>> HELLO.
SO, I'M LITERALLY, AS YOU SEE,
ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN.
I'M TRYING TO KIND OF
PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE
WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN HERE.
HIGHLINING... A LINE THAT'S
BETWEEN, LIKE, TWO LEDGES,
WHERE IN THE PAST
THE CLOSEST I'VE COME
TO DOING THAT IS A SLACK
LINE BETWEEN TWO TREES
ABOUT TWO FEET OFF THE GROUND.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I THINK
WE'RE GONNA BE A LOT HIGHER
THAN THAT TODAY.
SO, AH, FINGERS CROSSED.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> I'M ERICK BAKER,
AND I'VE SPENT MY LIFE
CROSSING THE SOUTHEAST ON TOUR
AS A SINGER-SONGWRITER.
BUT I RECENTLY REALIZED
I WAS ALWAYS HEADED
TO THE NEXT TOWN INSTEAD OF
SEEING THE SIGHTS ALONG THE WAY.
SO, I TEAMED UP WITH MY FRIEND,
AERIAL NICOLE,
TO CHECK OUT WHAT
WE'VE BEEN MISSING.
♪ THERE'S A PLACE ♪
♪ YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ♪
♪ THAT'S RIGHT WHERE ♪
♪ YOU WANT TO BE ♪♪
>> WE HOPE TO TAKE YOU
TO PLACES YOU NEVER KNEW
EXISTED OR WHERE YOU'VE
ALWAYS DREAMED OF GOING.
♪ UNCHARTED ♪
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES
IN MY LIFE WHERE I'VE JUST
NOT FELT LIKE THE UNIVERSE
CUT ME ANY SLACK.
IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH TO GET
A FLAT TIRE, FOR EXAMPLE.
IT WOULD INEVITABLY BE ON
THE WAY TO A HUGE MEETING
ABOUT MY CAREER,
AND THERE WOULD HAVE
ALSO BEEN A FAMILY FEUD
MOMENTS BEFOREHAND.
FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS,
HEALTH WOES,
FAMILY SQUABBLES,
GETTING FIRED, LOST,
THESE ARE ALL THINGS
THAT NEVER SEEM TO HIT
AT A GOOD TIME.
BUT AS BAD AS THESE
STRINGS OF LUCK MAY SEEM,
I ALSO KNOW THAT
I'M IN GOOD COMPANY,
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE THEM.
AND WHILE WE TEND TO
FEEL INCREDIBLY ALONE
IN THESE TOUGH TIMES,
LIKE THE UNIVERSE IS AIMING
ALL ITS POOPY POTENTIAL
SOLELY IN OUR DIRECTION,
WE'RE ACTUALLY FINDING OURSELVES
IN SOME OF THE MOST
DEFINING MOMENTS
OF WHAT MAKES US ALIVE
AND HUMAN... STRUGGLE.
LOOKING OUT OVER
THE LUSH HILLS
OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA,
THE PERSPECTIVE IS
PRETTY PICTURESQUE.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE,
LIFE IN HILL COUNTRY
CAN BE HARD.
BECAUSE AS MUCH AS
BEAUTY ABOUNDS HERE,
SO DO OBSTACLES AROUND THINGS
THAT US FLAT GROUND FOLK
TAKE FOR GRANTED.
SO, IN THIS EPISODE OF
TENNESSEE VALLEY UNCHARTED
I'M CONNECTING WITH A
FEW OF THE COMMUNITIES
THAT CALL THESE CAPTIVATING
RIDGES AND VALLEYS HOME.
AND ALONG THE WAY,
I'M HOPING TO LEARN
HOW THEY'RE CREATING A BETTER
LIFE FOR THOSE AROUND THEM,
AS WELL AS OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
THAT OTHERS WOULD
FIND OVERWHELMING.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> OVER THE LAST FIVE SEASONS,
I FOUND THAT THE DEFINITION
OF EXTREME IS REALLY
A MATTER OF OPINION.
LATER ON IN THIS TRIP,
I'VE LINED UP AN ADVENTURE
THAT WILL LEAD ME
SEVERAL STEPS FURTHER
OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE.
AND WHILE I'M A LITTLE SCARED,
I'M ALSO PRETTY PSYCHED.
ESPECIALLY SINCE WARMING UP
ON THIS ROPES COURSE
WILL SURELY REMIND ME
THAT I'M STRONGER THAN I THINK.
>> SO, HOW HIGH ARE WE
RIGHT NOW?
>> WE ARE ABOUT 50, 55 FEET
IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW.
>> AND YOU'RE FULLY
PREPARED TO SAVE ME?
>> YEAH, WE'VE GOT A RESCUE BAG
AND EVERYTHING.
>> ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
>> GOT IT CLOSE BY.
WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> OKAY.
(GRUNTS)
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> GOOD JOB.
