Deep Country Adventures

12/07/2022

Cool accomplishment!

A hiker has become the first woman to complete all 11 National Scenic Trails.

07/09/2021

One of the best in the business!

Jeff Wadley is a name synonymous with search and rescue in East Tennessee. As a native of Gatlinburg, he grew up exploring the trails, streams and off-trail features of the Smokies. His earliest mentors were Scout leaders who happened to be park rangers and members of search and rescue teams in the East Tennessee area. Jeff has been involved in search and rescue in various roles since 1978 and has participated in 176 SAR operations searching for lost hikers, missing aircraft, abducted persons, and others.

Credentialed as an instructor of search and rescue planning, Jeff is also a Lost Person Behavior specialist and holds an Operational Tracker certification. His most recent research has been analyzing over 600 search and rescue cases in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The data from his analysis is being used by park management to develop a strategy to reduce the number of search and rescue incidents that occur in the park. The park presented him with its very first Preventative Search and Rescue Award in 2020 for that research.

Jeff served in the Tennessee Civil Air Patrol for 30 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He served as a mission coordinator and trainer in the Smokies. Jeff is the co-author of "Mayday! Mayday! Aircraft Incidents in Great Smoky Mountains National Park" which documents 54 known and reported aircraft crashes in the Smokies dating from before 1920 through 1999.

Jeff has completed all 900 miles of trails in the Smokies and is working on summiting all 40 peaks over 6,000 ft in the Eastern United States. His "day job" is that of Executive Director of Camp Bays Mountain in Kingsport, TN.

Photo: Jeff Wadley

20/06/2021

To the WORLD you are a dad. To our FAMILY, you are the world. Author Unknown

Happy Father's Day!

05/06/2021

Happy National Trails Day from all of us at Deep County Adventures! National Trails Day is an annual event hosted by the American Hiking Society, which celebrates not only national scenic and historic trails, but all trails on public lands. Celebrate today by getting outside and getting on trail!!

02/06/2021

Hikers be advised of a trail closure on the Appalachian Trail.

Due to reported aggressive bear activity, the is closed to camping until further notice between Double Springs Shelter (NOBO mile 452) and the Backbone Rock Trail (NOBO mile 465) in northeast Tennessee. Visitors are reminded to never feed/approach bears and bear canisters are the recommended food storage option to help keep humans safe and bears wild.

To learn more about how to minimize your risk of bear encounters, or report a bear encounter on the , visit appalachiantrail.org/bears

31/05/2021

Memorial Day. A day for gatherings, parades, days at the beach, barbeques and…most of all, remembering.

Memorial Day started as Decoration Day, designated in 1868, to pay tribute to fallen northern Civil War soldiers. Family members decorated the graves with flowers or other decorations of their loved ones who gave their lives to defend the country. Over time it became a day to commemorate fallen soldiers from all wars. It was declared a federal holiday in 1971.

A moment of silence is usually taken at 3:00pm. Take a moment to say “Thanks” and remember their sacrifice.