Podcasts about Cataloochee

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on June 4. It dropped for free subscribers on June 11. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:Who* Scott Bender, operations and business advisor to Blue Knob ownership* Donna Himes, Blue Knob Marketing Manager* Sam Wiley, part owner of Blue Knob* Gary Dietke, Blue Knob Mountain ManagerRecorded onMay 13, 2024About Blue KnobClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Majority owned by the Wiley familyLocated in: Claysburg, PennsylvaniaYear founded: 1963Pass affiliations: Indy Pass and Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackouts (access not yet set for 2024-25 ski season)Closest neighboring ski areas: Laurel (1:02), Tussey (1:13), Hidden Valley (1:14), Seven Springs (1:23)Base elevation: 2,100 feetSummit elevation: 3,172 feetVertical drop: 1,072 feetSkiable Acres: 100Average annual snowfall: 120 inchesTrail count: 33 (5 beginner, 10 intermediate, 4 advanced intermediate, 5 advanced, 9 expert) + 1 terrain parkLift count: 5 (2 triples, 2 doubles, 1 carpet – view Lift Blog's inventory of Blue Knob's lift fleet)Why I interviewed themI've not always written favorably about Blue Knob. In a state where shock-and-awe snowmaking is a baseline operational requirement, the mountain's system is underwhelming and bogged down by antiquated equipment. The lower-mountain terrain – Blue Knob's best – opens sporadically, sometimes remaining mysteriously shuttered after heavy local snows. The website at one time seemed determined to set the world record for the most exclamation points in a single place. They may have succeeded (this has since been cleaned up):I've always tried to couch these critiques in a but-damn-if-only context, because Blue Knob, considered purely as a ski area, is an absolute killer. It needs what any Pennsylvania ski area needs – modern, efficient, variable-weather-capable, overwhelming snowmaking and killer grooming. No one, in this temperamental state of freeze-thaws and frequent winter rains, can hope to survive long term without those things. So what's the holdup?My goal with The Storm is to be incisive but fair. Everyone deserves a chance to respond to critiques, and offering them that opportunity is a tenant of good journalism. But because this is a high-volume, high-frequency operation, and because my beat covers hundreds of ski areas, I'm not always able to gather reactions to every post in the moment. I counterbalance that reality with this: every ski area's story is a long-term, ongoing one. What they mess up today, they may get right tomorrow. And reality, while inarguable, does not always capture intentions. Eventually, I need to gather and share their perspective.And so it was Blue Knob's turn to talk. And I challenge you to find a more good-natured and nicer group of folks anywhere. I went off format with this one, hosting four people instead of the usual one (I've done multiples a few times before, with Plattekill, West Mountain, Bousquet, Boyne Mountain, and Big Sky). The group chat was Blue Knob's idea, and frankly I loved it. It's not easy to run a ski area in 2024 in the State of Pennsylvania, and it's especially not easy to run this ski area, for reasons I outline below. And while Blue Knob has been slower to get to the future than its competitors, I believe they're at least walking in that direction.What we talked about“This was probably one of our worst seasons”; ownership; this doesn't feel like PA; former owner Dick Gauthier's legacy; reminiscing on the “crazy fun” of the bygone community atop the ski hill; Blue Knob's history as an Air Force station and how the mountain became a ski area; Blue Knob's interesting lease arrangement with the state; the remarkable evolution of Seven Springs and how those lessons could fuel Blue Knob's growth; competing against Vail's trio of nearby mountains; should Vail be allowed to own eight ski areas in one state?; Indy Pass sales limits; Indy Pass as customer-acquisition tool; could Blue Knob ever upgrade its top-to-bottom doubles to a high-speed quad?; how one triple chair multiplied into two; why Blue Knob built a mile-long lift and almost immediately shortened it; how Wolf Creek is “like Blue Knob”; beginner lifts; the best ski terrain in Pennsylvania; why Mine Shaft and Boneyard Glades disappeared from Blue Knob's trailmap, and whether they could ever return; unmarked glades; Blue Knob's unique microclimate and how that impacts snowmaking; why the mountain isn't open top-to-bottom more and why it's important to change that; PA snowmaking and how Blue Knob can catch up; that wild access road and what could be done to improve it; and the surprising amount of housing on Blue Knob's slopes.    Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewSo here's something that's absolutely stupid:That's southeastern Pennsylvania. Vail Resorts operates all of the ski areas in blue font. Ski areas in red are independent. Tussey, a local bump serving State College and its armies of sad co-eds who need a distraction because their football team can't beat Michigan, is not really relevant here. Blue Knob is basically surrounded by ski areas that all draw on the same well of out-of-state corporate resources and are stapled to the gumball-machine-priced Epic Pass. If this were a military map, we'd all say, “Yeah they're fucked.” Blue Knob is Berlin in 1945, with U.S. forces closing in from the west and the Russians driving from the east. There's no way they're winning this war.How did this happen? Which bureaucrat in sub-basement 17 of Justice Department HQ in D.C. looked at Vail's 2021 deal to acquire Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, and Laurel and said, “Cool”? This was just two years after Vail had picked up Whitetail, Liberty, and Roundtop, along with Jack Frost and Big Boulder in eastern Pennsylvania, in the Peak Resorts acquisition. How does allowing one company to acquire eight of the 22 public ski resorts in one state not violate some antitrust statute? Especially when six of them essentially surround one independent competitor.I don't know. When a similar situation materialized in Colorado in 1997, Justice said, “No, Vail Resorts, you can not buy Keystone and Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin from this dog food company. Sell one.” And so A-Basin went to a real estate conglomerate out of Toronto, which gut-renovated the mountain and then flipped it, earlier this year, to Vail arch-frenemy Alterra. And an independent ski area operator told me that, at some point during this ongoing sales process, the Justice Department reached out to ask them if they were OK with Alterra – which already operates Winter Park, owns Steamboat, and has wrapped Copper, Eldora, and the four Aspen mountains into its Ikon Pass – owning A-Basin (which has been on the Ikon Pass since 2019). Justice made no such phone call, Blue Knob officials tell me on this podcast, when Vail was purchasing the Seven Springs resorts.This is where Colorad-Bro reminds me that Pennsylvania skiing is nothing compared to Colorado. And yes, Colorado is unquestionably the epicenter of American skiing, home to some of our most iconic resorts and responsible for approximately one in four U.S. skier visits each winter. But where do you suppose all those skiers come from? Not solely from Colorado, ranked 21st by U.S. population with just 5.9 million residents. Pennsylvania, with Philly and Pittsburgh and dozens of mid-sized cities in-between, ranks fifth in the nation by population, with nearly 13 million people. And with cold winters, ski areas near every large city, and some of the best snowmaking systems on the planet, PA is a skier printing press, responsible not just for millions of in-state skier visits annually, but for minting skiers that drive the loaded U-Haul west so they can brag about being Summit County locals five minutes after signing their lease. That one company controls more than one-third of the ski areas – which, combined, certainly account for more than half of the state's skier visits – strikes me as unfair in a nation that supposedly maintains robust antitrust laws.But whatever. We're locked in here. Vail Resorts is not Ticketmaster, and no one is coming to dismantle this siege. Blue Knob is surrounded. And it's worse than it looks on this map, which does not illuminate that Blue Knob sits in a vast wilderness, far from most population centers, and that all of Vail's resorts scoop up skiers flowing west-northwest from Philadelphia/Baltimore/D.C. and east from Pittsburgh.  So how is Blue Knob not completely screwed? Answering that question was basically the point of this podcast. The mountain's best argument for continued existence in the maw of this Epic Pass blitzkrieg is that Blue Knob is a better pure ski area than any of the six Vail mountains that surround it (see trailmap above). The terrain is, in fact, the best in the State of Pennsylvania, and arguably in the entire Mid-Atlantic (sorry Elk Mountain partisans, but that ski area, fine as it is, is locked out of the conversation as long as they maintain that stupid tree-skiing ban). But this fact of mountain superiority is no guarantee of long-term resilience, because the truth is that Blue Knob has often, in recent years, been unable to open top to bottom, running only the upper-mountain triple chairs and leaving the best terrain out of reach.They have to fix that. And they know it. But this is a feisty mountain in a devilish microclimate with some antiquated infrastructure and a beast of an access road. Nothing about this renovation has been, or likely will be, fast or easy.But it can be done. Blue Knob can survive. I believe it after hosting the team on this podcast. Maybe you will too once you hear it.What I got wrong* When describing the trail network, I said that the runs were cut “across the fall line” in a really logical way – I meant, of course, to say they were cut down the fall line.* I said that I thought the plants that sprouted between the trees in the mothballed Mine Shaft and Boneyard Glades were positioned “to keep people out.” It's more likely, however, based upon what the crew told us, that those plants are intended to control the erosion that shuttered the glades several years ago.* I mentioned “six-packs going up in the Poconos at the KSL-owned mountains.” To clarify: those would be Camelback and Blue Mountain, which each added six-packs in 2022, one year before joining the Ikon Pass.* I also said that high-speed lifts were “becoming the standard” in Pennsylvania. That isn't quite accurate, as a follow-up inventory clarified. The state is home to just nine high-speed lifts, concentrated at five ski areas. So yeah, not exactly taking over Brah.* I intimated that Blue Knob shortened the Beginners CTEC triple, built in 1983, and stood up the Expressway triple in 1985 with some of the commandeered parts. This does not appear to be the case, as the longer Beginners lift and Expressway co-exist on several vintage trailmaps, including the one below from circa 1989. The longer lift continues to appear on Blue Knob trailmaps through the mid-1990s, but at some point, the resort shortened the lift by thousands of linear feet. We discuss why in the pod.Why you should ski Blue KnobIf we took every mountain, fully open, with bomber conditions, I would rank Blue Knob as one of the best small- to mid-sized ski areas in the Northeast. From a rough-and-tumble terrain perspective, it's right there with Berkshire East, Plattekill, Hickory, Black Mountain of Maine, Ragged, Black Mountain (New Hampshire), Bolton Valley, and Magic Mountain. But with its Pennsylvania address, it never makes that list.It should. This is a serious mountain, with serious terrain that will thrill and challenge any skier. Each trail is distinct and memorable, with quirk and character. Even the groomers are interesting, winding nearly 1,100 vertical feet through the trees, dipping and banking, crisscrossing one another and the lifts above. Lower Shortway, a steep and narrow bumper cut along a powerline, may be my favorite trail in Pennsylvania. Or maybe it's Ditch Glades, a natural halfpipe rolling below Stembogan Bowl. Or maybe it's the unmarked trees of East Wall Traverse down to the marked East Wall Glades. Or maybe it's Lower Extrovert, a wide but ungroomed and mostly unskied trail where I found wind-blown pow at 3 p.m. Every trail is playful and punchy, and they are numerous enough that it's difficult to ski them all in a single day.Which of course takes us to the reality of skiing Blue Knob, which is that the ski area's workhorse top-to-bottom lift is the 61-year-old Route 66 double chair. The lift is gorgeous and charming, trenched through the forest on a narrow and picturesque wilderness line (until the mid-station, when the view suddenly shifts to that of oddly gigantic houses strung along the hillside). While it runs fast for a fixed-grip lift, the ride is quite long (I didn't time it; I'll guess 10 to 12 minutes). It stops a lot because, well, Pennsylvania. There are a lot of novice skiers here. There is a mid-station that will drop expert skiers back at the top of the best terrain, but this portal, where beginners load to avoid the suicidal runs below, contributes to those frequent stops.And that's the reality when that lift is running, which it often is not. And that, again, is because the lower-mountain terrain is frequently closed. This is a point of frustration for locals and, I'll point out, for the mountain operators themselves. A half-open Blue Knob is not the same as, say, a half-open Sugarbush, where you'll still have access to lots of great terrain. A half-open Blue Knob is just the Expressway (Lift 4) triple chair (plus the beginner zone), mostly groomers, mostly greens and blues. It's OK, but it's not what we were promised on the trailmap.That operational inconsistency is why Blue Knob remains mostly unheralded by the sort of skiers who are most drawn to this newsletter – adventurous, curious, ready for a challenge – even though it is the perfect Storm mountain: raw and wild and secretive and full of guard dog energy. But if you're anywhere in the region, watch their Instagram account, which usually flashes the emergency lights when Route 66 spins. And go there when that happens. You're welcome.Podcast NotesOn crisscrossing chairliftsChairlifts are cool. Crisscrossing chairlifts are even cooler. Riding them always gives me the sense of being part of a giant Goldbergian machine. Check out the triple crossing over the doubles at Blue Knob (all videos by Stuart Winchester):Wiley mentions a similar setup at Attitash, where the Yankee Flyer high-speed quad crosses beneath the summit lift. Here's a pic I took of the old Summit Triple at the crossover junction in 2021:Vail Resorts replaced the triple with the Mountaineer high-speed quad this past winter. I intended to go visit the resort in early February, but then I got busy trying not to drop dead, so I cancelled that trip and don't have any pics of the new lift. Lift Blog made it there, because of course he did, and his pics show the crossover modified but intact. I did, however, discuss the new lift extensively with Attitash GM Brandon Swartz last November.I also snagged this rad footage of Whistler's new Fitzsimmons eight-pack flying beneath the Whistler Village Gondola in February:And the Porcupine triple passing beneath the Needles Gondola at Snowbasin in March:Oh, and Lift 2 passing beneath the lower Panorama Gondola at Mammoth:Brah I could do this all day. Here's Far East six-pack passing beneath the Red Dog sixer at Palisades Tahoe:Palisades' Base-to-Base Gondola actually passes over two chairlifts on its way over to Alpine Meadows: the Exhibition quad (foreground), and the KT-22 Express, visible in the distance:And what the hell, let's make it a party:On Blue Knob as Air Force baseIt's wild and wildly interesting that Blue Knob – one of the highest points in Pennsylvania – originally hosted an Air Force radar station. All the old buildings are visible in this undated photo. You can see the lifts carrying skiers on the left. Most of these buildings have since been demolished.On Ski Denton and LaurelThe State of Pennsylvania owns two ski areas: Laurel Mountain and Ski Denton (Blue Knob is located in a state park, and we discuss how that arrangement works in the podcast). Vail Resorts, of course, operates Laurel, which came packaged with Seven Springs. Denton hasn't spun the lifts in a decade. Late last year, a group called Denton Go won a bid to re-open and operate the ski area, with a mix of state and private investment.And it will need a lot of investment. Since this is a state park, it's open to anyone, and I hiked Denton in October 2022. The lifts – a double, a triple, and a Poma – are intact, but the triple is getting swallowed by fast-growing trees in one spot (top two photos):I'm no engineer, but these things are going to need a lot of work. The trail network hasn't grown over too much, and the base lodge looks pristine, the grasses around it mowed. Here's the old trailmap if you're curious:And here's the proposed upgrade blueprint:I connected briefly with the folks running Denton GO last fall, but never wrote a story on it. I'll check in with them soon for an update.On Herman Dupre and the evolution of Seven SpringsBender spent much of his career at Seven Springs, and we reminisce a bit about the Dupre family and the ski area's evolution into one of the finest mountains in the East. You can learn more about Seven Springs' history in my podcast conversation with the resort's current GM, Brett Cook, from last year.On Ski magazine's top 20 in the EastSki magazine – which is no longer a physical magazine but a collection of digital bits entrusted to the robots' care – has been publishing its reader resort rankings for decades. The list in the West is fairly static and predictable, filled largely with the Epkonic monsters you would expect (though Pow Mow won the top place this year). But the East list is always a bit more surprising. This year, for example, Mad River Glen and Smugglers' Notch claimed the top two spots. They're both excellent ski areas and personal favorites, with some of the most unique terrain in the country, but neither is on a megapass, and neither owns a high-speed lift, which is perhaps proof that the Colorado Machine hasn't swallowed our collective souls just yet.But the context in which we discuss the list is this: each year, three small ski areas punch their way into an Eastern lineup that's otherwise filled with monsters like Stowe and Sugarbush. Those are: Seven Springs; Holiday Valley, New York; and Wachusett, Massachusetts. These improbable ski centers all make the list because their owners (or former owners, in Seven Springs' case), worked for decades to transform small, backwater ski areas into major regional destinations.On Vail's Northeast Value Epic PassesThe most frightening factor in the abovementioned difficulties that Blue Knob faces in its cagefight with Vail is the introduction, in 2020, of Northeast-specific Epic Passes. There are two versions. The Northeast Value Pass grants passholders unlimited access to all eight Vail Resorts in Pennsylvania and all four in neighboring Ohio, which is a crucial feeder for the Seven Springs resorts. It also includes unlimited access to Vail's four New Hampshire resorts; unlimited access with holiday blackouts at Hunter, Okemo, and Mount Snow; and 10 non-holiday days at Stowe. And it's only $613 (early-bird price was $600):The second version is a midweek pass that includes all the same resorts, with five Stowe days, for just $459 ($450 early-bird):And you can also, of course, pick up an Epic ($1,004) or Epic Local ($746) pass, which still includes unlimited Pennsylvania access and adds everything in the West and in Europe.Blue Knob's season pass costs $465 ($429 early-bird), and is only good at Blue Knob. That's a very fair price, and skiers who acted early could have added an Indy Pass on at a pretty big discount. But Indy is off sale, and PA skiers weighing their pass options are going to find that Epic Pass awfully tempting.On comparisons to the liftline at MRGErf, I may have activated the Brobots at Mad Brother Glen when I compared the Route 66 liftline with the one beneath their precious single chair. But I mean it's not the worst comparison you could think of:Here's another Blue Knob shot that shows how low the chairs fly over the trail:And here's a video that gives a bit more perspective on Blue Knob's liftline:I don't know if I fully buy the comparison myself, but Blue Knob is the closest thing you'll find to MRG this far south.On Wolf Creek's old summit PomaHimes reminisced on her time working at Wolf Creek, Colorado, and the rattletrap Poma that would carry skiers up a 45-degree face to the summit. I was shocked to discover that the old lift is actually still there, running alongside the Treasure Stoke high-speed quad (the two lifts running parallel up the gut of the mountain). I have no idea how often it actually spins:Lift Blog has pics, and notes that the lift “very rarely operates for historic purposes.”On defunct gladesThe Mine Shaft and Bone Yard glades disappeared from Blue Knob's trailmap more than a decade ago, but this sign at the top of Lower Shortway still points toward them:Then there's this sign, a little ways down, where the Bone Yard Glade entrance used to be:And here are the glades, marked on a circa 2007 trailmap, between Deer Run and Lower Shortway:It would be rad if Blue Knob could resurrect these. We discuss the possibility on the podcast.On Blue Knob's base being higher than Killington'sSomewhat unbelievably, Blue Knob's 2,100-foot base elevation is higher than that of every ski area in New England save Saddleback, which launches from a 2,460-foot base. The five next highest are Bolton Valley (2,035 feet), Stowe (2,035), Cannon (2,034), Pico (2,000), and Waterville Valley (1,984). Blue Knob's Vail-owned neighbors would fit right into this group: Hidden Valley sits at 2,405 feet, Seven Springs at 2,240, and Laurel at 2,000. Head south and the bases get even higher: in West Virginia, Canaan Valley sits at 3,430 feet; Snowshoe at 3,348-foot base (skiers have to drive to 4,848, as this is an upside-down ski area); and Timberline at 3,268. But the real whoppers are in North Carolina: Beech Mountain sits at 4,675, Cataloochee at 4,660, Sugar Mountain at 4,100, and Hatley Pointe at 4,000. I probably should have made a chart, but damn it, I have to get this podcast out before I turn 90.On Blue Knob's antique snowmaking equipmentLook, I'm no snowmaking expert, but some of the stuff dotting Blue Knob's slopes looks like straight-up World War II surplus:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 41/100 in 2024, and number 541 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

