Day Fire Podcast (Dawson Wheeler)

This week we talk with Brad Cobb, who has been racing bicycles for 25 years. His success and podium finishes are many, but what trumps the podium is his family, friends and teammates. Brad states, "I know it’s just a hobby, but I am so happy to be back training and racing! This sport has blessed me with some of my very best friends that I would have never had the chance to meet were it not for cycling. From my teammates and my training partners to my boys at Scott’s Bikes and all the friends I race with from all over the world. This sport is a true blessing." Brad shares some advice, tips and a few of his favorite races.

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This week we talk with Jason Finnell, who was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jason is the mountain bike program director for the Schejola Foundation, and helps open mountain bike programs (with start up grants through the foundation of up to $25,000) for Boys & Girls Clubs across the Southeast.

Jason’s hobbies include mountain biking, snowboarding, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu He has competed in numerous adventure races with his team Adventure Capitalists/BDAR with a division win at the ATOMIC 30 hour. Jason is a BJJ black belt, and is the owner of Veritas Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Dalton, Georgia.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Chris Joice. Chris's talents range from snowboarding to backpacking but the bike has been his passion since 2010. Chris has been a single speeder since 2012 and an endurance rider since 2013. He has raced Dirty Kanza 200, riden the Co trail, raced the TNGA, the adventure/pisgah exposure, Hurican 300, AMLX (512), Unbound XL 350, Trans Virgina 500, Arkansas High Country 1000 and many other gravel and mountain bike races. He loves mapping out new routes in his regional National forests of the Cherokee, Nantahala and Pisgah forests. He rides over 10,000 miles a year and a million vertical feet. He had a streak of riding every day for 3 years until he broke his arm. Chris is also a race director and a co-race director for the Hardford and Waucheesi races and has a Production company known as Darkhorse Race Productions. He also supports and coaches youth/NICA kids and some personal training as well. The bike for Chris is many things from social time to reflection to therapy to filling his competitive and endurance spirit.

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A short outtake with Alice Hudson Pell, Executive Director of TennGreen Land Conservancy! We talked about the TennGreen Land Conservancy’s Hike-a-Thon 2023! It is an event unlike any other in the Southeast! This month-long, virtually-managed fundraising event supports the protection of our natural areas and encourages people of all ages and abilities to explore the outdoors through friendly competition.

The Hike-a-Thon is fun, free, and easy! You’ll simply register online and then get outside in April to compete against other individuals and teams for the chance to win exciting prizes. There’s something for everyone, with competitions for hikers, paddlers, trail runners, climbers, mountain bikers, nature photographers, and more!

Find out more: https://tenngreen.org/events/hike-a-thon-2023/

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Enjoy this selection of stories from Day Fire guests!

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With a record rain fall in the southeast this winter, we talk with Chattanooga creek boater and Rock/Creek all mountain team member Lucien Scott about creek boating. Chattanooga, Tennessee is a hub for steep, tight run off creeks and Lucien is on a quest to paddle over 50 days in a row which he just achieved. Let’s talk creeks, gear, and favorite classic runs.

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This week Dawson and Clint talk all things elk with Brad Miller and Jason Finnell. Brad serves as the Elk Program Coordinator for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Jason is an avid outdoor adventurer and hunter. The elk population in Tennessee is estimated to be between 400-500 and the ERZ (Elk Restoration Zone) covers 670,000 acres centered around the North Cumberland Plateau. They discuss how and why elk were introduced back into Tennessee, keeping the population healthy, the relationship between residents and the elk, why controlled hunts are important, the strategic plan moving forward, and much more!

Brad Miller serves as the Elk Program Coordinator based out of the North Cumberland WMA work center. Brad came to TWRA in 2016 from the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) where he worked as the Regional Biologist for Tennessee and North Carolina. Prior to working for the NWTF, Brad was the Assistant Chief of Wildlife at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission where he also served as the Deer Program Coordinator and supervised the elk program.

Brad is from Knoxville and received his B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Tennessee. His master’s topic examined silvicultural and prescribed fire techniques for improving wildlife habitat. Brad attended the University of Georgia and received a Ph.D. in Forest Resources.

Jason Finnell was born and raised in Chattanooga Tennessee. Jason is the mountain bike program director for the Schejola Foundation and helps open mountain bike programs for the Boys & Girls Clubs across the southeast.
Jason’s hobbies include mountain biking, snowboarding, hunting, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He has competed in numerous adventure races with his team Adventure Capitalists/BDAR.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Laura Marsh. Laura is a field ornithologist and conservation biologist. She is the founder of Nova Conservation, an organization dedicated to connecting adventurers to conservation biology by providing unique, research-focused, ethical ecotours. She has worked as a biologist at various institutions, including the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. Laura also volunteers at Chattanooga Audubon Society and other conservation societies when she's not chasing birds in the field or her two young boys around the house.

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We catch up with Site Seven van company Founder Justin Shipp to talk about van life and growing up with a father and uncle in the RV business. Its always been RV's at the Shipp House and now its always van life.

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

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Another podcast mashup from Day Fire! This time our man - Dawson Wheeler - was invited on 'Explore More' (a NoogaRadio 92.7 segment) with Jeff Styles to talk all things outdoor and podcasting. You may remember Jeff from Day Fire Podcast episode #76. They covered a lot of ground and had a lot of fun! Enjoy!

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This week we talk with Matt McLelland. Matt is a long time outdoor athlete. Matt bought a Sprinter Van two years ago and now you can't keep him out of it. Like all things that Matt pursues, he has become an expert and is highly knowledgeable about vans; and loves his toys! We talk van accessories, upgrades, toys and Christmas gifts.

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This week we talk with Dr. Josh Wheeler. Josh ran his first marathon at age 13, and never looked back. A cross country season in college gave way to 70.3 Ironman events and racing all the way to the worlds. But Josh's true passion is in the mountains. Josh has had much success trail racing but it's never been about the accolades. It's the people, the journey and the mountains that fuel him. Josh tells stories of some of his Ultra Adventures, and then Dr. Wheeler talks Nutrition. Josh gives us a few tips and also gets "his science on" to help us understand fuel and hydration.

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Thanks for finding the Day Fire Podcast! Take a listen to Dawson Wheeler and Clint Powell talking about the new podcast and everything that is to come for Day Fire Podcast!

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Jason Thienel. Mountain running is something that Jason is very passionate about. Being a Mountain Athlete for LaSportiva is a perfect fit because he is always dreaming big in his mountain pursuits. He has several big belt buckles as part of his accomplishments including UTMB and CCC in the Alps, Bigfoot 200, Cruel Jewel 100, Bryce Canyon 100, and Cloudsplitter 100. A few of his passion projects include the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Double Art Loeb and Warner Parks 100. He also has completed the NoNo which is doing the No Business 100 twice, both directions, in one push. When Jason is not running, which isn’t often, he enjoys gravel biking and rock climbing. He can also be found drinking espresso, playing hockey in the backyard with his Weimaraner puppy, Blanche, or adventuring with his wife of sixteen years, Amber. You can also find him at the local outdoor retailer in Nashville, Cumberland Transit, where he is one of the owners and general manager.

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We are talking with Rick Huffines ED of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. Rick joined the Tennessee River Gorge Trust on January 7, 2013; after retiring from a 26-year career of public service with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, where he has worked throughout the Southeast in five different states in various capacities. Most recently, Rick served as the Deputy Regional Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Tennessee River Gorge consists of 27,000 acres carved through the Cumberland Mountains by 27 miles of the Tennessee River. It is the only large river canyon bordering a mid-size city (Chattanooga) and it is the fourth largest river canyon east of the Mississippi.

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This week Dawson and Clint talk with Nancy East on how to avoid and deal with hypothermia. What is it? How does it affect us? What are the warning signs? What should I look for in my hiking buddies? Whether you are just out for a short hike or deep in the woods on a big adventure - preventing and dealing with the elements is vital.

Who is Nancy?

Nancy East has been an avid hiker and backpacker for over 25 years. She has completed three 900-miler maps of the Smokies, and she and her friend Chris Ford achieved a fastest known time (FKT) record during the last Smokies-900 map. and thru hikes of the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Wonderland Trail, Tour du Mont Blanc and many regional trails. Nancy is also a member of Haywood County's Search and Rescue Team, is on the founding board for the WNC Wilderness Safety Fund and is a semi-retired small animal veterinarian.

Staying safe is a key component of enjoying our adventures! Great info and insights from Nancy on Day Fire Podcast!

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Arno Ilgner. Arno distinguished himself as a pioneering rock climber in the 1970s and 80s. In 1995, after searching the literature and practice of mental training, Ilgner formalized his methods, created The Warrior’s Way, and began teaching full time.

