The WildeBeat

Thu, Feb 28, 2008

Scared Indoors, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part 2 of an exploration of how mass media might be affecting people's interest in getting into the wilderness. (Part 1 is here.)

They came, they saw, they almost bought it; are these the kind of stories that inspire you to get into the wilderness? Do they represent the normal experience of a wilderness visitor?

Steve answers this question with the help of:

• Fitz Cahall, creator and producer of the podcast, the Dirtbag Diaries.
• Tom Mangan, a newspaper editor, and hiking blogger.
• Scott Graham, author of the book Extreme Kids. (Scott also appeared in the WildeBeat editions 46 and 47.)
• Emily White, marketing and publicity specialist for Wilderness Press.
• Andrew Skurka, noted long-distance hiker, the first to hike the 6,875 mile Great Western Loop.
• Ryan Jordan, founder and publisher of Backpacking Light Magazine, and participant in the Arctic 1,000 Expedition.

Our thanks to Fitz Cahall for supplying the recording of his interview, and for permission to use an excerpt from his show, No Big Deal.

WildeBeat members can download extended bonus interviews with Andrew Skurka and Ryan Jordan from our WildeBeat Insider's web pages.

• Show number 127 [MP3 format; length 9:57; 2,391,424 bytes]
• Combined show numbers 126 & 127 [MP3 format; length 18:17; 8,777,628 bytes]
• Show number 127 script
• Show number 126 & 127 combined script

Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Comment on Scared Indoors, part 1

Posted at 19:30

/blog/letters [link ]

In last week's program, Scared Indoors, part 1, We asked for your examples of scary or reassuring mainstream media stories about wilderness travel. A couple of people wrote in...

See more ...

Thu, Feb 21, 2008

Scared Indoors, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program asks how mass media might be affecting people's interest in getting into the wilderness. They came, they saw, they almost bought it; are these the kind of stories that inspire you to get into the wilderness?

Steve explores this question with the help of:

• Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods.
• Raymond Garcia, a summer visitor to Yosemite National Park.
• Fitz Cahall, creator and producer of the podcast, the Dirtbag Diaries.
• Ryan Jordan, founder and publisher of Backpacking Light Magazine, and participant in the Arctic 1,000 Expedition.
• Andrew Skurka, noted long-distance hiker, the first to hike the 6,875 mile Great Western Loop.

We'd like to include some of your comments in next week's part 2. Can you give us examples of mainstream media you've read, listened to, or watched that scared you away from trying what you saw? Better yet, how about examples of mainstream media describing wilderness adventures that seemed completely within your reach and looked like a good time? Let us know by calling our toll-free comment line at 866-590-7373.

Next week, in part 2, we'll try to answer the question that this week's program asks.

Our thanks to Fitz Cahall for supplying the recording of his interview, and for permission to use an excerpt from his show, No Big Deal.

• Show number 126 [MP3 format; length 9:58; 2,395,812 bytes]
• Show number 126 script

Fri, Feb 15, 2008

Update for "Forest Admission?"

Posted at 12:55

/blog/wild_places [link ]

Jim Bedwell from the National Forest Service in Washington, D.C contacted us to update a detail in yesterday's show:

A factual correction (and I should have mentioned it as it was posted the day we did the interview) is that we have extended the comment period to March 20, 2008. That will make the comment period a total of 150 days, hardly a "stealth tactic".

You can read the official notice of the extension of the comment period here: Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period

We'd also like to clarify that it wasn't our intent to assert that the Forest Service was trying to implement these rule changes without public scrutiny. Rather, our comment in the story describing the proposed rule changes as a semi-secret document was meant to be a comment on the relative lack of mainstream media coverage this issue has attracted.

Another Book as a Membership Thank-You

Posted at 12:24

/blog/sponsors [link ]

Reminder:If you join as a full member ($48/yr.), or above, we'll thank you by sending you books. Read about it here.

Wilderness Press has just provided us another book to offer you as a thank you for supporting the WildeBeat: Outdoor Navigation with GPS by Stephen Hinch

We interviewed Stephen Hinch for our recent edition number 124 of February 7th, 2008.

Thu, Feb 14, 2008

Forest Admission?

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program examines proposed rules affecting outfitter guides in the National Forests. Will these rules make it harder, or more expensive, for you to get into Forest Service wilderness?

Steve explores the issue with the help of:

• Jim Bedwell, Director of Recreation, Heritage, and Volunteer Resources for the National Forest Service in Washington, D.C.
• Todd Vogel, Education and Stewardship director for the Friends of the Inyo, and co-owner of Sierra Mountain Center, a commercial guide service
• Dave Simon, Director of Outdoor Activities for the Sierra Club
• Matt Bloom, owner of the Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station, on the edge of the Emigrant Wilderness in California's Stanislaus National Forest.

The Forest Service issued a proposed rule change titled, Proposed Directives for Forest Service Outfitting and Guiding Special Use Permits and Insurance Requirements for Forest Service Special Use Permits. This rule is open for public comments through February 19, 2008.

An Arizona-based group, the River Runners for Wilderness, sounded an ominous alert about some possible problems with this rule in November of 2007. Later, the Casper Star-Tribune published an article by Brodie Farquhar presenting the controversy.

We suggest you take a look at the revised rules yourself, and then make your own comments to the Forest Service if you think your access will be affected.

WildeBeat members can download bonus extended interviews from Todd Vogel and Jim Bedwell from the WildeBeat Insider web pages.

• Show number 125 [MP3 format; length 9:54; 2,377,417 bytes]
• Show number 125, extended version [MP3 format; length 13:49; 6,639,351 bytes]
• Show number 125 script

Thu, Feb 07, 2008

Getting Around GPS

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program discusses things you need to know before relying on a portable GPS receiver. Finding your way there and finding your way home is not always so easy in the wilderness.

Steve talks with author Stephen Hinch who wrote the book, Outdoor Navigation with GPS. Stephen is a high-tech executive with technical knowledge of the GPS system and a love of wilderness travel.

A GPS receiver can make navigaton easier, but what do you need to know to use it, and what do you need to know when it's not making it easier? What should you look for if you're shopping for one? What's the easiest way to use one in order to keep from getting lost?

Stephen also mentions orienteering as a great way to learn navigation skills to use when you can't use GPS. Through the U.S. Orienteering Federation, you can find a local club that can teach you more traditional navigation skills.

• Show number 124 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,398,734 bytes]
• Show number 124, extended version [MP3 format; length 12:11; 5,855,052 bytes]
• Show number 124 script

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