>>  THERE'S ONE.
>> YOU'RE MAKING THIS THING
LOOK EASY ACTUALLY.
>> YES.
>> WELL DONE.
>> OH.
>>  WELL DONE,
THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
>>  HUH?
>> FOR A FIRST TIME
COMING ACROSS THIS,
THAT WAS AWESOME.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE HERE.
>> LET'S SEE YOU TACKLE
THIS ONE.
>> WHEE. (CHUCKLES)
>> THIS IS THE FUN PART.
>> WHEE, ALL RIGHT.
>> WELL DONE, THERE YOU GO.
>> THAT IS A LONG WAY DOWN.
(LAUGHING)
>> I'M SO GLAD I WORKED OUT
LIKE 10 YEARS AGO.
IT'S REALLY PAYING OFF.
>> GOOD, 'CAUSE I THINK YOU'RE..
>> I'M JUST BREATHING HARD
FOR THE CAMERA, FOLKS.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> ONE MORE STEP,
YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
>> THAT WAS TOUGH.
>>  YOU LOOKING
A LITTLE SHAKY THERE.
>> HUH?
>>  I SAID YOU'RE
LOOKING A LITTLE SHAKY.
>> [MAN ON ROPE] YEAH!
>> OH MAN, THAT WAS RIGHT.
I AM A LITTLE SHAKY.
DO YOU STILL HAVE FUN?
>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH,
I STILL HAVE FUN.
I DON'T GET TO GET OUT
AND PLAY ON THE COURSE
AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE
ANYMORE, HONESTLY.
>> YEAH.
>> SO, AN EXCUSE LIKE TODAY
IS JUST AMAZING.
I LOVE GETTING OUT AND
HAVING SOME FUN ON IT.
>> ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE BEST EXPERIENCE THAT
YOU CAN REMEMBER FROM THIS.
>> THE COMMUNITY THAT
WE CREATE AROUND
OUR TEAM MEMBERS EACH YEAR.
WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER.
WE END UP DOING A SPRING CAMPOUT
AND A FALL CAMPOUT EACH YEAR
OUT HERE IN THE FIELD.
AND JUST CULTIVATING
THAT COMMUNITY AS A TEAM
JUST MAKES US ALL HAVE SO
MUCH FUN EVERY DAY AT WORK.
GETTING THOSE PEOPLE
COMING IN WHO THINK
THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT
EVEN ON THE FOOTHILLS COURSE.
THEY END UP BY
THE END OF THE DAY
MAYBE ON THE 3RD LEVEL
OR THE 2ND LEVEL.
WHATEVER THAT PERSONAL GROWTH IS
FOR THEM IS JUST AMAZING TO SEE.
YOU STILL UP FOR
THAT GIANT SWING?
>> THE WORD, GIANT SWING.
>> YOU THINK YOU'LL
TRY TO DO THAT.
>> YES, I'M TOTALLY, TOTALLY IN.
>> OKAY, THIS THING RIGHT
BEHIND US OVER HERE.
>> YEAH, LEAD THE WAY.
>> GIANT SWING, HERE WE COME.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S DO THIS.
>>  WHOA, SNAP.
>> I WON'T PULL IT
TILL YOU'RE READY.
>> OH, I'M READY.
>> YOU ARE?
>> MM HMM.
>> SO, YOU'RE READY LIKE NOW?
>> I'M READY.
>> HOW ABOUT NOW?
>> I'M READY.
>> ARE YOU READY?
ARE YOU READY NOW?
>> OH GOSH! (LAUGHING)
HOLY COW!
THAT WAS AWESOME, OH SNAP.
(LAUGHING)
WOO-O-O-O, OH MAN!
I GOTTA FIND MY STOMACH.
IT IS AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE.
WOOO!
>> AND IT GETS RELAXING.
IT STARTS TO GET RELAXING NOW.
>> OH MAN.
HASHTAG, THE GREATEST
SWING ON THE PLANET.
(LAUGHING)
OH YES.
>> I LOVE MY JOB.
>> MY ARMS AND LEGS
MAY BE HANGING HEAVILY FROM
A FEW HOURS OF HARD WORK,
BUT MY SPIRIT IS SOARING.
GAINING ELEVATION NOT
ONLY LITERALLY EXPANDED
MY PERSPECTIVE, IT REMINDED ME
THAT WHEN I PUT MY MIND
TO SOMETHING, I HAVE THE
STRENGTH INSIDE TO PUSH THROUGH.
IT ALSO ALLOWED ME
TO JOIN THE RANKS
OF OTHER VISITORS WHO
OVERCAME THESE SAME OBSTACLES.