Ilgner has taught clinics across the U.S.A. and abroad. He holds a BA in Geology, operated a geological consulting firm, acted as CFO for a company, and attended the Army Ranger School. He lives and climbs in Tennessee.

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This week we sat down with Laurel Creech. Laurel is an enthusiastic, self-motivated and entrepreneurial leader: locally, regionally and nationally . She currently serves as Nashville Tennessee's first Assistant Director for the Division of Sustainability in the Department of General Services. She oversees environmental initiatives including renewable energy, energy efficiency, green infrastructure, waste reduction practices and outreach/education.

Laurel was asked to serve on a US delegation to the EU last year to visit 8 different EU cities to learn about what they are doing to combat climate change--regulatory, programs, and social norms. We talk about why the trip was put together, differences in policies, social norms and best practices. And what can be replicable in the US.

Laurel also shares a big announcement for Nashville Tennessee relating to solar energy.

Previously, Laurel held three positions in the Office of the Mayor for Karl Dean including Sustainability Director, Livability Director and Chief Service Officer. As one of the first ten Chief Services, she has led the development of Cities of Service, a national movement to connect citizens to the greatest needs of cities in the United States. In addition to advising other Chief Service Officers across the country, Laurel served as the US delegate for the launch of Cities of Service UK.

In the Mayor's Office, Laurel also led sustainability and healthy living projects, events and initiatives including the implementation of the Green Ribbon Committee Report, Open Space Plan, and Stormbusters city-resiliency blueprint.

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

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

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

Dawson is back in the studio AND he has put together 4 short stories from a few recent episodes that he really likes! So - give them a listen and share! Story 1: Episode 242 - A Couple Screws Loose / Cameron Muilenburg Story 2: Episode 236 - Chris Joice / Single Speed Story 3: Episode 243 - Shifting Gears With Meaghan Hackinen Story 4: Episode 238 - Jay Curwen: Let’s Race

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This week Clint and Dawson talk with Skyler Baker. Skyler was born and raised on Signal Mountain Tennessee and since he was a child he was immersed in the outdoor community and music scene of the Chattanooga area. Every spring and fall his family camped in a pop up trailer in the surrounding state parks. As a teenager that developed into hiking with friends and doing short overnight trips around Walden’s Ridge. His senior project included work with the Cumberland Trail Conference before setting off for the college of engineering at UT Knoxville. In his second year at UT he went on a whim of a day hike in the Smokies which sparked a love. In my third year he was invited to spend spring break backpacking on Cumberland Island, his first multiple night trip. While working a summer internship in Chattanooga he began to trail run every day after work. Once he graduated that became his hobby and it further developed in the Smokies. His approach to travel also changed as he took trips to South Africa, the Alps, Canada, and Alaska. After running a few ultra marathons he ticked off new trails in the Smokies one by one, eventually completing all of them in July 2020. Following the Smokies 900 he looked for new goals including the SCAR, R2R2R, the Art Loeb Trail, and he even got into gravel biking. Nothing was filling the void so he set his sights on the Pacific Crest Trail in April 2021. After completing the trail he spent a month seeing the National Parks before returning to Tennessee. Skyler shares his PCT experience with us and a few other stories from his adventures.

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This week Clint and Dawson talk with Chris Ford. Chris is fresh off his successful hike of the Continental Divide Trail. This also completes the Triple Crown of hiking which includes the AT, PCT and the CD. Chris along with Nancy East have the fastest known time on the 900 Map of the Smokies. Chris has hiked all the trails in the Smokies 5 times and is about to complete his 6th map. A great guy and a hiking machine you dont want to miss this one.

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Alice Hudson Pell from TennGreen Land Conservancy. Alice is the Executive Director of TennGreen Land Conservancy. In her role, she oversees and directs the organization’s day-to-day operations and provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure TennGreen’s continued sustainability and success. Prior to her appointment as Interim Executive Director, Alice served as TennGreen’s Associate Director for nearly four years, and its Director of Development for five years before that. Alice shares with us that TennGreen was founded by Kathleen Williams in 1998, TennGreen Land Conservancy (formerly the Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation) is the oldest accredited statewide land conservancy in Tennessee. Additionally, Alice shares with us TennGreen's biggest fundraising event, their Hike-A-Thon. TennGreen Land Conservancy’s Hike-a-Thon is an event unlike any other in the Southeast! This month-long, virtually-managed fundraising event supports the protection of Tennessee's natural areas and encourages people of all ages and abilities to explore the outdoors through friendly competition. Registration open on March 1, 2023. Register here.

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This week we talked with Jeff Woody. On August 25, 2020, he completed all of the trails in the GSMNP (aka Great Smoky Mountains 900 Miler Club) in the Fastest Known Time of 33 days and 9 hours…beating the previous record of 43 days set by Benny Braden in 2017. Jeff is a Life-long backpacker and hiker with some mountaineering experience that includes summits of Mt. Rainier, several 14’rs in Colorado, and Illiniza Sur (Ecuador- 17,218 feet). He discovered a passion for long distance trail running around the age of 40 years old and have since completed over 70 ultra marathon races, including an ultra in every state…19 of the races at distances of 100 miles or greater.

Numerous adventures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: -Completed all of the trails on the official park map 9 times (aka Great Smoky Mountains 900 Miler Club x 9) -Completed single day treks of the 72-mile section of the AT in the Smokies (aka SCAR) three times. -Completed an informal challenge (sometimes referred to as “Tour of Mt. LeConte”) which includes all five trails to LeConte (44 miles, 11,000 feet gained) in less that 12 hours…2nd fastest time

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This week Clint and Dawson talk with Alex Kutches. Alex serves as President for Mystery Ranch packs based out of Bozeman, MT. Prior to this post he served as VP Sales & Marketing for Mystery Ranch for 7.5 years. He has also worked with Outdoor Research out of Seattle as President and VP Sales & Marketing as well as with Marmot as Director of Sales for the US.

Alex, simply stated, is "a wonderful, humble person". We talk about the history of Mystery Ranch, pack designs, carrying loads and some adventure stories.

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This week we'll sit down with our friends Ginny Kelly, "Race Director" and Chad Wykle, "Mr. Rock/Creek" and talk all the details of the Stump Jump 50k. We'll cover upcoming training runs, course descriptions, locations of aid stations, what food and drink is available, trail details of the entire course, packet pick up details, Glitter man, camping, and post run fun. Whether you are racing this year, supporting a runner, or dreaming about one day running the Stump Jump, you will enjoy this podcast. Want to see the event? There is no better way than to volunteer--get the details! Profits from the event go to local non-profits. Come join us!

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

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This week Clint and Dawson talk about how to get started camping and backpacking. They talk cost cutting, must haves and being successful on your first few camping trips. A common sense approach to get you into the great outdoors.

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This week Dawson and Clint talked with Joshua and Amber Niven! They are authors of the book 'Discovering the Appalachian Trail: A Guide to the Trail's Greatest Hikes'. Even though their journeys and experiences on the AT came at different times - they found common ground in their love for the trail, its people, and the experiences it offers. Joshua completed the AT in 2013 with some friends and Amber backpacked over 1,400 miles of the AT with her dad and other family members after graduating Carson-Newman University. Amber is a lifelong journal keeper and Joshua is a professional and avid photographer - when they met it almost seemed like a book was inevitable. The layout and content of this book is very unique - offering some historical insights, character spotlights, and fantastic pictures that help the reader complete the journey. Our conversation took us through their AT experiences, their approach to their art, the writing and book development process, and as always - we got to hear some fantastic stories and perspectives. They currently live in Madison , NC with their two children and are living their dream as they become more self-sustaining and watch their kids develop the same love of the great outdoors as they have. A great episode about two people - two different AT journeys - becoming one book!

Learn more about them at www.discoveringtheat.com.

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This week we are talking with Michael Wurzel. Michael grew up in Nashville, Tennessee climbing at Kings Bluff and the now defunct Classic Rock Gym. When he turned 16 and bought his first car, you could often find him camping out at Rocktown and Zahnd on the weekends. His early climbing exploits led him to attending Sewanee for college and earning a degree in Environmental Policy. After a few years of being a climbing bum in Chattanooga, Michael earned a Master's in Environmental Science at UTC, and worked as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Climbers Coalition during its 20th Anniversary and beyond. Michael also worked at the Lula Lake Land Trust and the Friends of Moccasin Bend, always embracing the spirit of Chattanooga to make the place better.

