Category: Outdoor Gear

Important Perspectives On Working Together To Ensure A Vibrant Future For The Outdoor Economy And Our Outdoor Communities w/ Gayle Conelly Manchin & D. Reid Wilson

Posted on By Exploration Local
Adventure, Conservation, Land Management, Mental Health & Well-Being, Mountains, Outdoor Gear, Outdoor Industry Economy, Tourism

Outdoor Economy Conference I recently had the privilege of attending the 4th Annual Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina, where 600 outdoor industry businesses, conservationists, public land managers, development experts, nonprofit & government leaders, and entrepreneurs are looking to grow the outdoor industry in their communities and craft an economy that’s intimately tied to … Read More “Important Perspectives On Working Together To Ensure A Vibrant Future For The Outdoor Economy And Our Outdoor Communities w/ Gayle Conelly Manchin & D. Reid Wilson” »

Kitsbow: On A Mission To Make Riding Better, And To Make The Apparel Industry Better (Made In The USA)

Posted on By Exploration Local
Mountain Biking, Outdoor Apparel, Outdoor Gear

DECLINE OF U.S. BASED APPAREL MANUFACTURING In 1975, 80% of the clothes Americans purchased were made in the USA, but in the 1980’s, the decline in American made apparel began. By the 1990’s almost no apparel was manufactured in the USA.  Western North Carolina fell victim to this overseas manufacturing trend. In the ’70s, there … Read More “Kitsbow: On A Mission To Make Riding Better, And To Make The Apparel Industry Better (Made In The USA)” »

Chas Glatzer (Canon EOL) Muses About Teaching Wildlife Photography, Blue Ridge Mountains, And His Love for WNC

Posted on By Exploration Local
Outdoor Gear, Photography

The Blue Ridge Mountains are synonymous with beauty, adventure, ruggedness, exploration, & discovery. They are filled with iconic trails and highways, and home to a rich biodiversity. They contain the most incredible waterfalls & wildlife, trails, and rivers, hunting and fishing…and our quaint, throw-back mountain towns are growing increasingly popular as people look to escape … Read More “Chas Glatzer (Canon EOL) Muses About Teaching Wildlife Photography, Blue Ridge Mountains, And His Love for WNC” »

Western North Carolina Mountains: Home To The Largest Concentration Of Outdoor Companies East Of The Rockies

Posted on By Exploration Local
Mountains, Outdoor Apparel, Outdoor Gear, Small Business, Tourism

When people think of the western North Carolina mountains they tend to think of natural resources like waterfalls, amazing vistas, world class mountain biking, climbing, and fishing, quaint adventure towns, thousands of miles of trails for hiking and backpacking and epic southeastern whitewater. Now, those are definitely accurate depictions of what the western North Carolina … Read More “Western North Carolina Mountains: Home To The Largest Concentration Of Outdoor Companies East Of The Rockies” »

WNC Outdoor Collective: A Gathering Place For Outdoor Makers, Retailers, Enthusiasts & Adventurers

Posted on By Exploration Local
Outdoor Apparel, Outdoor Gear, Small Business, Tourism

A Gathering Place For Outdoor Makers, Retailers, Enthusiasts & Adventurers In the heart of downtown Black Mountain NC, rising from a historic abandoned building originally built in 1915, a renovation with a modern, rustic, industrial vibe is nearing completion. It is called the WNC Outdoor Collective. In this episode we sit down with Lincoln Walters. … Read More “WNC Outdoor Collective: A Gathering Place For Outdoor Makers, Retailers, Enthusiasts & Adventurers” »