Episodes

Segment 1, December 21st, 2024 Visit the sponsor of the Carolina Outdoors at Shop.JesseBrowns.Com or when in Charlotte. Segment Highlights: Laurel Falls Trails is closing in the Great Smokey Mountains for renovations and rehabilitation. Laurel Falls is 80 feet tall and the trails sees over 300,000 visitors Things You’ll Learn by Listening: New viewing stations and improved parking are being done to manage over-crowding in the busiest national park in the system. The Carolina Outdoors is p...

Segment 2, December 21st, 2024 HB Ratterree has spent time in both states of the Carolinas. He reports to the Carolina Outdoors from Raleigh. His unique view in some newsworthy items that happened in 2024. Segment Highlights: Columbia, SC & Raleigh, NC, have both states and others in the southeast measuring the trend of decreasing population of wild turkeys. Poor recruitment of poults & predators have both been a part of that reduction. North Carolina’s Roanoke River Striper population decre...

Segment 3, December 21st, 2024 One of the busiest people in the world of conservation & in attractions is John Searby. He is the Executive Director of both the Catawba Riverkeeper and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (DSBG). Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is located in Belmont, NC. Searby shares the uniqueness of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden along with the vision and foresight of its benefactor, Dan Stowe. Segment Highlights: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden has over 100,000 visitors each year Hi...

Segment 4, December 21st, 2024 The Laurel Forks Trail is closing for the next eighteen months started on January 6, 2025. Over 300,000 hikers use the trail every year in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. The closure is to rehabilitate and restore the trail, parking, and viewing platforms.the traild for eighteen months. . Segment Highlights: 300,000+ hikers utilize the trail It is located in GSMNP The trail will be closed for eighteen months Things You’ll Learn by Listening: Viewing...

December 14, 2024 A recent fire near the Crowders Mountain State Park remind Bill and about the famed Smoky Bear ad campaign. Segment Highlights: Smoky Bear was started as a PSA to educate about unplanned wildfires The first campaign began 80 years ago in 1944. The real cub rescued from a fire resided in the Washington, DC Zoo had to receive its own zip code due to the amount of fan mail. Things You’ll Learn by Listening: 8 in 10 people recognize the Smoky Bear character and campaign. Th...

Segment 3, December 14th, 2024 Talking to people that are making outdoor things happen is one of the missions of the Carolina Outdoors. This segment features someone that has found the attributes of the outside to make himself and others better. Scott Wurtzbacher is a realtor, podcaster, traveler, adventurer, & now an author. He had a chance to speak with host Bill Bartee about his pursuits. Show Highlights: Wurtzbacher began the Inspire Campfire podcast by talking to adventurers and traveler...

Segment 3, December 7th, 2024 Talia Freeman joined the Carolina Outdoors to talk about Beech Mountain. The Resort had some roadways washed out and communication trouble in the aftermath of the storm Helene. However, these problems were quickly rectified and Beech Mountain Resort is already open for a successful winter. Show Highlights: Beech is bustling with visitors The winter has started well and a strong base of snow exists The hours at Beech on Fri-Sun, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. & Mon-Thur, 9 a...

Segment 2, November 30th, 2024 Superintendent Glen George & his team oversee the property of Crowders Mountain State Park. He’s been the leader since 2017 after serving at other parks in the NC State Park system including Chimney Rock State Park that was damaged by the storm, Helene. George recently spoke to host of the Carolina Outdoors, Bill Bartee, about the responsibilities & challenges at Crowders Mountain State Park. Show Highlights: George shared his staff with other areas in western N...

Segment 3, November 30th, 2024 The SouthPark Municipal District was created by the City of Charlotte in 2022. The goal was to help manage & maintain the successful shopping, business, restaurant, residential, & entertainment district within the city. This is also the home of Carolina Outdoor sponsor, Jesse Brown’s. Host Bill Bartee recently spoke with President/CEO Adam Rhew of SouthPark Community Partners about the area, the changes, & transportation, trails, & green space in the area. Show H...

Segment 2, November 16th, 2024 When we last spoke with our next guest, we had a sneak preview of a proposed restoration project involving NC’s most prolific cold water fish hatchery, the Bobby N. Setzer Hatchery in Pisgah forest. Of course Helene’s devastation brought unimaginable devastation to property, lives, & communities across parts of WNC. It also has caused a possible change of plans to recreational fishing in the mountains. Jake Rash is the Coldwater Research Coordinator for the NC Wi...

November 16th, 2024 One of my charges here on the Carolina Outdoors is introducing you, the listener, to gems along the way. Especially those gems that are right here under our noses. Timothy DeLisle, Director of Software Engineering of the Pisgah Astronomy Research Institute (PARI) joined host Bill Bartee to talk about this “one-of-a-kind” place located in Rosman, NC, whose mission is to make science education & exploration easily accessible. Segment Highlights: A 200-acre campus that first ...

November 16th, 2024 Segment length: 2:30 There are tons of things happening in the Charlotte-area this weekend. Segment Highlights: Novant Health Charlotte Marathon is taking place. Check out the map and prepare for your journey on Saturday. Upcoming at the fly shop in Charlotte, Jesse Brown’s. Brian Hester, author of She Talks to Fish and NC Wildlife Resource Commission biologist Jake Rash, will both be on hand during an open to the public Rocky River Trout Unlimited meeting on Thursday, N...

