>> PRETTY COOL.
(LAUGHING)
>> NOT A BAD WAY
TO SPEND THE EVENING, HUH?
>> NO, NOT AT ALL.
>> 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 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 ♪
>> IF YOU LIVE IN THE SOUTHEAST
OR HAVE PROPPED UP IN FRONT
OF A PINTEREST BOARD
ANY TIME IN THE PAST FEW YEARS,
THEN CHANCES ARE YOU'RE FAMILIAR
WITH THE SAYING
"THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING
"AND I MUST GO."
IT'S ACTUALLY A QUOTE
BY JOHN MUIR
AND IT SOUNDS SIMPLE ENOUGH,
SCENERY, SERENITY,
AND EVEN A RATHER RARE CHANCE
FOR SOLITUDE.
BUT, FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF
WHO RECENTLY RELOCATED
FROM THE MID-WEST I HAD TO
WONDER IF THERE WAS MORE
TO THIS MANTRA.
THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN
NATIONAL PARK IS TRULY
GREAT IN MANY WAYS.
IT'S THE MOST VISITED
NATIONAL PARK,
WELCOMING OVER 11 MILLION
WANDERERS EVERY YEAR.
IT ENCOMPASSES OVER
HALF A MILLION ACRES
AND TOUTS HISTORICAL
ATTRACTIONS, TRAILS
AND OVER 10,000 SPECIES
OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS,
BUT I HAVE A FEELING
THAT MOST FOLKS FONDNESS
GOES FAR BEYOND JUST FACTS,
SO ON THIS EPISODE OF
TENNESSEE VALLEY UNCHARTED
I'M LACING MY BOOTS,
PACKING MY BAGS
AND SETTING OFF TO SEE
A SAMPLE OF WHAT MAKES
THIS SANCTUARY SO SPECIAL.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR
TO LEARN THAT I'M
AN ANIMAL LOVER.
AND WHILE THIS LOVE IS
ANYTHING BUT LIMITED
THE LIST HAS YET
TO INCLUDE LLAMAS,
UNTIL NOW THAT IS.
STEVE GREW UP
LOVING THE OUTDOORS
AND WISHING FOR A SIMPLE LIFE
WHERE MOST DAYS
CAN BE SPENT ON THE TRAILS,
BUT INSTEAD HE FELL INTO
THE PATTERN THAT MOST DO,
COLLEGE, THEN CAREER,
ULTIMATELY LANDING SOMEWHERE
IN THE SUBURBS UNTIL 2008
WHEN HE WAS LAID OFF
AND HEADED OUT TO THROUGH HIKE
THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
IN SEARCH OF SOME CLEANSING
AND SOME CLARITY.
HE CAME BACK WITH A PURPOSE
AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS
WIFE, JOANNA, CRAFTED A PLAN.
IN 2012 THEY SOLD
THEIR HOME IN MICHIGAN
AND SET UP SMOKY
MOUNTAIN LLAMA TREKS
IN COSBY, TENNESSEE.
TODAY THEY OFFER A VARIETY
OF TREKS ALL AIMED
AT CONNECTING VISITORS
TO THE INCREDIBLE VISTAS
OF THE PARK AS WELL AS
GIVING THEM A CHANCE
TO QUIET THEIR MINDS
AND SIMPLY BE PRESENT.
>> THIS WILL LAY, THE
LLAMA'S BODY WILL BE RIGHT
IN BETWEEN AND THIS PAD HAS
THE PADDING FOR THESE,
SO THAT THESE DON'T DIG
>> RIGHT.
>> INTO THE LLAMA, AND THEN
WE HAVE A PANNIER THAT'LL
CARRY YOUR SUPPLIES.
>> OKAY.
>> THESE GET HOOKED ON
THE SIDE, LIKE THAT.
AND THE TUBE HERE IS
DESIGNED TO HOLD THE WEIGHT
AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S
SO MUCH CUSHION HERE
BECAUSE IF YOU GET
A LOT OF WEIGHT
THIS WILL CUSHION THE BACK.
SO THE WAY YOU DO THIS IS
TYPICALLY IT'S LIKE A HORSE.
YOU GET THEM USED TO ONE SIDE.
YOU DO EVERYTHING FROM ONE SIDE.
>> MMM HMM.
>> AND YOU CAN SEE WE PUT
THIS IN THE BACK TO
DISTINGUISH THE BACK.
THIS ROLLS UP
UNDERNEATH THEM
AND THIS CLIPS.
AND THEN THIS HAS A DRAWSTRING.
>> THIS ONE CLIPS HERE?
>> YEP.
YOU CAN JUST CLIP IT IN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUSH
ON IT NECESSARILY.
DON'T GO ALL THE WAY, BUT CLOSE.
GO AHEAD AND PULL ON IT AND
I'LL GO TO THE OTHER SIDE.
>> IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH
OR A LITTLE MORE?
>> YEP, THAT'S GOOD.
>> OKAY.
>> I'M GONNA JUST TIGHTEN
IT UP FROM THIS SIDE.
AND WE'VE GOT TABLES AND CHAIRS
THAT WE'RE GONNA PACK TODAY.
>> COOL.
>> SO WE'RE...
>> YEAH.
>> A PICNIC.
