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SHOW #73  August 3, 2016 Intro This week on Episode 73 Smoky Mountains Radio, hiking with baby, and a sneak peak at the new book! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Wednesday, August 3, 2016 and this is Episode 73 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  I am Mike and I am your host here on SMR. Though this show I hope to give you the information you need to have the best time on your next trip to the Smokies and give you a little bit of that mountain magic in between trips. I invite everyone to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time. Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com.  Finally, if you like the show, all I ask if that you spread the word. Now, let’s get on with the show! Hiking with Baby If you have been listening to the show for awhile, you might remember that my very first hikes were on my father’s back as an infant. That is about the only thing that I really ever knew about hiking with a baby. Haven’t ever done it or thought about it…until recently. Well, after my son was born, one of things that we want to do is to instill in him a love for the outdoors and mountains. Not really sure what i’m going to do if he doesn’t like those things. Anyway, as all new parents do, we are learning things as we go, and researching like crazy. The question that is the most frequent and that I have gotten a couple times on this show is, when is it okay to go for a hike with the baby? I asked for feedback on this topic a couple weeks ago. Here are a couple responses:  Dale from West Virginia said, “until they can walk, I want no part of it. Did it, it was a nightmare.” Serena said “it totally depends on the baby. One of my kids went at 5 months, the other not until after he was a year old.” Jeff from Omaha says, “as long as yo

Intro This week on Episode 72 Smoky Mountains Radio, leave with crowds behind, and a special announcement at the end of the show! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, July 17, 2016 and this is Episode 72 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  I am Mike and I am your host here on SMR. Though this show I hope to give you the information you need to have the best time on your next trip to the Smokies and give you a little bit of that mountain magic in between trips. It was good to hear from everyone this week. I appreciate the feedback! I invite everyone to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time. Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com.  Finally, if you like the show, all I ask if that you spread the word. Now, let’s get on with the show! Leave the Crowds Behind It is the height of summer in the Smokies and with it comes the crowds.  Even the backroads have become busy. Trailheads run out of parking spots by 10am forcing people to park far down the road, adding a 1/4 mile or more to the hike. Prime spots at picnic areas must be snatched early or you are relegated to the spot next to the dumpsters or bathrooms. And good luck getting one of those front country camping spots, even with price increases.  Unless you are camping in the Balsam area, you will likely be out of luck. The same goes for backcountry permits at campsites. Each area holds a small number of people, and they have likely been reserved for several weeks already. It is an opportune time to visit for many. Kids are out of school (as are most teachers for that matter), days have more sun than rain, and the weather, though hot, is tolerable in most places. But that brings the crowds, and they come in the millions. The summer months in the Smokies will see over three millio

SHOW #71  July 10, 2016 Intro This week on Episode 71 Smoky Mountains Radio, Where have you been?!?, the world has gone crazy, a trip to the movies, and night hiking! It’s good to be back! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, July 10, 2016 and this is Episode 71 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  I am Mike and I am your host here on SMR. I felt I needed to reintroduce myself considering  it has been about six months since my last episode. In fact, I don’t even know how many of you are still out there, but here I am regardless! Yes, it has been a long time! Life just doesn’t know when to get out of my way so I can do a show. Between a career move and a new baby, there has been no time. I have no doubt all of you can relate to that! In fact, I haven’t set foot in my beloved mountains in far, far too long! I want to thank all of you that reached out via Facebook, Twitter, email, and text to say hello. Some of you reached out with well wishes, shared a story, asked a question, and more than a couple told me to get my big butt back to the microphone. I know I took forever to get back with everyone, but it was good to have conversations with you guys. That has been the best part of doing this show from the beginning. My wife has been after me to get the show back on the road, so I guess I gotta listen to that! Anyway…as always I do invite everyone to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time. Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com.  Finally, if you like the show, let your friends know we’re back and give the show a review in iTunes. Now, let’s get on with the show! The World’s Gone Crazy During my absence, a lot of crazy stuff happened in and around the mountains. There was a suicide from the top of the Spa

