Featured Hobnailer: Scott Ballard

by | Feb 21, 2026 | 0 comments

Our “Featured Hobnailers” series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Scott Ballard a resident of West Jefferson, North Carolina. Scott and his son, Cam, will be tackling the Everest Base Camp Classic trek in April, 2026.
Q: What is your occupation?

A: Owner of West End (Christmas) Wreaths in West Jefferson.

Q: How and when did you get into adventure travel?

A: It really came to life when visiting my mother who was living part-time in France, even though I had done a student-exchange in Germany. Having her living in Europe opened up new possibilities.

Q: Where was your first out-of-country adventure? 

A: Being an exchange student near Hamburg, Germany when I was in high school. At the conclusion of our stay with German families, we all purchased a German Rail Pass (Deutsche Bahn) and stayed in youth hostels and explored all over from Hamburg to Munich (although we didn’t get to Berlin)!

Q: What are you most excited about regarding your upcoming EBC trek?

A: First and foremost to share it with my oldest son! Life is about experiences, not things! I am a mountain guy—I love 3-dimensional landscapes and it doesn’t get any better than visiting the roof of the world! As an artist, I can’t wait to see the Buddhist temples—I know this trek will inform and influence what I paint—I’m always looking for inspiration! And getting to know the people!

Q: What are you most nervous about?

A: Tensions with Iran as we are using Qatar Air.

Q: How did you discover Hobnail Trekking?

A: Living in (Hobnail co-owner) Mark Johnson’s home county (Ashe), I had seen newspaper articles, but when a friend mentioned a Croatia trek, I looked more closely at the website and saw EBC! I then mentioned it to my son and it was on!

Q: What other destinations are on your adventure-travel bucket list?
A: My two sons and I are already planning to hike at Glacier National Park in September of 2027, but Istanbul has been calling my name for YEARS and something in my DNA says I’ve got to get there! The truth is that I’d like to do a Hobnail trek at least every other year because there are several that interest me.

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