A true mountain murder! This case inspired a local murder ballad in our county. This week we're discussing Oma Hicks Naillon Brown, a woman who grew up in an isolated area of Haywood County known as Big Bend. Oma's first husband Benjamin Naillon mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Years later, Oma's second husband and friend vanish. A Chicago detective who happened to be vacationing finally cracked the case. A double murder, clannish mountain folk, moonshine and mystery surround the Big Bend killing!Hosts Heather and Dylan PackerIntro Music by Joe Buck Yourselfwww.patreon.com/mountainmurderspodcastWe're proud to be part of the Darkcast Network!Big Bend Killing is performed by Alice Gerrard

In this episode, we're hitting the trails with Mike Doble, the driving force behind SkiSoutheast.com. We'll dive into the heart of the region's ski industry, guided by Mike's passion and dedication. From the humble beginnings of his websites to their current status as community pillars, Mike's honest reporting has kept skiers and snowboarders informed with real-time conditions and live camera feeds. Hear about the growth of local resorts and the rise of local talent on the national stage like Zeb Powell & Lili Bauer.We'll explore the vital role of snowmaking technology in transforming the Southeast and mid-Atlantic ski scenes. Marvel at the engineering feats that maintain hefty snow bases at mountains like Sugar and Cataloochee, regardless of Mother Nature's whims. But our adventure doesn't stop there! We delve into strategic partnerships and the revival of ski resorts like Timberline Mountain and discover the unique bond between ski resorts and meteorologists.Grab your boots, layer up, and join us for an episode celebrating the chill and thrill of skiing in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic!Mike AndressHost, Exploration Local828-551-9065mike@explorationlocal.comPodcast WebsiteFacebookInstagram: explorationlocal

Tune in to hear from Cataloochee Ski Area staff, Jasper Williams and Clay Gillespe talk about all things ski for this upcoming 2022-23 season, Cataloochee's elite snow making process, what to know before you go and the Kids Ski Free program.  Stay up-to-date with ski updates and purchase your passes at cataloochee.com. Want to learn more about Cataloochee's snowmaking process? Check out this video!