AND THAT'S A CAMARADERIE
THAT I CAN CONTINUE
TO FEEL LONG AFTER I RETURN HOME
WHEN THE NEXT CHALLENGE
IN LIFE COMES ALONG.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> FOR MOST OF US,
THERE COMES A TIME
WHEN WE'RE A FEW TOUGH TURNS
OR A COUPLE OF CHOICES
AWAY FROM NEEDING
A HELPING HAND.
IN PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA,
ONE IN SIX INDIVIDUALS
ISN'T SURE WHERE THEIR
NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM.
FOR THE STAFF AT F.A.R.M. CAFE,
HOMETOWN HUNGER
MEANT AN OPPORTUNITY
TO FEED EMPTY BELLIES,
AS WELL AS EDUCATE EAGER MINDS.
>> THIS IS CALLED CREAMING
AND BUTTERING THE SUGAR.
IT'S A CREAMING METHOD,
SO YOU'RE GONNA PULL THIS BACK.
>>  OKAY.
>> AND THEN JUST KIND
OF USE THIS SCOOP,
SCOOP THE SUGAR INTO THERE.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS, YOU KNOW...
>> I CAN JUST DUMP IT IN THERE?
>> YEAH, WE'RE JUST GONNA
GET IT ALL IN THERE.
>> IF YOU WERE A FOOD,
WOULD YOU BE A SWEET?
>> I WOULD BE THE SWEETEST
THING EVER.
(LAUGHING)
>> I'D LIKE TO THINK
I WOULD BE, TOO.
I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT.
EVERY DAY, YOU'RE TEACHING...
>> EVERY DAY.
>> NEW PEOPLE...
>> EVERY DAY.
IT'S A LOT LIKE THIS.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT
WE'RE DOING NOW.
IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME PROCESS,
AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE
MORE MARRIED TO COMMUNITY.
IT'S ALL IMPORTANT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISTAKE
THAT WE DON'T HAVE STANDARDS,
BUT I MIGHT ASK SOMEBODY
TO DICE SOMETHING,
SAY, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DICE?
HAVE YOU, YES.
AND I WALK AWAY AND I
COME BACK AND I'M LIKE,
OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA DO
SOMETHING ELSE WITH THAT.
'CAUSE THAT'S NOT A DICE.
THAT'S WHAT WE
CALL A SCARY SHRED.
SO, IT WAS GONNA BE THIS,
NOW IT'S GONNA BE SOUP.
AND THAT'S FINE.
SO, WE DO THAT A LOT.
SO, LET'S SCRAPE THIS DOWN.
>> OKAY.
>> YOU MIGHT WANNA LOWER THIS
A LITTLE BIT, JUST PUSH IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THERE YOU GO.
SO, YOU CAN KIND
OF SCRAPE AROUND.
>>  OKAY.
>> THEN WE'LL ADD THE EGGS.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO CRACK
AN EGG IN THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THIS ISN'T THE ONLY PLACE,
CAFE LIKE THIS, RIGHT?
>> NO, THERE IS A NETWORK CALLED
ONE WORLD EVERYBODY EATS.
AND RIGHT NOW,
THERE'S ABOUT ANYWHERE
FROM 40 TO 60 OF
THESE TYPES OF CAFES.
WE HAVE A CAFE LIKE THIS
IN TENNESSEE, ONE ACRE CAFE,
WHICH WE HELPED MENTOR.
SAME CAFE IN DENVER,
COLORADO, HELPED MENTOR US.
THERE'S ONE THAT
JUST OPENED LAST YEAR
IN RALEIGH CALLED,
A PLACE AT THE TABLE,
AND WE HELPED MENTOR
THEM A LITTLE BIT.
SO, YEAH.
>> THE EXTENDED COMMUNITY.
>> IT'S AMAZING, AND
THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT.
SOME OF 'EM DO FULL
SERVICE SIT DOWN.
SOME OF 'EM DO BUFFET.
SOME OF 'EM JUST
DO PIZZA AND SOUP.
DEPENDS ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
>> 20% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
COMING HERE ARE IN NEED, RIGHT?
AND THE OTHER 80% ARE JUST
PEOPLE WANTING SOME GREAT FOOD.
>> EXACTLY.
>> IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WE'RE GETTIN'
HANDMADE LOCAL, FRESH,
AND IT'S GOING TO THE COMMUNITY,
THE GREATER GOOD...
>> IT IS.
>> WHERE IT'S MORE,
WHAT WE WERE SAYING,
IT'S MORE THAN FOOD.
>> IT FEEDS SOMETHING
IN ME THAT I NEED
AS MUCH AS EVERYBODY
THAT COMES IN THAT DOOR.
SO, I DON'T REALLY LIKE
THE TERM, GIVEBACK, SO MUCH
BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE
WE'RE IN IT TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT LIKE
I HAVE SOMETHING
THAT I'M GIVING TO YOU.
WE'RE DOING IT AND THERE'S
RECIPROCITY HAPPENING
ALL THE TIME.