Who’s been to the top of Africa the most? In the Charlotte-area it is Macon Dunnagan. He started climbing the mountain twenty-two years ago & has done it fifty times. He’s an author, adventurer, & through his climbs he’s been recognized by a North Carolina governor & is currently an ambassador of travel for Tanzania. Show Highlights: He’s been climbing Kilimanjaro long enough to have retired porters that are younger than him. He’s taken ages twelve to eighty to the top & continues travelling ...

Segment 3, November 9th, 2024 How are so many of the places that we enjoy going to maintained? Usually it is active advocacy groups that help care, manicure, & keep clean properties that are impactful to our community. It’s kind of like being a friend. Dewey Matherly has chaired the Friends of Crowders Mountain group for the past eleven years. He took a moment to join host Bill Bartee to share more about the purpose & accomplishments of the Friends group. Show Highlights: Friends of Crowders ...

Segment 1, October 26th, 2024 Producer TJ Boggs recently western North Carolina (Hendersonville, NC) to spend some money. Charlotte’s local outfitter store is the sponsor of the Carolina Outdoors Segment Highlights: Western North Carolina continues to reel from the after effects of Helene & now the economic disaster with the missing tourism. Review of the towns that are asking for visitors & those that aren’t. There is a chance of a secondary financial disaster from the after affects of Helen...

Segment 2, October 26th, 2024 Tree Climbing Stories inspired by seeing the tree canopy from a different perspective. Producer TJ Boggs & Host Bill Bartee share stories about flying drones and climbing trees. TJ promised to help get a friends drone out of a tree that revived Bill’s memory of attempting to to retrieve his son’s drone when he was eleven years old. . Charlotte’s local outfitter store is the sponsor of the Carolina Outdoors Segment Highlights: Drone recovery happened three years...

Segment 3, October 26th, 2024 We try to prepare for the seasons appropriately on the Carolina Outdoors & one of those seasons is already in affect across both Carolinas. It’s deer season in the Carolinas. Ridr Knowlton has recently been featured in a recent Gray’s Sporting Journal magazine, he’s the co-host of the adventure travel podcast Untamed Pursuits, & the author of The Guides – A Collection of Untamed Stories as well as a Storyteller alum at the sponsor, Jesse Brown’s, Charlotte’s local...

Review of the towns that are asking for visitors & those that aren’t. There is a chance of a secondary financial disaster from the after affects of Helene. Western North Carolina does 1/5 of North Carolina’s Tourism & Hospitality trade each year. Since the storm & requests that people not visit, many communities that weren’t affected by the storm are not getting tourists. Show Highlights: Cities that are Welcoming Visitors in WNC: Brevard Hendersonville Tryon Saluda Boone Blowing Rock C...

The county seat of Cleveland county, Shelby, is hosting the North Carolina LIvermush Festival, & Emily Epley from Visit Cleveland County joins the Carolina Outdoors to talk about it. Show Highlights: Livermush is made with pork products, cornmeal, & seasonings that utilize all the parts of a pig. It is a cousin of scrapple that is mainly popular in Pennsylvania & Ohio Shelby & Cleveland County had affects from Helene & are excited to carry-on the festival to support hospitality & tourism in ...

Segment 3, October 19th, 2024 The Carolina Outdoors is celebrating the harvest with the 2024 NC State Fair. Host Bill Bartee speaks with Heather Overton with NC State Fair Show Highlights: Western NC is well represented in this year’s fair. They bring a strong contingent of apples, pumpkins, livestock, & crafts The Flower and Garden Show includes a Mum Tree that is a great place for a photo The Giant Pumpkin Exhibit is getting a lot of attention as the Fair starts There are 70 new foods inc...

Segment 3, October 12th, 2024 We’ve heard the stories of disaster in regards to Helene. We’ve also heard about recovery & communities coming together to aid. Sara Bell founded Green River Adventures in 2006 & later added The Gorge Zipline to the portfolio of adventure & recreation in Saluda, NC. This community in Polk County, NC, was impacted by the rising water of the Green River & felled trees throughout. Sara took time out of the recovery efforts, tree & debris covered roadways to speak wit...

Segment 2, October 5th, 2024 The devastation of Helene has been documented over the past week. The after affects continue along with the good news of communities coming together to help. Adam Suggs has joined us on the program to talk about mountain adventures, back to school and back to college moments. But in the past week he was in Boone, NC, as the rain begins to fall. We’ll find out about his journey from the start of school to being sent home and what he thinks the future will bring. Sh...

Segment 2, October 5th, 2024 Growing up in New York! Going to college in Boston! Taking on a Thru Hike in 1991! James Smith has quite a resume of outdoor accomplishment & adventure in his career. However, what led him to lead one of the hottest new businesses in the Charlotte-region.James Smith started MYOUTDOORJOY a year & ½ ago & it has enjoyed a large amount of growth in helping people be outdoors, learn, & enjoy travel and adventure via membership. Show Notes: Smith is a self-described ou...

Segment 3, September 28th, 2024 David Gaskins always brings great information on the big game hunts from the west. His nickname, First Day Dave, came from prior seasons where he & clients have gotten the deer that they wanted on the “first day” with 7-Jay Outfitters in Sundance, Wyoming. Over the years Gaskin has given us pointers. An emergency situation was added to the list Get physically prepared before a hunt. Walk and improve your aerobic exercises before heading out west were altitude an...