The WildeBeat

Thu, Aug 02, 2007

Lassen National Park, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part one of a visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park. It's been called a little Yellowstone because of its wilderness and its volcanic features.

We hear from Steve Zachary, the park's education specialist, about some of the most interesting features of the park's wilderness areas. He mentions the Cinder Cone, the Fantastic Lava Beds, and Boiling Springs Lake.

Jean Higham, our normally silent co-writer and co-editor, provides a trip report on her four day hike in the backcountry. A map and pictures of her trip are available on the photo album link, below. Jean's hike was relatively easy, and she never got more than a few miles from the road. You don't have to get very far into the wilderness to have an extraordinary experience.

If you want to plan a trip to the backcountry of Lassen Volcanic National park, you'll, of course, want to start with this PDF map. Then you'll want to contact the park to arrange for a wilderness permit. You can apply for one in-person, by phone, or online.

• Show number 97 [MP3 format; length 9:57; 2,396,558 bytes]
• Combined shows number 96 & 97, high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 18:57; 18,203,887 bytes]
• Show number 97 script
• Show number 96 & 97, combined script
• Photo album

Thu, Jul 26, 2007

Lassen National Park, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part one of a visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park. It's been called a little Yellowstone because of its wilderness and its volcanic features.

Jean Higham, our normally silent co-writer and co-editor, takes off for four days of solo backpacking in the park's wilderness. Steve talks to Steve Zachary, the park's education specialist, about some of the features that attract people to the park. Of course, one of the most prominent is the peak of the volcano itself. Steve checks-in with Jean's progress on the trail by radio.

Next time, in part 2, we'll find out more about why the backcountry features are even more fantastic than the front country features of the park, and get a report on Jean's adventure.

If you want to plan a trip to the backcountry of Lassen Volcanic National park, you'll, of course, want to start with this PDF map. Then you'll want to contact the park to arrange for a wilderness permit. You can apply for one in-person, by phone, or online.

• Show number 96 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,397,751 bytes]
• Show number 96 script

Thu, Jul 19, 2007

Leave No Trace Revisited

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program presents the Leave No Trace skills for minimizing our impact on wilderness areas. This is a remix of our show number 4 of July 18, 2005.

Steve encountered hikers on the trail last week in the Lassen National Forest, and tested them on their knowledge of Leave No Trace principles. Then we replay portions of our 2005 interview with Ben Lawhon, the education director of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Ben quizzes Steve on his low-impact wilderness skills.

The Leave No Trace organization offers hundreds of training classes around the country, ranging from two hour introductions to week-long master classes. They have partnerships with parks, equipment manufacturers, commercial outfitters, major media outlets, and small non-profit organizations like ours. Check the training schedule on their web site for opportunities to learn these minimum impact skills from a qualified volunteer.

• Show number 95 [MP3 format; length 9:53; 2,372,217 bytes]
• Show number 95, high-quality stereo version [MP3 format; length 9:53; 9,485,681 bytes]
• Show number 95 script

Thu, Jul 12, 2007

Reprise: Keeping Bears Hungry

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is a look at the arms race between campers and bears in Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. How should you protect your food from bears? This is a reprise of our show number 48, first presented on June 29, 2006.

We include excerpts from interviews with Tori Seher, the wildlife biologist in charge of human/bear management at Yosemite National Park, and Laurel Boyers, the Wilderness Manager at Yosemite. They talk about the history of keeping bears from camper's food in the Sierra Nevada, and the destructive effect that human food has on Yosemite's bears. They also give advice on dealing with bear encounters.

You can find out more about bears in the Sierra Nevada and the site SierraWildBear.GOV, which is jointly operated by the park service and the forest service.

• Show number 94 [MP3 format; length 9:55; 2,383,824 bytes]
• Show number 94, extended version [MP3 format; length 11:09; 5,361,265 bytes]
• Show number 94 script

Thu, Jul 05, 2007

Wool-Blend Socks

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of wool-blend socks. You probably don't think much about socks, until you find yourself wishing you had different ones.

Andrew Buskov reviews the Bridgedale X-Hale Socks. Pam Wyant reviews the Defeet Blaze socks. Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Defeet Classico socks. Ray Estrella reviews the Wigwam Wool/Silk Hiker socks.

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 93 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,399,736 bytes]
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Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Bay Area Wilderness Training, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program takes us on a Wilderness Leadership Training course offered by the non-profit group, Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT). This part 2 of 2 is a follow-up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users.

Steve meets a diverse group of teachers, counselors, and other youth workers on the trail just outside of Yosemite National Park. He talks to:

• Roger Miller, executive director of BAWT.
• Hector Nuño, a volunteer youth counselor from San Jose, California.
• Judy Kuang, a youth coordinator for the Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco.

