The WildeBeat

Thu, Aug 07, 2008

Ancient Firemaking

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program presents advanced skills for making fire without modern tools. This is the third in a series of shows featuring primitive technologies experts from Primitive Ways. (The first show is number 141, First Skills, and the second is show number 146, Starting with Fire.)

Naturalist Dino Labiste talks about the three methods prehistoric humans used to make fire. He demonstrates creating fire by friction using a hand drill. He talks about two other methods, fire by percussion, and fire by compression. He explains what would be the best of these techniques for you to use if you had no modern choices.

The Primitive Ways website has many articles on primitive fire skills. Another source of information on primitive skills is the Society of Primitive Technologies.

WildeBeat Members can download a recording of Dino Labiste's complete firemaking demonstration from our WildeBeat Insider web pages.

• Show number 150 [MP3 format; length 10:26; 2,506,773 bytes]
• Show number 150, high-quality stereo version [MP3 format; length 12:06; 11,611,395 bytes]
• Show number 150 script
• Photo Album of firemaking demonstration

Thu, Jul 31, 2008

Waste Training

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program presents a training talk and demonstration on disposing of waste properly in the backcountry. This is the third in a series of editions featuring the Leave No Trace traveling trainers.

Steve recorded J.D. Tanner and Emily Ressler giving their regular presentation of the third principle of Leave No Trace, Dispose of Waste Properly. This is an important skill that most people get, but fewer people seem to get right.

Emily and J.D., along with the other Leave No Trace traveling trainers, maintain the Traveling Trainers Blog.

• Show number 149 [MP3 format; length 9:51; 2,368,637 bytes]
• Show number 146, high-quality stereo version [MP3 format; length 10:39; 10,237,548 bytes]
• Show number 149 script

Thu, Jul 24, 2008

Bagging Wild Sounds, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program is part two of a report on a trip to record nature sounds. You've got to be totally quiet; stand like a statue. And then, if you're in the right place at the right time, you'll capture your sound. (Part one is here.)

Our assistant producer Kate Taylor reports on her visit to the annual field recording workshop of the Nature Sounds Society. She tells her story with the help of:

• Alton Byrd, a nature sounds hobbyist from Berkeley, California.
• Martyn Stewart, a professional nature sounds recordist for the BBC.
• Chris Bell, a museum curator from Sydney, Australia.
• Hundreds of birds, amphibians, and a few domesticated mammals.
• Gina Farr, a multimedia producer from Marin Country, California.

You can get tips from Dan Dugan on recording nature sounds by listening to our edition number 90, Listening to Parks.

WildeBeat Members can download an extended interview with Martyn Stewart and additional extended wild sound recordings from WildeBeat Insider web pages.

• Show number 148 [MP3 format; length 10:33; 2,356,042 bytes]
• Combined show numbers 147 & 148, high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 17:40; 16,966,708 bytes]
• Show number 148 script
• Show numbers 147 & 148 combined script
• Photo album

Thu, Jul 17, 2008

Bagging Wild Sounds, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program is part one of a report on a trip to record nature sounds. You've got to be totally quiet; stand like a statue. And then, if you're in the right place at the right time, you'll capture your sound.

Our assistant producer Kate Taylor reports on her visit to the annual field recording workshop of the Nature Sounds Society. She tells her story with the help of:

• Dan Dugan, technical advisor to the Nature Sounds Society.
• Gina Farr, a multimedia producer from Marin Country, California.
• Hundreds of birds, amphibians, and a few domesticated mammals.
• Chris Bell, a museum curator from Sydney, Australia.
• Martyn Stewart, a professional nature sounds recordist for the BBC.

Next week, in part two, we'll hear more nature sounds, and find out why it's important to our guests to record and preserve them.

You can get tips from Dan Dugan on recording nature sounds by listening to our edition number 90, Listening to Parks.

• Show number 147 [MP3 format; length 9:48; 2,356,947 bytes]
• Show number 147 script

Thu, Jul 10, 2008

Starting With Fire

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program presents the basic skill of fire building. This is the second in a series of shows featuring primitive technologies experts from Primitive Ways. (The first show is number 141, First Skills.)