Guest: RICHARD HURLEYIn this episode, you'll learn from our guest today some of the great advice for musicians and musicians-to-be and we are glad to have him on the show today! We're pleased to introduce our special guest today, Richard Hurley, a Canton, N.C. native, and UNC grad who is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a former radio DJ, and a renowned award-winning songwriter and musician. He is active in community work, serving on various boards and as an emcee for Folkmoot, Shindig on the Green, the Mountain Dance & Folk Festival, and the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival, while also promoting area musical events along with his own musical projects –Cataloochee, and My Mountains, My Songs. He now resides in Asheville, N.C. In this podcast episode, he will discuss the North Carolina mountain music scene, his involvement in the community, his first (and second) music project as well as upcoming events in the area. https://richardhurleymusic.com/Tune in for this fun conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.SHOW NOTESSEGMENT 1August 1963 WBTL station was when it opened. He worked there during college promoting rock and country to other younger people. He got to do MC gigs in which he picked skills from people around him. Florida Boys and Old Kingsmen were some of the music they played. He admits to being naive when starting off playing, but now has a collection of guitars. He had the opportunity to work with JFK's personal naval aid. In the Navy, he got influenced by the chief of naval operations, and so he wrote a song on guitar and got it recorded. His song was inspired by Zumwalt (chief) and his z-grams, he got to meet up with him as Zumwalt thanked him in person and over letter for the song.SEGMENT 2In 1981 he made a record called The Ballet of Old Fort. He worked with the Crow Brothers, Raymond Fairchild, and Arnold Freeman. He used to casually play it for people and got encouragement to record it. Jimmy Haney and he worked as disc jocks. He was one of the speakers at Fairchild and stated “there's only one Raymond Fairchild''. They both had a close friendship and also looked up to each other as artists. Eddie Swan worked for Regal Media, he recorded people like Ben Skill, David Wilcox, and Brian Sutton over the span of his 50-year career. He had a homemade washtub bass and he used to carry it to a tomato festival in Canton with his brother to play there.SEGMENT 3His first project is called “My Mountain, My Songs”. He started it with a throwback, Old Fort. He received an award from the North Carolina Society of Historians for the historical value of his album. One of his songs was about the Coal Mountain Bomber Crash. He also sang about the floods of ‘04.SEGMENT 4He's been taking part in volunteer activities. Shindig on the Green starts this Saturday at the courthouse 7-10 pm. Mark Pruit took part in that event. Bearshare started in 1979, it was a great festival. His website has places to purchase his albums. Towards the end, a child breaks into the podcast recording to blow a raspberry at Hurley.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------TRANSCRIPT00:00:41.040 –> 00:00:48.600 Joseph McElroy: Howdy, Welcome to the Gateway to the Smokies Podcast, this podcast is about America's most visited National Park.00:00:48.960 –> 00:01:01.410 Joseph McElroy: The Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the surrounding towns. This area is filled with ancient natural beauty, a deep-storied history, and rich mountain cultures that we explore with weekly episodes. 00:01:01.890 –> 00:01:12.990 Joseph McElroy: I am Joseph Franklyn McElroy, a man of the world, but also with deep roots in these mountains. My family has lived in the Great Smokies for over 200 years. My business is in travel, but my heart is in culture.00:01:13.650 –> 00:01:24.330 Joseph McElroy: Today we're talking about Songs and then Cataloochee Valley by Richard hurley but first, let's talk about our sponsors.00:01:25.590 –> 00:01:34.470 Joseph McElroy: Imagine a place evocative of motor courts of the past, yet modern and vibrant with a “Chic Appalachian” feel. A place for adventure and for relaxation.00:01:35.130 –> 00:01:44.040 Joseph McElroy: Imagine a place where you can fish in a mountain heritage trout stream, grill the catch on fire, and eat accompanied by fine wine or craft beers.00:01:44.850 –> 00:01:57.420 Joseph McElroy: Imagine a place with old-time music and world cultural sounds. There is no other place like the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley, NC – your Smoky Mountain Adventures Start with Where You Stay.00:01:58.770 –> 00:02:04.080 Joseph McElroy: and others sponsor smokiesadventure.com that smokies plural adventure singular.00:02:04.740 –> 00:02:19.200 Joseph McElroy: The Smoky Mountains and surrounding area is a vacation destination for all seasons. Some of the nation's best hiking trails, waterfalls, outdoor adventures, and family entertainment can be found right here.00:02:19.890 –> 00:02:30.780 Joseph McElroy: Start your adventure by using SmokiesAdventure.com to explore all the wonderful features of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: trails, waterfalls, Cades Cove, and more.00:02:31.200 –> 00:02:37.680 Joseph McElroy: Then check out all the awesome family attractions and entertainment you and your entire family can enjoy.00:02:38.100 –> 00:02:51.930 Joseph McElroy: And if you look at it, have a life event somewhere like a wedding or a honeymoon and we got you covered there go to smokies adventure.com is one of the leading information portals for adventures and experiences and the Great Smoky Mountains.00:02:53.370 –> 00:02:57.390 Joseph McElroy: So welcome you can see we're sitting in the basement of the Meadowlark Motel00:02:58.620 –> 00:03:05.730 Joseph McElroy: At the Speakeasy where we have underground speakeasy and we're gonna have some upcoming events at the Meadowlark Motel will tell you about.00:03:06.120 –> 00:03:19.920 Joseph McElroy: On July 9 we're having a wildcrafting and mother nature's natural garden program with the legendary Illa hatter it starts on Saturday, July 9th at 10 am with the program featuring.00:03:21.210 –> 00:03:30.570 Joseph McElroy: legendary wildcrafting expert, renowned author, filmmaker, instructor, and tour guide for the GSM National Park's elite GSM Field School educational programs, Illa Hatter.00:03:31.260 –> 00:03:42.090 Joseph McElroy: she's an is an expert on edible plants, medicinal herbs, and anything pertaining to wildcraft foraging and Appalachian plants, trees, and flowers.00:03:42.420 –> 00:03:56.190 Joseph McElroy: She has been featured on a variety of national television shows, videos, and books, and has worked as an advisor for multiple movies and television shows. she is an iconic female a smoky soon-to-be featured in one of our name theme groups.00:03:57.900 –> 00:04:13.350 Joseph McElroy: She will be presenting her beloved program Mother Nature's Natural Garden and leading a short tour of the grounds identifying nature's bounty that can be found in our own back yards.00:04:14.520 –> 00:04:20.640 Joseph McElroy: And then there'll be a free Barbecue supper and music by  Mike Ogletree and friends Saturday evening.00:04:21.210 –> 00:04:26.760 Joseph McElroy: $20 per person per night guests and it's free for motel disappeared as club members.00:04:27.540 –> 00:04:46.140 Joseph McElroy: Now a big event coming For those of you who want to learn how to write songs is August 12 and 13th we're having SONGWRITERS CAMP AND CONCERT WITH GRAMMY-WINNING ARTISTS JIM LAUDERDALE AND CHARLES HUMPHREYS III, ALONG WITH AWARD-WINNING ARTISTS DARREN NICHOLSON, CLAY MILLS, AND CHARLES CHAMBERLAIN.00:04:48.690 –> 00:04:54.420 Joseph McElroy: You won't get an opportunity like this very often in your life if you're wanting to really balancing.00:04:54.690 –> 00:05:01.140 Joseph McElroy: hanging out with grammy award-winning artists it's a two-day event of interactive songwriting structures with world-class musicians.00:05:01.440 –> 00:05:13.260 Joseph McElroy: a demo tape produced for each participant, a concert by the Songs From the Road Band on Friday Night, and a BBQ dinner and all-star concert on Saturday night.00:05:14.010 –> 00:05:24.150 Joseph McElroy: This is a unique event, no other place there's nothing, nothing else like it, and it will be a space will be limited to make sure that every participant gets into the.00:05:25.680 –> 00:05:31.110 Joseph McElroy: Attention the price is 675 dollars per person including all activities and the DEMO tape.00:05:31.440 –> 00:05:51.840 Joseph McElroy: The concerts and the dinner and everything else and their special room packages available for those that want to stay overnight at the meadowlark motel so call 8289261717 for details and the reserve your space and the reserve room again 8289261717 to get your place.00:05:52.860 –> 00:05:58.260 Joseph McElroy: there are also limited tickets available, just for the concerts and you can get those as well.00:05:59.850 –> 00:06:03.420 Joseph McElroy: Today, I have a great guest his name is Richard Hurley.00:06:05.010 –> 00:06:08.400 Joseph McElroy: He's a Canton, N.C. native, and UNC graduate I won't hold against.00:06:11.970 –> 00:06:21.270 Joseph McElroy: Is a vendor to the US day my friend, yeah he's a former radio DJ and renowned award-winning songwriter and musician.00:06:21.840 –> 00:06:34.710 Joseph McElroy: is active in Community work in service and serving on various boards and as an MC for food shindig on the green the mountain dance and folk festival, and the basket l'amour longsword festival.00:06:35.130 –> 00:06:47.010 Joseph McElroy: while also promoting area music events, along with his own musical projects will talk which we'll talk about Cataloochee and my mountains my song he resides in Asheville North Carolina my new home.00:06:50.820 –> 00:07:01.740 Joseph McElroy: So let's jump into something exciting, you are a DJ or w pto, and can we just spend about 17 years they tell us that actually a.00:07:02.430 –> 00:07:09.420 Joseph McElroy: station opened in August of 1963 there's already one station there that started in 1954.00:07:09.810 –> 00:07:16.080 Joseph McElroy: And the guy who made fresh they won't have a country station, because there was no kind of crustacean camp, so the open web GL.00:07:16.500 –> 00:07:27.660 Joseph McElroy: August of 63 what I wanted to have a high school kid that could bring in the hospital audience, so I got the gig has to be asked this jockey and that's back when Lou I for.00:07:28.740 –> 00:07:39.630 Joseph McElroy: us back in the dark ages, but I work there you're in college and before all the service in 1970 so was there off and on and had a great time and.00:07:40.410 –> 00:07:48.480 Joseph McElroy: learn a lot and got to play a lot, a lot of old country music at that time, some Gospel music rock music listening music play with it at all, it.00:07:49.140 –> 00:08:01.020 Joseph McElroy: was quite a fun time in my early career, yes, and how was it was help you in your career-defining experiences where your performance ability to do a performance there did yeah.00:08:01.560 –> 00:08:11.400 Joseph McElroy: It led me into doing some MC gigs which I carried on time I'm an MC stuff so yeah it was helpful in that regard and.00:08:12.810 –> 00:08:22.290 Joseph McElroy: You know, having to work there are a lot of people that came through that well you kind of pick up something from everybody you're exposed to in the music business like that so yeah it was quite helpful, then.00:08:22.560 –> 00:08:34.320 Joseph McElroy: Then, when I started doing shows later on the 80s and a lot of these old records I'd played back in the 60s were songs I learned back then, of course, I was influenced by a lot of those artists in the country and.00:08:34.680 –> 00:08:43.950 Joseph McElroy: The Kingston Trio, and some of the folks to hit 1958 when the case, the tree okay mouth Tom ui that just changed the world because I love it.00:08:44.820 –> 00:08:58.110 Joseph McElroy: It made this country teammate all the char key so so that is kind of what got me started running into that my folks got me Wendy when I was about 12 and I learned to play that and I bought a 10 hour day guitar for buddy mind.00:08:58.650 –> 00:09:04.170 Joseph McElroy: And that's kind of how I got to start making music and you got it you started, playing on the radio.00:09:04.680 –> 00:09:12.660 Joseph McElroy: Some early on to write a little bit i'd written a song about the know smothers market there and cam oh I just had his father's on.00:09:13.590 –> 00:09:24.960 Joseph McElroy: The smothers the sun yeah is that resembles they have here on the show granddaddy yeah and so, and that was mathers have a at the grocery store back man.00:09:25.470 –> 00:09:35.400 Joseph McElroy: And I wrote a song called Underwood it was like under what don't you wish we could anyway, we my brother's nice to play some of the only played at the Cannes first and made a festival.00:09:36.900 –> 00:09:45.930 Joseph McElroy: The new old why gone now when I recorded that just to you know they track tape back then, which both your sprinkler so, can you play that song.00:09:50.310 –> 00:10:00.420 Joseph McElroy: ready to record the, yeah Those are all good experiences, did you click Gospel to play Gospel on the air Yesterday we had a program called the Gospel care of and it's like 11 to 12.00:10:00.930 –> 00:10:08.850 Joseph McElroy: That I can just come in at nine, it was cold country star time in the guy named Jimmy hey Andy was a big influence on me early on, see behind there's a local musician he's.00:10:09.210 –> 00:10:20.250 Joseph McElroy: been gone number of years, but he was a he's an award-winning folk singer in fact team is the national focusing champion, I think it was 1950 or there abouts and a big influence on me, because he used to come to the grammar schools.00:10:20.610 –> 00:10:30.780 Joseph McElroy: And play programs us wow i'm going to be that one of these days, so that was kind of started Jimmy used to sign on six gutter 999 to 11 of.00:10:31.170 –> 00:10:40.860 Joseph McElroy: Country music and 11 to 12 Gospel man i'd come back to and go to two 330 with the country music and not go the easy listing is 330 to sign off.00:10:41.790 –> 00:10:52.890 Joseph McElroy: But it has to the rock the rock show was like 330 to 630 or something likely no experience I asked about the Gospel and I am one of the one of the.00:10:53.430 –> 00:11:11.550 Joseph McElroy: You know i've traveled a bit and one of the most popular brunches I ever saw was actually in Barbados yeah they had a Gospel brunch right they have run some even have a good old Gospel music right yeah people love that I would say that would probably go well, here too, yeah.00:11:13.770 –> 00:11:27.120 Joseph McElroy: Gospel me to certainly been popular in the south, for years and years yeah no he's play a lot of the old groups that you know the old Florida boys and the old kings cream local group and people like that.00:11:28.080 –> 00:11:39.120 Joseph McElroy: Number number of those great and there were some local people are bigger than the Gospel music did quite well Francis play lock and dam was a locally that's a big hit here and Haywood county back in the 60s there.00:11:40.860 –> 00:11:43.500 Joseph McElroy: But what was the what how did you learn to play.00:11:44.730 –> 00:11:51.090 Joseph McElroy: I got a Mel Bay 50-cent book shows the three chords C D E, F, and G.00:11:51.720 –> 00:12:05.880 Joseph McElroy: And the other progressions and I just kind of picked it up, but I was so naive, but that i'm embarrassed to say this, but i'm going to tell you to know, I was so naive I didn't have another you know but it's a play on territory, I didn't realize you had to change strings.00:12:07.740 –> 00:12:19.950 Joseph McElroy: Okay, once you know it doesn't matter you get a string I didn't even know that I learned later on, but that's how long did you almost entirely learn to do today, did you have some mentors are learning almost.00:12:22.110 –> 00:12:36.630 Joseph McElroy: All the gifts little G one gifts in the problem of 50s model for about I think I paid $25 for a buddy of mine and I eventually I got an Aston Martin guitar years later, that you know goes collects the guitars.00:12:38.400 –> 00:12:54.210 Joseph McElroy: that's pretty cool so you went off to your high school, then you went off to unc first are going to go the baby first went to usc usc usc yeah I started at usc I tell people is back when the tar heels we're still playing woman gym.00:12:56.250 –> 00:13:04.020 Joseph McElroy: Dean Dome that was before carmichael born with a we're playing a little again music Cunningham, was a senior housing right right so.00:13:04.800 –> 00:13:11.580 Joseph McElroy: that's how I got started when I would come home from school breaks, I would go back to the station and do vacation relief stuff like that and.00:13:12.060 –> 00:13:17.940 Joseph McElroy: I worked at Campo networks, the mail can't mill one summer season seven which is great experience paper.00:13:18.900 –> 00:13:29.040 Joseph McElroy: Paper data that helped me with my career later I got an extreme rarity coming so then after you and see you another baby yeah it was it was during the.com era where I.00:13:29.400 –> 00:13:36.330 Joseph McElroy: went out and did had one job interview, and they said come see us when you're through the starters, nobody would argue you got the service.00:13:37.350 –> 00:13:45.900 Joseph McElroy: So I ended up going to the program that required drilling for a year and then I went in on D for two years and then another three year obligation but.00:13:46.410 –> 00:13:52.620 Joseph McElroy: I was fortunate, I was on the USS wash, which is an aircraft carrier and we were in the North Atlantic up there.00:13:53.370 –> 00:14:06.390 Joseph McElroy: Doing maneuvers and but i've had the privilege to work with JFK personal naval eight so that was quite an experience I learned a lot from those guys and that all all those experiences help you later in life, you know I got it.00:14:07.500 –> 00:14:20.790 Joseph McElroy: cool and that was that was also the start of some my songwriting is in the navy the navy because i've got a memo zoom Lol Chief of naval operations back and he was loosening up the navy, let the skies where.00:14:22.380 –> 00:14:28.770 Joseph McElroy: He would come out these see grams, you know for some walls, the grams, and so I wrote a song called the balance is a graph.00:14:30.090 –> 00:14:47.970 Joseph McElroy: The Admiral heard about it, he called me to stay room and i've already guitar on our platform he wanted to send it to zoom wall record a little fork and say yeah little real real three inch screen record it you send it to zoom wall and month or so later I get this letter for.00:14:50.580 –> 00:14:56.760 Joseph McElroy: letter their little list of the guy says, you know, dear petty officer hurley Thank you so much for your song about.00:14:58.620 –> 00:15:05.910 Joseph McElroy: And he and I connect about seven years later, when he was out, and I was it came to Asheville to bait nuclear-armed with some retired general.00:15:06.360 –> 00:15:13.560 Joseph McElroy: And I walked up to him after the speech I said, George space, I do not remember the side of the road song about you and he said yeah I said on that side.00:15:15.570 –> 00:15:25.500 Joseph McElroy: Of the thought, he just met john, okay well cool well, we have to take a break now Sir so then we'll come back we'll talk more about your career in business and then in music, thank you.00:17:40.830 –> 00:17:47.430 Joseph McElroy: howdy this is Joseph Franklyn McElroy back with the Gateway to the Smokies podcasts and my guest Richard Hurley.00:17:47.880 –> 00:17:57.960 Joseph McElroy: So Richard after the navy, you had a long career as an HR manager for square D how's that good company well I just got real lucky because I come home.00:17:58.770 –> 00:18:08.460 Joseph McElroy: About three months before i'm supposed to get out of service and put an application and I had a cousin worked over there, and he put in a good word for me, I went into.00:18:08.940 –> 00:18:16.560 Joseph McElroy: That time I called personnel supervisory like backwards personnel manager personnel his word I started out the second seat and moved up.00:18:17.010 –> 00:18:28.140 Joseph McElroy: For years later I guess the first seat and and but my own volition, I wanted to stay in Nashville yeah so I thought Tom to I might have to move, but it worked out and it's great company they trade as well.00:18:28.590 –> 00:18:37.920 Joseph McElroy: And it was very giving kind of very caring complete and coming to the law united way and give a lot give a lot of bucks to the Community and various organizations out there.00:18:38.820 –> 00:18:57.540 Joseph McElroy: So I had a wonderful career cool did you get to play music, while you're while you're in that career not not in that role ticket I was out playing places i've crossed I did a record not team at one a coma valuable for mountain yeah remember that record a really.00:18:59.130 –> 00:19:08.730 Joseph McElroy: good idea as a 45 and dude legendary greatest of all banjo player Raymond Fairchild light on and Raymond I go back way back.00:19:09.540 –> 00:19:17.670 Joseph McElroy: The guy got Mr freeman has gone also and then the programmers who are popular good a tour with Raymond he's played with picking the brain.00:19:18.120 –> 00:19:29.040 Joseph McElroy: So i've written the song battle for mountain i've seen at parties and people see all the record that so as last time and then one day I said i'm not gonna turn around 10 years from now, and say what If so, I.00:19:29.730 –> 00:19:46.980 Joseph McElroy: called her brain is that would you got me and he said sure be led to some are also we got together having to be August 12 at one i've been coached now when you go to that studio do you're rehearsing before you go in there because that's money yeah right.00:19:49.980 –> 00:19:54.900 Joseph McElroy: Back stuff order ish will be asked our our weekly break door.00:19:55.650 –> 00:20:03.480 Joseph McElroy: And i'm sweating bullets and walk in that studio is following our with now on the studio and they said, like three Max back in those days now.00:20:03.870 –> 00:20:14.520 Joseph McElroy: According whole different ballgame instead of like three months and I kicked off on the guitar right and they jumped in this music, it was just fabulous and they just made that song so.00:20:15.540 –> 00:20:27.270 Joseph McElroy: It was 45 rpm so we took pto course never wc and w devotees but they all start playing on a call, so I saw him through angles markets, not so.00:20:27.870 –> 00:20:35.370 Joseph McElroy: pressed a couple of thousand problems, so I get a few hundred bucks but it kind of summer here when I was a kid yeah I also you know was looking.00:20:35.820 –> 00:20:39.240 Joseph McElroy: yeah well I don't know a while back, I was looking at what rate and fairchild.00:20:40.050 –> 00:20:48.030 Joseph McElroy: That record came out with him being on air yeah Yes, he was something else, but he he helped me out with that and it's all my first albums.00:20:48.510 –> 00:20:59.220 Joseph McElroy: Are all the songs on my to our songs i've written and the first album my mountains my songs I put that on air as a bonus track all the other tracks are things that we recorded so.00:20:59.790 –> 00:21:09.270 Joseph McElroy: cool yeah Bob Plott, you know, is the GM of the Meadowlark Smoky Mountain Heritage Center and he also helps put together.00:21:09.570 –> 00:21:17.610 Joseph McElroy: Some of the information of your questions and he mentioned that you mentioned one of them already rent Fairchild and when the other big musical influence was.00:21:17.940 –> 00:21:28.020 Joseph McElroy: Jimmy haney yeah I mentioned Jimmy a little bit earlier that we'd work together is discharged and he was like say when I was very school didn't come around to schools and play.00:21:28.500 –> 00:21:36.510 Joseph McElroy: ramin here's the store matt Ryan, that when Raymond was very before he became Raymond Fairchild famous like he was.00:21:37.200 –> 00:21:43.080 Joseph McElroy: He was working around these parts and he had done a wreck he'd done his first record old similar record was and.00:21:43.920 –> 00:21:56.910 Joseph McElroy: my brother came home with that record now listen to that man, this is just difference it's just it was like a snake charmer he just he had he had a way of playing songs that just drew me in.00:21:57.360 –> 00:22:08.040 Joseph McElroy: So I got some maintenance management time to evaluate he'd give me copies of his records without playing them on my program and then occasionally he another guy we have breakfast down.00:22:08.310 –> 00:22:17.460 Joseph McElroy: Little restaurants can either bottomless pit of on the show and play for 20 minutes or so, so that was how my friendship with Raymond started way back when.00:22:18.240 –> 00:22:30.120 Joseph McElroy: But, but he was he was really something else, and then, when he went to the brand debut the grand Ole opry and 78 he invited me to go live in essence up with down lana pick your brother.00:22:31.020 –> 00:22:39.030 Joseph McElroy: Already about for went over to the national we got to go backstage and all that one written bill Monroe balls hot dogs that would.00:22:40.980 –> 00:22:46.290 Joseph McElroy: Go out there Raymond walked out there and start playing and they had never heard it.00:22:47.700 –> 00:22:51.330 Joseph McElroy: encores of standing ovations yeah Raymond Fairchild00:22:53.160 –> 00:22:56.190 Joseph McElroy: Or, he was His grace banjo I think grace man.00:22:58.350 –> 00:23:05.160 Joseph McElroy: You could do it yeah and then, when he played here in the valley you remember the matter with me about the Opera House yeah like there.00:23:05.520 –> 00:23:16.650 Joseph McElroy: For years and was there, so yeah yeah but every time I would go in case, yet they see in his wife sure we had that business for number of years for writing and passed in October Tina thing was.00:23:17.070 –> 00:23:26.550 Joseph McElroy: Every time I go in the shadows he'd see me in the audience and so on his old friend is richer heard he used to play my record, so they played he played my record so much that they fired.00:23:28.530 –> 00:23:40.800 Joseph McElroy: Their more banjo players just ran and fell out there yeah true, of course, I had to build a service that is a That was a good story, and you can you got you did is you, with the right.00:23:41.790 –> 00:23:54.240 Joseph McElroy: Top right, I did I was asked to speak and I much some other people, but I was extremely flattered to be part of the one of the speakers that spoke there yeah it's up the stomping ground appear Maggie badly.00:23:55.440 –> 00:24:02.850 Joseph McElroy: And part of my comments, where I said, you know there's only one Elvis there's only one hank liam's there was only one Raymond fair to.00:24:04.140 –> 00:24:12.960 Joseph McElroy: One of my many comments talking about on a great person he was a good family man, he was a loving father and husband and just a great guy.00:24:13.560 –> 00:24:26.400 Joseph McElroy: But he had a gift he had to give a few few they have yet so the way he played that manager, I heard that he's a you know i've been from a value of them, and I have seen him a couple times and I think my dad.00:24:27.720 –> 00:24:28.770 Joseph McElroy: Daniel and i'm sure.00:24:30.660 –> 00:24:36.510 Joseph McElroy: yeah but you know my understanding was he was a great friend, but he was also a little cantankerous.00:24:40.170 –> 00:24:47.520 Joseph McElroy: He raised his music good yes very busy i'll tell you one thing is the Raymond was noted for.00:24:51.150 –> 00:24:52.800 Joseph McElroy: Aware of was.00:24:53.970 –> 00:25:03.510 Joseph McElroy: You know, some towns that have been leaner audiences than others and goes, you know, whatever reason, traffic or whatever, if there was one person that audience about ticket Raymond well and say that.00:25:03.870 –> 00:25:11.730 Joseph McElroy: will be 500 or whatever we're going to play them a good show he whether he play a whole show for one person, but the only matters i'm sorry cancer, he.00:25:12.210 –> 00:25:18.480 Joseph McElroy: said that person management and 500 miles to your show we're going to plan the show that's right he's very caring shorter guy.00:25:19.350 –> 00:25:35.280 Joseph McElroy: Very caring yeah he was the one guy, yeah well yeah we know we're talking about your records that's real Famous people on those records, but there are other Famous people to work with I've got some pretty heavy hitters all my albums.00:25:36.780 –> 00:25:56.130 Joseph McElroy: yeah but they they're people that I work with a guy named at swan yeah and regal music regal media it's a medical media.net website, but but he's he's been in business about 50 years he's reporting people like Ben scale and he's reported recorded David Wilcox.00:25:57.300 –> 00:26:09.330 Joseph McElroy: Brian sudden the great brown certain he's recording squire parsons that great deal and land song right dollars per summit be recorded that and he's worked with a lot of the great spirit.00:26:10.590 –> 00:26:14.370 Joseph McElroy: Anyway, yeah I got to work in an ad and Prince mountains together.00:26:15.600 –> 00:26:17.760 Joseph McElroy: Well, you got some some great ones.00:26:18.930 –> 00:26:27.030 Joseph McElroy: But before we get there, you know what I wanted to do understand you know your your songwriting right and you did some great songs i've read that.00:26:27.570 –> 00:26:37.110 Joseph McElroy: I was looking at, we listened to one and i've seen some of the others and and you're playing a guitar but you play anything else I don't really i'm not play I took a few.00:26:37.530 –> 00:26:46.110 Joseph McElroy: banjo lessons from mark pruitt the grading where he's on one of my hours to market and Martin our friends from way back, but I never could quite get into the banjo so I just like.00:26:47.430 –> 00:26:52.470 Joseph McElroy: I heard you got the the walk handmade watch the bass bass yeah so.00:26:53.610 –> 00:27:04.200 Joseph McElroy: what's that everybody should probably seen, or at least nothing prompts and you'll watch the bass bass so most folks have are not familiar he's turning on tobacco really be go watch.00:27:04.860 –> 00:27:14.250 Joseph McElroy: The one i'm not is over 70 years old, oh yeah sequence and during the home that middle of it and you take an old broomstick and just run a quarter size core.00:27:14.730 –> 00:27:21.450 Joseph McElroy: And you put it on and you hold the stick down the edge of your pocket, and that gives you a base, and it goes because of the tub and I was.00:27:22.440 –> 00:27:38.820 Joseph McElroy: awkward so you could have a vibrant right, so my brother's not playing at this tomato festival years going can't so I carried on part of my act and I tell people I said don't worry I get beaten up your audience the basement and then key is Spanish Oh, because.00:27:40.230 –> 00:27:54.990 Joseph McElroy: that's what that's that's a real fun part of my program and I always preface it by saying that don't worry this tub is is over 70 years old and literally the stick and string have been on there since 1969 oh my gosh it's been British.00:27:57.240 –> 00:27:59.730 Joseph McElroy: Is the shirt but don't worry it'll be okay.00:28:01.140 –> 00:28:02.430 Joseph McElroy: Yes, that's the fun part.00:28:03.510 –> 00:28:12.360 Joseph McElroy: Well, you know I don't know if you ever walked out white wines mainstream you know they have all sorts of sculptures on there yeah what i'm one of the sculptures as a duo.00:28:12.750 –> 00:28:22.680 Joseph McElroy: musicians are there 10 foot tall oh yeah I want them to watch oh yeah you see there, so people you definitely should make a pilgrimage there.00:28:24.180 –> 00:28:31.740 Joseph McElroy: is surprising people don't realize how long a sound that that will make and that's why people develop a years ago they didn't have money to go out and buy things that.00:28:32.370 –> 00:28:50.400 Joseph McElroy: improvised just like my good friend, David holds things on my album you know, David term Doc Watson about 14 years and David plays he plays a number of different instruments on his show when we're doing live shows he played paper bag and plays spoons like bones slugger.00:28:51.900 –> 00:28:56.220 Joseph McElroy: ization improvisation music over the years of development me.00:28:57.780 –> 00:29:02.190 Joseph McElroy: Well, we have to take another break now, when we come back we'll talk about some of your out straight.00:31:08.700 –> 00:31:18.690 Joseph McElroy: howdy this is Joseph Franklin McElroy back with the Gateway to the smokies podcasts and My guest Richard Hurley, so Richard you've got two albums out right?00:31:19.440 –> 00:31:29.760 Joseph McElroy: Can you tell me about your first project was what my mountains by sounds so project called my mountains my songs and I can hold it up to the camera and those people watch it there.00:31:32.640 –> 00:31:46.470 Joseph McElroy: We started out with the old for the song which I mentioned I've written back in the quarterback in 81 I thought well Okay, this is 2013 just a few years later I bought a new cut a record over 30 years or so yeah all right yeah like it's in.00:31:47.520 –> 00:31:50.430 Joseph McElroy: Your cadence or is this musical okay yeah.00:31:53.190 –> 00:32:04.590 Joseph McElroy: I have written a bunch of songs over the years and just take them back in the files and whatnot so I'm sad pull them out and see what we can do with them, so I called a that holds a date I'm thinking about doing an album 20.00:32:05.760 –> 00:32:12.990 Joseph McElroy: Some recommendations well, you need to call josh to go forth josh go forth his genius musician the literature Madison county.00:32:13.620 –> 00:32:19.140 Joseph McElroy: He played all mile they played the lead guitar the rhythm guitar banjo the base the mandolin and fiddle.00:32:19.680 –> 00:32:29.940 Joseph McElroy: Allah and woven together oh wow so so that's how this thing started and we put these 15 songs on here with the old for a song being a bonus track, one of the.00:32:30.300 –> 00:32:41.580 Joseph McElroy: One of the ones you look at the reward thing here that North Carolina society of historians actually gave me a reward the reward for the historical significance of the project.00:32:42.330 –> 00:32:51.450 Joseph McElroy: And there's a song on here about the cold mountain bottom and crash oh yeah a lot of people saw the coal mountain movie, in the end, it was written by Charles Fraser.00:32:51.840 –> 00:32:57.300 Joseph McElroy: Franklin who has connections back to my hometown Cantonese model from their reason anyway.00:32:58.260 –> 00:33:08.640 Joseph McElroy: So the thing, most people don't realize, is that all Friday the 13th September 46 a beat 25 bomber was coming from Detroit to Tampa.00:33:09.180 –> 00:33:25.800 Joseph McElroy: And crashed into the topical mountain Mr bell about 150 feet, they call the Tower at that time in Bristol Tennessee, and so they wanted to go visual So be careful because of kind of nasty and rainy down there the next thing you know lamb youngest general near a core to sergeants to kernels.00:33:27.060 –> 00:33:29.250 Joseph McElroy: Imagine what that was like Crusoe big.00:33:30.360 –> 00:33:41.310 Joseph McElroy: yeah so a lady named George ron's cannon is deceased now she wrote a book about it and back about I guess was in 2012 I saw this book in the movies books here and label.00:33:41.820 –> 00:33:51.270 Joseph McElroy: And I got to look at so Now I know some of these and I read the book and I remembered hearing about it because, as a kid my late brother point over there and mountain across from where I grew up so that's that.00:33:51.840 –> 00:34:03.990 Joseph McElroy: that's plane crash okay fine my scoutmaster you talk, Okay, but it never text on the hack up there, so I went up the mountain couldn't find confining it crashed evidence is all in picked oh.00:34:05.130 –> 00:34:10.890 Joseph McElroy: Really, I wrote the song, so I got doors to a guy named.00:34:14.460 –> 00:34:22.080 Joseph McElroy: Having everything or guy helped me out down the road Moody help me out with this make sure my atma factor accurate.00:34:22.740 –> 00:34:34.290 Joseph McElroy: So, then, we recorded that song and Doris simplest thing to the north county historical society and they basically this whole thing because I got some other historic going on about the slides ago for over a year and i've got some other.00:34:34.770 –> 00:34:44.460 Joseph McElroy: songs similar and they gave you the historical and okay yeah I want to know why people get that but it's still a nice it's nice to get it yes.00:34:45.930 –> 00:34:49.980 Joseph McElroy: it's not a participation prize it actually does work.00:34:51.540 –> 00:34:53.370 Joseph McElroy: yeah exactly exactly.00:34:54.660 –> 00:34:58.830 Joseph McElroy: So you have you gotta go you gotta know saw you got a real a.00:34:59.340 –> 00:35:07.080 Joseph McElroy: Real it's real work, so you got a good thing, so this one, this one came out 13 and josh these musics is famous for singing swan the engineer, I mean he knows what he's doing.00:35:07.950 –> 00:35:21.060 Joseph McElroy: His fifth year so fast forward to 2021 I came out of this album fleet song Cataloochee, which is you know you know music to my heart to them now you alleys.00:35:21.510 –> 00:35:25.650 Joseph McElroy: Post account Lucy Lucy bow they've got the elk and everything else so.00:35:26.160 –> 00:35:26.760 Joseph McElroy: So tell us.00:35:27.000 –> 00:35:35.130 Joseph McElroy: Tell us the story of this one, the backstory is that there's a guy named Steve what he's a friend of mine, and he is a descendant of the old woody family, the life back in capital h.00:35:35.190 –> 00:35:43.800 Joseph McElroy: er and Steve one time there nationally known each other for years, he said, I said I understand you're having your big reunion coming up having here like first second weekend in August.00:35:44.100 –> 00:35:49.920 Joseph McElroy: Is yeah why don't you come about gifts, so now let's do that because I never been reading i've been Cataloochee00:35:50.310 –> 00:36:02.130 Joseph McElroy: So I went to the reunion and he got monitors church service there and during the shirts or is he going to do some politicians, then introduced me and said somebody might know Richard you know to pay with boy write songs just.00:36:02.760 –> 00:36:05.370 Joseph McElroy: said, I think he already song that Kevin did you, what do you all.00:36:08.460 –> 00:36:09.360 Joseph McElroy: feel blackmailing.00:36:11.250 –> 00:36:12.090 Joseph McElroy: wrote a song about.00:36:13.890 –> 00:36:25.710 Joseph McElroy: This research on it and the song and then he asked me to come play it, so I went back and played what that was 19 in August of 19 I played it live at church service oh that's Nice.00:36:26.310 –> 00:36:35.370 Joseph McElroy: I don't mean this to sound right people got emotional I got it I got emotional I don't know which one i'm Scott materials.00:36:36.900 –> 00:36:46.710 Joseph McElroy: emotional standing there and then I said i'm going to have to record it so we record it and got us some different players on this, some of the phone you got some great people on this.00:36:47.280 –> 00:36:53.670 Joseph McElroy: I mean, these are credible yeah TIM CERT and Darren Nicholson, both with balsam range or on their tone increases.00:36:54.150 –> 00:37:01.620 Joseph McElroy: percussionist that works these kind of movement else's grammar need work to Glen Campbell waylon are not waiting merle haggard and.00:37:02.010 –> 00:37:12.060 Joseph McElroy: James Taylor some of those guys and then, of course, David holds on Bobby hicks won a grammy with ricky skaggs the same time that mark did and RON said another little boy.00:37:12.600 –> 00:37:19.470 Joseph McElroy: So he's a 10 time grammy award actually bring to get him to help us out thanks to my buddy so we got some.00:37:20.010 –> 00:37:31.260 Joseph McElroy: Pretty heavy hitters not a dedicated this album to my old friend Ray M and fairchild there you go but he's got the cattle he song and it's got a number of other so there's one song on there you got the legend of losing weight.00:37:32.400 –> 00:37:39.600 Joseph McElroy: This week, there is Buddhism, can you give us a short version of what that is not sure what is a boogeyman.00:37:40.110 –> 00:37:44.100 Joseph McElroy: is actually a story that goes back in the legend goes back in the 1800s.00:37:44.370 –> 00:37:54.150 Joseph McElroy: And up like Logan which used to be on a champion paper back in the old days you had a little boogeyman cave in there is big picture of the boogeyman which is now in the in the downtown teflon.00:37:54.630 –> 00:38:05.010 Joseph McElroy: Remember yeah so patch mathers was the Mayor of can now he was he's been Mayor of can he called me up so we're going to the festival about food too much come in and see if I said to.00:38:05.430 –> 00:38:17.400 Joseph McElroy: And I said we'll go around song about it, so we wrote record a song called the legend of the blue, and it's all about the history of the book eight foot shaggy and eight foot tall and Shay you catch you move from.00:38:18.570 –> 00:38:21.480 Joseph McElroy: That it was it was that a big thing in canton.00:38:22.710 –> 00:38:36.570 Joseph McElroy: Where there was a bigger because he doesn't really remember, since he was in 1616 2016 so the legend came up with us from played the song, I wrote the song for that festival it only had that one year didn't.00:38:37.650 –> 00:38:46.920 Joseph McElroy: see that didn't happen after that, but you know the songs the songs on there and there's a guy named Dave Johnson place about 20 different instruments it's quite.00:38:47.400 –> 00:39:02.220 Joseph McElroy: Another local board down so that old for somewhere plays a mean plays everything he did all the music God and it came out pretty well and there's The thing is that when when i've given this to folks to original head is a single the kids get into this any kid.00:39:04.590 –> 00:39:11.850 Joseph McElroy: I guess it's the sound of the name boom oh yeah with it, but the story was a he had a penchant for two things he liked to go.00:39:12.390 –> 00:39:20.400 Joseph McElroy: He would hide out in the Bush is he was he was he was haven't counted version of victory right yeah see it out our leads there and he'd see the girls and their.00:39:21.240 –> 00:39:30.720 Joseph McElroy: Different pools, and then he said, the thing was he likes to go out and found all these precious stones and he had a cave and he'd go take them to that came storming or liquid jugs to fill them up many chat.00:39:31.620 –> 00:39:41.880 Joseph McElroy: Those two things so one day is how man is this young girls she's in the cooler swim and she sees the Buddha in their eyes walk and they fall in love.00:39:42.690 –> 00:39:49.470 Joseph McElroy: They get married and they go back to the mountains, but he still had to go out look for all these precious stones so she would get it out.00:39:51.870 –> 00:40:01.650 Joseph McElroy: Get lonely and share the harder for him and he had a holler back to the power till they came together and her name is Andy okay therefore came the word good man.00:40:04.440 –> 00:40:07.860 Joseph McElroy: that's Barclays really knows he's a hooter.00:40:10.050 –> 00:40:19.470 Joseph McElroy: So that's all in the song the legend wow that's that's a little tears a boogeyman yeah drinking booze and talking about losing this guy this.00:40:20.850 –> 00:40:23.160 Joseph McElroy: is given given oh i'm going to yeah.00:40:24.240 –> 00:40:29.370 Joseph McElroy: What is some of the other favorite songs is the one I think I think about the question.00:40:30.030 –> 00:40:45.780 Joseph McElroy: I think about some of the historic stuff is vascular marlins for Dino that name and he was he was the the minstrel the appalachians he was born on the campus plus now Marshall university and he started our mountain dance folk festival in 1928 and actual.00:40:47.010 –> 00:40:55.800 Joseph McElroy: Madison county ashbury it's the longest running folk festival in America well in America have you been on the board of that too right well i'm on the advisory.00:40:56.310 –> 00:41:06.510 Joseph McElroy: Playing there, and you see there yeah i'm involved with it for years and years but pete seeger came down to learn about the banjo from Boston the marlins for.00:41:07.020 –> 00:41:20.220 Joseph McElroy: pete seeger many of fans who know the music fans know he had that long neck banjo story was he got that from Boston oh so i've got a tribute to baskin here on on my album that I want other songs.00:41:21.480 –> 00:41:27.300 Joseph McElroy: i've got one on this placement about is called god's special children and it's about special needs kids oh.00:41:28.530 –> 00:41:34.950 Joseph McElroy: I was doing some volunteer work already worth and Center over ashfall which should help special needs kids and.00:41:35.250 –> 00:41:40.950 Joseph McElroy: A lady i've worked with came in and she said, well, you did so i'm going to volunteer what are you doing here she's talking pick up my son.00:41:41.460 –> 00:41:52.020 Joseph McElroy: And this was years actually both retired and our flashback and remember she has a son named our special needs kid adding them in the next mourners Christmas Eve.00:41:52.530 –> 00:42:02.040 Joseph McElroy: And I woke up and I wrote the song called god's special children, and I remember as a kid my mom used to say, and she lived to be rather than one she used to say.00:42:02.850 –> 00:42:10.350 Joseph McElroy: If you'd see you know, a special needs child she's it will sound Those are just god's special tool well that just made everything everything.00:42:11.340 –> 00:42:20.010 Joseph McElroy: That so we did God special to integrate at our producer was able to pull in a later that same with me on that harmonizing you read it came out pretty well.00:42:20.820 –> 00:42:37.440 Joseph McElroy: Actually we've got goodness the number of the things I don't call the leaning sound about what about columns guitars i've got one about monocle house burnett he was he was a great storyteller and fox theater okay now tell me Bob and his plot.00:42:38.730 –> 00:42:52.680 Joseph McElroy: State dogs, we all know that fox fox fox fox hunting, the thing, but my grandfather was a lousy he loved the Walker have the upper hand the latter house and I guarantee that we've known each other yeah.00:42:53.730 –> 00:43:04.590 Joseph McElroy: Big talks louder so I had written a song about him back in the 70s and I pulled out my files and revising David told plays washboard on it, and this David Johnson did some music.00:43:05.100 –> 00:43:12.870 Joseph McElroy: I said, you know we need some dog barks on this supposed to do is lackey do that and they weren't you and he put dog barks we're.00:43:14.100 –> 00:43:19.890 Joseph McElroy: Going on the mountain gotta go gotta go home because he's house burns, and he grew.00:43:22.050 –> 00:43:23.430 Joseph McElroy: up so we let the dogs.00:43:26.040 –> 00:43:36.690 Joseph McElroy: favorite their local flow but we're gonna have to take another break here and come back we'll finish up with some of the other things to do and how you can help people get the CDS right all right.00:45:37.980 –> 00:45:45.240 Joseph McElroy: Howdy this is Joseph Franklyn McElroy back with the Gateway to the Smokies Podcast and my guest Richard Hurley, So, Richard.00:45:45.810 –> 00:45:52.560 Joseph McElroy: You were born and raised in Canton but now you live in Asheville your most of your life so yeah why just stick in Asheville for?00:45:52.950 –> 00:46:03.210 Joseph McElroy: Well, I just love the mountains, like your intro when you're talking about your hotel and the great smoky mountains and the fishing stream all those things you talked about it's made me realize how fortunate I am to00:46:04.260 –> 00:46:05.460 Joseph McElroy: stay here in Asheville.00:46:06.540 –> 00:46:13.500 Joseph McElroy: Western North Carolina you know a lot of volunteer activities I'm involved with taking all across Western North Carolina but.00:46:13.890 –> 00:46:24.060 Joseph McElroy: I thought there was a time to do my career, I was gonna have to leave and move to another location or leasing company and do something else, and I was blessed lucky that I didn't have them leave.00:46:24.450 –> 00:46:31.920 Joseph McElroy: How do you like, how Asheville grown, oh I see it really changed and scrolled a lot, and this is an interesting place that's.00:46:32.460 –> 00:46:37.770 Joseph McElroy: what's that sort of a music city right? yeah, there's a lot of you know, the best years on every corner seemed like that.00:46:38.520 –> 00:46:47.850 Joseph McElroy: You know, we have a couple of events of advanced downtown like the shindig on the green which I also wrote a song about on the first album we have shindig on the green in front of the courthouse there on Saturday nights.00:46:47.970 –> 00:46:59.880 Joseph McElroy: These seven Saturday nights during the summer in fact we'll start this coming Saturday seven to 10 freebies right people bring a lawn chair or blanket and spread out there and they sit three hours, and we have all these musicians to come in.00:47:00.330 –> 00:47:09.750 Joseph McElroy: I'm going from deep in the hollers and some bones wherever square dance teams and all that and a lot of the greats like mark for it and Brian session, you know the hottest guitar player.00:47:10.200 –> 00:47:19.770 Joseph McElroy: In Ashville, I things the number one call guy over there and studios he cut his teeth or they've known split tons of big names play at home, Shindig on the green stage.00:47:20.700 –> 00:47:27.720 Joseph McElroy: But I know you've been involved with a lot of those different revenue festivals you're involved with bells here right.00:47:28.740 –> 00:47:40.830 Joseph McElroy: I wrote a song about that I know I saw that I was wondering what happened, the bell share it just finally ran its course really started in 1979, yeah and I don't remember what year it.00:47:41.700 –> 00:47:50.550 Joseph McElroy: folded video is a great festival, I mean how many times, do you walk down the street of Main Street drinking beer and eating a hot dog or whatever, and all this great entertainment oh my gosh.00:47:51.150 –> 00:47:58.080 Joseph McElroy: Is it that Doc and nice to have Skaggs and a lot of the big nice fact I mentioned a number of them in my song really yeah.00:47:59.010 –> 00:48:12.000 Joseph McElroy: So give people the flavor of what that was it was a special sort of vessel that folks got to get it back and 79 to have a street party with a sound about a phone on the phone or something different than normal kind of fair that got together got shows together and started a bill share.00:48:13.710 –> 00:48:21.240 Joseph McElroy: me just a beautiful life yeah the kids you grant end wife, which feed on the street, when the sun goes down music in the air and actually.00:48:21.960 –> 00:48:31.080 Joseph McElroy: There you go, of course, well you've been involved with a number of what other what other your favorite festivals well, those are pretty much it on ice.00:48:31.770 –> 00:48:37.380 Joseph McElroy: least try to go see Doc every time you come around I never played I played on the same show waiting one day out the.00:48:37.770 –> 00:48:45.180 Joseph McElroy: monster festival that marciel that's another big festival the basketball marlins, for it was the only festival, is he would let us his name.00:48:46.140 –> 00:48:59.220 Joseph McElroy: And it started, I think, somewhere, back in the 60s and 70s, but it was a Mars hill moving on bringing a lot of evil talent back in Madison county and other Mecca for musicians so that's a great fast.00:49:00.480 –> 00:49:14.160 Joseph McElroy: But I never I never got to play on the stage leap, but I did REP with chat room some backstage few few times on some of these programs but but tell us about the mountain DAS it falls fast again it's the granddaddy of all focused.00:49:15.300 –> 00:49:24.600 Joseph McElroy: that's the one yeah other venues what Ben is like the cholesterol killer well you know I like to go to some of the things that happened at the.00:49:25.080 –> 00:49:31.920 Joseph McElroy: Civic Center and some of the problems that happen there, and like you know, let us go back to see balsam range I've introduced those guys sometimes.00:49:32.370 –> 00:49:47.850 Joseph McElroy: Of course, my friend at work for those guys to the studio and he worked with the Steve can you arrange boy is not allowed, but anything in these venues that like your met your Maggie valley festival grounds here on some programs there and I played there actually one time.00:49:52.860 –> 00:49:53.700 Joseph McElroy: promote myself.00:49:57.120 –> 00:50:12.840 Joseph McElroy: I did a fair amount of volunteer work I go to Assisted Living Binion's places like that and people call me I go to a program they can come to a pool party that's not my opinion, without being a concert you got pretty much listen to the lyrics yeah right just.00:50:14.010 –> 00:50:24.120 Joseph McElroy: Because what so somebody coming to Western North Carolina asheville every county what you put in some things they shouldn't miss shindig on the green, they should not miss that.00:50:24.660 –> 00:50:34.470 Joseph McElroy: that's every every Saturday night not ever said that we break for the mountain dance folk festival start the 25th this it's always the first weekend around the fourth of July.00:50:35.070 –> 00:50:49.830 Joseph McElroy: 25 of June, this time, and then we have starting second on through the break for the things of the sixth of August basketball we said, our focus was always the first weekend long about sundown.00:50:51.180 –> 00:50:55.710 Joseph McElroy: What i'm saying is OK, for you folks were watch mean seven o'clock yeah.00:50:57.030 –> 00:51:13.050 Joseph McElroy: So that's a must see there yeah of course they'll share was pulling that was that was but there, there are a lot of fans out there that probably need to get around go visit some of them haven't visited all me I like the orange peel myself yeah.00:51:14.250 –> 00:51:23.040 Joseph McElroy: I did my bell share something there when when a buddy mine was chairing the camp chair and bill share asked me to come play it so we did that kind of kick it off.00:51:23.850 –> 00:51:35.100 Joseph McElroy: I just saw like 11 I think in New York City winery but he was also at the art of appeal to the Glasgow plays he plays a callings guitar that's brand new guitar and I played.00:51:35.700 –> 00:51:45.990 Joseph McElroy: college to the dishes mark i've got a song called the column guitar song oh really are you are you do, do you have a, you said you have a collection guitar.00:51:48.210 –> 00:51:50.790 Joseph McElroy: Like like nobody's saying you can't have too many guitar.00:51:52.950 –> 00:52:02.160 Joseph McElroy: When I wrote this song about the colonies that's your favorite yeah it's like the head of me my servers back 34 years I said, good bass print my name and she had severe.00:52:02.520 –> 00:52:09.930 Joseph McElroy: will spend it on the new and follow this new and following a hot rod car, no, no thing so good rather have a college, maybe.00:52:11.730 –> 00:52:12.420 Joseph McElroy: Not kick off.00:52:14.760 –> 00:52:20.010 Joseph McElroy: spent many years, making money and then decided to buy a hotel yeah That was a better.00:52:21.750 –> 00:52:36.150 Joseph McElroy: guitar yeah well, it was all the time I bought it because yeah yeah being home homestead and big ideas have been doing things with it now it's become something else, but I did get to touch Tony Tony robbins guitar when they.00:52:37.440 –> 00:52:38.010 Joseph McElroy: got to reach over.00:52:39.960 –> 00:52:51.630 Joseph McElroy: Well, how did How do people buy your albums well not my website and I was hoping might go take a look the websites Richard hurley he already why returning music.com.00:52:52.050 –> 00:53:00.660 Joseph McElroy: And the various tabs if they work through the tabs their maintenance places to pursue them and also my two videos are on that video about Kevin lynch.00:53:01.410 –> 00:53:10.380 Joseph McElroy: saw with all the beautiful pictures pictures make hundreds and i'm pretty sure not together a video there's a video about shindig on the green locally.00:53:11.370 –> 00:53:18.360 Joseph McElroy: leverage books here in waynesville strange for music Scott my album and can you get the picture of a mercantile maddie.00:53:19.170 –> 00:53:34.860 Joseph McElroy: actually got the Chamber of Commerce over there, but the average American music.com can lead you in the first place, and you have your Facebook or anything like Facebook, to look you up there yeah alright cool well yeah Thank you very much for.00:53:36.570 –> 00:53:49.920 Joseph McElroy: appreciate it, and you know it's just it's fun to come up with a song strikes you something happens that makes you want around a song it just feels really good you get it recorded.00:53:51.090 –> 00:53:58.440 Joseph McElroy: she's got a great show here I want you to be here what's nice about the smokies and the culture and everything, are you better than that.00:53:59.640 –> 00:54:00.000 Joseph McElroy: and00:54:01.350 –> 00:54:06.390 Joseph McElroy: my daughter just walk well hey there, this is the gateway to the spotify asked why do.00:54:06.870 –> 00:54:14.700 Joseph McElroy: You want to be on the show the show here my daughter's on this show is the gateway to the post focus podcast you can find out more about us at.00:54:15.270 –> 00:54:27.150 Joseph McElroy: Facebook COM says gateway to the smokies podcast and we're on the talk radio dot nyc network, which is a live podcast network with blocks of.00:54:27.690 –> 00:54:35.400 Joseph McElroy: Everyday alive podcasts that, ranging from small business to travel to self help to any number of things, but it's a really good network.00:54:35.790 –> 00:54:49.800 Joseph McElroy: If you like listening to podcast I would recommend you take a listen to some of the other shows all of us that work, I actually have another podcast on this network called wise content creators well, but we talked about you know, using modern content marketing practices.00:54:52.950 –> 00:55:01.140 Joseph McElroy: To help your business so that's on Fridays from noon until one, so I appreciate it that's an interesting you're just looking at us look us up, but this podcast.00:55:01.500 –> 00:55:16.470 Joseph McElroy: Is every Tuesday from six until seven we talked about the smoky mountains and hey we're county actual and Tennessee even and things to do, and things and doing the culture and the people that are here so take a take a look look up come back again.