We also hear from:

• Katie DeClercq, a program assistant for the Norcal Mountain Bike Racing League in
• Kellie Meehan, camp director for the Presidio Community YMCA in San Francisco, California.
• The entire WLT class singing.

If you're a teacher, youth counselor, or other youth development professional in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, BAWT's Wilderness Leadership Training can teach you all the skills you'll need to take at-risk and under-privileged youth out on life-affirming wilderness adventures.

You can help BAWT with their work by participating in Climbing for Kids. A program that provides you gear and gets you up a major mountain in exchange for your fund-raising assistance.

• Show number 92 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,399,400 bytes]
• Combined shows number 91 & 92, high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 21:26; 20,592,533 bytes]
• Show number 92 script
• Show numbers 91 & 92 combined script
• Group Picture, opens in new window [JPEG format; 835x768 pixels; 273,041 bytes]

Thu, Jun 21, 2007

Bay Area Wilderness Training, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program takes us on a Wilderness Leadership Training course offered by the non-profit group, Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT). This part 1 of 2 is a follow-up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users.

Steve meets a diverse group of teachers, counselors, and other youth workers at the Cherry Lake campground just outside of Yosemite National Park. He talks to:

• Roger Miller, executive director of BAWT.
• Hector Nuño, a volunteer youth counselor from San Jose, California.
• Judy Kuang, a youth coordinator for the Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco.
• We also hear from Chelsea Griffie, program director for BAWT.

So what happens to our teachers on the trail? How does BAWT finish the process of turning them into qualified wilderness guides? We'll rejoin them in part two of Bay Area Wilderness Training.

• Show number 91 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,400,229 bytes]
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Thu, Jun 14, 2007

Listening to Parks, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program explores sounds in national parks. Do you go to parks for the peace and quiet? Should you expect peace and quiet at national parks?

We hear from Kurt Fristrup, a scientist for the Natural Sounds Program of the National Park Service. He plays clips recorded by their audio measuring systems, which were placed near Sentinel Dome in Yosemite National Park. He describes the greatest sources of noise pollution in the park, and how it can adversely effect visitors and wildlife.

We hear from Dan Dugan, a technical advisor to the Nature Sounds Society, and a noted expert in nature sound recording. Dan explains how you can save some of those natural sounds for yourself, using recording equipment that's comparable in price to a typical digital camera. Dan says, "Unfortunately, quiet places are vanishing fast, and that's one good reason to go out and record before they're entirely gone."

The Nature Sounds Society offers an annual Field Recording Workshop in California. For more advice from Dan, follow the Supplemental Information link, below.

Members of the WildeBeat can download an additional bonus clip with more sounds provided by the Park Service's Natural Sounds Program, and an additional interview segment on how they do their research.

• Show number 90 [MP3 format; length 9:57; 2,389,568 bytes]
• Combined shows number 89 & 90, high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 20:28; 19,662,134 bytes]
• Show number 90 script
• Show number 89 & 90, combined script
• Supplemental information

Fri, Jun 08, 2007

Tom Mangan's Hiking Column

Posted at 11:55

/blog/wild_places [link ]

Tom Mangan is another San Jose local who's given us a lot of recognition and behind-the-scenes moral support. Tom created and writes the Two Heel Drive blog about all things hiking.

We want to offer our belated congratulations to Tom for his new job as a hiking columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. You can see the archive of his hiking columns here: www.mercurynews.com/tommangan.

Best of luck on this endeavor, Tom, and happy trails!

Thu, Jun 07, 2007

Listening to Parks, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program explores sounds in national parks. Do you go to parks for the peace and quiet? Should you expect peace and quiet at national parks?

Steve starts out in a relatively remote campground in Yosemite National Park, and discovers some noises he wasn't counting on. He interviews two campers, Maria Mustanen and Bill Garcia, about how they feel about man-made noise in parks.

Steve interviews Kurt Fristrup, a scientist for the Natural Sounds Program of the National Park Service. Kurt explains the mission of the Natural Sounds Program, and how they monitor the parks for noise pollution. He plays clips recorded by their audio measuring equipment, which they place in remote locations in the parks. Kurt mentions the park service's Night Sky Program, which we covered in our Wilderness at Night, part 1 (#13) and part 2 (#14).

So what have Kurt and his colleagues found out about noise in parks? How can you help their efforts, and collect sounds for yourself? We'll explore those questions in part two.