Eventually, Michael got a job at Summit County Open Space and Trails in Breckenridge, Colorado, and gave up the good life in Chattanooga for the high rockies. Now, Michael is the Sustainability Coordinator for Summit County Government, responsible for implementing the county's climate action plan. When not working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Michael is skiing at Arapahoe Basin, the Colorado backcountry, or camping out in the Rockies somewhere, bagging easy peaks.

https://vimeo.com/72118303 http://www.summitcountyco.gov/sustainability

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This week we are talking with Dr. John Anderson. John works as an emergency medicine doc primarily at a trauma center and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. In the winter, John also works in a ski clinic in the Lake Tahoe region during the winter fixing primarily orthopedic injuries. Also John, helped start and teach for our company, Tahoe Wilderness Medicine where they do wilderness medical education courses paired with some adventures like backcountry skiing in Norway and Antarctica, trail running in Chamonix, climbing in Spain, etc. Here's a link for that https://tahoewildernessmedicine.com/ On the side John is the medical director for the Broken Arrow Skyrace Series and has provided care for various ultrarunning races from local trail races to multi-day stage races in the Gobi desert.

From a running perspective he has been running around in the woods for most of his life, from cross country in school to trails and ultra, and had a decent bit of success and certainly a ton of fun in ultrarunning over the last 16 years. In terms of race results, most recently John finished 7th overall at the 2019 Tor des Glaciers in the Italian Alps. This is a unique event, an unmarked 450km (~300miles) route done in a single push with over 105,000 of climbing that has interesting and variable terrain from steep mountain trails to 4th and 5th class scrambles. Here's a link to a race report John wrote for Ultrarunning Magazine for it https://ultrarunning.com/featured/the-inaugural-tor-des-glaciers/ Other race highlights include first American at Tor des Geants 338 km (~200 miles) in 2016, wins at Tahoe Rim 50 mile, McCall Ultra Classic, Old Pueblo 50 mile, Collegiate Peaks 50 mile, Rock/Creek Stumpjump 50k, Mt Werner 50k, North Fork 50k, as well as podium finishes at Wasatch 100 mile, Zane Grey, Silver State, and others as well as other top ten finishes at Hardrock 100 mile, Run Rabbit Run 100 mile, etc.

Dr. John Anderson also has a great family with 4 kids and an amazing wife Janel.

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Day Fire Podcast has been around for years and from time-to-time we like to visit our archives and re-release some great conversations that some of our loyal listeners may have missed! This is a Dawson Wheeler pick: Episode #64 from July of 2020 with Dr. John Anderson!

From a running perspective he has been running around in the woods for most of his life, from cross country in school to trails and ultra, and had a decent bit of success and certainly a ton of fun in ultrarunning over the last 16 years.  In terms of race results, most recently John finished 7th overall at the 2019 Tor des Glaciers in the Italian Alps.   This is a unique event, an unmarked 450km (~300miles) route done in a single push with over 105,000 of climbing that has interesting and variable terrain from steep mountain trails to 4th and 5th class scrambles.  Here's a link to a race report John wrote for Ultrarunning Magazine for it https://ultrarunning.com/.../the-inaugural-tor-des-glaciers/
Dr. John Anderson also has a great family with 4 kids and an amazing wife Janel.

This week Dawson and Clint sat down with some Scouts to talk about their upcoming Philmont Scout Ranch adventure. Tessa Bowers and Timmy Wheatley joined Day Fire via a Facebook live event to talk about their preparation, motivation, gear, and expectations. Plus - Dawson shared some advice and tips about adventure in the great outdoors.

Find out more about Philmont: 12-Day, 9-Day and 7-Day Treks - Philmont Scout Ranch

Find Day Fire on Facebook: Day Fire Podcast | Facebook

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This week we are speaking with Ed Jones, owner of Nutrition World. Ed has co-authored the book Ways to Improve Your Health with leading experts in natural health such as Dr. Mercola, Dr. Sinatra, Dr. Whitaker, and others. Ed has authored over 1000 articles pertaining to nutrition and health over the years. We talk natural foods, supplements, training, rest and recovery.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Mary Cates. From track and field and cross country trails to 100 mile mountain races with a little television producing career sandwiched in between, Mary Cates has been a part of the running community most of her life.

Most recently, she won the Yeti 100 Endurance run as first female and second place overall with a time of 17 hours.
She’s currently a coach with over 100 athletes and she’s still racing on roads and trails all over the southeast.
You can find out more about Mary and her coaching at UnRunning.com

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Kelly Davis. Kelly is the Director of Research at the Outdoor Industry Association and the Outdoor Foundation. We talk about the state of the Outdoor market including participation, consumer trends, and economic and social forces that impact the Outdoor industry at large.

Outdoor Recreation1 is a large and growing industry that accounts for 1.8% of the total U.S. GDP, produced $689B in economic output in 2020, supports 4.3M jobs, and is enjoyed by 164M Americans over the age of 6, about 54% of the total U.S. population. The Outdoor industry has always been large, but the Covid pandemic drove growth across the industry. Notably, more than 10M new participants enjoyed outdoor recreation since March 2020.

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Kurt Smith. Kurt Smith grew up in Lake Tahoe and first faced off with Yosemite’s big walls and rock climbs in 1980. 41 years and thousands of routes later, his accomplishments include three years of competing on the National and World Cup circuit, with wins at the Nationals, twelfth place at the World Cup in 1992, plus a top-20 ranking. He has spent 4 decades opening up new routes in Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Clear Creek Canyon, Rifle, El Potrero Chico, Mexico and other popular climbing areas, with a mission to create “the best lines regardless of the grade.” With over 500 First Ascents under his belt he is not slowing down in his quest for new lines.

But the apogee of his involvement with climbing may be his affiliation and work with the Access Fund (www.accessfund.org) over the years, and his Kickin’ Access Tours. Rock & Ice Magazine named the Kickin Access Tour number 7 of the "Top 10 Most Important Climbing Events of 2001." Kurt spent 6 years crisscrossing the country to throw these climber access events, raising over $100,000 and signing up over 3000 members for the Access Fund. Due to Kurt's huge success in his fundraising efforts for the AF, he was elected to the AF's Board of Directors in 2001, on which he served a 3-year term.

Kurt has called the New River Gorge, WV home for the last 16 years and is the owner of Top Gun Sales. This sales agency is proud to represent Sterling Rope, Evolv, Nemo Equipment, BioLite, Wild Country and Salewa. His territory covers the South East and the Great Lakes and has three amazing employees in Chaz Warren, Wes Napier and Jay Peery. His greatest achievement is being a dad with his 6 year old son, Milo and wife Pei Lee Ren!

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This week we spoke with Liz Anjos, aka “Mercury,” who just finished and set the new women's South to North supported record on the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine. 51 days, 16 hours, and 30 minutes. Liz’s record attempt was supported by Warren Doyle, who was also in the studio with us and is a hiker, educator, and expert on the Appalachian Trail; who set an endurance record on the trail in 1973, completing it in 66 days. He currently holds the informal record for hiking the entire trail the most times (18!). Liz was also supported by family in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and friends throughout the long distance hiking and trail running communities in the Eastern US.

The women’s overall record stands at 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes, set by Jennifer Pharr Davis in 2011 hiking North to South.

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This week we talk with Mike Massey, who is a third generation retailer, owner of Massey's Outfitters, and the founder of locally.com. Locally was founded in 2014 in anticipation of changes in consumer behavior. Mike states, "we saw that shoppers were increasingly turning to internet-connected devices for decision making and that increasingly nearby stores, the brands they carry, and their on-hand inventory were invisible to shoppers. So we built a solution. Today, we help thousands of stores present their selection to nearby shoppers using ecommerce tactics and we provide users with novel last-mile fulfillment options like in-store pickup and same-day delivery."

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Justin Shipp Founder and owner of Site Seven Custom Van Conversions. We talked about building a custom van for you. Considerations when designing the perfect build. How much space, showers, AC units, seating and where do all the toys go? We are also talking about things no one tells you about living out of a van. Trash, water, human waste O My, haha it's just part of it. Living or vacationing in a van this is a fun podcast. Site Seven is a custom van builder based in Chattanooga Tennessee. For more information go to https://www.sitesevencampers.com

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Savana Keeton. Savana is the Operations Coordinator for the Cumberland Trails Conference. Building the Cumberland Trail is a passion project for the dedicated staff of the CTC. The work is hard and it takes experts to build through the rock gardens and gorges of the Cumberland Mountains. The Cumberland Trail (CT) is a rugged, north/south, foot-traffic-only trail along the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau in Eastern Tennessee. Currently there is approximately 250 miles open with 50 odd miles left to complete. The trail begins at Cumberland Gap National Park on the northern border of Tennessee/Kentucky. The southern end is the “Grand Canyon” of Tennessee at Signal Mountain overlooking the Tennessee River Gorge at Chattanooga.

The mission of the Cumberland Trails Conference is to provide paid and volunteer labor, equipment, supplies and vehicles to design and construct the Cumberland Trail under the auspices of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The continued development and construction of the Cumberland Trail is accomplished through a working relationship between the Cumberland Trails Conference (CTC), the Cumberland Trail State Scenic Park, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The CTC, private corporations, foundations, individuals, and others assist TDEC in raising funds for land acquisition, providing maintenance, and further developing the Cumberland Trail.

