High Country Adventures - Episode 8
Episode 8 features Lees McRae Dual Slalom, Hound Ears Bouldering Comp 2009, Watauga Lake Triathlon, and Bouldering at Grandmother Mountain.
The Lees McRae Dual Slalom event is a fast-paced downhill dual slalom event that hosted collegiate athletes from around the Southeast all vying for the fasted time against their competitors. The sport is one of the most exciting in all of mountain biking because it pits two competitors against one another on a downhill bike track that features big berm corners, nice rollovers, and an exciting finish line.
Our second segment features Fall Bouldering at its Finest at Grandmother Mountain. The bouldering at Grandmother Mountain is some of the best in the entire United States and when the conditions are prime there is no better place to be. Watch as some Appalachian State Alums take turns running up a few of the classic boulder problems that Grandmother Mountain has to offer.
In the third segment follow Turner Boone, Andy Mitcheltree, and Moose Herring for a quick tour of the Watauga Lake Triathlon. The Watauga Lake Triathlon is one of the most scenic triathlons in the state of North Carolina with its incredible views of the Watauga Lake and nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. This year the weather was perfect.as the sun broke through the morning fog and provided visiting athletes with a perfect day in the High Country.
In our final segment see some of the action from this year's Hound Ears Bouldering Competition. The Hound Ears Comp is the first leg of the Triple Crown Bouldering Series that takes place every year in the Southeast. Jim Horton and Chad Wykle do a fantastic job organizing this event year after year and 2009 was no different. All of the money raised from the comp goes to benefit local climber advocacy groups such as the Carolina Climbers Coalition, the Southeastern Climbers Coalition, and the Nature Conservancy. This year the goal was to raise money to help save some excellent boulders that are up for sale at Rumbling Bald. The comp has raised over $5000 so far and donated the money to the CCC.to help with the purchase of the boulders at Rumbling Bald near Chimney Rock, North Carolina.
High Country Adventures - Episode 7
On Episode 7 watch as Andre Largente kayaks the Wilson Creek Gorge, check out some of the action from the Dirty Bird at Hawksnest, watch as Jason Chamberlain & Erich Purpur jump off some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the High Country, and check out the Naked Gods from Music on the Mountaintop.
High Country Adventures - Episode 6
On week 6 of High Country Adventures join Tyler Almond as he fishes for wild trout in the High Country and take a fish-eye view of the underwater world. In our second segment, Jason Chamberlain shreds it up on his longboard on one of Boone's most technically demanding stretches of blacktop.
We went out and checked out the Dirty Bird Downhill Race at Hawksnest last weekend. The weather was less than ideal for a downhill bike race but everyone seemed to be having a good time anyway. Check out the racer perspective of the incredible course as we take you to a helmet-cam segment by Peter Mills with music by the Karloffs. Our fourth segment was provided by Mike Stam and the video montage showcases many of the outstanding opportunities for rock climbing that exist in the area. Mike shot most of the footage (Ross shot most of the rest) and played the music heard in the segment. Check out his blog (movement on stone) for more videos and some great info about bouldering in the Linville River Gorge. Check it out below...
Our last clip is from Damascus, Virginia and shows Nolan Carmack building & playing with Fire. Our closing credits shot is of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from Caldwell Community College.
High Country Adventures - Episode 5
This week, join us as we talk with Wes Stanforth about his recent thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. Wes tells us about the new ultra-light style of travel and shows off the gear he carried on his journey. In our second segment join us as we go to Beech Mountain for the second leg of the Triple Crown Downhill Mountain Biking series. In the third segment watch as Nolan Carmack walks the slackline -a one-inch piece of webbing stretched taut between two points- with music by Orogenic. In our last segment take a trip with Nolan Carmack and Eric Crews to Damascus, Virginia for a tour of a few of the many phenomenal recreation opportunities available in the area.