Naturalist Dino Labiste explains and demonstrates the fundamental skill of fire building. Our ancestors depended on fire as a basic survival tool as far back as a million years ago, and yet today, among many people it's becoming a lost art.

Ben Lawhon, the education director for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics talks about minimum impact skills for making and using fires. The fifth Leave No Trace principle is Minimize Campfire Impacts.

The Primitive Ways website has many articles on primitive fire skills. Another source of information on primitive skills in the Society of Primitive Technologies.

• Show number 146 [MP3 format; length 9:55; 2,383,583 bytes]
• Show number 146, high-quality stereo version [MP3 format; length 10:28; 10,057,426 bytes]
• Show number 146 script

Thu, Jul 03, 2008

Stealth Gear

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program explains the gear you can carry to tread lightly on your favorite wild places. This is the second in a series of presentations by the Leave No Trace traveling trainers.

J.D. Tanner and Emily Ressler talk about the gear you can bring along to make it easier to Leave No Trace. They talk about shoes and shelter, bags and trowels, cameras and sketch pads, lights and blankets, cans and binoculars, and radios and headphones. All of this gear, and more, can help you leave the wild places you visit as good or better than you found them.

Specifically, Emily mentions Restop, WAG bags, and poop tubes. J.D. mentions bear cans, which we discussed in detail in our previous edition, Bear Cans Revisited.

We'll hear more from Emily Ressler and J.D. Tanner in a future edition. The series will continue several weeks from now when J.D and Emily explain more details about a specific Leave No Trace principle.

• Show number 145 [MP3 format; length 9:47; 2,352,439 bytes]
• Show number 145, high-quality stereo version [MP3 format; length 9:47; 9,406,657 bytes]
• Show number 145 script

Thu, Jun 26, 2008

Bear Cans Revisited, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part two of an exploration of the situation in the Sierra Nevada wilderness areas that lead to the development of the bear-resistant food canister. (Part one is here.) Who makes these things, and how do we know they work?

Steve tells the story with the help of:

• Harold Werner, a wildlife biologist from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park.
• Calder Reid, wilderness manager for the Inyo National Forest.
• Allen DeForrest of Wild Ideas, manufacturer of the Bearikade.
• Tom Cohen of Ursack
• Jamie Hogan of Bear Vault.
• Josh Leavitt of Wilderness Solutions.

Harold Werner and Calder Reid are members of the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG), the standards-setting body for bear management in the major Sierra Nevada wilderness areas. Their group also performs the tests that lead to the approval of canisters for use in Yosemite National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, and the Inyo National Forest. Several other jurisdictions also require canisters from the SIBBG approved list.

This edition was originally presented on August 31, 2006.

Photo credit: Calder Reid, Inyo National Forest

• Show number 144 [MP3 format; length 10:50; 2,603,437 bytes]
• Combined show numbers 143 & 144, exntended version [MP3 format; length 21:13; 10,189,501 bytes]
• Show number 143 script
• Combined show numbers 143 & 144 script

Tue, Jun 24, 2008

Introducing Kate Taylor

Posted at 16:10

/blog/news [link ]

We'd like to welcome Kate Taylor to the WildeBeat project as our new Assistant Producer. In addition to producing entire editions by herself, she'll also help Steve and Jean research and edit other stories in progress.

You can look forward to hearing Kate's voice and creative work in future editions of the show.

Thu, Jun 19, 2008

Bear Cans Revisited, part 1

Posted at 09:01

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part one of an exploration of the situation in the Sierra Nevada wilderness areas that lead to the development of the bear-resistant food canister. Why were they invented, who invented them, and how did that happen?

Steve tells the story with the help of:

• Harold Werner, a wildlife biologist from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park.
• Tori Seher, a wildlife biologist from Yosemite National Park.
• Richard Garcia, the president of Garcia Machine, manufacturer of the Backpacker's Cache.
• Calder Reid, wilderness manager for the Inyo National Forest.

Harold Werner, Calder Reid, and Tori Seher are members of the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG), the standards-setting body for bear management in the major Sierra Nevada wilderness areas.