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This week Clint puts Dawson on the hotseat! 10 questions in 30-minutes! Covering business - adventure - animals - bucket lists - conservation - and more! This one moves pretty fast, is full of stories, some laughs, information, and hopefully entertainment!

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If your stuck in the house, or out on the trail alone.. Here are some stories to enjoy from Day Fire Podcast.

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Clint and Dawson sit down with Shannon Keizer. Shannon had planned to hike the AT in 2020 with her daughter then Covid and her father in law passed away from cancer that May so the trip was put on hold. Shannon decided the best year to hike the trail was this year 2023 and even though her daughter could not join her she left in mid March and hiked the trail in under 170 days. Shannon lives just outside the Smoky Mountains National Park and whenever possible you can find her hiking in her "homewoods". Shannon has been happily married for 29 years, has three adult children and two grandsons. Shannon shares her AT story with us and also how her husband and family supported her on her AT journey. Shannon is an avid hiker who has hiked several long distance trails such as the John Muir and Benton MacKaye trails.

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This week Dawson and Clint sat down with co-founder of Bridge and owner of Huemans Outdoor, Clark Brewer jr. Clarks story is fascinating and ever evolving. Growing up in the inner city did not lend itself to off trail or outdoor adventures, but as a child Clark found a small area of woods near his home and started exploring on his own.

He now helps other kids and young adults discover the peace and confidence that can be found when they connect with the outdoors! Everyone brings different things to the trail - different life experiences, emotions, and perspectives, and they find that Mother Nature has something to offer them each person in their own way.

They covered a lot of ground; from a movie that Clark is in to leading hikes for kids and the journey to get where he is now! Plus - what's next for Clark and Huemans Outdoors. Really good perspectives - stories - and conversation!

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This week Clint and Dawson talk with Jessica Howell-Edwards. Jessica is the Program Director for Wild Cumberland. They are dedicated to protecting the wilderness, native species, and the ecology of Cumberland Island. The complex history of Cumberland Island requires public oversight and stewardship; their purpose is to help educate the public and hold decision-makers accountable. Wild Cumberland supporters work together to ensure the long-term stewardship and preservation of Cumberland Island and its natural ecosystem.

Jessica is a lifelong Georgia resident and mom of four who currently resides in DeKalb County. She offers more than two decades of journalism, marketing, and activism experience – and most importantly, a passion for protecting the native ecology of Cumberland Island.

Jessica writes: "Wilderness experience can transform you, and I firmly believe that those who seek that experience will find it. More than 25 years ago, I was fortunate to have my first wilderness experience on Cumberland Island; because of that, I am committed to ensuring my children and future grandchildren have the same opportunity. I have always been completely captivated by (and drawn to) the Georgia coast: an underappreciated tapestry of rivers, streams, swamps, estuaries, and islands. In that constant state of flux, teeming with life, is where I feel most at peace."

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This week we talked with Shane Adams. Shane is the Marketing Director for Esee knives and Ranndall's Adventure Training. We talk bushcraft skills, fire making, navigation and search and rescue. Shane is certified in swift water rescue at the advanced level, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), and also holds a NASAR SARTECH 1 certification. Shane has spent the vast majority of his life in the mountains of North Georgia. He’s a lifelong cyclist, an avid bowhunter and enjoys spending time in the woods with his sons. Shane is also a fly fisherman, white water kayaker, an endurance racer doing both adventure races and mountain bike races. He also enjoys backpacking and bike-packing.

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Mark Martin. Mark was President of Marmot Mountain for 21 years. Mark is an avid fly fisherman and has an obsession with fishing for rainbow trout in Alaska.

Mark grew up on the Rogue River in Oregon. He has fished his entire life. Mark says he has had a passion for fishing but pretty sure it has “morphed” into an obsession for big trout and steelhead. His first trip to Alaska was almost 20 years ago with the family. Got to experience the vast wilderness of Alaska from many points of view (kayak, boat, plane, hiking) and also got a taste of how different Alaska is for fishing. Mark returned in 2010, as part of a “buddies” trip to the Bristol Bay area for gigantic rainbow trout. These first trips were self-guided, with lots of lessons learned about how to best fish the rivers and creeks, what gear to bring for the day, where to walk and where to avoid, plus proper bear etiquette. He was able to learn enough to succeed on the early trips but also realized that a guide was essential to really access the best locations. Mark explains float planes are essential to travel to the remote rivers and creeks. Since 2010, he has been on 17 trips to the Bristol Bay area for rainbow trout fishing. And while there are opportunities to fish for salmon (Kings, Silvers, and Sockeye) in the area, it is the allure of an Alaska Rainbow Trout that keeps him coming back. They are strong, feisty, and acrobatic unlike any other freshwater fish in his opinion.

Mark shares stories, tips and discusses the fishery, the Bristol Bay area and the grandeur Katmai National Park and lots and lots and lots of bear stories.

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Brad DeVaney Head of Product Development at Litespeed Bicycles. Brad's life on the bike began at 5 and at eight years old he went from top regional BMX racer to national level talent, traveling the country on a national circuit as a factory team rider for Schwinn. As DeVaney grew, so too did his love of riding; if there was a start line and finish line, DeVaney was in. He raced for a road team in the mid ’80s that provided the team with used Team 7-Eleven bikes—providing DeVaney his first experience riding a titanium bike. In the late ‘80s, he discovered a penchant for triathlon, and mountain bike racing.

While working in shops, doing wheel builds and even his own custom frame painting job on the side while in college in the late 1980s, DeVaney would occasionally build show bikes for Litespeed in Chattanooga. The work led to a part-time gig, and with a mind full of concepts and ideas, he challenged the company—during an era of pretty staid round-tubed designs— on how to change the shape of titanium tubes in the interest of improved performance. It wasn’t long before Litespeed offered him a full-time job on the design team.

It wasn’t long before Litespeed—and DeVaney—became in-demand with in-the-know pros. DeVaney was the man in charge creating many of the rebadged Litespeed bikes that riders like Lance Armstrong were riding under different auspices. Once passing muster of the pros (and DeVaney), many of his progressive designs made their way into production and came to define the point of differentiation between Litespeed and any other titanium bike manufacturers.

“I was creating benchmarks, and always wanted to do something remarkable with titanium,” DeVaney says of his job. ”And I still do.”

This week Clint and Dawson sit down with John Davis. John is a Master Scuba Diver trainer with the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) and is also an instructor for Scuba Schools International (SSI). John enjoys teaching people how to dive, and currently does instruction at Choo Choo Dive and Aquatic Center in Chattanooga Tennessee. He has organized and lead dive trips for the last thirty-five years all over the world. John is an avid underwater photographer. We tell stories, ask shark questions and get some details on how to get started in the sport.

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Will Skelton. Will is an author, a conservationist, a champion for our public lands and has a lifetime of adventure and travel. Will has always loved travel of any kind and has traveled extensively throughout the world, including visiting all 50 states, including several times for most of them, and all the Canadian provinces, and has visited over 70 countries in all continents except Antarctica. His favorite countries world-wide are New Zealand, Canada, and Peru and his favorite US states are Utah, New Mexico, and California.

Will has been significantly involved in Cherokee National Forest trails and wilderness preservation issues since the early 1970’s.  He was a leader of the effort that led the United States Congress to protect significant portions of the Cherokee in the 1980's.  Will subsequently edited a hiking guidebook to the Cherokee’s trails, with the help of well over two dozen hikers and writers. It was published by the University of Tennessee Press in 1992 as Wilderness Trails of the Cherokee National Forest; a new and expanded edition entitled Cherokee National Forest Hiking Guide was published in 2005. Currently a third edition is in the works with the trails being hiked in 2021. Will has also been actively involved with the Cherokee National Forest in various trails and land use issues that have come up over the years. Thanks for listening!

This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Lisa Randall. Lisa graduated with the highest honors from Georgia Tech in 2000, She worked full time as a civil engineer while juggling a heavy training and racing schedule. She entered the professional mountain bike ranks in 2004 after 2.5 years of racing, but definitely struggled to see results since she was trying to train at the pro level while working full time. In 2006, she discovered a new addiction, Adventure Racing, and has competed in dozens of multisport races ranging from 3 hours to 5 days. Lisa has had the opportunity to complete the TransRockies Mountain Bike Stage Race as well as the 2013 Trans North Georgia Mountain Bike Race, a 350 mile non-stop MTB race across the mountains of North Georgia. While it was definitely the most physically and mentally draining event she had done, she completed the route in just under 2 days, which is still the women's record. In 2015, Lisa was proud to earn a stars and stripes jersey at the Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships. Being drawn to difficult events, she is a two time buckle recipient in the Marji Gesick Duathlon (2019 and 2023) and one of maybe 4 women who have ever earned buckles in the event's history. In 2021 Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer so her treatment for that was how she spent a lot of 2021 and 2022. By 2023 she was feeling strong enough to get back out into endurance racing and she competed in Expedition Ozark, a 5 day adventure race, where her team was the 2nd US team to finish. She also raced solo at the Chattanooga Epic 48 hour adventure race (2nd overall) and won the women's title at the Solo Adventure Race Championships. She participates in competitive orienteering and has even dabbled in some 50K running events. Lisa is happiest on her bike but generally just loves to be outdoors.

