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Smoky Mountains
By Samantha Brown on September 8, 2009 3:10 PM | Permalink | 17 Comments
I have found it very hard to convince people that I'm a nature girl and that I have absolutely no problems roughing it. This maybe because I spent a good part of my career with the Travel Channel staying at exceptionally luxurious hotels where I would indulge in their award winning food, wine and spa treatments. With that show I certainly grew a fondness for a nice bed and a deep soaking tub but I wouldn't wither away if I didn't have that. So let's just say I am really excited, no overjoyed, about this trip. Even though I love the outdoors I never camped -- my family preferred the kidney shaped pools and scratchy small bath towels of Motor Lodges. But I always thought that I could really get to love camping if I just had the chance.
Before we start our next few days of camping we are staying at a beautiful hotel called the Lodge at Buckberry Creek. Located on top of a mountain it looks out over a beautiful forest with large balconies and even larger fireplaces. First order of business is to go for a quick hike to absorb the outdoors, next is to buy beer and wine for the crew. I headed down to Gatlinburg to find a liquor store when I brought my order to the counter the older gentleman asked me if I was going to Dolly Parton's parade that night in Pigeon's Ford. "Is Dolly Parton going to be there?" -- ask a stupid question -- "well, yeah" he said, "that's why they call it Dolly Parton's Parade." I deserved that.
Gatlinburg is an interesting place. Considered the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, an area of extreme natural beauty, there's actually nothing natural about it. In fact I needed to buy a few more pieces of outdoor clothing and foolishly thought I could pick something up in town but driving down main street with its fudge shops, t-shirt emporiums and wax museums, I realized that it's easier to buy camping equipment on the island of Manhattan. Unless of course the t-shirt which listed why a six pack of beer was better than a man had wicking technology. The one place we all desperately wanted to go for dinner was a place called Cooters with a replica of the General Lee out front. We never did make it.
Morning at the trailhead we all feel like we are school kids away from our parents on a field trip. We have a very challenging hike ahead of us -- 7 hours to the top of the over 6,000 foot Mt. LeConte. I think I practically skipped the first third of it I was so happy. Rory on camera and Damian on sound have a more challenging task due to the added weight of their gear but everyone is pretty fit. Even Christina my intrepid stylist is hiking along. There of course is some concern about "my look" a large hike followed by camping with no water or electricity means no shower or blow dryer. Let's just say I don't wake up looking like I do on camera -- no where near it in fact. Actually my skin's pretty good, I don't need or like a lot of make-up but my hair is another story. Not blessed with beautiful hair when I wake up I could pass for one of the members of 80's rock bands like Poison or Flock of Seagulls. So in Christina's bag she has packed dry shampoo, Velcro rollers and hairspray. Items you would never find at an R.E.I store.
We all did very well on our hike until I would say the last hour. The trail was at its steepest and 18 inches of snow had dropped two days before making it a bit more strenuous. The good news was the snow had forced a group of hikers to cancel their trip so a large cabin opened up and now the entire crew would be sleeping in a cabin as opposed to a bear shelter (???? -- I didn't ask). By the time we got to the top I was too tired to move my lips. I could have so easily curled up in the snow and fallen asleep. We still had to shoot the dinner and as we sat down with the camera rolling my mind went blank and I couldn't remember what the fluffy white contents in the bowl were (mashed potatoes) I think I just mumbled "please pass the…the…" and then my voice trails off. The people who run Mt. LeConte Lodge are just awesome. Smiling happy faces -- a welcome site for tired souls and soles. They even made me a birthday cake. As exhausted as we were at the end of dinner the crew and the staff sat around a kerosene lantern with mason jars of wine and talked. Well fed and exhausted it was time for bed.
We were all sharing the same Cabin which had a large main room and two smaller rooms off to each side. Christina and I were in one of the side rooms WITH BUNKBEDS! There's something really wonderfully awkward about sharing such an intimate space with the people who you work with. We end each shooting day exiting a van, confirming tomorrow's call time and saying good night ultimately going our separate ways to our own rooms behind bolted doors. Now it was like a 13 year old's sleep over party. Christina and I ended the night in fits of giggling -- about what I now forget -- and we all yelled good night to each other like our last name was Walton.
17 Comments
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- Patrick McCartney: Hi Samantha! I never heard of you until I watched some of your DVD's last night and I must say...
- Amy: Ms. Brown, As a native of Tennessee and a nature girl myself, I must insist that at some point...
- Maqui: My whole family LOVES your show (that's mama, I & 7 kids). Because we're such a large family,...
