on nearly four decades of experience with animal behavior, photography, and leading people into all types of environments and climates to learn wildlife photography. In his free time you’ll find him fishing the rivers and streams of western NC, and soon he and his wife Sharon will be exploring as much of the Blue Ridge Mountains as possible in their new Airstream.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Canon EOL
SHOOT THE LIGHT - Chas' Company & Website
The Heat Company - Chas' Glove Company
Davidson River Outfitters

Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: [email protected]

Website: https://explorationlocal.com/
Instagram: explorationlocal
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/ 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
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Instagram: explorationlocal

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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 point, the Green River drops 400 feet in just over 1.5 miles running through a crevice known as the Narrows, which is full-on Class V savage whitewater. 

 In this episode I sit down with John Grace, Executive Director of the Green Race. We talk about the race’s 26-year history, the hugely talented racers, the race’s influence on boat design, emerging young paddlers, and the challenges of putting on an extreme event in a relatively remote and rugged wilderness area. We also talk about the Green River Games which is a collection of running, mountain biking and paddling events in the Game Lands that takes place each year in May. And, John shares how he earned the honor of being named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. 

 We also plug John’s Hammer Factor podcast where He, Louis Geltman and John Weld offer listeners an insider’s look into the athletes, expeditions, controversies and gear in the sport of whitewater paddling.

LINKS
The Green Race
Hammer Factor Podcast
Outdoor Alliance, Louis Geltman
Immersion Research, John Weld
Green River Adventures
The Gorge Zipline
H2O Dreams
Thermal Belt Outreach
Pisgah Map Company
Saluda Mountain Land Trust
Green River Keeper
Dagger
Liquid Logic
Polk County
Henderson County

Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: [email protected]

Website: https://explorationlocal.com/
Instagram: explorationlocal
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/ 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
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Instagram: explorationlocal

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 community and visitors alike. We also discuss how this community driven project has been fueled by a passion for inclusion, sustainability, and a design that will finally allow users to experience the richness of this relatively inaccessible forest.

SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST: Shay Martin Lovette, Boone, NC

OLD FORT, NC
Old Fort, NC is located at the base of the Black Mountain Range in the Pisgah National Forest. Once a thriving textile town it has been a shell of its former self for nearly two decades. But, Old Fort is staging a comeback by tapping into the world class natural resources, rich manufacturing history, exiting iconic trails, and outdoor enthusiasts that already travel to the region. Signs of life are everywhere, including the new brewery, coffee shops, apparel manufacturing, outfitters, and plans for future investment in small businesses. Old Fort is poised to become the next great small mountain town in Western North Carolina, and this trail project is a huge part of that vision.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
G5 Trail Collective
Camp Grier
Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation
People On The Move Old Fort
US Forest Service Grandfather Ranger District
Blue Ridge Traveler
Kitsbow
Pisgah Map Company
Dogwood Health Trust

The G5 Trail Collective Story
The G5 Trail Collective is a 501-c3 non-profit initiative powered by Camp Grier in partnership with the USFS, the five counties that make up the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest, local communities, and the recreational trail user groups.  The G5 Collective was conceived as a solution to the lack of funding for trail maintenance and trail development projects in the Grandfather District. The working group recognized that the district is a tremendous asset and could be a significant force to help build healthy and economically vibrant rural communities. Recent progress in state-sponsored trails like the Fonta Flora, Wilderness Gateway Trail, and the Overmountain Victory Trail make this a unique time to look at the Grandfather District trail systems and develop new connections from these state trails to federal public lands near rural communities. 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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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 full scope of the Fonta Flora State Trail will take many years, but the 32 mile loop around Lake James, as well as other completed sections in Morganton, Marion, Old Fort & Black Mountain have already served as a spark to ignite the passions to complete the project. 

This region has no shortage of recreational and cultural amenities, and by linking these communities and natural assets, the Fonta Flora State Trail will leverage mountains, waterways, and main streets which have made the region a destination for adventurers both near and far.