Lisa's passion for athletics, competition and the outdoors led to her voluntary resignation from the engineering profession in 2011 and the creation of Mountain Goat Adventures, which is an event company that specializes in Mountain Bike Races, Trail Runs and Off Road Duathlons.

The creation of Mountain Goat Adventures has allowed her to share her passion with like minded people, as well as given her a chance to really give back to the organizations that provide some of the best trail systems in the Northwest Metro Atlanta area. Between herself, her family members, and many great volunteers, they have logged hundreds of hours of trail maintenance in conjunction with her events, as well as over a hundred thousand dollars in donations to trail groups, with SORBA Woodstock being our largest benefactor.

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This week Clint and Dawson talk with Dr Nancy East. Nancy is a Veterinarian in NC. We talk about taking your dogs out on the trails. The do's and don't of hiking with a dog. What you need to do for your pup while hiking from food, water, clothing to even a funny discussion on footwear. Dr. Nancy East is an avid hiker and backpacker for over 25 years. She has completed three 900-miler maps of the Smokies, and she and her friend Chris Ford achieved a fastest known time (FKT) record during the last Smokies-900 map in Sept of 2020. Nancy is also a member of Haywood County's Search and Rescue Team and is on the founding board for the WNC Wilderness Safety Fund.

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This Week Clint and Dawson sit down with Camila Simon. Camilla is the Executive Director for HECHO. She is passionate about elevating Latino voices in local, state and national conservation efforts, especially when it comes to accessing public lands.

Since she joined HECHO in November 2014, she has worked to broaden the definition of a conservationist, and elevate the importance of Hispanic/Latino generational ties to the land and what that knowledge can add to public policy debates around access to the outdoors and conservation of land, water, and air for future generations. To support this, she has led many advocacy efforts that brought Hispanic/Latino perspectives to the forefront of national conservation campaigns. Camilla also has cultivated a prolific guest blog series featuring Hispanic/Latino stories of connection to the outdoors, stewardship of natural resources for future generations, and conservation leadership. In 2018, Camilla was instrumental in envisioning and forming a mutually beneficial partnership between HECHO and the National Wildlife Federation to collaborate authentically and intentionally lift up our aligned conservation missions and shared values in order to build an inclusive and equitable conservation movement—one that engages all communities in protecting the natural world for future generations. Through this partnership, Camilla is leading HECHO through the joint development and implementation of collaborative projects with the Federation family that bring financial resources, build capacity, and increase visibility for Hispanic/Latino conservation leaders across the nation.

Prior to joining HECHO, Camilla managed the distribution of over $20 million annually in conservation funds at a major foundation, aimed at increasing the capacity of local, regional, and national nonprofits. She also started the foundation’s first composting program to dramatically reduce landfill waste. She has also worked on a number of programs to connect children with nature.

Camilla graduated from Pacific University in Oregon with a degree in creative writing and literature; and then summa cum laude in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School. From 2014-2021, she served as Treasurer of the board of the nonprofit Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, which provides trail maintenance jobs, teaches traditional tool skills to new generations of stewards, and assists the recreating public. In 2020, she was appointed to the Virginia Board of Conservation and Recreation. Camilla lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters, and is enjoying getting to know the outdoors on the East Coast after living most of her life in the west.

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This week Clint and Dawson discuss why city and county Parks are so important. City and County parks and open space in general improve our physical and mental health and make cities and neighborhoods more attractive places to live. With that said most cities are working to provide diversity, equity and inclusion. Not all Parks in our communities past have been "created equal" and there are real barriers to entry. Communities around the U.S. are working to address decades of neglect and inequality. Also, studies have shown the social, environmental, economic, and health benefits parks bring to a community and their people. So its critical that all communities level "the playing field".

Finally our city and county Parks attract tourists, serve as places to gather as groups, relax and provide all kinds of experiences that improve our daily health. They also offer a marketing tool for communities to attract businesses, conventions and host festivals, concerts and athletics events. Parks also serve to help us deal with stormwater and air pollution.

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

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

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Shannon Burke. Shannon founded Velo View Bike Tours in 2012 and originally offered tours all over the country before moving from Austin to Chattanooga in 2016 and narrowing his focus to the world-class cycling available in the Chattanooga tri-state region. In addition to providing custom tours in the region, Shannon produces the Cycle Sequatchie Century & 3 MtnChallenge bike ride in Dunlap, TN, (annually the first Saturday in October), and also runs Tennessee Gravel, which helps cyclists explore the gravel roads of the Cherokee National Forest through downloadable routes, bikepacking info, the Three Rivers Individual Time Trial Series, and the upcoming RELIANCE gravel grinder the last weekend in April 2024. If you are within driving distance to Chattanooga Tennessee you should come cycle this event. https://www.cyclesequatchie.com and check out this gravel two day race in 2024 in the Cherokee National Forest https://www.tennesseegravel.com/reliance

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This week Dawson and Clint sit down with Catey McClary. Catey is President and CEO of the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Catey joined Tremont as President and CEO in the Fall of 2018. A Tennessee native, Catey formed an early connection to the outdoors and first attended Tremont Institute in the sixth grade with her school.

Inspired by her time in nature, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Environmental Biology from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. After graduation, she completed an internship with the Fisheries Department in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and then hiked 400+ miles of the Appalachian Trail through Virginia.

Catey has worked in non-profit administration for nearly 20 years, previously as SOAR’s Chief Financial Officer. She is strongly committed to conservation, having served on the Conservation Trust of North Carolina and their Future Leaders Conservancy advisory board. She has also served as a board member for Alliance For Better Nonprofits. She is currently serving as Board Treasurer for SOAR, Inc.

Her certifications include CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and PADI Open Water Diver. Catey enjoys climbing and paddling and is working on completing all 800 miles of trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Catey shares with us the mission and programs of Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, stories, learnings and their partnership with the National Park. Clint even gets a few questions answered about Fireflies!!!

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This week we talk with Ryan Meulemans who has been exploring the outdoors since an early age. Growing up camping and fishing led to a job as a fly fishing guide and owner of his own fly fishing travel business. In his late 20’s he discovered trail running which has been a consuming passion since. As with everything, he is all in and taking everything to the absolute extreme, 50k races quickly moved on to 50mi and 100+ mile races. His latest adventure was setting an FKT for a double S.C.A.R on the AT in the Smoky Mountain National Park at 53 hrs 45 min for the 144 mile route. When not in the woods his other major passion is wine and traveling to wine regions around the world.

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Today we sit down with Crisler Torrence, a professional outdoor guide and the director of Rock/Creek Adventures’ brand new guide service. Two days after graduating high school, Crisler followed his love of adventure to Tennessee to work as an Ocoee raft guide. Fast-forward two decades and he’s led commercial hiking, biking and paddling trips all over the country, adding Botanist and Wilderness First Responder to his resumé along the way. Tune in to hear Crisler talk about his experiences working as a guide and how he plans to introduce visitors to Chattanooga’s great outdoors.

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This week Clint and Dawson talk about being prepared for Spring and Summer adventures! Where is Dawson going? Where are some special places you may want to visit? What do you need to take with you? PLUS - Clint surprises Dawson with a game of 'What Is Up With This Picture?'! Clint went through Dawson's Instagram pics and pulled up a few and asked Dawson to share the story behind them. Don't worry - the pictures are described and the stories are worth the listen!

You can also find them on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/dayfirepodcast

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This week we talk with up and coming Ultra runner Noah Cochran who was born in 1999. Noah was a high school cross country runner who earned an athletic scholarship at Bryan College. But after one season he transferred schools to pursue Ultra running. He has run a 14:47 100 miler; whoa!!. In 2019 he won, the Chattanooga Mountain stage race, the Georgia Jewel 100 miler and set a course record and in 2020 he has early season wins at Rock/Creek rabid Raccoon 25k, Fort Yargo Ultra 50k, Mass Extinction Elimination Endurance Challenge and Second in Merrill's Mile 24 Hour race.

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This week we catch up with Co-Host Dawson Wheeler on his extended ski trip. We will get a update on the first few ski resorts, what gear and clothing he took and how it is preforming. And finally life on the road.