>> HE'S PRETTY STRONG, RIGHT?
>> HE IS.
>> HOW MUCH CAN--
HOW MANY POUNDS CAN HE CARRY?
>> SO A LLAMA CAN CARRY 20%
TO 40% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT,
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT--
CURLY WEIGHS ABOUT 300.
>> CURLY, 300 POUNDS?
(LAUGHS)
>> HE CAN PACK
SOMEWHERE AROUND--
BECAUSE HE'S ONE
OF MOUNT LE CONTE'S GUYS,
40 TO 60 POUNDS HE CAN CARRY.
>> SO IT'S ME AND OSCAR.
IT'S ME AND YOU, BUD.
READY FOR THIS?
WE'RE GONNA TAKE
YOU ON A DATE TODAY.
UP THE MOUNTAINS.
HE'S LIKE OKAY,
GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.
>> HOW EASY IS IT?
EASY ENOUGH FOR
A DOG TO DO THAT.
>> UNTIL HE TAKES OFF RUNNING.
AWE, BRIGGS, LOOK AT YOU.
LOOK AT YOU, BRIGGS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I EVER
PAID THAT CLOSE ATTENTION
TO THEIR FEET BEFORE,
BUT OBVIOUSLY TODAY I AM
AND THEY HAVE THE SPLIT HOOF.
THE SPLIT HOOF, IS
THAT HOW YOU SAY IT?
YEAH, SPLIT HOOVES.
>> YEAH.
>> OR TWO TOES.
>> TWO TOES.
>> [AND THEY HAVE
A HARD TOENAIL THAT'S
ON TOP OF IT.
>> MMM HMM.
>> AND THEY DO GROW.
>> OKAY.
>> SO WE HAVE TO
>> YOU, I WAS
GONNA SAY
>> TRIM TOENAILS.
>> DO YOU GET THE
>> WHICH IS NOT
A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.
>> DO YOU DO IT?
OR DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY.
>> I DO.
I DO JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING ON THE LLAMAS.
>> REALLY?
>> YEAH.
I'M LEARNING AND I THINK
THE BEST WAY TO LEARN
IS TO ACTUALLY DO.
>> YEAH, SO HAVE YOU ALWAYS
KNOW THAT YOU WANTED
TO LIKE WORK WITH LLAMAS
OR I MEAN HAVE A BUSINESS
WITH LLAMAS?
(LAUGHS)
>> NO.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW
>> I HAD--
>> IF THAT WAS LIKE
YOUR FAVORITE THING GROWING UP.
>> NEVER SEEN A LLAMA BEFORE
I BOUGHT MY MY HERD.
>> REALLY?
>> NEVER SEEN ONE.
>> GOOD JOB OSCAR,
GOOD JOB, COME ON YOU
NEED TO KEEP WALKING.
(GRUNTING)
>> OSCAR.
>> COME ON, BULLET.
>> COME ON.
>> COME ON.
>> SO, THAT WHY
HE'S THE ALPHA.
HE THINKS HE'S GOT ALL THAT.
>> COME ON.
THERE YOU GO.
>> HE WAS LIKE,
"NO, NO, NO, NO."
>> AND YOU CAN'T KICK HIM IN
HIS SIDES LIKE YOU CAN A HORSE.
>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
I'LL SWAP YOU LLAMAS.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT MIGHT LOOK ODD
IN THE FOOTAGE.
(LAUGHING)
(UPBEAT COUNTRY MUSIC)
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
NEVER SEEN A LLAMA,
SO TO INTERACT WITH THEM AND
SEE HOW CUTE, CUDDLY, SOFT.
THEY USUALLY GET TO
BRUSH ON THEM, HANDS ON
AND THEN WALKING WITH
A LLAMA A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE REALLY SURPRISED IS THAT
HOW SURE-FOOTED A LLAMA IS.
THEY HAVE TWO TOES WHICH
ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE A LITTLE
MORE FLEXIBILITY IN
THE FOOT OR FEET.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PACK.
WE CARRY A LOT OF STUFF
AND THEN THE REASON
WE COME SPECIFICALLY
HERE TO MAX PATCH
OR THE BUCKEYE RIDGE
TRAIL IS FOR THE VIEW.
THE VIEW HERE IS
JUST SPECTACULAR.
>> IT IS.
>> AND WHAT BETTER WAY
TO GO ENJOY A NICE DAY
OF HIKING AND NOT PUTTING
SOMETHING ON YOUR
BACK AND HAVE THINGS
LIKE YOUR SNACKS,
TABLES AND CHAIRS.
>> YEAH.
>> AND JUST ENJOY NATURE
WITHOUT REALLY HAVING
TO WORK TOO HARD FOR.
>> MMM HMM.
>> AND LET THE LLAMAS
DO THE WORK WHICH IS
WHAT THEY'RE BUILT FOR.
>> FOR YOU WHEN HE CALLS
YOU OR COMES HOME AND SAYS,
"HEY, I WANT TO START
A LLAMA BUSINESS."
LIKE WHAT'S REALLY
GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?
WERE YOU LIKE,
"WHAT IN THE WORLD?"
OR WERE YOU JUST ON-BOARD?