Next week, we'll give you updates about how the industry grew from these beginnings, and the effect all of this has had on parks, forests, bears, and wilderness visitors. This edition was originally presented on August 24, 2006.

• Show number 143 [MP3 format; length 10:40; 2,561,641 bytes]
• Show number 143 script

Sat, Jun 14, 2008

Women of Color 4-Day Backpack

Posted at 11:00

/blog/outings [link ]

Chelsea Griffie wrote to tell us about an outing she's leading for the Balanced Rock Foundation. Chelsea is the program director for Bay Area Wilderness Training. Chelsea appeared in our editions 91 and 92, Bay Area Wilderness Training, part 1 and part 2.

Chelsea writes:

Announcing our Women of Color backpacking trip from the evening of July 16 through July 20. If you are a woman of color, please join us! This trip is a super fun way to recharge your batteries.

Event: Women of Color Backpacking Trip
"The only one in the country!"
What: Camping Trip
Host: Chelsea Griffie / the Balanced Rock Foundation
When: Wednesday, July 16 at 6:00pm
Where: Yosemite National Park

Official information for this trip, as well as the registration form is on the Backpack Trips page of the Balanced Rock Foundation.

Thu, Jun 12, 2008

Modern Rain gear

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of two rain jackets and a poncho. An important part of keeping warm is keeping dry, and the first part you want to protect is your torso.

Steve Nelson reviews the Antigravitygear Poncho Villa. Gail Staisil reviews the Outdoor Research Celestial Jacket. Jim Sabiston reviews the Integral Designs eVENT Cruiser Jacket.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

• Show number 142 [MP3 format; length 9:57; 2,389,850 bytes]
• Show number 142, extended version [MP3 format; length 12:22; 5,939,060 bytes]
• Show number 142 script

Tue, Jun 10, 2008

Vox WildeBeat for June 10, 2008

Posted at 11:58

/vox [link ]

Listener Adam Fox called to report on his experiences as organizer of the West Coast Tracker Roundup, an event dedicated to learning and practicing primitive survival skills.

• Vox WildeBeat 16 [MP3 format; length 9:56; 2,387,564 bytes]

Thu, Jun 05, 2008

First Skills

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program introduces our series on primitive technologies. You always see cavemen portrayed as stupid and comical. But what do you suppose they knew that you don't?

We hear from Norm Kidder. He's the vice president of the Society of Primitive Technologies. He talks about the society's goal to re-learn, study, and teach stone age skills. Norm explains that using cutting edges and fire were the first technological skills developed by the earliest humans.

In addition to the Society of Primitive Technologies, another source of primitive skills education is the Northern California group, Primitive Ways.

We'll hear more from Norm Kidder in a future edition. The series will continue several weeks from now when we learn the specifics of several primitive skills.

• Show number 141 [MP3 format; length 11:04; 2,636,230 bytes]
• Show number 141 script

Thu, May 29, 2008

A Trace of Training

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program introduces the Leave No Trace traveling trainers. This couple spreads the word of Leave No Trace, but then they seem to leave a lasting impression.

The Leave no trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches skills to help you keep your parks and wilderness areas in their best possible condition. You can minimize your impacts on these place so that others can enjoy them more, and you can enjoy them in the future.

J.D. Tanner and Emily Ressler are this year's senior traveling trainers for Leave No Trace. They'll spend the year touring the country, attending festivals, and presenting classes on Leave No Trace principles to all kinds of people, from grade school students to professional mountain guides.

We'll hear more from J.D and Emily in several future editions.

• Show number 140 [MP3 format; length 11:04; 2,661,110 bytes]
• Show number 140 script

Thu, May 22, 2008

Reprise: Wilderness Deals for Wheels

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program investigates the relationship of the popular sport of mountain bicycling to wilderness preservation. What do these groups want when they lobby for the protection of wild places?

Steve tells the story with the help of:

• Roger Abeh, a park ranger for the Department of Parks of the City of San Jose, California.
• John Kramer, the acting Wilderness Manager for the Pacific Southwest Region of the National Forest Service.
• Ryan Henson, the policy director for the California Wilderness Coalition.
• Mark Eller, Communications Director for the International Mountain Bicycling Association, also known as IMBA.