Today's guest of Gateway to the Smokies Podcast is Patrick Womack, a Presbyterian Minister and Native of Haywood County, now serving as Teaching Pastor of Bay Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs, Florida.He is a graduate of Western Carolina University and the Reformed Theological Seminary and has been a full-time Pastor since 1992. Patrick is also a renowned local historian and a superb storyteller who has produced many historical works for his family and friends.He enjoys writing, hiking, hunting, and fishing in his spare time. Joseph McElroy and Patrick will talk about Cataloochee Valley in the Smokies.Tune in for this fun conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by Clicking Here.Segment 1Joseph McElroy starts off the show by introducing himself, his relationship with the Smokies, and his drink of choice for the hour. After talking about an upcoming apple festival, McElroy introduces Patrick Womack and asks him a few questions about his upbringing and how he ended up in the Church he works in today. They then go into greater detail about the mentors Womack had throughout his life and how they affected him. Womack recounts his experiences with his grandparents and a terminally ill man and the wisdom they imparted onto him. They finish off the segment with depictions of a few funny stories from their times and sharing a few laughsSegment 2They return in segment 2 to talk about Womack's vintage jeep and how he came to own it. They discuss why Womack feels a connection with history and how it came to be. Afterwards, Womack describes a few stories that happened in the valley of Cataloochee, such as how they could dip a tray into the river and pick up a trout for dinner, and the reaction of the people when they learned that they had to move due to the government.Segment 3They return to talk about the most beautiful spots in the Smokies and the Cataloochee valley that Womack hiked through. The conversation shifts from that to how Womack got into ministry. Originally, he didn't think he was the type to be a preacher, but he first thought about it after running for school president and realizing he could do public speaking well (or as his grandma called it, making a talk). Next, Womack summarizes the history of tiny Indian towns in Haywood County after their territory was pushed West.Segment 4When they come back, McElroy starts off asking why Womack doesn't drink and a few recommendations for barbeque, including in New York. Finally, McElroy asks what a day in Womack's life looks like, discussing the best places for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and things to do between all of them according to Womack.