>> I HAD NEVER BEEN AROUND
LLAMAS BEFORE EITHER
AND SO IT WAS KIND OF
CRAZY, BUT THE WHOLE HIKING
ASPECT IS SOMETHING
HE'S ALWAYS LOVED TO DO
AND DO I KNEW IT WAS
SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK INTO
AND I LEFT IT UP TO HIM
BECAUSE HE'S YOU KNOW--
I SAID, "WHATEVER WE FEEL
IS THE ANSWER
"THAT WHAT WE HAD TO DO."
>> YEAH.
YEAH, THAT'S AWESOME.
AND HOW COMFORTING THAT
PROBABLY HAD TO BE FOR YOU
TO KNOW THAT LIKE SHE WAS
ON-BOARD AND HAD YOUR BACK
NO MATTER WHAT, IF YOU WANT
TO DO LLAMAS THAT'S COOL,
IF YOU DON'T THAT'S COOL, TOO.
(BANJO MUSIC)
>> I HIKED THE APPALACHIAN
TRAIL 10 YEARS AGO
AND ON DAY TWO, I ROLLED INTO
A PLACE CALLED NEELS GAP.
THERE WAS SIGN AND IT SAYS,
"WHERE EVER YOU ARE, BE THERE."
AND THAT HAS STUCK
WITH ME FOR 10 YEARS.
ONE TIME I CAME UP HERE
WITH SOME CLIENTS
AND I BLEW MY TRANSMISSION.
FOR ANYBODY, THAT'S A BAD DAY.
YOU KNOW IT ADDED
A COUPLE MORE HOURS
TO OUR HIKE BECAUSE
OF WHERE THE LOCATION
OF IT BREAKING DOWN.
WHEN WE GOT HERE I
CALLED MY SON AND SAID,
"HEY BRING UP THE
OTHER TRUCK TOMORROW,
"CAUSE WE'RE
SPENDING THE NIGHT."
WELL WE ENDED UP
WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY
AND I LET MY CLIENTS
JUST SOAK IN THIS BEAUTY
THAT'S UP HERE.
AND THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN,
NOT A PART OF MY GROUP
THAT WAS UP HERE, WE HAD
A CONVERSATION AND HE ASKED,
"MAN, THIS WOULD JUST
PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE,
"WOULDN'T IT?"
AND I SAID, "LOOK AT MY FACE."
I SAID, "I JUST BLEW
$5,000 IN A TRANSMISSION
"COMING UP HERE, BUT I'M
NOT LIVING IN THAT MOMENT.
"RIGHT NOW THE MOMENT IS,
THIS IS WHAT I'M LOOKING AT."
>> YEAH.
>> SO, WHERE EVER YOU ARE
BE THERE IN THAT MOMENT.
(BANJO MUSIC)
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN MOVED BY
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO FIND
A WAY TO PUT THEIR PERSONAL
PASSIONS INTO THEIR PROFESSIONS.
WHEN STEVE AND JOANNA
GOT INTO GUIDING,
THEY NOT ONLY FOUND A WAY
OF FOLLOWING THEIR HEARTS,
BUT OF FINDING BEAUTY AND NOW
THEY'RE HELPING OTHERS
TO DO THE SAME THING.
SO, THE NEXT TIME YOU
NEED TO DROP THE DRAMA,
I SUGGEST YOU LOVE THE LLAMA.
(WHOOSHING SOUND)
>> WHILE THE RICH RIDGES OF
THE GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS
ARE A WORK OF ART
UNTO THEMSELVES,
THERE'S A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS
IN GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE
CAMPAIGNING TO MAKE
ART ACCESSIBLE TO ALL,
AND THEY CALL THEMSELVES,
ARROWMONT.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU SPECIFICALLY
BEEN HERE WITH ARROWMONT?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION
BECAUSE I FIRST TOOK
A WORKSHOP HERE 32 YEARS AGO.
>> OKAY.
>> I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL
ENGLISH TEACHER, I
MOVED TO THIS AREA,
I GOT INTERESTED IN DESIGN,
INTERESTED IN BUILDING
MY OWN HOUSE AND I
APPRENTICED A GLASS STUDIO.
AND I SAID, "WELL WHERE CAN I
GO TO LEARN MORE ACADEMICALLY,
"WHERE CAN I GET MORE TRAINING?"
SOMEBODY SAID, "WELL
ARROWMONT, THERE'S THIS PLACE
"CALLED ARROWMONT,
IT'S ONLY EIGHT MILES
"FROM YOU HOUSE."
SO, 32 YEARS AGO I CAME
AND TOOK MY FIRST WORKSHOP.
CONSEQUENTLY I TOOK WORKSHOPS
FOR SIX OR SEVEN YEARS HERE.
I LATER TAUGHT HERE
FOR SIX OR SEVEN YEARS.
DURING THAT TIME I STARTED
MY OWN STAINED GLASS STUDIO.
DID ARCHITECTURAL COMMISSIONS,
CHURCHES, LIBRARIES,
HOSPITALS ALL ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND DID THAT
FOR OH, ABOUT 23 YEARS.
YOU'RE IN A UNIQUE PLACE IN
THE SENSE THAT THIS CAMPUS
WHERE YOU ARE, THIS 13 ACRE
ARTS AND CRAFTS CAMPUS
PRE-DATES EVERYTHING ELSE
AROUND IT.