SHOW #70  December 24, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 70 Smoky Mountains Radio, I’m Back…..again! And we discuss timeshares in the Smoky Mountains. Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Thursday, December 24 and this is Episode 70 of Smoky Mountains Radio. Yes, it has been awhile my friends. I had the premature notion that I was officially back, and of course, life completely got in the way of that. For those of you that don’t know, my wife and I just had a baby, and of course, everything that goes along with that has pretty much kept every second of the day tied up. Things were not as smooth as expected or hoped, but that is life. The good news is that both mom and baby are now doing well, so everything is back on track, with the obvious exception of sleeping. Really, do babies instinctively know when you want to sleep and pick those times be awake and fussy? And why do they wait until you just finish changing a diaper to make a mess in the new one. Okay, so I could make this whole show about adventures of new baby, but i’m guessing that is not why you tuned in. But sufficed to say, this is our first, and let me tell you, we are definitely learning as we go! Before I leave the topic completely though, we have already been discussing when the boy’s first trip to the Smokies will be. I went, as you might remember, before I could even walk and my first “hike” was on dad’s back to Laurel Falls. So, i’m not sure when I am going to get the little guy out there, but we are thinking sometime in March might be the date. I’ll let you know how that all turns out. It will be a different dynamic for sure on that trip. I’ve never had to pack diapers, wipes, and milk in my backpack before. Interesting to see how that turns out. If you have experiences with this, I would love to hear from you. This is one area of the Smokies that I am admittedly a novice! So if you can remember back to the last time we talked….and I didn’t, I had to go back to the old show notes to figure it out, our plan for this week’s show was to talk all about moving to the smokies. Well, I got in touch with my buddy who was doing real estate out there and they have folded shop and he is now doing real estate in Asheville, NC. By the way, if I ever wanted to move close to the Smokies but not be right in them, Asheville would be my city. It has all the modern conveniences of a big city but has a small town feel. And you are just miles to the NC side entrance to the Smokies. Y

Intro This week on Episode 69 Smoky Mountains Radio, …………….that’s right, We are back here at SMR! It’s a welcome back episode. Tonight, I say hello after a long hiatus, give you a long drawn out explanation about my absence, and get to some of your listener feedback that has been piling up over the last two months. In between, I promise to talk about what we are here for….the Great Smoky Mountains! Let’s Go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, October 11, 2015 and this is Episode 69 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Hello friends! It is so good to be back with you here on Smoky Mountains Radio. It has been nearly three months since the last show and my hiatus, but I am back baby and so glad to be back with you. I have truly missed doing the show and interacting with all of you. Thanks to everyone that that has stuck with me during the time and written me either through email or Facebook while I was gone. Good hearing from Randy, Curt, Wes, Jill, Angela, and more of you than I can remember. I wasn’t able to get back with many of you, but I promise that I read everything you sent, and i’ve started catching up with you. Yes, I needed a bit of a break. All kinds of things happening here at the ranch, but everything is all good. It’s not going to slow down anytime soon, but hey, I missed the show so I decided it was just time to come back. Jill had the best theory…that I am a CIA spy and I was sent to infiltrate a group overseas to secure nuclear material. What a cool life I lead! I had no idea. Good one Jill, but not even close. No, just lots of changes happening at the same time just like many of you out there. But all is well I assure you. Thanks to everybody for the good vibes sent my way. I am planning doing a regular show from here on out, but since life often gets in the way and I would rather not have a show than put out something subpar, my new plan is to do a show every two weeks. That way I can be sure to have shows out on a regular basis. Not sure at this point if I can do weekly or not, so I don’t want to do an on again off again thing. So it is on. The next show will be Sunday, the 25th. Today’s show is going out pretty late. Most of you won’t find it until Monday most likely. BUT, going forward,the show will be available Sunday mornings at the stroke of midnight. I know there are many of you that are just catching the show for the first time, so you have no idea who I am or why you should even care that I have been gone for so

Yes, it is time to say goodbye....for now.  Thanks to all of you that have listened, written,called or met up with me over the last two years. I hope to be back with you in the near future.  All the best to you all, it has been my pleasure. Mike

SHOW #67  August 2, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 67 Smoky Mountains Radio, the history of the the Smokies greatest mountain, Mount LeConte! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, August 2, 2015 and this is Episode 67 of Smoky Mountains Radio...

SHOW #66  June 23, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 66 Smoky Mountains Radio, It’s trip report time! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Tuesday, June 23, 2015 and this is Episode 66 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  It’s been a couple weeks, but it is good to be back with all of you again this week.  I’m Mike, and i’ll be your guide around the 800 plus square miles of the Smoky Mountains and the 150 square miles of towns that border the parks.  If need info about coming to the Smokies, you will find it here.  Put my 40 years of experience to work for you to have the best vacation possible.  Thanks for making Smoky Mountains Radio part of your week, and I hope you find something in the show that you can use on your next trip. I invite you to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com.  Finally, if you like the show, all that I ask is that you help spread the word. Now, let’s get on with the show! Trip Report Well, its been awhile since i’ve gotten a chance to talk to you guys.  I’ve been in the midst of job interviews and all kinds of changes at home, so finding the time to do a show has been a challenge.  I’m sure you can all relate. But i’m back with you and ready to get onto a brand new show.  On the last show, I told you I planned on doing some history all around Mount LeConte, but I think I am going to push that one until next week and give you guys a trip report.  My wife and I just got back from a quick trip and have several things to report to you.  I was hoping to get together with a couple of you guys while I was there, but we were just in and out and ended up running out of time.  I did get to talk with several of you back and forth during the trip

SHOW #65  June 8, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 65 Smoky Mountains Radio, Nightlife around the Smokies, and the confusing summits of Mount LeConte! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Monday, June 8, 2015 and this is Episode 65 of Smoky Mountains ...

