Exploration Local
Come journey with us as we explore and highlight the people and places that make the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian Mountains special and unique. We explore the towns, trails, rivers, scenic byways, businesses, and people that fuel the life & adventurous spirit in these mountains. Listen in on this relaxed conversational style podcast as host Mike Andress interviews Authors, Business Owners, Photographers, Athletes, Adventurers, Travelers and Friends who have a deep connection to the outdoors and directly influence the culture of the Blue Ridge. We’ll even explore the many ways nature & the outdoors can positivity influence our health and well being.
- Update frequency
- every 15 days
- Average duration
- 48 minutes
- Episodes
- 109
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Canon EOL, Chas Glatzer Muses About Teaching Wildlife Photography, Blue Ridge Mountains, And His Love for WNC
The Blue Ridge Mountains are synonymous with beauty, adventure, ruggedness, exploration, & discovery. They are filled with iconic trails and highways, and home to a rich biodiversity. T…
Green Race & Big Adventure in the Green River Game Lands, with John Grace
The Green River Game Lands contains just over 18,000 acres of wilderness and lies along the Blue Ridge Escarpment in Henderson and Polk counties. It is home to the Green River which cut…
Old Fort Trails Project Partnership Aims To Help Build A Healthy & Economically Vibrant Community.
In this episode I sit down with the G5 Trail Collective, US Forest Service, People on the Move for Old Fort, and the Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation to discuss plans to exp…
Fonta Flora State Trail: Connecting Mountains, Waterways & Main Streets From Morganton to Asheville
The 100-Mile Fonta Flora State Trail will connect Morganton to Asheville with hiking and biking trails along the Catawba River, creeks, around Lake James, through the mountains and into…
Uncrowded Adventure For ALL Levels: Where Will YOU Go Next?
There are over 1.6 million acres of national forests in Western North Carolina. That means there are FAR more places to explore than just what’s turning up in your social media feed…So,…
First Peak of the Blue Ridge: Gateway to Mountain Charm, Adventure, Wineries & Waterfalls
The First Peak of the Blue Ridge is more than a just day-trip or overnight destination. Here you can explore for days and check out historic downtowns, incredible arts and culture, deli…
North Carolina Lookout Towers with Peter Barr - Part 2
Welcome to Part 2 of the Exploring North Carolina Lookout Towers with Peter Barr. If you missed Part 1, I really encourage you to check out that episode where Peter and I discuss the hi…
Enchanting Vistas From North Carolina’s Lookout Towers with Peter Barr
In the early 20th century, forestry agencies constructed dozens of lookout structures atop western North Carolina’s mountains as the backbone of a fire detection system. Many of these l…
Celebrating 40 Years of Outdoor Adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains with French Broad Adventures
French Broad Adventures is the closest Asheville zipline /canopy tour and rafting package to Asheville, Johnson City and Greenville SC. The whitewater rafting section of the French Broa…
Western North Carolina Mountains: Home To The Largest Concentration Of Outdoor Companies East Of The Rockies
When people think of the western North Carolina mountains they tend to think of natural resources like waterfalls, amazing vistas, world class mountain biking, climbing, and fishing, qu…
Pete Ripmaster, Ultrarunner, Adventurer, Winner of 1000-mile Iditarod Footrace. A Story of Perseverance, Triumph and Redemption.
Pete Ripmaster has always considered himself an athlete, but it wasn’t until much later in his life that he discovered running. When his mom passed away, Pete was in a real bad place pe…
Tryon, NC - "The Friendliest Town In The South." Find Out Why.
You know that feeling you get when you’re traveling to the mountains for vacation or a weekend excursion, and you get your first glimpse of the peaks and ridges…The awe of the beauty of…
Something In The Saluda Air Fills The Heart And Soul
Saluda, North Carolina, a tiny town of a little over 500 fulltime residents, is a mountain oasis with a Historic Downtown surrounded by rugged and accessible wilderness. The 18,000 acre…
Romantic Asheville: The Insider's Guide To North Carolina Mountains
It’s no surprise to many people who are looking for a southeastern mountain getaway…that Asheville, and really all of western North Carolina, is full of things to do and places to see. …
WNC Outdoor Collective: A Gathering Place For Outdoor Makers, Retailers, Enthusiasts & Adventurers
In this episode we sit down with Lincoln Walters. He is the visionary for WNC Outdoor Collective, and owner of Black Mountain Adventure Apparel, a company that provides well-crafted, ve…
Hendersonville, NC: A Vibrant Mountain Town With A BIG Personality
Located in a beautiful and easily accessible region of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and cradled atop a scenic mountain plateau sitting at 2,200 feet in elevation, Hendersonville, NC has be…
Hickory Nut Gorge: Home To One Of North Carolina's Most Beautiful Parks & Two Charming Towns
The Hickory Nut Gorge is a 20,000 acre, 14-mile long canyon that cuts a steep pass through the Blue Ridge escarpment. It is abundant in undisturbed forests, waterfalls, and granite clif…
Exploring Blue Ridge Mountain Communities
Blue Ridge Mountain communities have a special charm unlike any other. From panoramic vistas with breathtaking views and outdoor adventures in some of this Nation’s most beautiful parks…
Tribute To Our Top 5 Episodes Of 2020
This is a special episode where we recap of our Top 5 most listened to episodes in 2020. We’ll discuss them in the order they were released, and we’ll play a few clips and highlights to…
WINTER HIKING: Possibly The Best Time Of The Year To Hike, with Hanna O'Brien of Saluda Outfitters & The Gorge Zipline
Don’t ditch your hiking gear just yet! Winter is actually one of the best times to hike in our southern mountains. What makes winter such a great time to hike? For one, without the leav…