A recent point of contention between wilderness groups and mountain bicycling groups was over the establishment of the King Range Wilderness. This wilderness was established in October, 2006, as part of the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act.

WildeBeat members can download additional interview clips about responsible mountain bike riding in the backcountry from our WildeBeat Insider web pages.

• Show number 139 [MP3 format; length 12:04; 2,901,244 bytes]
• Show number 139, high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 12:04; 11,601,795 bytes]
• Show number 139 script

Thu, May 15, 2008

Light Lights

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of LED lanterns and headlamps. In the past few years, the one piece of outdoor gear that's improved most dramatically in performance versus weight is lighting.

Larry Kirschner reviews the Coleman 4AA Pack-Away Lantern. Roger Caffin reviews the Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp. Tim Tessier reviews the Black Diamond Icon Headlamp.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

• Show number 138 [MP3 format; length 9:53; 2,375,323 bytes]
• Show number 138, extended version [MP3 format; length 11:59; 5,760,797 bytes]
• Show number 138 script

Thu, May 08, 2008

Bad Fire, Good Fire, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part two of a look at the effects of wild fires. Smoky the Bear says, only you can prevent wild fires. But sometimes you can't, and in some ways, that's not all bad. (Part 1 is here.)

Wild fires burned through three major wilderness areas in California late last summer:

• The Dick Smith Wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest was burned by the Zaca Fire.
• The San Rafael Wilderness in the Los Padres National Forest was burned by the Zaca Fire.
• The Orestimba Wilderness in Henry Coe State Park was burned by the Lick Fire.

Steve talks with fire ecologist Jon Keely of the United States Geologic Survey about whether fire irreparably damages wild lands. Winslow Briggs, director emeritus for the Carnagie Institute of Science, is studying the recovery of plants in Henry Coe State Park. He talks about what survived, what's coming back, and how he knows. Jon Keely talks about what to look for when you explore a place that has burned, and some things to discover and appreciate.

WildeBeat members can download extended bonus interviews with Winslow Briggs and Jon Keely from our WildeBeat Insider's web pages.

• Show number 137 [MP3 format; length 9:56; 2,386,410 bytes]
• Combined show numbers 136 & 137 [MP3 format; length 20:44; 19,910,396 bytes]
• Show number 137 script
• Show number 136 & 137 combined script
• Photo Album from Henry Coe S.P.

Tue, May 06, 2008

Thanks to Wilderness.net

Posted at 08:00

/blog/recognition [link ]

Wilderness.net is a reference web site maintained as a partnership project of the Wilderness Institute at the University of Montana's College of Forestry and Conservation, the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute.

Wilderness.net has chosen to feature the WildeBeat on their main page. We thank them.

One very useful feature of the Wilderness.net site is their Find a Wilderness feature. Use it to find detailed information on over 700 of the protected wilderness areas in the U.S.

Mon, May 05, 2008

Become our Fan on Facebook

Posted at 19:30

/blog/news [link ]

If you're a user of Facebook and a fan of the WildeBeat, you can become our fan on Facebook.

Just go to the WildeBeat page on Facebook and click on become a fan.

Thu, May 01, 2008

Bad Fire, Good Fire, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part one of a look at the effects of wild fires. Smoky the Bear says, only you can prevent wild fires. But sometimes you can't, and in some ways, that's not all bad.

We play a part of a TV news report about a wild fire that burned about half of California's Henry Coe State Park. This park contains the nearest wilderness area to us, the Orestimba Wilderness.

Kathleen Good tells us about the largest of last year's wild fires in California, the Zaca Fire in the Los Padres National Forest, which burned both the Dick Smith Wilderness and the San Rafael Wilderness.

Steve tours the damage at Henry Coe State Park with ranger John Verhoeven.

Ben Lawhon, education director for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, reminds us about responsible use of fire on backcountry and wilderness outings.

Next week, in part 2, scientists study what happens to a wild place after a fire.

• Show number 136 [MP3 format; length 9:54; 2,378,785 bytes]
• Show number 136 script

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