SHOW #64  May 31, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 64 Smoky Mountains Radio, How Reliable are Trail Signs and Helicopter rides! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, May 31, 2015 and this is Episode 64 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Welcome to the show everybody.  I’m Mike, and i’ll be your guide around the 800 plus square miles of the Smoky Mountains and the 150 square miles of towns that border the parks.  If need info about coming to the Smokies, you will find it here.  Put my 40 years of experience to work for you to have the best vacation possible.  Whether this is your first stop to SMR or you have been along for the last year, I really appreciate that you took the time out of your day to listen, and welcome aboard. I invite you to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com.  Finally, if you like the show, all that I ask is that you help spread the word.  Tell a couple friends and get them hooked and maybe they will spread the word.  Thanks a lot. And with housekeeping done, let’s get on with the show! How Reliable are Trail Signs If you have stepped out of your vehicle at any time in the Smokies and onto any of the 150 plus trailheads in the mountains, you have come face to face with a trail sign.  They come in all shapes and sizes, but are generally wood carved with information about the hike you are going to take.  They give you distances on the trail to a major destination or trail junction.  The Smokies are among the best marked trails in the nation.  There are signs at virtually every trail crossing.  It is one of the reasons that getting lost in the Smokies is actually a bit difficult unless you decide to walk off one of the 900 miles of trails. 

SHOW #63  May 19, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 63 Smoky Mountains Radio,The Bugs Are Here, Picnic Areas, and Poll Results! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Tuesday, May 18, 2015 and this is Episode 63 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Good to be with you all once again this week.  I’m Mike, and i’ll be your guide around the 800 plus square miles of the Smoky Mountains and the 150 square miles of towns that border the parks.  If need info about coming to the Smokies, you will find it here.  Put my 40 years of experience to work for you to have the best vacation possible. I invite you to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com I got a voicemail from listener Randy this week…not that Randy, but a new one to the show.  Anyway, sorry I couldn’t get back to you right away.  Hopefully you found what you were looking for in Gatlinburg.  It was a jam-packed weekend, thus no show Sunday, so I didn’t even get the chance to check voicemails until this morning.  Anyway, hope you had a good time.  If you are still in town, look in the village shopping center.  It is the first store on your right.  The other one is the last building in town on the way to the mountains on your left. I also got an email from listener Candace this week about two things that I think are both timely and timeless.  Anyway, first off, thanks for all of the compliments about the show.  I really appreciate it all.  Also, Candace is on the ball.  She is planned and prepared.  In fact, if I were doing all that in one trip, I would be exhausted.  But it looks like you guys will have a blast.  You just might need a vacation after your vacation to recover.  Anyway, to your questions…  She real

SHOW #62  May 11, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 62 Smoky Mountains Radio,The best free things to do in and around the Smokies, Parking in Gatlinburg, and Welcome Centers! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Monday, May 11, 2015 and this is Episode 62 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Happy late mothers day to all you moms out there….but especially mine. So glad to be with you all once again this week.  I’m Mike, and i’ll be your guide around the 800 plus square miles of the Smoky Mountains and the 150 square miles of towns that border the parks.  If need info about coming to the Smokies, you will find it here.  Put my 40 years of experience to work for you to have the best vacation possible. I invite you to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com And with housekeeping out of the way, let’s get on with the show! Best Free Stuff to do in the Smokies It used to be that taking a vacation in the Smokies was not overly expensive.  There has almost been things to do besides going into the mountains that will cost you, but the options today are almost limitless, as is what you will pay for the privilege.  The average family of four coming to the Smokies for four days will spend on average a total of $1200.  That is pretty pricey, but it often goes much higher.  And unlike most places that you vacation, lodging is often not the priciest part of a stay in the Smokies.  The biggest expenditure for the average tourist is attractions.  There are a ton of them and they are often priced pretty high, and there are not usually multi-pass, inclusive passes, meaning that buying a ticket to the aquarium does not get you on the Space Needle, for example.  Most of the things are not ex