IT PRE-DATES THE NATIONAL PARK.
IT PRE-DATES, GATLINBURG
BEING INCORPORATED.
IT WAS HERE BEFORE
THE NATIONAL PARK WAS BORN.
IT WAS FOUNDED HERE IN 1912
AS A SETTLEMENT SCHOOL.
SO, IT HAS A RICH HISTORY,
OBVIOUSLY A LONG HISTORY.
IT GOES FROM EDUCATION,
BASIC EDUCATION
TO HEALTH CARE,
TO ARTS AND CRAFTS
AND THAT'S SORT OF
THE PROGRESSION.
>> OKAY.
>> OVER THE LAST,
WELL, 105 YEARS.
>> WOW.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE
COME TO ARROWMONT?
>> I THINK THAT PEOPLE COME
PRIMARILY FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE IS TO HAVE
A CREATIVE EXPERIENCE.
NOW THAT COULD BE SOMEONE
WHO'S ALREADY A PROFESSIONAL
ARTIST, WANTING TO LEARN
A NEW TECHNIQUE.
THEY COULD SAY BE SOMEONE
THAT SAID, "YOU KNOW,
"I'D ALWAYS LIKE TO TRY
TO MAKE A SHAKER BOX.
"AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW
WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
"I'D LIKE TO LEARN HOW
TO USE SOME EQUIPMENT."
THE SECOND THING REALLY
HAS TO DO WITH COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU COME HERE YOU'RE
WELCOMED INTO A VERY
WELCOMING COMMUNITY.
BEING AN ARTIST
INHERENTLY PUTS YOU
IN A VULNERABLE POSITION,
THAT'S FOR A NEW PERSON
WHO DOESN'T THINK THEIR
AN ARTIST THROUGH AN
EXPERIENCED ARTIST YOU
STILL, WHEN YOU START
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
YOU'RE VULNERABLE.
THIS IS A SAFE, WELCOMING PLACE
WHERE EVERYBODY IS HAVING
REGARDLESS OF THEIR SKILL LEVEL,
THEIR BACKGROUND THEY'RE
HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE
OF TRYING TO LEARN
SOMETHING NEW, TO REFLECT,
TO PROBLEM SOLVE AND TO CREATE.
>> YEAH.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> THESE ARE SHAKER BOXES.
THEY COME FROM A RELIGIOUS SECT
THAT STARTED IN ABOUT
THE LATE 1700S
THAT CAME OVER FROM ENGLAND.
THEY HAD STARTED IN ENGLAND.
THEY HAD A LOT LONGER
NAME THAN SHAKERS,
BUT IT GOT SIMPLIFIED
DOWN TO SHAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT, I LIKE SIMPLE.
(LAUGHING)
>> AND THEN THEY
REALLY PICKED UP SPEED
IN THE 1800S AND
THEY'VE SLOWLY DIED OUT
BY TIME THE 1900S CAME AROUND,
THERE'S STILL A FEW OF THEM
AROUND, BUT ONE OF THE MAIN
REASONS WHY THEY DIED OUT
IS BECAUSE THEY
BELIEVED IN CELIBACY.
THEY WERE REALLY HARD WORKING
GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN AGRICULTURE,
IN LIVING AND IN FURNITURE,
THAT'S REALLY WHERE
THEY EXCELLED.
ONE OF THE SMALLER THINGS
THAT THEY DID
OR THE NOT REALLY
FURNITURE WERE BOXES.
AND THESE ARE A LOT SMALLER,
BUT THEY DID A LOT BIGGER
BOXES AND THIS IS WHAT
THEY KEPT THEIR STUFF IN.
THIS IS THEIR
TUPPERWARE OF THE DAY.
>> OKAY.
>> SO, THEY WOULD PUT THINGS,
EVERYTHING FROM BUTTONS,
THIS IS A VERY
TRADITIONAL BUTTON BOX.
>> LOOKS LIKE
IT'S A BIG BUTTON BOX.
(CROSS TALKING)
>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ZIPPERS.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE VELCRO.
WHAT THEY HAD WAS BUTTONS.
>> OKAY.
>> AND SO THEY HAD
A LOT OF BUTTONS.
>> A LOT OF BUTTONS, GOOD.
>> AND AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT
WORKING ANY OF THOSE
BUTTONS COULD POP OFF AND
SO THEY JUST CONSTANTLY
YOU KNOW HAD A BOX
JUST FULL OF BUTTONS.
FIRST THING WE WANT TO
DO IS KIND OF A NICE EDGE
UP HERE ALONG THE FINGERS
WE DON'T WANT SUCH A BLUNT EDGE,
SO WE'RE GONNA SOAK
THE ENDS OF THESE
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA
GO OVER AND CUT
A LITTLE BEVEL ON IT
JUST TO KIND OF MAKE IT
A LITTLE MORE ELEGANT.
THIS IS THE VERY
FIRST ONE THAT I MADE
AND OF COURSE I NEVER,
NEVER GOTTEN RID OF IT.
>> THE FIRST SHAKER
BOX YOU EVER MADE.
>> EVER MADE, AND I
MADE IT HERE ACTUALLY.
>> [AERIAL] THAT'S SO COOL.
>> WHILE I WAS A RESIDENT
I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TAKE A CLASS.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO
MAKE 'EM, SO WHEN I HEARD
THAT IT WAS COMING HERE I WAS
LIKE, "I'M DOING THIS.
"THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE
BEEN WANTING TO DO."
SO I CUT MY VERY,
VERY FIRST ONE.
>> THIS LOOKS
REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
I MEAN I CAN'T BELIEVE
THIS IS YOUR FIRST BOX.
IN FACT, YOU KNOCKED IT
OUT OF THE PARK
ON YOUR FIRST TRY.
(LAUGHING)
>> I'M GONNA HOLD THAT DOWN
AND I'M JUST GOING TO LIGHTLY
PUT PRESSURE,
I'M NOT GOING FAST.
I'M GONNA START PULLING
THIS AROUND, VERY SLOWLY.
I'M GONNA JUST LIGHTLY
LIFT UP AND TURN THAT OVER.
>> DO YOU FIND THAT
YOU GET A LOT OF WOMEN
THAT WANT TO COME TAKE
THE WOODWORKING CLASS?
>> WE HAVE QUITE A FEW WOMEN
EVERY WEEK WHO COME IN
AND TAKE A CLASS.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT'S
ALMOST A FULL CLASS OF WOMEN.
>> REALLY?
>> IN THE WOODWORKING.
AND THE SAME WITH THE TURNING.
IT REALLY DEPENDS WEEK TO WEEK
AND WHO'S TEACHING
AND WHAT THEY'RE TEACHING.
YOU DO FIND THE WOMEN
DO KIND OF WANT TO LEAN
TOWARDS ONE TYPE OF YOU
KNOW THING THAN THE OTHER,
BUT WE'VE HAD A TABLE
MAKING CLASS AND WE HAD A
SPOON CARVING CLASS
THE LAST TWO CLASSES AND THOSE
HAD MOSTLY WOMEN,
90% I WOULD SAY.
>> THAT'S SO COOL.
>> WE'RE DOING THE NUMBER TWOS.
>> OKAY.
>> SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE THESE.
OUR NEXT STEP IS WE NEED
TO SAND THIS,
SO FLIP THAT OVER, SO THAT
OUR PIECE FITS IN THERE,
(SANDING, GRINDING)
>> YES!
>> BOX.
(LAUGHING)
>> $59.99.
WHILE THE FOLKS THAT
CREATE ON THIS CAMPUS
ARE EQUALLY ADEPT AT FINDING
NEW FORMS AS THEY ARE
AT FORGING NEW FRIENDSHIPS,
IT'S ONLY TAKEN ME A FEW
HOURS TO SEE THAT THIS ABOUT
A LOT MORE THAN FINE ART.
IT'S ABOUT FINDING A HOME
FOR YOUR SKILLS,
SENSES AND SOUL.
AND SINCE THE CLASSES
ARE IN CONSTANT ROTATION
YOU CAN KEEP COMING BACK
TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT.
(WHOOSHING SOUND)
>> JOHN MUIR KNOWN
AFFECTIONATELY AS THE FATHER
OF THE NATIONAL PARKS
ONCE SAID THAT THOUSANDS
OF TIRED, NERVE SHAKEN,
OVER-CIVILIZED PEOPLE
ARE BEGINNING TO FIND OUT
THAT GOING TO THE MOUNTAINS
IS GOING HOME, THAT WILDNESS
IS A NECESSITY.
FOR THE FOLKS WHO BUILT
FONTANA DAM AND THE FAMILIES
THEY RAISED DURING THE PROCESS,
THESE WORDS HOLD
AS MUCH TRUTH AS THE RESIVOUR
THEY CAME TO CREATE.
THE DESCENDANTS OF THIS
ONCE BUSTLING BUILD TOWN
KNOW AS THE DAM KIDS, NOT
ONLY WATCHED AS THEIR FATHERS
BUILT A FEATURE FOR FLOOD
CONTROL, BUT A FORMIDABLE
FORCE FOR POWER AS WELL
A FUTURE FOR THE TENNESSEE
VALLEY WATER SHED.
>> US DAM KIDS ALL FEEL LIKE
IT'S JUST ONE FAMILY.
>> SO IS THAT ONE
OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY--
>> YES.
>> YOU WANT TO RECONNECT
HERE BECAUSE OF
THE SIGNIFICANCE!
>> YEAH, I GOT A BOOK
WITH ALL THE DAM KIDS
AND IF YOU COULD
SEE THE ADDRESSES
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE
HOW FAR THEY'D COME.
WE EVEN HAD 'EM COME FROM
WASHINGTON STATE ONE YEAR.
WE REALLY DON'T DO ANYTHING
WHEN WE GET UP HERE
EXCEPT JUST TALK AND WE'VE
GOT PICTURES FROM WAY BACK
AND WE'VE GOT BOOKS OF 'EM.
EVERY TIME A NEW ONE WOULD COME
THEIR PICTURE WOULD BE MADE
AND PUT IN THIS BOOK.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT WHEN
YOU GUYS SORT OF GET TOGETHER
IT'S A GREAT SENSE
OF CAMARADERIE, RIGHT?
