001: Where It All Started: North Chickamauga Creek and My Outdoor Soul
My hiking roots kicked off at North Chickamauga Creek Gorge. Back then, we locals just called it the Blue Hole. Growing up in Soddy Daisy, my mom would round up the neighborhood kids, and we’d hike a mile or so to this turquoise oasis. Jumping off rocks, soaking up sun, snorkeling past deep holes, it felt like nature’s wild playground, pure and holy. One day, I brought a fishing pole and worms, spotted sunfish with my goggles, and hauled in a catch. Some old-timer couldn’t believe fish thrived there. That hooked me.
I still hit those trails, dragging friends to swim or camp. Winter chills, fall crispness, the beauty never quits. Lately, TWRA and North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy have stocked rainbow trout, and I’ve been fly fishing with poppers for smallmouth bass, bead-heads for trout. It’s tough. Missed casts, mental battles... but that’s the grind I love. Those waters shaped me, got me through hard times, and sparked my passion for Chattanooga’s wild corners.
That’s the heartbeat of New South Trading Co. We’re not here to slap logos on cheap tees. We’re locals who’ve sweated these ridges, crafting apparel that mirrors the trails we’ve worn out. Glen Falls, Signal Point, you name it. Chattanooga’s now the first National Park City in North America, and damn, it fits. Surrounded by mountains and rivers, it’s our backyard sanctuary. With our designs and giveback vibes, we hope to nudge folks outside, to feel that same awe.
Those Blue Hole days didn’t just stick with me; they forged who I am. Maybe your story’s out there too. Let’s keep this wild love alive.