SHOW #61  May 4, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 61 Smoky Mountains Radio, Why did it have to be snakes?, listener feedback, and our Spotlight Hike of the Week (Kanati Fork Trail)! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Monday, May 4, 2015 and this is Episode 61 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  If you are a new listener, welcome aboard!  We are glad you have found us here at SMR. I am your host Mike, and I am here to bring my nearly forty years of experience in and around the Smoky Mountains help you have the best possible time on your next trip to the Smokies.  Whatever you plan to do and wherever you plan to go around here, we’ve got you covered. I invite you to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com And with housekeeping out of the way, let’s get on with the show! Why did it have to be snakes If you listened to our previous show, I talked a little bit about snakes on the trail.  Well, we are in April now, so it is prime time for the snakes to be out and about as you hit the trails.  Like most people, one of my big phobias is snakes, so if that makes you a little apprehensive about hiking, you probably aren’t alone.  Snakes, spiders, and mice.  Not my favorite three things!  It’s amazing I get out at all isn’t it?   But, spiders and mice aren’t really going to hurt you.  Unless you get bit by a brown recluse, chances are that you are going to be fine.  Snakes are another matter.  After all, we all see spiders and mice.  Doesn’t matter if you are visiting from up north or down south, USA or England, we all see those critters around us.  Most of us don’t see snakes, at least on a daily basis.  So it can be a bit unnerving the first time you come across on

SHOW #60  April 27, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 60 Smoky Mountains Radio, News From Around the Mountains,Time wasters in traffic, and your questions and feedback!  Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Monday, April 27, 2015 and this is Episode 60 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Welcome back to the show.  As, always, I am your host Mike, and I am here to bring my nearly forty years of experience in and around the Smoky Mountains help you have the best possible time on your next trip to the Smokies.  Whatever you plan to do and wherever you plan to go around here, we’ve got you covered. I invite you to check out our website SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on the site .  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com And now, let’s get started with News From Around the Mountains News From Around the Mountains It’s been quite some time since we have aired this segment.  For the most part, I do that so the content stays evergreen and relevant whether you listen to this episode today or a year from now, but there are a few news stories that have great impact or will have impact for a long period of time, so let’s get to it! After a long court battle that we have covered here three different times, the fee to overnight camp in backcountry of the Smokies has been upheld by the courts.   The fee, that started over a year ago state that to stay in a backcountry campsite the the fee is $4 per person per day up to $20 maximum per trip.  You still can’t stay any longer than one night at any one place, which is kind of a bummer.  The thing that I wish would change is how far in advance you can make a reservation.  Right now it is 30 days.  For people that make that once a year or once in a lifetime trip, that is problematic.  If you get to that

SHOW #59  April 12, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 59 Smoky Mountains Radio, it is time to finally open the mailbag and respond to your questions and feedback!  Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, April 12, 2015 and this is Episode 59 of Sm...

SHOW #58  March 29, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 58 Smoky Mountains Radio, our first interview to get a look at the Smoky Mountains from a kid’s perspective! Post-Intro It is Sunday, March 29, 2015 and this is Episode 58 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Welcome back to the show.  As, always, I am your host Mike, and I am here to bring my nearly forty years of experience in and around the Smoky Mountains help you have the best possible time on your next trip to the Smokies.  Whether you plan on going for a walk, hike, trek, or pilgrimage in the Smokies, you have come to the right place for all the information that you need. I invite you to check out our website, SmokyMountainsRadio.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on SmokyMountainsRadio.com.  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com And now, let’s get on with the show. Smokies From a kid’s Perspective This week brings our first interview of the show.  We will get a glimpse of the Smoky Mountains from a kid’s perspective.  The audio does have a little bit of a hiss to it, so sorry about that.  I think we had a little interference in our connection, but some good stuff nonetheless. Check out the episode for in-depth information from Landon. Thanks once again Landon for being on the show.  Great job buddy.  If you have a question that you would like a kids perspective on, send it in to me at mike@smokymountainsradio.com.  I can always bring Landon back on for an “ask the kid” segment or something like that. I’ll put more information about this interview in the show notes and on smokymountainsradio.com POST: We are getting close to the end of our show, but before we go I do invite you to check out our website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com for all your Smokies needs. Next week, I finally will