High Country Adventures - Episode 4
Episode 4 features an interview with Bubba
Goodman about the early days of hangliding & paragliding in North
Carolina, how the sport has evolved, and some info about the Tater Hill
Open. In our second segment on the show we feature some helmet cam
footage from one of the many fantastic mountain bike trails around
Boone with music by the Karloffs. After the break, join Mason Brannon
& Christian Drum as they climb a few classic boulder problems at
Grandmother Mountain. In our last segment follow Mike Mayfield through
the rowdy rapids of the Watauga River Gorge and see what Class 5
whitewater is all about in the High Country.
High Country Adventures - Episode 3
On this week's episode you'll see what it is like to
paddle the Nolichucky River and do a little surfing at Jaws as we go on
board with Andre Largente with the helmet cam. Watch as Justin Hackler
and Andre throw down a few moves in the scenic Nolichucky River Gorge. Also, Jason Chamberlain talks with Kitty Barker at the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show
about this year's event as we show you some of the riders putting their
horses through the jumps. The High Country is stacked when it comes to
outdoor adventure sports--now we even have ziplines. Join us as we
take a trip to Screamtime Zipline
and tour the zippy zip lines. Finally, you'll see our exclusive coverage of the 4th annual Tater Hill Open.
The Tater Hill Open is a paragliding and hang-gliding event hosted each
year on the beautiful high bald of Tater Hill near Boone, North
Carolina. In episode 3 we take you to the top of the mountain and show
you the Tater Hill fliers in action (with a special guest appearance by
a Bald Eagle!)
High Country Adventures - Episode 2
Featured on this week's show is our coverage of the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain. The games were held last weekend and drew the usual staggering crowds that clogged the byways to the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway and caused area roads to be jammed with traffic for hours. The games were a sight to behold, and hear, and this video sampling shows a glimpse of what the festivities are all about.
Part 1
In our second segment, the sound of Pretty Lights sets the stage for Christian Drum's send of an area sport route "Unwritten Law." The route climbs up a steep, white headwall of stone and finishes just below a steep roof with a few difficult moves.
Longboarding is a great way to get around town...when you live at the beach. In the mountains it's a completely different story. You've got to know how to carve it up if you're going to keep your skin around here. Without the quick turns to check speed you'll be straightlining down the road before you know it and bailing off the front into the nearest lawn you can find. Problem is there isn't always a nice lawn to bail into and the pavement is a mean place to slip-n-slide. Jah Chamba shows how to shred, Boone style, at a top secret location.
Longboarding is a great way to get around town...when you live at the beach. In the mountains it's a completely different story. You've got to know how to carve it up if you're going to keep your skin around here. Without the quick turns to check speed you'll be straightlining down the road before you know it and bailing off the front into the nearest lawn you can find. Problem is there isn't always a nice lawn to bail into and the pavement is a mean place to slip-n-slide. Jah Chamba shows how to shred, Boone style, at a top secret location.
Part 2
Click To Play Part 1 QuickTime (non-flash) Click To Play Part 2 Q.T. (non-flash)
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Next week: paragliding competitions from tater hill and more high country adventures
High Country Adventures-Episode 1
Part 1
features Beech Mountain Downhill & Elk River Roadside kayaking
In the first episode of High Country Adventures you'll see some exciting downhill
mountain bike action from the first annual Beech Mountain Triple Crown,
kayaking on the Roadside Elk near Banner Elk, North Carolina, Tim Larick climbing at
Shiprock, North Carolina, and coverage of the 11th annual Blood, Sweat,
& Gears bike ride in Valle Crucis. Check it out...
Part 1
features Beech Mountain Downhill & Elk River Roadside kayaking
Part 2
features Tim Larick climbing at Shiprock & the 11th annual Blood, Sweat, & Gears
features Tim Larick climbing at Shiprock & the 11th annual Blood, Sweat, & Gears
High Country Adventures is an outdoor
adventure sports television series / webcast that originates in Boone,
North Carolina. The show features rock climbing, kayaking, mountain
biking, and other outdoor adventure sports that make Boone one of the
top destinations for adventure sports tourism. Tune in as we take you
into some of the wildest locations around the High Country and watch as
the area's best athletes climb, paddle, and ride across the screen on
High Country Adventures. The show is currently in production and is
scheduled to begin airing on MTN18 on July 15.