>> YES.
>> SO, I'M MEETING PEOPLE
THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE MET
BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF HOW I WAS WORKING,
HAVE MADE MY LIFE
SO MUCH RICHER.
YEAH, I LOVE IT.
>> SO, WHAT'S THE WORD THEN?
IF IT'S NOT GIVE BACK,
WHAT IS IT?
BECAUSE THAT'S.. AH...
>> SHARE?
I THINK WE'RE ALL PRACTICING
BEING HUMAN.
IT'S NOT EASY,
BEING HUMAN'S NOT EASY.
SO, I THINK THIS IS A PLACE
WHERE YOU GET TO
PRACTICE BEING HUMAN.
IF YOU MESS UP,
THEN WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER.
AND FOOD'S THE SAME WAY.
PEOPLE GET SO NERVOUS
WHEN THEY'RE MAKING SOMETHING.
I'M LIKE,
IT'S NOT BRAIN SURGERY.
IT'S OKAY.
>> IT'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.
>> IT'S OKAY, WE'RE NOT TAKIN'
SOMETHING OUT OF HIS HEART.
WE'RE PUTTIN' SOMETHING IN.
>> I LOVE IT, OH WE ARE. WE ARE.
THESE COOKIES GET TO MEET
THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
>> THIS IS IT, THEY'RE MEETIN'
THEIR FULL POTENTIAL RIGHT HERE.
READY TO ROLL.
>> YEAH.
>> THE FOLKS AT F.A.R.M. CAFE
FEED THEIR CUSTOMERS
MORE THAN JUST THE MENU ITEMS
THEY CREATE EACH DAY.
THEY FEED THEIR HEARTS
AND MINDS, AS WELL.
BECAUSE RICH OR POOR,
WE'VE ALL GOTTA EAT.
SO, IF YOU FIND YOURSELF
WITH THE OPPORTUNITY
TO VISIT THIS
PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN
ESTABLISHMENT,
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENJOY
MORE THAN JUST THE FOOD.
AND ALSO, TO PAY IT FORWARD
HOWEVER YOU CAN AFFORD TO.
>> NOT SO LONG AGO,
GENERAL STORES ACTED AS
THE HUB OF HUMBLE HOMETOWNS.
THEY HOUSED EVERYTHING
FROM BOOTS TO BOOKS
AND GROCERIES TO HOME GOODS.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER CUT YOUR WAY
ACROSS THE HILLS, YOU KNOW WHY.
THE GRUELING JOURNEY
ISN'T OFTEN ONE
YOU'RE LOOKIN' TO MAKE
MANY TIMES OVER.
BUT IF YOU LIVE IN A LAND
THAT CAN SEE LANDSLIDES
AND SEVERE WEATHER, BEING
PREPARED IS PRETTY IMPORTANT.
SO, WHEN MAST GENERAL STORE
WAS FIRST FOUNDED,
THEY WERE LOOKING TO
CREATE A STOREFRONT
THAT WAS WELCOMING
AFTER A LONG JOURNEY,
AS WELL AS SUFFICIENTLY STOCKED
TO GET YOU THROUGH
THE RETURN TRIP, AS WELL.
>> WHAT IS THIS?
THE SMALLEST SHELF EVER
OR IS THAT A SEAT?
A SEAT?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE USE IT FOR A SEAT.
>> OR JUST SOMEWHERE
YOU CAN STRIKE A POSE.
>> OR THE CATBIRD SEAT,
THIS IS THE CATBIRD SEAT.
>> WELCOME TO THE MAST
GENERAL STORE, EVERYONE.
(LAUGHING)
>> SO, THE STORE
WAS BUILT IN 1883.
AND JUST LIKE HOMES IN THE AREA,
WHENEVER YOU HAVE A NEW
FAMILY MEMBER COME ALONG,
YOU PUT ANOTHER ROOM ON
THE BACKSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
>>  OKAY.
>> SO, WHEN THE STORE
NEEDED TO EXPAND
TO HANDLE NEW NEEDS AND STUFF,
THEY JUST BUILT ANOTHER ROOM ON.
>>  OKAY.
>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN
YOU GO TO THE SHOPPING MALL,
THIS IS WHAT YOUR GRANDMOTHER
THOUGHT OF AS A SHOPPING MALL.
>>  YEAH.
>> SO, SHE WOULD FIND
HER SHOES, HER CLOTHING.
SHE MIGHT BUY A CLOTH HERE.
SHE COULD BUY BUTTONS.
SHE WOULD BUY
HER ROCKING CHAIR,
CAST IRON SKILLET,
SOCKS, GALLUSES, YOU NAME IT.
>> WHAT'S A GALLUS?
>> AH, IT'S SUSPENDERS.
>> OH, ALL RIGHT.