In this episode I traveled over to Black Mountain to sit down with Beth Heile, Executive Director of the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail, to talk about the origin and vision for this incredible state trail and navigating through the process of becoming a State Trail. We also talk about the challenge of keeping a large project like this moving forward when it involves three counties, multiple constituents & decision makers, getting bills passed in the NC House and Senate, securing funding to move the project from concept to completion…and a whole lot more, including sections to enjoy right now, and a vision of what is to come.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Fonta Flora State Trail – 100 Mile Trail from Morganton to Asheville – Designated in 2015 – 32 of 100 miles complete

Fonta Flora State Trail – Current Access Points: https://fontaflorastatetrail.com/_files/2021/04/Fonta-Flora-State-Trail-Access-Points.pdf

Fonta Flora Trail Master Plan:
https://fontafloratrail.com/index.html 

Friends of the Fonta Flora State Trail started Feb 2020 - goal – complete 10 in years, funded by municipalities -https://fontaflorastatetrail.com/ 

How State Trails Work – how they come to be, how they are built, how they are funded  https://trails.nc.gov/state-trails

Great Trails State Coalition – Bill just passed designating 2023 as the Year of the Trail in NC; goal of collation has been to get is to get state funding for trails. $29.25M Complete the Trails Fund in House Budget - https://greattrailsnc.org/

NC Year of the Trail 2023: https://friendsofthevaldeserec.org/nc-year-of-the-trail-2023

Friends of the Valdese Rec – how I got started in all this – formed in 2015 to acquire 300 acres on the lake for a passive park – now will have Wilderness Gateway State Trail and regional trail coming through park - https://friendsofthevaldeserec.org/ 

Where to Access the Completed Sections: https://fontaflorastatetrail.com/the-trail/

Where can you hike and bike on the Fonta Flora State Trail Right Now? https://fontaflorastatetrail.com/access/

https://www.ncparks.gov

https://greattrailsnc.org

https://www.kitsbow.com/pages/old-fort-ride-house

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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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 talk about some of the areas I have been exploring, where I am planning to go, and I share some of the killer resources I have been using to help me get there…and plan for future adventures. I also talk about conservation, land planning and Leave No Trace Principles. And the best part? This episode is just in time for fall - an absolutely magical time of year here in the western North Carolina Mountains.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Download NC Waterfalls Challenge

North Carolina Waterfalls, Kevin Adams

Exploring North Carolina Lookout Towers, Peter J Barr

Lookout Tower Challenge

WPA & Conserving Carolina Hiking Challenge

Conserving Carolina Flying Squirrel Outdoor Challenge

Leave No Trace

Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: [email protected]

Website: https://explorationlocal.com/
Instagram: explorationlocal
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/ 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
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Instagram: explorationlocal

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 sit down with Melinda Massey, Tourism Director for First Peak of the Blue Ridge, and we talk about the history and heritage that lie at the heart of the southernmost edge of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. We talk about waterfalls, wine, horses, small town charm, outdoor adventures, unique lodging opportunities, and much, much more. If you’re looking for the perfect destination to beat the summer heat, or really to experience the beauty and adventure of these mountains any time of year, then you are going to love this episode.

First Peak of the Blue Ridge
Website: https://firstpeaknc.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstPeakNC/

Waterfalls
https://firstpeaknc.com/businesses/shunkawauken-falls/
https://www.pearsonsfalls.org

Outdoor Adventure
https://greenriveradventures.com
https://thegorgezipline.com
https://nctubing.com

Equestrian
https://tryon.com/this-week

 Vineyards & Wineries
https://www.mountainbrookvineyards.com
https://overmountainvineyards.com
https://www.parkerbinnsvineyard.com
https://www.russianchapelhills.com

Mike Andress, Host
Exploration Local Podcast
Email: [email protected]

Website: https://explorationlocal.com/
Instagram: explorationlocal
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/explorationlocal/ 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal