A unplugged sunset hike at Sam’s Knob in the Blue Ridge Mountains hits an unexpected twist.
Category: Wellness
Sometimes, the Ass is Me
A sauna conversation at the gym reminds me that the people we’re quickest to judge often surprise us—and sometimes the real asshole in the room is us.
2026 Western North Carolina (WNC) Bucket List Check Off: Shoji Spa
The first item I checked off my 2026 Western North Carolina (WNC) Bucket List was visiting Asheville’s Shoji Spa, a Japanese soaking spa.
Overheard in the Asheville Saunas, Part 3
More nonsense from the saunas of Asheville.
Am I Asheville Fat?
A personal essay on being labeled “Boulder fat,” BMI misclassification, Ozempic, and how gay body standards thrive in progressive cities like Asheville.
Overheard in the Asheville Saunas: Part Two
Part two of the ridiculous things you hear Ashevillians say in the various saunas of Asheville.
Performative Tech Bro-ness at the Sauna House
A very specific (very meta) type of performative masculinity was overheard at Asheville’s Sauna House recently.
A Sunrise at Mt LeConte
After getting laid off at a Virginia rest stop, I hiked to watch the sunrise at Mt. LeConte. Reflections on layoffs, friendship, and the kind of clarity only the Smokies can give you.
New Series: Overheard in the Asheville Saunas
You hear some wild conversations in the saunas of Asheville.
Sauna-Time Softness
For some reason, being in a sauna really makes the men of Asheville inadvertently showcase how worried they are about their own masculinity.
AshevilleExplorer 