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This week Dawson and Clint talk with health and human performance coach - Mark Fasczewski! Mark is the CEO of Vantaggio Fitness and Nutrition and has spent much of his time focused on coaching cycling athletes. He shares stories from competing, training, and coaching! Mark has been a personal trainer for over twenty five years and has great insights on how to push and fuel the body. Their conversation covers a lot of ground - working with parents of young athletes, how to buy your first bike, the lessons learned from competition, and much more. Whether it's cycling on the road or gravel - for fun or medals - this was a fun podcast!

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Katrine Hase. Katrine last summer "2023 set out on her bicycle from Jasper, Alberta Canada to ride to Antelope Wells, New Mexico along the Great Divide. Katrine did this amazing trip because she wanted to do something epic to celebrate her 50th year on the planet and her 10th year of sobriety. What better way than to spend two months in the mountains cycling? With the support of family she sets off on this solo journey. Her journey on the Great Divide is uniquely hers with a few detours along the way to fit her needs and adapt to weather, safety, bike repairs and keep moving forward.

Early in her recovery, she realized that she needed to find new social outlets that no longer involved alcohol. She started taking movement classes called Nia, which led her to try ballroom dancing and finally to sign up for an adult ballet class. Luckily, around the time she was hitting limits in dance, she rediscovered biking. Katrina's son was working at a bike shop and starting to get involved in mountain biking. He and Katrina's husband were having a lot of fun on bikes, so eventually she took a leap and purchased a bike of her own. From there, there has been no stopping her. Mountain racing, bike packing and now the Tour Divide. SInce 2019 a few of the events and races she has accomplished.

2019—Won 1st place series age group in citizen category Minnesota Mountain Bike Series; became level 1 certified mountain bike coach and started coaching local mountain bike team • 2020—Completed level 3 coach certification and coached for MCA; competed in women’s comp category in Minnesota Mountain Bike Series (Border Crossing race 1st overall women’s) • 2021—Won 2nd place series age group for Moab Rocks 3-day stage race; 3rd place age group Giant’s Ridge long GRIND; competed in first enduro race in Duluth, MN; completed 100-mile supported 3 day/2 night ride of Maah Daah Hey trail in North Dakota • 2022—3rd place age group Lutsen 69er race. Completed gravel century ride. 3rd place age group Fat Bike Worlds.

Bikepacking trips: Yellow River Loop (Iowa, overnighter); Tour of the Canyons hut trip (video) from Grand Junction, CO to Moab UT (3 days/2 nights); Vapor Trail (video) (Colorado, 4 days/3 nights); Gravel Pizza Overnighter (Wisconsin); solo Maah Daah Hey Deuce route (video) (overnight). Completed Marji Gesick 50.

• 2023—Duo category at 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo (video); 3rd place age group Epic Singletrack Full; 1st place age group Fat Bike Worlds.

Bikepacking trips: Extended Mammoth Gravel Loop (video) (3 days/2 nights); GDMBR starting in Jasper on Icefields Parkway (videos); North loop of Monumental Loop (New Mexico, 3 days/2 days

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Charlie Mix. Charlie is the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Director for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He leads a GIS and cartography lab that supports campus research and serves the greater Chattanooga region supporting applied research projects centered around conservation, outdoor recreation, public health, and community prosperity. Charlie’s work has received international recognition through publications and conferences. When not lost in data, he enjoys being lost in the mountains. Charlie grew up white water kayaking, competing in professional level freestyle kayaking events and worked as a kayaking instructor, a pursuit heavily influenced his career as a conservationist and cartographer. He still enjoys kayaking and riding mountain bikes around the southeast and beyond. Charlie also serves on the board of directors for the Chattanooga chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA Chattanooga) and sits on the steering committee for the Thrive Regional Partnership Natural Treasures Alliance, a partnership of numerous NGOs and agencies working together to promote conservation and outdoor recreation in the region. He has combined a passion for the outdoors and the science of geography into a fulfilling career.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Jay Curwen. Jay is a veteran of hundreds of races...he has been fortunate enough to find his way to the front many times...from ice hockey, pole vaulting, cross country and swimming in high school & college, to a stint as a professional triathlete with 2 Ironman World Championship finishes and several US team appearances...as well as 3 USA Triathlon AG National titles...and finally a USARA National Championship in adventure racing. Jay is also the Race Director of the Mount Mitchell Challenge. Jay shares stories and tips from his personal races and as an Director of one of the hardest races in the southeast.

He has woven his love for the outdoors and competitiveness into a sales career for some of the industry's most iconic brands...Patagonia, The North Face, Kelty, Sierra Designs...and finally, one of the world's finest and largest outfitters, The Nantahala Outdoor Center.

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Eddie O'Dea. Eddie is the first rider to complete the Eastern Divide Trail bikepacking route. The EDT is a 6000 mile dirt centric route from Cape Spear, Newfoundland to Key West, FL. He did this as a fundraiser for Georgia Cycling Association which is a youth cycling organization that cultivates a passion for the healthy lifestyle of cycling across the state.

Eddie is a co-founder of the Georgia Cycling Association and is an accomplished rider with 22 years of racing and cycling adventures under his belt. Eddie has held course records on Trans North Georgia (TNGA), Huracan 300, and Stagecoach 400 routes. In 2017, Eddie completed the Tour Divide. He is also a bike fitter and cycling coach working with clients in around the southeast.

Learn more about the Georgia cycling association https://www.georgiacycling.org to support https://www.georgiacycling.org/tackling-the-trail

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This week we talked with Tish Gailmard, Director of Wildlife Conservation, Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, Chattanooga, TN. Tish has a 20 year tenure with Reflection Riding and is a Tennessee Wildlife Federation 2016 Conservation Educator of the Year. She is also a Federal Red Wolf Species Survival Plan Management Team member, Red Wolf Task Force Member, Red Wolf Blood Champion.

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This week Dawson and Clint talk about search and rescue with Nancy East. Whether you are someone who enjoys a quick hike on your favorite trails or someone who likes to disappear for days at a time – this podcast is important. What can you do to prepare for the unknown to happen? What do you pack? Who do you share your plans with? What happens when things do NOT go as planned? Nancy and Dawson share stories and give advice that will help you go into the great outdoors and get back home safely.

Nancy East has been an avid hiker and backpacker for over 25 years. She has completed three 900-miler maps of the Smokies, and she and her friend Chris Ford achieved a fastest known time (FKT) record during the last Smokies-900 map. and thru hikes of the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Wonderland Trail, Tour du Mont Blanc and many regional trails. Nancy is also a member of Haywood County's Search and Rescue Team, is on the founding board for the WNC Wilderness Safety Fund and is a semi-retired small animal veterinarian. Staying safe is a key component of enjoying our adventures! Great info and insights from Nancy on Day Fire Podcast!

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This week we have put together a compilation of short stories from 6 of our past podcasts. Story 1- Episode #10 with Bill Hodge, "Monkeys in the Forest" Story 2- Episode #35 with Ricky Gates and Fred Doss, "Squirrel, beers and dogs" Story 3- Episode #12 with Grace Ragland, "Coco Claims" Story 4- Episode #05 with Matt Sims, "Grand Teton" Story 5- Episode #11 with Ben Friberg, "Cuba and Tiger Sharks" Story 6- Episode #17 with Matt Tabor, "Hawks and Eagles" and "Wonder Wind"

Enjoy!

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This week we speak with Matt Sims, Chattanooga Renaissance Man, Patagonia Sales rep, and Founder of the Sump Jump. Matt discusses why having many hobbies is the way to go. Fishing, climbing, biking, running, lets do it all!

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Zach Lesch-Hule and Danial Dunn. Zach is the Vice President of Programs & Acquisitions and Danial is the Southeast Regional Manager for the Access Fund. Zach oversees the strategic direction, leadership, and management of Access Fund’s programs, including the Climbing Conservation Loan Program and land trust operations, stewardship and conservation programs, local affiliate program, risk management and landowner support, and our network of regional directors. Zach is based in Chattanooga, TN and Danial works with local climbing organizations, advocates, land managers, and community partners to protect and expand climbing opportunities across the Southeast. He leads and supports stewardship, education, policy, land acquisition, and local support programs in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. We take a look at 2022 accomplishments for the Access Fund and talk about the recent National Climbing Advocacy Conference in Chattanooga and the Petzl Rebolt Trip that was also in Chattanooga on Nov 13-18, The project was a Weeklong event focused on replacing old, bad, unsafe bolts. We close out the show with information on the Access Fund end of year fundraising campaign with: Black Diamond who is matching donations to the Access Fund right now up to $80k. https://www.accessfund.org

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This week Clint and Dawson talk with Chig Martin. Chig lives in Port Angeles, Wa. by way of Rossville Ga/Chattanooga Tn. Chig is a former triathlete turned gravel cyclist. He is part of Team Hyland BWR. Chig let life get in the way of his personal life and became unhealthy to the point where he was hospitalized and weighed 325 pounds and had serious health issues. But Chig said enough and now for 1367 days in a row he has ridden his bike since 9-1-2018. He has lost 147 pounds and at one point had a 52 inch waist and now has a 35 inch waist. Chig is a funny man who enjoys life and is an inspiration.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Robyn Carlton who is the CEO of the Lookout Mountain Conservancy in Chattanooga Tn. Robyn's leadership and her talented staff are responsible for an amazing Partnership with the Howard School which began in 2012. The program has grown from 5 to 18 students and are ready to expand to 30 as soon as the funding is possible. What began as a few students helping with trail development over a Christmas break has become a model of how conservation can be used as a tool to develop youth leadership, enhance academic and social skills, and provide job skills training.Through conservation activities and one-on-one team mentoring, the primary goal of the Intern and Leadership Program is to ensure that all participating students graduate from high school and attend either a university, a technical institute, or are placed in a job.