(LAUGHING)
>> I MIGHT BE IN THE MARKET
FOR SOME SUSPENDERS.
>> SO, THIS IS ACTUALLY
A WORKING POST OFFICE.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU
CAN GET A VALLE CRUCIS,
NORTH CAROLINA, MAILING ADDRESS.
>>  REALLY?
SO, VALLE CRUCIS...
>> YES.
>> RIGHT, I SAID THAT RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> HOW BIG IS THIS COMMUNITY?
>> THERE ARE NO REAL LIMITS TO,
WE KIND OF LIKE TO SAY THAT
VALLE CRUCIS IS MORE A STATE
OF MIND THAN A DEFINED PLACE.
>> OKAY.
THIS IS AS CLOSE AS YOU GET
TO BEING DEFINED,
YOUR PO BOX HERE?
>> YES, EXACTLY, THAT'S
A GREAT POINT THERE.
>> DOES THIS WORK STILL?
>> IT DOES.
>> I GUESS FIRE IT UP.
>> IT DOES.
>> OH, WITH A...
>> YEAH, YOU DON'T WANNA...
(LAUGHS)
>> I GUESS THERE'S
SOME MOON PIE BOXES.
>> I THINK YOU GUYS
ARE FUELED BY MOON PIES...
>> MOON PIES.
>> OBVIOUSLY, WAIT.
WHO ATE MY MOON PIES?
I LIKE IT, THAT IS AWESOME.
BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER
MY GRANDFATHER HAVING
A SIMILAR STOVE
AND EVERYONE GATHERING
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE.
>> IT IS A GATHERING SPOT.
SO, WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN
WHO IS IN HIS 80S NOW
THAT COMES IN EVERY DAY,
SITS ON THE BENCH OVER THERE,
OR IN THIS CHAIR AND HAS A SLICE
OF BOLOGNA AND A YOO-HOO.
AND THAT'S RELIGIOUSLY
THAT IS HIS LUNCH EVERY DAY.
>> A SLICE OF BOLOGNA,
IF YOU WANNA LIVE
UNTIL YOU'RE 80...
>> PLUS.
>> ...KIDS, A SLICE OF BOLOGNA
AND  A YOO-HOO
TO START YOUR DAY. RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
>> HOW AWESOME IS THAT?
>> YES.
>> I'M CHANGING MY
BREAKFAST REGIMEN.
(LAUGHING)
>> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT
THIS PLACE STILL BE HERE, RIGHT?
>> FIRST REASON,
AND MOST IMPORTANT TO
THE LOCAL RESIDENTS HERE,
IS ONCE A POST OFFICE
LEAVES A COMMUNITY,
PRETTY SOON THAT COMMUNITY
DISSOLVES OFF THE MAP
AND IS NO LONGER A COMMUNITY.
SO, ONCE YOU LOSE YOUR ZIP CODE,
YOU'RE NO LONGER
SOMETHING THAT EXISTS.
YOU TRULY BECOME
A STATE OF MIND.
THE OTHER THING IS IT'S
JUST A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
THIS IS TRULY A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE GATHER
FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE TRADITIONS
OF A GENERAL STORE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO
IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES,
IS BECOME THE COMMUNITY'S
DESTINATION, AS WELL AS,
A DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE
FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY
TO FEEL A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
>> EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED
IN LIFE, I THINK I NEED THIS...
♪ BOLONEY ♪
>> NOW, THAT IS SOME
BOLONEY RIGHT THERE.
THE GAME OF BALONEY.
GOOD ONE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
>> WE REALLY DID TAKE CARE
OF YOU FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PINE BOX
FROM THE BRISTOL COFFIN
AND CASKET COMPANY.
SO, YOU COULD HAVE
DIFFERENT HANDLES.
YOU COULD HAVE THE SATIN
ON THE INSIDE.
YOU COULD ORDER ONE
THAT WAS ALREADY FINISHED.
SO, YEAH.
>> THAT'S CRAZY.
>> MAY BE ABOUT YOUR SIZE.
(LAUGHING)
>> WAIT, WHAT ARE
YOU GUYS DOING?
>> OH NO!!
>> LIKE GET HIM.
>> KIND OF CREEPY.
>> IT IS!
I KIND OF FEEL STARING...
THE OLD REAPER
IN THE EYES THERE.
>> SO, THIS HAS BEEN
A FUNERAL PARLOR.
WE ANNOUNCE BIRTHS
AND STUFF LIKE THAT HERE.
AND WE STILL DO THAT.
IF THERE'S A NEW BABY
IN THE VALLEY,
WE PROBABLY KNOW ABOUT IT AND
MAKE A NOTE ON OUR CHALKBOARD.
>> EVERYTHING YOU NEED
FOR LIFE AND DEATH.
>> YES.