>> YES AND WE TELL STORIES
OF THINGS THAT WE DID
THAT'S REALLY FUNNY
AND DANGEROUS,
BUT WE DID 'EM ANYWAY
BECAUSE WHEN WE COME
WE'VE JUST GOT TO REMEMBER
ALL OF OUR STORIES
AND MAYBE I HAVEN'T
HEARD SOME OF.
OUR GROUP IS GOING
LESS AND LESS AND LESS.
AND THEY TREAT US LIKE
WE'RE A QUEEN WHEN WE
COME UP HERE, THIS PLACE DOES.
THEY REALLY RECOGNIZE US
CAUSE THEY KNOW--
>> WELL IT'S SPECIAL.
>> YEAH, THEY KNOW ONE DAY
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD
THE OLDEST ONE IS,
BUT IF I'M 85 AND THE DAM IS
THE AGE IT IS
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S
NOT MANY OF US LEFT.
WHEN I LEAVE HERE I
MAKE MY RESERVATIONS
FOR NEXT YEAR AT THE SAME TIME,
IN THE SAME ROOM
AND HERE I COME,
BUT THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE
I WANT TO COME CAUSE IT
IS SO BEAUTIFUL UP HERE.
I KNOW THERE'S OTHER PLACES
BUT WE CALL IT,
"WE'RE COMING HOME."
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS
FONTANA DAM IS IN MANY WAYS
LIKE THE PARK
NEXT TO WHICH IT RESIDES.
IT MEANS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
TO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
AND FOR THOSE MOTIVATED
MANIACS, I'M KIDDING BY THE WAY,
THE TAKE ON THE APPALACHIAN
TRAIL IT MEANS SHELTER
FROM THE STORM AND A HOT SHOWER
AND NOW A PLACE TO CHARGE MORE
THAN JUST THEIR WEARY FEET.
>> TVA WAS CREATED IN 1933,
SO A LOT OF THE FACILITIES
WE HAVE ARE PRETTY OLD.
THIS DAM WAS BUILT IN THE 40S
DURING WORLD WAR II
AND SO A LOT OF THE THINGS
THAT WE HAVE HERE
FOR THE PUBLIC
HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
WE MAINTAIN THOSE FOR THEM,
TRY TO ENHANCE THEM,
BUT WE ALSO LOOK FOR NEW
RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES,
THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC
MIGHT NEED OR WANT AND SO
THE SHELTER'S ONE THING
THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN
THE TRAIL WAS REROUTED
ACROSS THE DAM.
THIS SHELTER THAT WE'RE
GONNA SEE WAS BUILT IN
THE EARLY 80S AND IT WAS
DUBBED THE FONTANA HILTON
BY THE HIKERS.
AGAIN, I'VE HIKED SOME
OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
AND STAYED IN SOME SHELTERS
AND THIS ONE IS REALLY
NICE COMPARED TO
WHAT YOU NORMALLY SEE.
WE PUT A SOLAR STATION
AROUND HERE FOR FOLKS
TO CHARGE THEIR PHONES
AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
>> OH WOW.
>> YEAH, HIKING'S
CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
EVERYBODY CARRIES CELLS
OR SOME TYPE OF TABLET
WITH 'EM AND SO THIS IS
A SOLAR CHARGING STATION
OF WE PUT UP.
THIS ALLOWS PEOPLE COME
OFF THE TRAIL AND CHARGE
THEIR DEVICES HERE.
BUT THE SHELTER
AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S JUST
ROOM FOR FOLKS TO LAY
A SLEEPING BAG DOWN,
A SLEEPING PAD, TOP AND BOTTOM
AND THEN IF YOU REALLY
HAD TO, YOU KNOW YOU CAN
FILL THE INNER PART HERE.
I'VE ACTUALLY STAYED IN
A SHELTER, NOT THIS ONE,
BUT SOUTH OF HERE AND
THEN IN THE RAIN STORM
WHEN WE HAD ABOUT 16 PEOPLE
IN A 14 MAN SHELTER.
>> OH REALLY?
>> JUST ANYWHERE
YOU CAN GET SOMEBODY TO.
YOU CAN FILL 'EM UP
IF YOU NEED TO.
>> DO YOU FIND THAT OTHER
HIKERS ARE ACCOMMODATING
>> OH YEAH.
>> WHEN OTHER PEOPLE
ARE COMING IN.
>> YEAH, THE HIKING COMMUNITY
IS ALMOST A BROTHERHOOD.
I REALLY ENJOY THE PEOPLE
I MEET ON THE TRAIL.
NEVER MEET ANYBODY
THAT I DON'T LIKE.
THEY'RE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.
GOOD TO HANG OUT WITH AND
I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY
SQUABBLE OVER
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WHEN THERE'S A NEED MOST
PEOPLE CAN MEET THAT NEED,
WHETHER IT BE FOOD,
SOME PEOPLE MAY RUN OUT
OF FOOD OR WATER AND
YOU CAN SHARE THAT
OR SOMETIMES THEY
HAVE BOXES IN SHELTERS
AND IF THERE'S AN ITEM
THAT ONE HIKER DOESN'T NEED
HE MAY LEAVE IT AND THEN
WHEN ANOTHER HIKER COMES
HE CAN TAKE IT.