Cretched and Mike join the show / Some people like the show / Feral Human / The Wild Boy from Germany / The Wild Man of Cataloochee / Joe joins the show / Fauci vs Paul / CV and shortage talks / open lines /  The Sauce Shorage / Blind Shoes / Gas Shortage End Who was Peter the Wild Boy? https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-14215171 Peter the Wild Boy’s condition revealed 200 years after his death https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/mar/20/peter-wild-boy-condition-revealed How to be human: the man who was raised by wolves https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/28/how-to-be-human-the-man-who-was-raised-by-wolves The Wild Man of Cataloochee https://www.smokiesinformation.org/news/tag/wild-man/ Are National Parks Home to Feral People? https://drivinvibin.com/2021/05/04/national-parks-home-to-feral-people/ Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. ▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Phone: 614-388-9109 ► Website: http://obdmpod.com ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/obdmpod ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obdmnews ► Instagram: obdmpod ► Email: ourbigdumbmouth at gmail ► RSS: http://ourbigdumbmouth.libsyn.com/rss ► iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-big-dumb-mouth/id261189509?mt=2 ▀▄▀▄▀ DONATE LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obdm ► Subscribe Star: https://www.subscribestar.com/obdm ► Crypto: https://streamlabs.com/ourbigdumbmouth/tip send obdm bitcoin: 14DGZFByT5U35ZVVvo9SpzbJV6bHuNVJRa send obdm ether: 0x9A16c85CcB3A1B3c8073376b316Cd45F4B359413 send obdm steller: GB3LGRWRLLPCWPKJSYNGMUQIZWCQ35UD3LCQIZJRPTFJOHHM7G4AOOKI send obmd DogeCoin: D6XLEX89ybc55B4eQqz4cyfoctSaorFK9w ▀▄▀▄▀ DISCLAIMER ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Everything we do could be considered performance art ► Satire and Parody are often used ▀▄▀▄▀ LISTEN LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► YouTube | OBDM VIDEOS : https://www.youtube.com/user/ourbigdumbmouth ► YouTube | OBDM POD | 2nd Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrj4SPfo5ySkEnyaQAW5zvA ► Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/obdmpod ► DLive: https://dlive.tv/obdm ► RSS: http://ourbigdumbmouth.libsyn.com/rss ► iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-big-dumb-mouth/id261189509?mt=2 ▀▄▀▄▀ DISCLAIMER ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Everything we do could be considered performance art ► Satire and Parody are often used ► OBDM T-Shirt: https://teespring.com/obdm-dino-wizard?73d3a50c4b#pid=46&cid=2753&sid=front