>> RIGHT?
>> CRADLE TO GRAVE.
>> CRADLE TO GRAVE.
>> OUR NEEDS MAY HAVE CHANGED
SLIGHTLY IN THE MODERN AGE,
BUT WE CAN STILL ALL USE
A RELIABLE RETAILER
TO STOP IN AND HELP US STOCK UP
FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> WHILE GEAR MAY
KEEP YOU GOING,
IT TAKES A CERTAIN FEARLESSNESS
TO FORGE AHEAD
IN THE WILDERNESS.
AND FOR THE MEMBERS OF
SOUTHEAST SLACKLINE COALITION,
IT ACTUALLY TAKES A BIT OF BOTH.
BECAUSE AS GREAT AS
YOUR BALANCE MAY BE,
YOU'RE ULTIMATELY
RELYING ON YOUR RIGGING,
AND A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR
ABILITY NOT TO LOOK DOWN.
SEEING ALL THAT GOES INTO
SETTING UP AND STAYING SAFE,
I'M ACTUALLY LESS UNCERTAIN
ABOUT STEPPING OUT
ABOVE THIS GORGE.
STILL, IF IT'S ALL THE SAME,
I'D LIKE SOMEONE ELSE
TO GO FIRST.
>> ARE YOU GONNA WALK OFF?
YOU CAN DO IT.
>> IT'S CRAZY TO BE
HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HIM
AS HE'S HANGING... (CHUCKLES)
>> JUST CASUAL.
>> ...IN MIDAIR,
SUSPENDED IN MIDAIR.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> OH.
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT
I'M SEEING RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH, I ALWAYS TRY
TO SAVE A WALK.
>> SO, THE LEASH IS WHAT
IS CONNECTING YOU TO THAT.
>> YOU SEE THE STEEL RINGS
THAT ARE WRAPPED...
>> THE PINK PART OF THE LEASH.
>>  YEAH.
>> AND THIS IS THE LEASH
AND THIS IS THE HANGOVER.
>>  OKAY.
SO, LIKE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING
RIGHT THERE,..
WHAT LEVEL ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> THAT'S DEFINITELY
INTERMEDIATE.
WHEN YOU'RE GETTING TOWARD
HIGH EXPERT PROBABLY.
I DON'T KNOW THOUGH,
IT'S LIKE ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT'S HARD TO GAUGE
'CAUSE THEY KEEP BREAKING
RECORDS EVERY WEEK.
THEY KEEP DOING TRICKS THAT
WE THOUGHT WEREN'T POSSIBLE.
THEY KEEP INVENTING
TECHNOLOGY AND GEAR
THAT WE HAVE NEVER EVEN
THOUGHT OF.
>>  RIGHT.
>> IT'S SUCH A NEW SPORT
THAT WE'RE KIND OF
ON THE FRONTIER OF IT RIGHT NOW
AND WE'RE JUST LIKE,
GETTING ALL THE GOOD STUFF.
YOU KNOW, ALL THE LATEST
AND MOST UP TO DATE STUFF.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, A NEW FRONTIER.
I LOVE IT.
I CAN BARELY TOUCH MY TOES,
SO I NEED HELP.
>> ME TOO, MAN,
THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
>> JUST FOCUS ON YOUR BREATHING
AND REMIND YOURSELF
THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY.
>> OKAY.
>> EVEN THOUGH IT
WON'T FEEL LIKE IT.
>> OKAY, EVERYTHING IS OKAY.
EVERYTHING IS OKAY.
>> EVERYTHING IS SAFE.
JUST THINK, I'M NOT A CIVIC,
AND WE CAN DROP
A CIVIC OFF THIS.
>> I DRIVE A CIVIC.
>> OKAY, WELL THERE YOU GO.
>> SO, THAT'S PERFECT.
>> YEAH, I USED TO.
>> LIKE I DRIVE A CIVIC
BUT I'M NOT A CIVIC.
I DRIVE A CIVIC
BUT I'M NOT A CIVIC.
>> YES, EXACTLY.
>> OKAY.
>> THEY'RE OVER THERE
AND YOU'RE TRYING
TO GET OVER THERE.
>> OH SHOOT, HE'S JUST
SHOWING ME HOW TO DO THAT
SO I CAN DO THAT IN A MINUTE.
>> YEAH... FIRST RIDE.
FIRST RIDE, MAN...
(CLAPPING)
>> THAT WAS...
THAT DIDN'T LOOK REAL, MAN.
>> IT DOESN'T FEEL REAL EITHER
>> THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL, MAN.
I MEAN... GOLLY.
I CAN FEEL MY MUSCLES,
LIKE, TENSING UP, MAN.
>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY SCARY.
>> MY MOUTH'S GOIN' DRY.
(LAUGHING)
>> I THINK IT IS STRESS.