SHOW #57  March 22, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 57 Smoky Mountains Radio, Getting into shape for the Smokies! Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, March 22, 2015 and this is Episode 57 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Welcome back to the show.  As, always, I am your host Mike, and I am here to bring my nearly forty years of experience in and around the Smoky Mountains help you have the best possible time on your next trip to the Smokies.  Whether you plan on going for a walk, hike, trek, or pilgrimage in the Smokies, you have come to the right place for all the information that you need. I invite you to check out our website, SMR.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on SMR.com.  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com And now, let’s get on with the show. Getting into Shape It is that time of year.  The sun is out and the temperatures are rising.  We are all thinking about that new year’s resolution to get in shape that hasn’t yet materialized.  Yep, i’ve been there too.  But as you start planning your trips this spring and summer to the Smokies, being in shape should be number one on your checklist. Let’s say that when you come to the Smokies, you have no intention of hiking.  Fair enough.  Are you going shopping?  Just going to the tanger outlets in Pigeon Forge can have you walking over a mile going from store to store and that is if you do no backtracking.  I have seen people out of breath sitting on the benches outside stores just tired, out of breath, and exhausted.  They weren’t ready for that amount of walking.  If you simply plan on walking the strip in Gatlinburg, be ready for an average of three miles per day if you go up and down the strip.  Yes, you won’t lose any weight with the chocolate shops, pancake houses, and restaura

SHOW #56  March 15, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 56 Smoky Mountains Radio, The Amazing Randy, the results of our 2nd listener poll, taking a shuttle, and gone fishing!  Let’s go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, March 15, 2015 and this is Episode 56 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Welcome back to the show.  As, always, I am your host Mike, and I am here to bring my nearly forty years of experience in and around the Smoky Mountains help you have the best possible time on your next trip to the Smokies.  Whether you plan on going for a hike, hanging in the mountain towns, or taking in the many attractions, we have all the information you need right here to make your next trip a success. I invite you to check out our website, SMR.com to get all the information you need about your trip to the Smokies. You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on SMR.com.  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com And now, let’s get on with the show. The Amazing Randy It has been quite a week here for Smoky Mountains Radio.  We have had a ton of new listeners to the show and on our Facebook and Twitter Pages.  To all of you that have joined us over the last week, thanks for checking us out, and welcome!  This really got rolling as listener Randy down in Georgia made it his personal goal to get the numbers moving.  He must have told everybody he knows about the show, because they came in droves.  And that is why I say, Randy is amazing.  I had some great back and forth with Randy all week long, and he drove traffic to the Facebook page, the website, and to the episodes of the show.  It was an awesome week.  The guy is committed, that’s for sure, and i’ll say on air…Thanks man, I really, really, appreciate it!  I may have to plan some hiking in Georgia this summer just so I can meet this guy.  Perhaps a section hike from Fontana to Springer Mountain.

SHOW #55  March 8, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 55 Smoky Mountains Radio, Take a break during hiking, a review of our 1st listener poll, and the triumphant return of the Spotlight Hike of the Week.   Let’s Go! Post-Intro It is Sunday, Ma...

  SHOW #54  February 28, 2015 Intro This week on Episode 54 Smoky Mountains Radio, Leave No Trace, I Have the Right of Way!, and our first listener poll.   Let’s Go! Post-Intro It is Saturday, February 28, 2015 and this is Episode 54 of Smoky Mountains Radio.  Welcome back to the show.  As, always, I am your host Mike, and I am here to bring my nearly forty years of experience in and around the Smoky Mountains help you have the best possible time on your next trip to the Smokies.   Whether you are staying in or around the Smokies, whether you plan to hike a nature trail or the Appalachian Trail, and whether you want to ride a go cart or a roller coaster, we have all the information you need right here to make your next trip a success. I invite you to check out our website, SMR.com.  There you will find a wealth of information including hikes from all over the Great Smoky Mountains including length, difficulty, and a short description of what you will see and and can expect as you hit the trails.  If you are planning on staying in one of the surrounding towns, you can find information about those as well.  You can contact me directly by emailing me at mike@smokymountansradio.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/smokymountainsradio or on twitter @smokies_radio.  You can also call the listener line at 865-325 9784.  Finally, of course, every one of our shows can be found on the website for you to stream or download. Of course, you can make sure you get episodes the moment they are released by subscribing to the show via iTunes or stitcher.  Leave me a review while you are there.  Those links can also be found on SMR.com.  If you have anything you would like me to cover on the show, please feel free to contact me at any time.  Again, all the ways to reach me are right on the website at SmokyMountainsRadio.com And now, let’s get on with the show.   Leave No Trace Benny inspired our first segment of the show this week which is all about Leave No Trace.  You might remember me railing against Laurel Falls a couple weeks ago.  I mentioned bad hiker etiquette adding to the problems on that trail.  But if you are an infrequent visitor to the mountains, you might not even know about these basic principles.  There are seven Leave No Trace principals, and they apply not only to the Smoky Mountains, but any place that you decide to hike.  Following these basic things keep the mountains beautiful and ensure that it is there to enjoy for you