Additionally LMC works with families and landowners to assist them on a voluntary basis to conserve lands that are locally and regionally important along the 93 miles of Lookout Mountain spanning three states: Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. And recreationally they also partner with area conservation and recreational organizations and businesses to ensure that everyone can enjoy and experience what makes the Lookout Mountain Region so very special. To learn more about LMC https://lookoutmountainconservancy.org

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This week Clint and I sat down with Gordon Seabury. Gordon has been the CEO of Toad&Co, a sustainable outdoor lifestyle apparel brand based in Santa Barbara California for the last 25 years. He also co-founded Planet Access 24 years ago, a social enterprise committed to providing life skills, vocational training and outdoor experiences for people with disabilities. He spent 17 years on the Outdoor Industry Association Board including serving as Chairman and Vice-Chairman. He is currently in several environmentally responsible organizations including being on the Advisory Boards of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund, Alante Capital and Limeloop and sitting on the Eco-Entrepreneurship Advisory Council at the Bren School at UCSB.

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Chad Wykle of Rock Creek talks Trail Running and where to start.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Susie and Jim Framer. Susie and Jim live in Chattanooga. They have been married nine years. They have been racing bikes, ultramarathons, triathlons and adventure races for "ever". Susie is a 2 time TN State Champion in cyclocross and Jim is a 1 time TN State Champion. Together they have won several 12 and 24 hour adventure races and have finished two expedition length adventure races. We talk about adventure races, gear and the Chattanooga Epic adventure race in the summer 2023. This will be a great event for everyone from expert to beginner. You can learn more about the race here.

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This week we sat down with Casey Shaw. Casey is an Innovation Designer in the Outdoor Industry. He was also the former manager of the Forge; Patagonia's R&D Department. Casey was born and lived in Canada through college, where he studied physics. His passion for the mountains took him out on the road climbing rock and ice for a good long time. His experiences in the field had him asking questions such as,"why do you use this equipment" or "why do you dress like this" or "wonder if we were to do it this way?" Casey is a soft-spoken design force in the outdoor industry; many of us today enjoy better clothing and equipment because of his talents.

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Dawson and Clint recount some of the best stories from the year!

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Chris and Sara who are a husband and wife traveling duo who share their adventures through YouTube, podcasting, blogging and Instagram helping others pursue a life outside of the normal 9-5 hustle. Currently they are preparing their 1988 Toyota LandCruiser to ship to Argentina to begin overlanding in South America. We talk about travel tips, share adventures and learn about their new upcoming adventure.

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This is a fun episode from Day Fire! A mashup with During the Break podcast! A short Q&A session with your host - Dawson Wheeler! It promises to embarrass him (maybe) - bring out some good stories - and help you get to know him a little better! Gear - Adventure - Stories - Podcasting - and More all in about 17minutes! Enjoy!

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Mitchell Connell. Mitchell is an avid cyclist who splits his time on the bike between commuting, touring, and riding roads, trails, and gravel. As long as Mitchell’s riding bikes with his friends, he’s happy.

Mitchell works as a bicycle nonprofit professional and freelance photographer and writer. Mitchell is the founder of Two Bikes Knoxville, Two Bikes Chattanooga and is a contributor to The Radavist.

Mitchell has helped grow Two Bikes from a small grassroots nonprofit to a regionally-leading organization that has provided more than 1,000 bikes to underserved community members, more than 50 paid internships to at-risk youth, and helped lead more than 100 community-focused group rides.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Jason Vance. Jason has been riding bicycles for 40 years. He began racing in the late 90’s while at Oregon, focusing on track cycling. After moving to Nevada to pursue graduate studies, He was introduced to MTB’ing by a colleague and would eventually abandon all skinny-tired aspirations. An academic position would bring him to Charleston SC; after navigating the hurdles of tenure (and addressing his neglected health), He fell in love with the rugged trails in Pisgah Forest. Through chance encounters, he stumbled upon the southeast ultra-endurance community in 2018, via Eric Wever’s Pisgah 36, Kim Jordan Murrell’s Dirty 130, and Karlos Rodriguez Bernart’s Cross Florida ITT. He soon found himself craving long miles across the beautiful forest roads and trails of western NC, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia -and any chance he is forced to take a 30 minute nap in the dirt. Currently, he is first to ride all of the ITT's in the Cherokee forest in 3 days. First to do all three on an single speed. First to do the Mountain 430 in the opposite direction. And the first to do the Dirty 130 in the opposite direction.

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This week Clint and I sat down with George Brown; a man of many talents. George had the opportunity to photograph the Grateful Dead for several years. We talk with George about how the Grateful Dead impacted environmental Stewardship, the Rex Foundation and play several songs about the natural world, stewardship and our big old planet. George even tells a story about a mouse.

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We are back with part 4 of our 6 Part Series with Bike Tennessee. This week we have Shannon Burke and Tom Lamb. Shannon Burke has been working with Tennessee Tourism since 2022 to curate bike routes across the state through the Bike TN initiative, initially providing 52 road cycling routes for publication on BikeTN.com and currently mapping gravel routes for publication in late 2025. Shannon has also been running bike tours since 2012 through his business Velo View Bike Tours. In 2019, Shannon created and currently serves as ride director for the Cycle Sequatchie Century & 3 Mtn Challenge, which is an annual one-day ride out of Dunlap, TN, with routes ranging from 15 to 100 miles. In 2020, Shannon founded and continues to operate Tennessee Gravel, which supports cycling adventures in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains east of Chattanooga through a downloadable route library, an individual time trial series, and an annual race/ride in Reliance, TN. Tom Lamb was hired as a Recreation Consultant with TDEC’s Division of Recreation Resources, working directly with local leaders across the state to increase opportunities for healthy living, preserve natural spaces, and make their communities a better place to live, work, play, and visit. In November 2024, Tom was officially named the Greenways and Trails Coordinator for the state of TN and works in the state’s newly formed Office of Outdoor Recreation. His primary responsibilities include; working directly with Area Managers and Park Managers to help establish a trail improvement and maintenance program across the Tennessee State Park system. He also provides support, training, and technical assistance to agencies and stakeholders across the state on trail conservation, improvements, and connectivity to help Tennessee achieve and maintain a high-quality network of greenways and trails.

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This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Zach Lesch-Huie. Zach is the VP of Programs & Acquisitions. Zach leads Access Fund programs in the Southeast and directs their Local Support & Mobilization program focused on supporting more than 120 affiliate local climbing organizations nationally. He is the primary contact for Southeastern access issues, and questions about starting and operating a local climbing group.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Tab Tollett. Tab started road cycling in the mid 90s on up until the mid-2000s. Picked up mountain biking and almost immediately signed up for the Leadville 100 mountain bike race with a great group of guys. He did the Leadville 100 three times with two being on a single speed. From that point he did several other mountain bike races and stage races in Tennessee, North Carolina Georgia and Colorado. Also twice he did the La Ruta de Los Conquistador stage race in Costa Rica. It was all fun and good as a mid pack racer with the occasional surprised good result. Working full time and trying to train 12-14 hours a week to be reasonably competitive in my age group grew tiring and became stressful. He felt guilty training all of the time so in his early 50’s he hung up the bike. Later, Tab was lucky enough to secure a position on the Rock Creek All Mountain Team! He found this super motivating! At age 53 he signed up for a trail race in the Tennessee mountains called the Fiery Gizzard. It happened to fall on his 53rd birthday. He had never been a runner so he was starting from scratch. He figured he could get away with a lot less training hours and still stay in reasonably good shape. Then his daughter Camille, showed an interest in running and started cross country and track in high school. Since that first race in 2017, Camille and Tab have done a couple dozen half marathon-ish distance trail races together.