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So glad sammie and crew finally came to the smokies. Sorry you had to see gatlinburg. :( I thought the episode was great! All the hiking sticks and talk of high altitude was too funny, come on guys, its the Smokies not the Rockies. Sammie is the best and she camps like a pro! She's way too funny and I think it should just be the Sam Channel, not the Travel Channel. Come back to the mtns when its summer Sam! You'll like it even more. :)
it is very nice place i ll travel it.thankss
hi,how are you?My name is meizhi and I am from Shanghai LoL I watch your show from ICS channel in Shanghai, I love it so much and I am a huge fan of yours now...haha..I am a food show producer in shanghai, hope one day you can come to shanghai and do a [passpost to shanghai] etc...We have great food and clubs here...haha..email me if you get a chance to visit Shanghai in the future (meizhizhang@hotmail.com) take care! ^_^
Hellooooo Samantha. It's "crazy after all these years" Charmaine. I still have the video from when we would visit New Hampshire. Ice cream store, ring a bell? So yea, of course,I been following your career since the beginning. Most of all, I love that your family sense of humor is intact. It's the best of the best. Brings back the Brown sounds. I send my love.
Hi Samantha,
I have enjoyed your shows for years. You are the every day traveller which makes it so great. We travel a lot and some of the places you've been, we have gone to, just because you made them out to be great places to visit. One weekend they put on the poker instead of your show, I sent a note to Travel Channel that I would rather watch Sam and her travels then watch a bunch of guys playing cards. The next week you were back. I'm sure I had nothing to do with it, but it is the travel channel after all, not ESPN. Thanks for all you do and for making travel fun.
Hi Samantha! I wrote it on your fan site @ Facebook and I'll say it here: for your safety I think you should get swim lessons. I'll be happy to teach you too! I was a swimmer in college and taught many-a-children. I love your show, but I get nervous when you have to do water stuff.
Samantha, our family just loves your shows. At first we were like 'this is about hotel rooms'? your personality just makes these shows great. Keep it up
samantha,i'm ouou from china,i really enjoy your shows,you bring happiness to us, thanks!
Samantha - I am big fan of yours. I would love if you can visit India and create a program on India.
Samantha,
Love your show, but just wanted to let you know its Pigeon Forge, not Pigeon Ford. East Tennessee is a great place to visit!
Jim
I would like to go with you to Chaing Mai, Thailand and to the Golden Triangle (Chaing Rai, Cambodia and Laos).
Northen Thailand is beautiful and you can get a true picture of the Thai life style. The northen Thai food is delicious and then you could fly down to Phuket, one of the top ten beaches in the world. I have travel to Thailand many times and know my way around very well. The best place to eat and to shop. The best way is to mingle with the local Thai people to find the best places, off the tourist track. Also shopping for best prices not the tourist prices. I would be glad to accompany you and would pay my own way.
Thanks,
Alvin
I've been to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge several times, but have never hiked LeConte. The rustic lodges at the top look great.
Samantha,
I think you have THE Best job in television! I would LOVE to have a show like yours...only I'd prefer to do it with my husband, 12, and 7 year old on traveling to "family friendly" places. Anyhow, someone mentioned that you did this hike...I do it every year with a group of 25 people. The man who "owns" the reservations has been organizing this group for over 20 years. We go this weekend every year (3rd weekend in October). So, this Saturday, up we go! This will be the 2nd year that my 12 year old, Kaely, is hiking up with us! We take the Alum Cave trail. Contrary to published info, it is the easiest of the trails up, and believe me, Charlie knows, he's done them all! I have printed this article to share on top with the others as we drink our "wine from a jar" Saturday evening! Buy, lucky girl!
Adell Hackworth
www.koolestproducts.com
Hello Princess Samantha!
I've been a long time fan! Your shows bring joy and happiness to many people throughout the world! Keep up the great work and your great sense of humor, too, LOL !Just got back from Mohonk Mountain House in New York State where you did a wonderful piece a few years back. They still talk about your visit there with great admiration and affection. The fall foliage up there is spectacular this time of year,! When will you be back?
Gatlinburg sounds like an interesting place. I will try to get there and follow your footsteps when time permits!
With warmest regards,
PrincePeterofPomona
sam you got the greatest hips and legs, your sooo fine
Samantha has a great show. Not only is she very sexy and beautiful, but she has a lot of personality. I love watching her on the travel channel. All the best.
Ms. Brown,
As a native of Tennessee and a nature girl myself, I must insist that at some point you return to our fair state and visit Townsend. Gatlinburg may be called the gateway to the Smokies but for my simplistic tastes it resembles the gateway to another, hotter destination and I don't mean Florida. We have been vacationing in Townsend for years and love peaceful alternative it provides to the Vegas meets Pa Kettle atmosphere of Gatlinburg. There is a great fly fishing shop, a wonderful cafe and visiting Dead Beat Pete's is a must. Y'all come back now, ya here?