• Show number 89 [MP3 format; length 9:50; 2,361,460 bytes]
• Show number 89 script

Thu, May 31, 2007

Out in front on the PCT

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program presents an interview with the first of the class of 2007 through-hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to reach Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park.

Charlie Guyer and his companions Ryan Kern and Lee Neil started on their hike of the entire length of the trail on March 9th. The majority of PCT through hikers usually start later, around the end of April. These guys are far ahead of the pack, and so they have helpful news on conditions for the hikers who will come after them.

A long-distance hike like this is a major undertaking. It requires considerable planning and preparation. A lot more information about the Pacific Crest Trail, and planning for a long-distance hike, is available at the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Many long distance hikers on the trail maintain journals on the site, Trailjournals.com. (Charlie and his group are not maintaining online journals.)

Members of the WildeBeat can download an additional bonus segment, in which Charlie and his companions tell about some of their most harrowing incidents. Look for the link in our insiders newsletter.

• Show number 88 [MP3 format; length 9:58; 2,396,670 bytes]
• Show number 88, extended version [MP3 format; length 11:26; 5,492,916 bytes]
• Show number 88 script

Thu, May 24, 2007

Using All Fours, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is part 2 of our look at the science and skills, myths and fact around trekking poles. Is hiking with poles a trendy gimmick, or a valuable skill?

Julianne Abendroth-Smith talks about the results of research into the effects on the body of hiking with trekking poles. She's a biomechanics professor at Willamette University in Salem Oregon.

We hear from Jayah Faye Paley, an author and educator, and co-host of an educational DVD, POLES for Hiking, Trekking & Walking. Jayah's web site, Adventure Buddies, provides more information about her educational products and services. Jayah describes basic skills for using trekking poles.

Trekking poles can have a destructive effect on the trails that shoes alone don't have. Ben Lawhon, the education director of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, talks about those effects.

Members of the WildeBeat can download an additional bonus segment, featuring Jayah Faye Paley in a beginner's tutorial about proper pole use. Look for the link in our insiders newsletter.

• Show number 87 [MP3 format; length 9:47; 2,350,799 bytes]
• Show number 86 & 87, combined version [MP3 format; length 17:44; 8,520,813 bytes]
• Show number 87 script
• Show number 86 & 87 combined script

Thu, May 17, 2007

Using All Fours, part 1

Posted at 17:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is part 1 of our look at the science and skills, myths and fact around trekking poles. Is hiking with poles a trendy gimmick, or a valuable skill?

Steve talks to Julianne Abendroth-Smith of Willamette University in Salem Oregon. She's a biomechanics professor studying the physics of hiking, and how hiking with various poles and walking sticks affect the body.

Steve talks to Jayah Faye Paley, an author and educator, and co-host of an educational DVD, POLES for Hiking, Trekking & Walking. Jayah's web site, Adventure Buddies, provides more information about her educational products and services.

We'll hear more from Julianne Abrendroth-Smith and Jayah Faye Paley in part two. We'll find out Jayah's techniques for using poles, and about what science says about those techniques.

• Show number 86 [MP3 format; length 9:55; 2,399,454 bytes]
• Show number 86 script

Thu, May 10, 2007

Orestimba Wilderness Updated

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program revisits the Orestimba Wilderness of California's Henry W. Coe State Park. It's an amazingly remote wilderness surprisingly close to the San Francisco Bay Area. A new entrance to the park will make this remote wilderness more easily accessible.

Steve rode with backcountry ranger Cameron Bowers on a patrol trip to the wilderness. Volunteer park historian Teddy Goodrich came along. They stopped for lunch and to talk along Red Creek, in the heart of the wilderness area.

The Pine Ridge Association provides a lot of volunteer help to operate and maintain the park, and they maintain a comprehensive informational web site. Several years ago, the wilderness area was threatened by a proposal to route a high speed rail line through it.

Traveling into the Orestimba Wilderness is a challenging trip. But no where is California's inter-coastal range so well preserved and undeveloped. And you could have it all to yourself!

This is an update of our edition number 44 of June 1st, 2006. At the time of our original story, the Ortestimba Wilderness was indeed difficult to get to. But as of next week, a new entrance will provide a trailhead much closer to the edge of the wilderness. Steve talks to C. L. Price, a sector superintendent for the California State Parks responsible Henry Coe State Park. He explains the new entrance that opens up on May 19th.

• Show number 85 [MP3 format; length 9:55; 2,384,449 bytes]
• Show number 85, extended high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 14:00; 13,446,687 bytes]
• Show number 85 script
• Photo album

Thu, May 03, 2007

Sheep Watering Holes

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program looks at a proposal to provide artificial water sources for California desert bighorn sheep. Are we going to have to ruin a wilderness to save them?