>> ABOUT WHAT?
YOU'LL PROVIDE ABOUT WHAT?
>> I'M TRYIN' TO
KEEP IT TOGETHER.
I'M REALLY GLAD
THE CAMERAS ARE HERE,
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
FOR THE CAMERA,
I NEED TO PRESENT MYSELF
AT A...
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE
YOUR BOTTLE'S ARE
BUT YOU CAN HAVE SOME OF MINE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
MAN, THANK YOU.
BOY, THIS IS QUITE THE CHALICE.
SO, I'M GOIN' OUT LIKE THIS?
>> YEAH, SO JUST KIND OF
SAG INTO IT.
JUST DROP YOUR HIPS INTO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I'M MAKING A CONSCIOUS EFFORT
NOT TO LOOK DOWN.
>> NO, LOOK DOWN RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE IN THE COMFORT ZONE
FOR LOOKING DOWN.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> JUST KEEP GOING
AND IT GETS BETTER.
>> OH, I JUST LOOKED OVER THERE.
I'M LIKE, OH CRAP.
(LAUGHING)
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> LIKE SPIDERMAN!
>> WOO!
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> I HAVE NOT YET FOUND WORDS
TO DESCRIBE WHAT I DID.
BUT I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS
CALL IT HIGHLINING, RIGHT?
>> YES, YEAH.
>> PRETTY AMAZING.
>> AN EXPERIENCE LIKE
NO OTHER FOR SURE.
>> YOU GUYS MADE IT
LOOK SO EASY.
>> YEAH, THAT COMES FROM A LOT
OF PERSEVERANCE, DEDICATION,
AND SELF-DISCIPLINE,
AND THE SUPPORT
FROM THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ABOUT
LIFTING UP OTHERS
TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THINGS
THAT MAY SEEM IMPOSSIBLE
TO MOST PEOPLE. BUT...
>> WHEN REALLY I'M OUT THERE
BY MYSELF,
I DIDN'T FEEL ALONE, I GUESS.
DEFINITELY FELT THE SUPPORT
AND FELT THAT COMMUNITY.
>> YOUR FRIENDS JUST KNOW
THAT YOU ACTUALLY CAN DO IT,
EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
AND THAT IS SO UPLIFTING
WHEN YOU HAVE ALL
THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE
WHO DO THAT FOR EACH OTHER.
AND THAT'S WHAT FUELS
THE CONTINUOUS GROWTH
OF THE SLACKLINE COMMUNITY
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> JUST LOOKING OUT
THERE RIGHT NOW,
IT'S LIKE I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE
THAT I WAS OUT THERE.
BUT I WAS.
AND MAN, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT I'M GONNA TAKE WITH ME
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
>> AWESOME.
(HARMONICA PLAYING)
>>  OVER THE COURSE
OF THE LAST FEW HOURS,
I'VE LEARNED THAT
HIGHLINING IS REALLY
ABOUT APPRECIATING ALL
THAT NATURE HAS TO OFFER.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY ABOUT
BEING UNBRIDLED,
AND YET BALANCED WHILE
ABOVE BREATHTAKING VIEWS.
BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT PROTECTING
THE PLACES THEY PRACTICE ON.
AND AS IF THEY WEREN'T ALREADY,
THAT PUT THESE ENTHUSIASTS
IN A LEAGUE ALL THEIR OWN.
(HARMONIC PLAYING)
>> SO FAR, I'VE GONE ON
A REAL RIDE THIS TRIP.
BUT BEFORE GOING HOME,
I'M LOOKING TO REEL IN
ONE LAST ADVENTURE
OF AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SORT.
THE 2018 BASSMASTER ANGLER
OF THE YEAR CHAMPIONSHIP
ON NEARBY CHATUGE LAKE.
>> SO, WE'RE IN
HIAWASSEE, GEORGIA,
WHERE CHATUGE LAKE IS LOCATED.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THE BASSMASTERS IS HAVIN'
THEIR ANGLER OF THE YEAR EVENT.
THAT'S WHERE ALL THE ANGLERS
THAT FISHED ALL YEAR AROUND
AT ALL THE DIFFERENT LAKES
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY COME
TO THIS ONE PLACE, AND THEY GET
TO DETERMINE WHO IS THE BEST
FISHERMAN OF THE YEAR.
>> OKAY, WHY WEREN'T
WE IN THIS, MAN,
'CAUSE WE COULD
HAVE GIVE 'EM A RUN?
>> I KNOW, I KNOW.
>> LAST TIME WE SAW
EACH OTHER, RIGHT?
>> WE WERE CATCHING FISH.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.
THE CAMERAS JUST WEREN'T ROLLIN'
WHEN WE WERE CATCHIN' 'EM ALL.
RIGHT, THAT'S IT.
>> THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
>> A FEW MINUTES AGO, YOU WERE
SAYING YOU GUYS HAVE TALKED
TO OVER 2,000 PEOPLE
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
I MEEAN, TELL ME WHAT YOU GUYS
ARE DOIN' HERE AND WHY
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO TVA.
>> OVER 280 DIFFERENT
FISH SPECIES LIVE
IN THE TENNESSEE VALLEY,
THAT'S MORE THAN ANY OTHER
RIVER SYSTEM IN NORTH AMERICA.
ACTUALLY, THERE'S ONLY
170 DIFFERENT SPECIES
THAT LIVE IN THE WHOLE
CONTINENT OF EUROPE.
SO, WE LIVE IN A REALLY
SPECIAL PLACE.
AND SO, WHEN WE HAVE
THESE EVENTS,
WE COME OUT,
WE BRING OUR AQUARIUM.
AND WE GO OUT ON
THE LOCAL RESERVOIRS
AND WE CATCH FISH THAT LIVE IN
THE LOCAL RESERVOIRS
SO PEOPLE CAN SEE 'EM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE NEVER SEE 'EM.
AND SO, WHAT WE'RE ASKIN' PEOPLE
TO DO A LOT OF TIMES
IS HELP US PROTECT
THE RESOURCES OUT THERE
FOR PEOPLE TO USE.
WE REALLY CAUGHT
SOME NICE BIG CATFISH
WHEN WE WENT OUT ON
NOTTELY RESERVOIR...
>> OKAY.
>> ...ON THURSDAY.
AND THOSE HAVE BEEN
THE STAR ATTRACTION OF THE TANK.
>> OKAY, THIS IS ALL
THE HARD WORK Y'ALL ARE DOIN'.
IT'S FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS,
WHERE PEOPLE ARE
ABLE TO ENJOY IT AND HOPEFULLY,
THEN APPRECIATE IT
AND PROTECT IT.
>> THEY'RE HERE BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO CATCH FISH
AND RECREATE ON A RESERVOIR.
THEY'RE ALL EXCITED.
AND BASSMASTERS COULD'VE
WENT ANYWHERE ELSE
IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND THEY PICKED
CHATUGE LAKE IN GEORGIA.
>> MAN.
>> SO, IT'S PRETTY GREAT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL
FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO,
AND NEXT TIME WHEN THIS
SHINDIG HAPPENS AGAIN,
LET'S BE IN IT, ALL RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> WE GOTTA LOT OF WORK TO DO.
>> WE'LL AT LEAST HAVE
A FISHING TRIP ANYWAY.
>> ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT,
IT'S A DEAL, MAN.
GREAT TO SEE YOU, BUDDY.
THANK YOU, MAN.
>> WATCHING AS SOME OF THE BEST
ANGLERS IN THE WORLD WEIGH IN,
I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
THAT WAS ONCE SEEN
AS A MODEST PASTIME
IS NOW A MAJOR PART
OF PROTECTING AND PRESERVING
THE WATERS OF THE SOUTHEAST.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING
OF SIGNIFICANCE.
IT'S MUCH HARDER TO MEASURE.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> BACK AT THE BEGINNING
OF THIS EPISODE,
I MADE MENTION OF THE MANY TIMES
THAT I FELT LIKE LIFE
WAS BEING HARD ON ME.
BUT THE OLDER I GET,
THE MORE I'VE COME TO BELIEVE
THAT POINT OF VIEW
IS LESS ABOUT REALITY
AND MORE THE RESULT
OF MY EXPECTATIONS.
ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN.
I LIKE THINGS TO GO SMOOTHLY.
AND IT CERTAINLY REQUIRES LESS
EFFORT ON MY PART IF THEY DO.
BUT IN THE CRITICAL CONTRACT
BETWEEN MAN
AND MAKING IT THROUGH LIFE,
I SEE NO CLAUSE ABOUT
THINGS BEING EASY.
I BELIEVE WE'RE ALL
PRIVILEGED IN THIS LIFE.
SO LONG AS WE'RE AFFORDED
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TAKE BREATH AND BE.
THIS LIFE IS FLEETING.
AND FEELING SORRY
FOR OURSELVES AS OPPOSED
TO FORGING AHEAD,
ONLY ROBS US OF MOMENTS
WHERE WE COULD OTHERWISE
BE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES.
I COVERED QUITE A BIT
OF GROUND ON THIS TRIP.
BUT WHAT WILL STAY WITH
ME THE MOST IS THE MOXIE
OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
THAT CALL THESE HILLS HOME.
THEY'RE ANCHORED AND AGILE,
SO THAT WHEN LIFE DOESN'T
CUT 'EM ANY SLACK,
THEY CLIMB RIGHT BACK UP
AND TRY AGAIN.
(INSTRUMENTAL THEME MUSIC)