It’s been a great father/daughter time being able to train and race together. Surprisingly, In early 2021 I had a stroke. Obviously this caught his family off guard because he has always been reasonably healthy, eats well and gets plenty of exercise. It was a setback but Tab recovered. Tab started training again as soon as his Doc gave him the go ahead. Tab says he has done well over 60 trail races so far to date. Tab is contemplating stepping up to the 50-100 mile distance for his 60th birthday in 2024. Tab has always enjoyed having destination races on the calendar. So this year he found a cool tour company (Vagabond Tours) that offered trail running tours on the UTMB course which is also called the Tour of Mont Blanc. It’s a huge hiking destination as well. His wife and daughter joined in and they trained hard for several months to prepare. They basically did the entire Mont Blanc Massif (UTMB/Tour Mont Blanc course) over six days which was a little over 106 miles with 34,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. They carried their hydration packs with foul weather gear, running poles, food, and water. The tour company moved their bags from one refugee to the next. From their start in Chamonix, they stopped overnight in several small towns throughout the week-long trail running tour. The tour covers three countries including France, Switzerland and Italy.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Cassandra Riddle. Cassandra's list of accomplishments, talants, and hobbies is impressive. Yet she also has suffered from Cystic Fibrosis all her life but wasn't diagnosed until last year. Cassandra was an international opera singer and performed all over the world. She was based out of NYC in the 90's and early 2000's, and in 1997 won an Emmy award. At the height of her career, she retired for new challenges and began to run marathons, triathlons and became a talented rock climber. She has climbed both here in the United States as well as internationally. In fact, she just returned from a climbing trip in Greece. She also owned a business that focused on private sport-specific training. She has been a music director for a private school and even taught motorcycle safety. Recently she received a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and now works as a Mental Health Counselor at UTC. How does anyone do so many amazing things, much less do all this with Cystic Fibrosis? Listen to this episode and you will realize that Cassandra is no ordinary person!

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This week we talk to Rob Robinson. Rob is referred to by some as "the father of Chattanooga Trad Climbing." Rob first began his climbing in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1975. Since that time he has completed more than a 1,000 first or first free ascents throughout the region and beyond. His reputation for bold routes is legendary. Rob established three routes at the Tennessee Wall that has become known as the Triple Crown of Southern Roof Climbs, all located at the T-Wall; Celestial Mechanics 5.12c, Fists of Fury 5.12c and Hands Across America 5.12c. He is a Author of three guide books, a freelance writer and most importantly it can be said he put Chattanooga, Tennessee on the map as one of the top Climbing destinations in the United States. Rob is quick to credit his partners, friends and fellow like minded climbers who were a part of this historic period in Chattanooga Climbing.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Bill Hodge. Bill became the Montana State Director for The Wilderness Society in January of 2023 after serving four years as the Executive Director of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation. This role withThe Wilderness Society is his second tour with the organization. During Bill’s first term he started the ground-breaking organization Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (AKA -SAWS). Bill has spent the last 15 years fighting for the preservation and stewardship of some of America’s wildest public lands. From deep in the backcountry to the halls of Congress, Bill has been a champion of the National Wilderness Preservation System. He was the recipient of the Bob Marshall Award for Wilderness Stewardship from the United States Forest Service in 2013 and was recognized by the White House as a Champion of Change for building the next generation of conservation leaders in 2014. Prior to his work in conservation Bill was the Chief Marketing Officer of Action Sports Media and had spent 20 years in broadcasting and college athletics. Bill currently serves on the Board of the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance. Bill and his wife, Laura, call the Flathead Valley of northwest Montana home.

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This week we speak with Mark McKnight, President of Reflection Riding in Chattanooga. Lets talk Forest Kindagarten, STEM Education, Reflection Riding's wildlife rehabilitation program, the Red Wolf Genetics Project, and " Mark's love for invasive plant species," NOT!

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Matt Schweiker. Matt grew up in Memphis Tn and then went to College at University of Alabama. After college he moved West to Seattle, WA where he had his first real outdoor experiences climbing mountains and backcountry skiing in the Cascades.

In 2012, moved to Yangshuo China and worked seasonally guiding outdoor education trips. In the off-seasons, traveled and began bike touring. Completed bike touring trips in Western China, New Zealand, Africa and South America. Matt moved to Chattanooga in 2019 and began bikepack racing. Completed TNGA in 2020, Colorado Trail in 2021, Silk Road Mountain Race in 2022 to mention just a few races and events.

We could do 10 podcasts with Matt and still not have covered all his adventures and races. We focus on his 2021 Silk Road Race in Kyrgyzstan and his upcoming Great Divide race happening this June 2023.

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This week we speak with Jake Wheeler, Brand Manager for Freefly Apparel. Freefly is one of the fastest growing companies in the outdoor industry. Jake shares Freefly's story and also shares his life long experiences and love of the outdoors. Jake grew up in a adventure family. As a "shop kid" on the sales floor of Rock/Creek he had the luxury of hanging out with fascinating young, talented outdoor enthusiasts and athletes.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Laura Killingbeck. Since age 18, Laura has traveled tens of thousands of miles by bike, foot, thumb, and boat; listening to peoples’ stories, moving through landscapes, and seeking to understand patterns of human nature.

In between journeys, she lived and worked for 13 years in experimental communities in the U.S. and Central America. For most of that time she lived in tiny houses, usually off-grid or low-grid, without WiFi or running water.

She now works as a writer and visual storyteller. She often writes while hiking or biking long distances around the world. We zoom in on her recent 5,000 plus mile journey riding to the start of the tour divide in NM and riding north up into Canada. But this conversation is about life, tips on the bike, funny stories and Laura who is an amazing person and wonderful soul.

Laura is the creator of Laura’s Stories https://www.laurasstories.live , a unique, thoughtful newsletter to spark your spirit of adventure. You can also follow her adventures on Instagram or Facebook @laurakillingbeck.

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This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Carey Lowery and talk adventure and bike racing with one of the most accomplished understated people we have had on the podcast; "and we have had many extraordinary folks on the show". Carey is a veteran that served 9 months during Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991) in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. When not racing her bike, attempting FKT's, doing adventure races or just having a long day in the mountains Carey is a Veterinarian in Athens Tennessee who is married and has a 21 year old daughter. Her racing resume is as long as some of her races. Here is two months worth as a sample. Tellico Highlands womens fkt, 12 Hours of the Hill of Truth race 1st, Marji Gesick 100 mile race first female single speeder, Flatlick 50 1st female, Gravel Worlds 2nd in the 50-59 category, 11th woman, and 75th overall. All this from Aug 30 to Oct 29. What a wonderful humble person who has a hammer like Thor. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com

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This week we are talking with Dave Baker, a native and resident of the Sonoran Desert, living in Tucson, Arizona.

He has enjoyed a lifelong passion for the outdoors; at various times taking pleasure in hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, mountaineering, ski touring and outdoor photography. He most often adventures in the magnificent American West, having a special fondness for wild places on the Colorado Plateau including Grand Canyon, Escalante, Canyonlands, Bears Ears, and more.

In 1967, with a childhood friend, Dave launched one of the early outdoor equipment outfitters in the United States, the Summit Hut, which has served Tucson ever since supplying equipment and clothing for outdoor adventurers.

Some 10 years ago, Dave passed the business on to new owners and he now enjoys time spent with family, grandchildren, and continuing outdoor adventures.

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This week we speak with Tim Cleary. Tim is retired from nuclear power/electric utility work. He has run over 30 marathons and ultras. For three years, he has been thinking and dreaming about the Appalachian Trail as he trains and runs the local trails of Signal Mountain, Tennessee. Now retired and with his family's support, he is planning to leave March 22, 2020 to begin his Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike. We talk plans, ideas, gear and training.

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This week we talked with Stan Prichard. After finishing High School it was off to Durango and Fort Lewis College where he quickly quit the cross-country team for adventures, climbing and skiing around Colorado and Utah. All of his time during college that wasn’t spent on schoolwork was spent developing his skills, gaining his medical and technical certifications and trying to work in the outdoor industry in guiding and retail. At the end of college, he borrowed $5,000 against his truck and got his first credit card and bought a 10 acre mining claim outside of Silverton, CO and started Treasure Mountain Hut and Guide Service. For the next ten years, his time was spent guiding, running his business and blowing it all off to travel and adventure.

        In 2013, he sold the business and reinvested his money in real estate and has spent the last 7 years working in Action sports for Red Bull, ESPN, TGR, Scott, Cliff Bar, and Mountain dew building courses, managing operations and logistics, and working with film crews. TV production has been an awesome way to make some money and have big chunks of time off to pursue his adventure life.
        In the last 2 years, he got married on top of the Aiguille Du Midi in Chamonix France, and has taken a full time job as property manager and private guide for a wealthy Family outside of Aspen, CO.  

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