>> OH WOW.
>> AND SO IT'S A GOOD COMMUNITY
OF PEOPLE IT REALLY IS.
EVERY SHELTER WILL HAVE
A LOG BOOK
AND WE CAN LOOK AT IT HERE.
EACH HIKER, ESPECIALLY
THROUGH HIKERS,
HAVE A WHAT'S
CALLED A TRAIL NAME.
VERY FEW PEOPLE GIVE THEIR
ACTUAL NAME ON THE TRAIL.
THEY'LL JUST WRITE
A LOG IN HERE,
WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING
OR WHERE THEY'RE FROM.
LIKE HERE'S SOMEONE
FROM ENGLAND.
THEY JUST TALK ABOUT
THEIR DAY, WHAT THEY DID
OR THEY COULD LEAVE A NOTE
FOR A BUDDY ON THE TRAIL
THAT MAY BE A DAY OR TWO
BEHIND, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA
STOP AND MEET UP AND SO YOU
JUST SEE ALL SORTS OF STUFF.
AND THAT FILLS UP PRETTY QUICK.
>> THAT'S COOL.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING HIKERS DO.
I DON'T THINK WE SUPPLY
THAT BOOK FOR 'EM.
>> SO SOMEBODY WILL JUST--
>> WHEN ONE RUNS OUT SOMEBODY'LL
BRING ANOTHER ONE IN.
>> THAT'S COOL.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> SO FAR MY TRIP THROUGH
THE PARK HAS PROVED UPLIFTING,
BUT THAT STATEMENT IS ABOUT
TO GET VERY, VERY LITERAL.
AND I'M NOT JUST BLOWING
HOT AIR.
(WHOOSHING SOUND)
>> OFTEN REFERRED TO AS
THE PEACEFUL SIDE OF THE SMOKIES
TOWNSEND, TENNESSEE, HAS
AN UNPRECEDENTED VIEW
OF THE FOOTHILLS THAT
LEAD INTO THE PARK.
COMPLETE WITH ENDLESS
OPPORTUNITIES TO TURN LAZY
SUMMER DAYS INTO
LIFELONG FAMILY MEMORIES,
THIS SMALL COMMUNITY MADE
FOR THE PERFECT LOCATION
TO HOST AS SPECTACULAR
FESTIVAL ALL WHILE
SHOWCASING THE SCENERY.
THESE THINGS ARE MASSIVE,
LIKE I'M WATCHING THEM
BLOW IT UP NOW.
IT'S DEFINITELY TAKING
QUITE A FEW PEOPLE
AND THEY'RE GINORMOUS,
SO IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY COOL
TO SEE.
NOW IN THEIR SECOND YEAR
THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN
BALLON FESTIVAL
INCLUDES FOOD TRUCKS,
CRAFT BEER VENDORS,
WINE TASTINGS,
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
AND LOCAL ARTISANS,
NOT TO MENTION DEMONSTRATIONS
AND TETHERED RIDES
FROM THE PROFESSIONAL PILOTS
ON HAND.
>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WHAT
THEY CALL A FLUFF AND PUFF.
>> A FLUFF AND PUFF.
>> A FLUFF AND PUFF,
SO THAT WAY THE CROWD
GETS ENTERTAINED,
WE GET TO SEE WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH THE WIND.
AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S
STILL TOO WINDY,
BUT YOU CAN SEE THIS ONE
DISHING OUT.
THIS ONE HERE GETTING
BOUNCED AROUND.
SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE
HAVE AROUND THE BASKET.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT
TETHERING RIGHT YET
BECAUSE THERE'S JUST
TOO MUCH INSTABILITY
IN THE AIR, SO THIS IS
A WAY THAT WE CAN GAUGE
HOW STABLE THE AIR IS.
THE THING FOR A FLUFF AND PUFF
IS TO KEEP THE CROWD
ENGAGED, IT'S A SHOW.
I MEAN EVERYTHING ABOUT
THE BALLOONS IS BIG
AND FABULOUS AND SO IF
THEY'RE JUST LAYING OUT
ON THE GROUND THAT'S
KIND OF BORING ISN'T IT?
BY HAVING IT BOUNCE AROUND
A LITTLE BIT,
YOU KNOW THE FABRIC
THE COLORS, GET A LITTLE BIT
OF EXCITEMENT WITH THE CROWD.
>> I DID GET EXCITED WHEN YOU
GUYS STARTED TO GET IT UP.
I WAS LIKE, "OH
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING,
"LIKE SOMETHING'S HAPPENING."
IT WAS REALLY COOL AND IT
WAS AWESOME TO HEAR THE CROWD
CHEER AND CLAP FOR YOU GUYS.
>> RIGHT.
>> THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
>> PILOTS IF YOU CAN HEAR
ME, YOU HAVE PERMISSION
TO GO COLD, WHEN
YOU'RE READY GO HOT.
I'M GONNA OPEN THE FIELD.
IF WE COULD HAVE ALL
NON-BALLOON RELATED PERSONNEL
CLEAR THE THE FIELD
FOR THE TETHER ROPES.
THANK YOU.
GO COLD, WHEN YOU'RE READY,
GOT HOT.