This week, we will discuss the 5 Entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the North Carolina side of the park.We will explore not only the wonderful natural features, but the small mountain towns near the entrances.‍Tune in for this fun conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by clicking here.Show NotesSegment 1Joseph introduces the segments of today's episode, which will discuss the entrances to the smokies. Joseph found out today that his wife and son got through covid without telling anybody, going into detail about the origin of his son's stoicism. He recites a poem he found that talks about the laid back and free way of living the Smokies bring about. In the last year, the mountains have seen a 16% increase in tourism because people go there to be at ease and feel safe. Joseph talks about the awe these mountains inspire, the twists and turns within, and how this beauty extends into the winter. Every visit is a new adventure, even on the same trails, leaving you feeling refreshed when you go home. When Franklin Roosevelt dedicated this park, he discussed its natural beauty and how it must be preserved. Joseph relates to this as these mountains are home for him, he enjoys the city life and has lived in a variety of places, but always finds himself back in the Smokies.Segment 2An important cultural aspect, the entrances to the smokies can be a fun topic to navigate, with crowds looking for secret ones and fun ones. Growing up, Joseph didn't know where the entrances were, he would go on a trail or a drive and end up in the mountains. The concept of the entrances was new to Joseph, requiring some research even though he grew up a native. Newfound Gap Road, a section of US 441, got its name because it was just that, new found. Indian gap was thought to be the lowest gap until this was found. The Indian culture of Cherokee still remains, along with its beautiful waterfalls and attractions. The masks of the indigenous people are still sold, not as a product of cultural appropriation, rather a means of supporting families. Another tradition in Cherokee culture are storytelling bonfires, which are enjoyed by families and individuals. In addition to the old traditions, casinos have been built, bringing a different crowd and a different type of attention. Joseph reads a quote discussing the approach the Cherokee take to their culture. The next entrance is the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance.On the Blue Ridge Parkway is a visitor center, one of four in the park. The visitor center runs a variety of programs, some led by rangers. There is also a farm museum, which gives an accurate display of farm life in the mountains. On that parkway is a gristle mill, great campgrounds, picnic areas, and trails. The parkway leads to the Sugarlands Valley Nature trail, which is the largest entrance to the park. The Newfound Gap Road runs between the two largest entrances to the park.Segment 3Joseph's favorite entrance is one of the most remote, in the Cataloochee Valley near where he grew up. As a kid, he would go hiking there with his family. In the valley there are a lot of old community buildings that have been preserved. There is a greater diversity of birds in the Smoky mountains than anywhere else. There is also great fishing in the mountains. In 2001, the national park service reintroduced Elk to the park in the valley. The Elk have thrived in the park since being reintroduced to their natural habitat. Often the roads getting into the park through the valley get closed as there are many twists and turns. The Elk have different seasons throughout the year, such as the calving season. By June the calves are out, and in mid summer they can be seen out grazing. The fall is the mating season, the Elk can be heard and seen fighting for mates. They can be hard to find in the winter though. The Cataloochee is home to many great trails that take you to a variety of destinations within the park. Cataloochee is located within Jonathan Creek Valley, where Joseph grew up. Joseph's parents bought the Meadowlark hotel about 45 years ago, moving the family to Maggie Valley. This valley has grown into a small tourist town, remaining to this day home to the authentic mountain culture. The valley is home to world renowned museums, ski resorts, distilleries, and many more attractions.Segment 4Not far from Maggie valley is another entrance to the Smokies in a little town called Bryson City, which is known for its white water rafting. There is a train museum there along with the Smoky railroad, which takes tourists around the towns in the Smoky Mountains. One of the entrances near Bryson City is Deep Creek, which is just three miles from the city. There are amazing trails to hike with beautiful waterfalls. After a few days of rain, many creeks throughout the Smokies are home to great tubing. Lakeview Drive, otherwise known as The Road to Nowhere is another entrance, has a tunnel which runs for miles and leads to a trail. The trail contains old buildings, a lake, and is an outlet to many of the major trails. The final entrance is near Fontana Lake. Besides Cataloochee valley, this is the most remote entrance as you need to take a boat across a lake to get there. Joseph's family owns the Meadowlark Hotel in Maggie Valley. It is a great location for weddings, hosts barbecues, and has great live music. Next week, Bob Plott will guest on the show.

