Author

John Quillen 40 posts 0 comments

John is a self-described orophile whose mountain addiction has taken him across the globe in search of fresh peak experiences. After completing all the Smokies trails, he sought high points both obscure and well known. With two remaining, he hopes to become the first Tennessean to complete the global Seven Summits.

Departments

Appalachian Trail Tales

John Quillen
Homer’s unstoppable spirit on the Triple Crown As we moved further into Virginia, the Shenandoah was in our sights. Frank Whitehead, my usual cohort, and I were ready to hit some more level ground. We were beginning to believe that the…
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Features

The West Highland Way

John Quillen
Conquering the wild: A seven-day odyssey through Scotland’s majestic West Highland Way I lifted a creaky latch on the farm gate long enough for me and Toni to slip through. The sheep seemed disinterested in escape and who could blame…
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Features

Exploring Ecuador

John Quillen
The mountains teach us lessons in our most vulnerable of moments Clouds littered the valley floor of Pichincha province as we nudged recalcitrant cattle and straddled fraying fence line. My team was getting their first taste of altitude…
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Departments

The Wildflowers

John Quillen
Finding my way through the season with wildflowers as my guide I have a dog-eared, spiral-bound book that predates me with photographs some would consider laughable nowadays. Long since pushed aside by the Google lens and phone app…
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Departments

The Rescue

John Quillen
I've had a few close calls in the mountains. But none so wild as the summer of 2013. After a heinous spate of bad luck and weather, my climbing partner Brian Moran and I were dropping down from Camp 3 on Broad Peak in the Karakoram…
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Departments

The Third Men

John Quillen
Up steep rock faces or under the intense flow of a waterfall you’ll find the unsung heroes of East Tennessee rescues Charlie Avery has logged many hours parked along Newfound Gap Road. He has a real, old-fashioned park service radio…
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Departments

Campsite Mooch

John Quillen
Nothing tastes quite like outdoor gastronomy cooked up by friends When it comes to backcountry eating, I tend to be described as a minimalist. In order to keep weight down on a five day hike without resupply, this is a necessary…
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Departments

Ekaneetlee Trace

John Quillen
The search for a forgotten crossing from North Carolina to Tennessee My relationship with Ekaneetlee runs as long as the creek. Since first reading of this secret passage from North Carolina into Tennessee, I was consumed with a desire…
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Features

Obed Treasure

John Quillen
Stories of the riches found in the ocean deep and on the side of East Tennessee cliffs Del Scruggs was in his twenties when he caught wind of what was going on in Florida. Whispers of buried treasure wafted up the hollers of East…
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