We hear from Steve Tabor, who taught us desert backpacking skills in edition 34, and helped introduce us to the Sheephole valley Wilderness in edition 81. Steve mentions a plan to build roads and dams in the Sheephole Valley Wilderness to provide water for desert bighorn sheep.

Dan Abbe, a wilderness specialist from the Needles office of the Bureau of Land Management, explains these artificial watering holes for the sheep, which are called big game guzzlers.

Brent Schoradt, the deputy policy director for the California Wilderness Coalition, explains why he thinks this plan is a bad idea.

What do you think? Will it ruin this wilderness to save the sheep? We'd love to hear your comments.

• Show number 84 [MP3 format; length 9:55; 2,378,734 bytes]
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Tue, May 01, 2007

Vox WildeBeat for May 1, 2007

Posted at 14:20

/vox [link ]

Amy Racina called to tell the story of her first mountain lion sighting in the wild. Amy also appeared our edition numbers 78 and 79, Counting Up Essentials. We hear a clip from our edition number 80, Fighting Animal Terror, about safety around mountain lions, and Steve relates his first experience with a mountain lion.

• Vox WildeBeat 13 [MP3 format; length 7:51; 1,886,796 bytes]

Sun, Apr 29, 2007

Our New Nonprofit Status

Posted at 12:00

/blog/news [link ]

The WildeBeat Adopted as a Project of Earth Island Institute

• Read about it in this press release.

Earth Island Institute (a nonprofit incubator of environmental organizations) has adopted the WildeBeat as one of its projects, providing us the opportunity to support our efforts through tax-deductible donations and corporate underwriting, as well as foundation and government grants. This new relationship gives us a nonprofit structure that allows us to keep doing what we have been, and more.

We're excited about the future under this new organization. We hope to expand out efforts to produce more shows and make them available to a wider audience.

On our new support page, you'll find a link to a membership form where you can make a tax-deductible donation to support production of future programs. We'll be looking for ways to make that membership even more valuable to you. You might also notice that the Google Ads have been removed from the web site — they're not compatible with our nonprofit status.

Thank you for listening and participating, and for your continued interest.

— Steve Sergeant

Thu, Apr 05, 2007

Base-Layer Shirts

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of three base-layer shirts. A lot of us don't give much consideration to those layers we wear closest to our skin.

Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Drimove L/S Top by Go Lite. Coy Starnes reviews the Outdoor Research Men's Sequence LS Tee. Kathy Waters reviews the women's version of OR's Sequence shirt, the Outdoor Research Women's Essence LS Tee.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test, read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide too much gear for the reviewers they have.

Steve announced that we need to take a break to make some changes in what we're doing. Please watch our web page for updates.

• Show number 83 [MP3 format; length 9:42; 2,331,316 bytes]
• Show number 83 script

Thu, Mar 29, 2007

Reprise: Mountain Rescuers

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program joins a training exercise of the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit (BAMRU). The rescuers practice their winter alpine rescue skills in the Carson Pass area, just south of Lake Tahoe, California.

Most search and rescue teams in the U.S. are all-volunteer. BAMRU is just one example. To find out about the mountain rescue teams near you, you can look at the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA).

This is a reprise of our edition #32 of March 9, 2006. We followed it with a companion edition #33, Wilderness Rescuing, where talked more to John Chang of BAMRU and Tim Kovacs of MRA about how you can get involved and volunteer for mountain and wilderness rescue teams.

• Show number 82 [MP3 format; length 9:56; 2,388,918 bytes]
• Show number 82, high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 9:57; 9,558,383 bytes]
• Show number 82 script
• Photo album

Thu, Mar 22, 2007

Sheephole Valley Wilderness

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program profiles the Sheephole Valley Wilderness in the Mojave Desert. This may be the largest waterless wilderness in the 48 states.

We hear from Steve Tabor, the president of the Berkeley, California based outings group, the Desert Survivors. Steve Tabor has extensive experience in the Sheephole Valley Wilderness, and may be one of the first in recorded history to cross it, unsupported, on foot. Dan Abbe, the Wilderness Specialist for the Needles Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management provides the official perspective on the area.

If you're considering visiting a desert wilderness, there are some things you should know. Steve Tabor got us started in our edition #34, Desert Backpacking Tips. Steve Sergeant visited the Sheephole Valley with the Desert Survivors last year, and produced our editions #35 & #36, Surviving the Desert, as a report on that trip.

• Show number 81 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,398,427 bytes]
• Show number 81, extended version [MP3 format; length 11:01; 5,294,581 bytes]
• Show number 81 script

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