In this episode we look at 7 big hikes we couldn't take in 2020 because of the pandemic, but we're hopeful of getting in in 2021. Those hikes and links to where you can find details on how to hike them are below:Mount Mitchell TrailFind the Alltrails.com route description here.Black Mountain Crest TrailFind a map and additional information on the BMC on the N.C. State Parks website here.Find a route description of the Black Mountain Crest Trail from Hiking Upward here.Sam Knob Loop"Backpacking North Carolina," Trip No. 14Doughton Park LoopVisit the National Park Service site here for information on Doughton Park and a map"Backpacking North Carolina," Trip No. 11North Mills River LoopVisit the National Forest Service site for North Mills River hereStanding Indian AT LoopVisit the National Forest Service site for Standing Indian hereCataloochee ValleyVisit the National Forest Service website for Cataloochee here.Learn more about these hikes on our GetGoingNC.com blog, here.Public lands visitationRead more about North Carolina's record state park attendance in 2020 here.

Kenzie is the boss lady of Cataloochee Sky Weddings and Events - planning weddings is her jam and it was a pleasure to have her on the mic.Some key takeaways:1. Separate from the pack during your wedding weekend and spend some one-on-one time with your partner.2. HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER! There is so much going on during that day...DIY is great, but not when it comes down to the actual day.3. Be weird - stand out. I love that Kenzie embraces the unique qualities of her clients.Book her now: https://www.cataloocheesky.com/

Charlotte is an up and coming young angler full of excitement and enthusiasm! We met Charlotte and her father at the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show earlier this year. She was eager to share her love of fly fishing with us and her passion for the sport is contagious! Charlotte does not hesitate when taking on a moving river, fly fishing classes, or learning new techniques with the support of her father. Charlotte is still in grammar school but she gets in her fishing time and continues to grow as an angler. Talking with Charlotte and other young anglers brings a fresh perspective to fly fishing and shows us the future of fly fishing is in good hands! Charlotte wants to continue improving her skills while sharing her passion with other new anglers. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Charlotte as she continues her fly fishing journey! Guest: Charlotte Bio: I was 3 or 4 years old when I started fly fishing. I really enjoyed it, so my dad took me out fishing more often when I was more comfortable doing it. My dad took me to a place called Bear Creek which is located right outside of Denver, Colorado. I am originally from Colorado, then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2017. My favorite place to fish is Rocky Mountain National Park. Here, we have caught more than 100 brook trout and cutthroat trout in one day! The reason I like it is because it is beautiful plus we would see many elk. Cataloochee located in Smoky Mountain National Park, is my second favorite place to fish. The campsites are nice, close to the river and fishing is great. We also see elk here like we used to see on our Rocky Mountain trips. (On one trip here, we saved a toad from getting run over on the road!!) I’m in the 5th grade. I don’t really talk about fly fishing at school, but I do want to talk to a local Trout Unlimited member and my teachers about trout in the classroom. I have been a Trout Unlimited member for many years.         This is Fly Girl Fish episode 033, first aired on 04/30/2020.