I'M OPENING THE FIELD.
>> SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
GO COLD, GO HOT?
>> GO COLD, COLD, ALL RIGHT.
HE'S COLD, HE'S ON HIS SIDE.
HE'S COLD INFLATED.
>> OKAY, SO COLD, ON HIS SIDE.
>> YEP.
>> OKAY.
>> ONCE THEY'RE FULLY INFLATED,
HIT THE BURNERS.
THEY STAND UP AND
THAT'S GOING HOT.
>> OKAY, SO HE WAS GOING HOT.
>> YEP.
>> OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO GUYS.
>> SO TO DO AN EVENT LIKE THIS
HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS
DO YOU NORMALLY NEED?
RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT
ABOUT 20 VOLUNTEERS
SPREAD OUT AMONGST
ALL THE BALLOONS
PLUS THE CREW THAT
THEY ALL BROUGHT.
>> OKAY, SO EACH PILOT HAD--
>> EACH PILOT NEEDS TWO
TO FOUR CREW DEPENDING
ON THE SIZE OF THE BALLOON
AND WHAT THEY LIKE TO DO.
WE SET MY BALLOON UP, YOU
KNOW WHEN WE'RE DOING FLIGHTS
WITH THREE PEOPLE.
>> THREE, THREE CREW PLUS YOU.
>> WELL,
TWO CREW AND A PASSENGER
USUALLY HELPS.
HOLD THE MOUTH OPEN,
YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE
HOLDING THE MOUTH OPEN.
MY BIG GUY JOHN IS ON THE TOP,
SO AS THEY STAND UP,
ONCE WE GET A LITTLE MORE AIR
IN THESE, YOU SEE
THEM START GOING HOT,
YOU'LL SEE FROM THE TOP
OF THE BALLOON A LINE
COMING BACK,
THAT IS THE CROWN LINE.
YOU PUT A BIG GUY ON THAT
AND THEY JUST HOLD SLOW
AND WALK IN TO THE BALLON
AS IT'S STANDING UP
SO THAT WAY IT DOESN'T FLOP.
ALL THE BALLOONS HAVE A CROWN
LINE ONE THEM, ALL RIGHT.
AND WHAT'S YOUR JOB?
TELL ME WHAT YOUR JOB IS.
>> BALANCE.
>> BALANCE.
>> I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A WORKOUT.
>> YEAH, WHO NEEDS A GYM
WHEN YOU'VE GOT A BALLOON?
I GOT MY COMMERCIAL LICENSE
IN 1999.
I STILL GET EXCITED EVERY TIME
I STAND A BALLOON UP,
EVERY TIME I GET UP IN THE
AIR, EVERY FLIGHT IS DIFFERENT,
EVERY SET OF PASSENGERS
IS DIFFERENT,
EVERY DIRECTION IS DIFFERENT,
THEY'RE NO TWO FLIGHTS
ALIKE, IT'S JUST--
>> CAUSE I'M EXCITED JUST
STANDING HERE WATCHING.
I ACTUALLY THOUGHT YOU
WERE JOKING EARLIER
WHEN YOU WERE LIKE,
"THE WEDDING BALLOON."
AND THEN I LOOKED OVER,
I WAS LIKE, "OH, OKAY, WELL."
AND THEN I SAW THE BRIDE
AND I'M LIKE, "OH, NO,
"HE MEANT LIKE REALLY,
LIKE A WEDDING'S GOING ON."
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> ONE THING THAT I'VE LEARNED
ABOUT THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS
ON THIS TRIP IS THAT
AS BEAUTIFUL AS THEY ARE
ON THEIR OWN THEY MAKE
A MAGNIFICENT BACKDROP.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES AN
INSPIRING SETTING FOR PEOPLE
TO NOT JUST SEE THE SCENERY,
BUT THE POTENTIAL
IN THEMSELVES, WHETHER IT'S
SETTING OFF ON ADVENTURES
THEY'D OTHERWISE SET ASIDE
FOR SEEMINGLY MORE
CIVILIZED THINGS, SEEING
WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE
OF CREATING, CELEBRATING
THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OR TAKING FLIGHT AND TELLING
GRAVITY TO TAKE A HIKE.
THESE HILLS ARE HOME TO
A HOST OF HOPES AND DREAMS
AND AS LONG WE KEEP
PROTECTING THEM,
THERE'S ROOM FOR MANY MORE.
ONE FINAL SAYING FROM
MR. MUIR, "IN EVERY WALK
"WITH NATURE ONE RECEIVES
FAR MORE THAN HE SEEKS."
I STARTED THIS JOURNEY
LOOKING TO UNDERSTAND
THE CALL OF THE MOUNTAINS,
AND I'M SO HAPPY
TO SAY THAT I SUCCEEDED.
THE CALL SOUNDS
DIFFERENT FOR EACH OF US
AND CAN VARY ACROSS
THE SEASONS OF OUR LIVES
JUST LIKE THE LEAVES THAT
LIE IN THESE RAGGED RIDGES,
BUT THE CALL REMAINS
ALL THE SAME.
THE QUESTION IS WILL YOU
CONTINUE TO TAKE THE TIME
TO ANSWER IT?
(INSTRUMENTAL THEME MUSIC)