Keith Calhoun is from North Carolina and was part of the 2nd wave of Telemark skiers in Crested Butte in the late 1970s. He helped pioneer some of the early Telemark ski racing during that time as well as influence the equipment that was being used, including Steincomp style boots. He currently lives back in North Carolina about 15 minutes from the Cataloochee ski area and still Telemark skis today. In fact he still spends one month every winter in his old stomping grounds of Crested Butte, Colorado.

Bryan talks with Jonathan Waterman about his new breathtaking hardcover published by National Geographic, Atlas of the National Parks, his passion for the parks, as well as the role humans play in their survival. Jon also shares his list of favorite off-the-beaten-path parks you should visit. Jon Waterman is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and former park ranger. This is the latest resource for Everybody’s National Parks trip-planning to national parks. DISCUSSION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: [1:49] Books by Jonathan Waterman: Running Dry and In the Shadow of Denali: Life And Death On Alaska's Mt. McKinley [2:20] Beyond a guidebook: National Geographic’s role in creating the National Park System (NPS) [6:15] Climate change chips away at natural wonders large and small: Tidewater glaciers, Everglades National Park, pileated woodpecker, Burmese python, cheatgrass [8:03] Landscape fragility study: University of California, Berkeley Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity [10:45] Dire NPS budget cuts for 2020? [11:29] Staying on the beaten path (Part I): loop roads and popular trails at Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park, Glacier Bay National Park [13:52] Limited Access and park privatization: weapons in the fight of loving the parks to death? [16:36] Considering lesser-known park areas: Cades Cove vs Cataloochee, Great Smokey Mountain National Park, College Canyon, Zion National Park, [17:55] Opting out of the Grand Circle: Leaving Grand Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park for less-visited parks Crater Lake National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Gates of the Arctic National Park, North Cascades National Park, Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park, Michigan’s Isle Royal National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park in the Gulf of Mexico, and Utah’s Canyonlands National Park [23:06] Staying on the beaten path (Part II): Visiting Wonder Lake in Denali National Park and Preserve like a tourist...and why that’s okay; National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions [25:07] The city parks: Shenandoah National Park, Saguaro National Park, Petrified Forest National Park [26:30] Park science [28:30] Summits and ceremonial scarves: John shares a favorite Denali memory JOHN WATERMAN CONTACT: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter For complete show notes and blog post, visit everybodysnationalparks.com. We have covered parks including: Biscayne, Crater Lake, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Olympic, Rock Creek, Saguaro, Shenandoah, Virgin Islands, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. We also have special conversations with a diverse group of national park champions. (Ep. 13) Acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns took time out of his busy schedule to discuss the creation and legacy of the National Park Service and celebrate the tenth anniversary of his series The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. (Ep. 14) Author Becky Lomax chatted with Danielle and Bryan about her guidebook and offered travel tips to lesser-known parks. (Ep. 19.5) Ranger Shelton Johnson introduced listeners to the Buffalo Soldiers of Yosemite National Park Actions: Subscribe to our podcast from our website https://www.everybodysnationalparks.com/ Tell your friends about Everybody’s National Parks Send us your national park stories, recommendations, comments, or questions to Hello at everybodysnps.com. Support us on Patreon Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Please tag us from the parks you are visiting at #everybodysnationalparks

Nestled among some of the most rugged mountains in the southeastern United States is an isolated valley that was home to 1200 people in 1910, who made their living first at farming, and then, as tourism developed, by welcoming weary travelers to the Smoky Mountains. On today’s episode - the Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as told through the people who lived there. The audio for today’s episode is from the short film Cataloochee - The Center of the World, which you can watch on our show notes page at nationalparkpodcast.com.

Our family will always have the knowledge that Frank Rogers brought his little family there to teach the children of Catalooch... Don't forget...right now you can get the COMPLETE audiobook of Depression Baby FREE... Just CLICK HERE. Credits Production Writer/Narrator: Ray B. Rogers Producer/Editor/Engineer: Bradford Rogers Additional Voiceover: Bradford Rogers Music Special thanks to Lobo Loco and these talented creatives...! Malte Junior - Hall (ID 738) Lobo Loco - www.musikbrause.de Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND 4.0) After All (ID 943) Lobo Loco - www.musikbrause.de Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND 4.0) Arround the Lake (ID 928) Lobo Loco - www.musikbrause.de Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND 4.0) When The Mockingbirds Are Singing In The Wildwood Frank C. Stanley Public Domain Click HERE to order Ray’s book Depression Baby: True Stories from Growing Up During the Great Depression in Appalachia — and Other Things… https://amzn.to/2H8jqgz

Description: This is episode number 6.1, the first episode in our series on Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bryan and Danielle reminisce about their first camping trip there in the spring of 2017. Support our show on Patreon. For show notes or to become a Patron, go to everybodysnationalparks.com. Discussion includes the following: · Brief description of our trip (3:40) · Cades Cove: Campground, Loop, Visitors Center (4:28) · White Oak Sink Trail to see wildflowers (12:53) · Laurel Falls Trail (19:16) · Cosby Campground (24:15) · First daughter share story of her bike riding accident (25:25) · Cataloochee (30:15) · 2nd daughter shares biking incident and hiking the Boogerman trail in Cataloochee (31:43) · Appalachian Trail at Davenport Gap (35:34) · Porters Creek Trail Near Greenbrier Cove (36:44) · Rainbow Falls (38:30) · Junior Ranger Day at Sugarlands Visitor Center (40:26) · Gatlinburg (43:35) Resources: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cades Cove - NPS Cades Cove Park Limits Access in Whiteoak Sink Area to Protect Declining Bat Populations (3/28/17) Whiteoak Sink Laurel Falls Cosby Campground Great Smoky Mounains: Off the Beaten Path Cataloochee Boogerman Trail Great Smoky Mountains: Kid Friendly Hikes Porters Creek Trail Rainbow Falls Great Smoky Mountains: Visitor Centers  

AVA19375VNB1 - 1993 The program, through historical and contemporary photographs, depicts life in the Cataloochee settlement during the 1900's when it was the largest settlement in the Great Smoky Mountains. Oral history accounts by Cataloochans describe life in the settlement. source link https://archive.org/details/gov.ntis.ava19375vnb1 copyright link https://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Against the breathtaking backdrop of Appalachia comes a rich, multilayered post—Civil War saga of three generations of families–their dreams, their downfalls, and their faith. Cataloochee is a slice of southern Americana told in the classic tradition of Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner.

In 1910, there were 1251 people living in Cataloochee Valley – divided between Little and Big Cataloochee, making it collectively the largest community in the Smoky Mountains at the time. The coming of Great Smoky Mountains National Park brought an end to the community, but the creation of the park also meant the preservation of several buildings in the Cataloochee Valley, providing us a glimpse of what life was like there one hundred years ago. Unfortunately, recently life in Cataloochee hasn’t been so tranquil.

We're doing a special, longer, 45 minute GoSmoky.com Internet Talk Show today. We'll have a guest from the NC Department of Transportation on to talk about the Rock Slides on I-40. We'll also be talking Maggie Valley, NC Skiing. The show is brought to you by the Cataloochee ski area at www.cataloochee.com . It's also brought to you by A Holiday Motel at www.holidaymotel.net . We'll talk to folks from Cataloochee and A Holiday Motel about the ski season, and what it's like dealing with lots of new snow this morning. Join us live, or listen in on the podcast later!

We're doing a special, longer, 45 minute GoSmoky.com Internet Talk Show today. We'll have a guest from the NC Department of Transportation on to talk about the Rock Slides on I-40. We'll also be talking Maggie Valley, NC Skiing. The show is brought to you by the Cataloochee ski area at www.cataloochee.com . It's also brought to you by A Holiday Motel at www.holidaymotel.net . We'll talk to folks from Cataloochee and A Holiday Motel about the ski season, and what it's like dealing with lots of new snow this morning. Join us live, or listen in on the podcast later!

We'll have a short, 15 minute show talking about our 1st day of this year's ski trip to the Smokies. My brothers and a friend of the family are all here with me, and they will join in to discuss the day.

We'll have a short, 15 minute show talking about our 1st day of this year's ski trip to the Smokies. My brothers and a friend of the family are all here with me, and they will join in to discuss the day.

Today, we will be LIVE IN THE SMOKIES. This trip is sponsored by www.SmokiesRentDirect.com. The other sponsors of this trip are Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort (www.obergatlinburg.com) and Cataloochee Ski Area (www.cataloochee.com) . Today, we will spend the show discussing the Cataloochee Ski Area. From skiing to tubing, and a lot more. We'll talk to a representative of the resort. After the show, I'll be spending the rest of the day skiing at the resort.

Today, we will be LIVE IN THE SMOKIES. This trip is sponsored by www.SmokiesRentDirect.com. The other sponsors of this trip are Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort (www.obergatlinburg.com) and Cataloochee Ski Area (www.cataloochee.com) . Today, we will spend the show discussing the Cataloochee Ski Area. From skiing to tubing, and a lot more. We'll talk to a representative of the resort. After the show, I'll be spending the rest of the day skiing at the resort.

Tonight, we will have some of the latest news from the Smokies. We'll also welcome Carolyn and Wayne Williams on the program. They are members of the Great Smoky Mountains Geocaching Club. If you are not familiar with geocaching, it is similar to a scavenger hunt that anyone can take part in. All you need is a GPS device. I've had several listeners ask me to do a show on geocaching, so tonight's the night!! We'll also preview our 2nd "LIVE FROM THE SMOKIES" series. This time it is all about skiing! SmokiesRentDirect.com is once again a sponsor of the "LIVE" series. Also, we have 2 additional new sponsors of this series, Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort (www.OberGatlinburg.com ,) as well as the Cataloochee Ski Area (www.Cataloochee.com .) We will arrive at The Mountain Tower (see it at www.smokiesrentdirect.com) on Jan. 29th. We plan on hosting a show live from Mountain Tower from 8-8:30AM on Jan. 30th. That show will focus on Ober Gatlinburg. We will spend the day skiing at Ober Gatlinburg. Then, from 8-8:30AM the next day (Jan. 31,) we will host another show from Mountain Tower. This show will focus on Cataloochee and the Maggie Valley area where Cataloochee Ski Area is located. We will then spend the day skiing at Cataloochee. Then, we will head home on Feb. 1st. I'll host a "trip report" show similar to the wrap-up show I did after our last "LIVE IN THE SMOKIES" series back in October of 2008. That show will air after Feb. 1st. Tune in tonight for more details on the series!

Tonight, we will have some of the latest news from the Smokies. We'll also welcome Carolyn and Wayne Williams on the program. They are members of the Great Smoky Mountains Geocaching Club. If you are not familiar with geocaching, it is similar to a scavenger hunt that anyone can take part in. All you need is a GPS device. I've had several listeners ask me to do a show on geocaching, so tonight's the night!! We'll also preview our 2nd "LIVE FROM THE SMOKIES" series. This time it is all about skiing! SmokiesRentDirect.com is once again a sponsor of the "LIVE" series. Also, we have 2 additional new sponsors of this series, Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort (www.OberGatlinburg.com ,) as well as the Cataloochee Ski Area (www.Cataloochee.com .) We will arrive at The Mountain Tower (see it at www.smokiesrentdirect.com) on Jan. 29th. We plan on hosting a show live from Mountain Tower from 8-8:30AM on Jan. 30th. That show will focus on Ober Gatlinburg. We will spend the day skiing at Ober Gatlinburg. Then, from 8-8:30AM the next day (Jan. 31,) we will host another show from Mountain Tower. This show will focus on Cataloochee and the Maggie Valley area where Cataloochee Ski Area is located. We will then spend the day skiing at Cataloochee. Then, we will head home on Feb. 1st. I'll host a "trip report" show similar to the wrap-up show I did after our last "LIVE IN THE SMOKIES" series back in October of 2008. That show will air after Feb. 1st. Tune in tonight for more details on the series!