The WildeBeat

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]
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• Show number 136 & 137 combined script
• Photo Album from Henry Coe S.P.

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]
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Thu, Mar 27, 2008

California Snowshoe Trails

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program presents a guidebook author's favorite places to snowshoe in California. Yeah, it's spring, but there's still a lot of nice snow up there.

Mike White, author of Best Snowshoe Trails of California, tells us what he actually thinks are the very best snowshoe trails in California. He picks trails that start at this trailhead, and at this trailhead.

Mike introduced us to snowshoe hiking two weeks ago, in our edition number 129, A Snowshoe Primer. Mike also mentions the option of staying overnight in a backcountry hut; one of the places we mentioned in our edition number 111, a reprise of Indoor Snow Camping.

• Show number 131 [MP3 format; length 9:58; 2,397,070 bytes]
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Thu, Mar 06, 2008

Skiing More of Utah

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program provides a ski guide's advice on how to get away from the crowds at the very popular ski resorts in Utah.

Guest correspondent Kurt Repanshek visited the Mill Creek trailhead in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest near Salt Lake City. There he met backcountry ski guide and guide book author Tyson Bradley. Tyson wrote the book, Backcountry Skiing Utah.

Tyson talks about the many mountain ranges in Utah that provide a wide range of exceptional opportunities for backcountry and wilderness skiing, whether you're an advanced-beginner cross country skier, or you're an expert alpine or telemark skier. He points out that if you are comfortable on your skis, and you're fit enough to hike three miles and gain a thousand feet, then you're plenty fit to get into the backcountry on terrain appropriate for your skills.

Tyson also mentions that sometimes in the deep, dry snow of Utah, you might have a greater chance to be at risk from avalanches. Our edition number 74, Staying on Top of the Snow, provides an introduction to avalanche safety. One of the most important things to do before you go out is to check with the Utah Avalanche Center for the day's forecast.

Kurt Repanshek regularly writes and occasionally podcasts on his National Parks Traveler web-zine.

• Show number 128 [MP3 format; length 9:51; 2,369,060 bytes]
• Show number 128, extended high-quality stereo version [MP3 format; length 11:17; 10,836,502 bytes]
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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]
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• Show number 126 & 127 combined script

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]
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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]
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Thu, Nov 22, 2007

Desert Roadless Traveled

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program examines the problems of trying to designate new wilderness areas in the central Utah desert. If it gets overrun by off road vehicles, can it still become new wilderness?

This story was provided to us by guest reporter Kurt Repanshek, creator of the National Parks Traveler web magazine. Kurt tells this story of the struggle for wilderness designations in the desert canyonlands of central Utah with the help of:

• Heidi McIntosh, conservation director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
• Wayne Ludington, assistant field manager for the Price district of the Bureau of Land Management
• Liz Thomas, attorney for the Moab office of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

(A spokesman for the Blue Ribbon Coalition, the dominant advocacy group for off road vehicle enthusiasts, didn't respond to our e-mailed requests for an interview.)

Taking a wilderness-friendly adventure in these areas is not as challenging as it might appear. You should check with the BLM for maps, routes, and conditions. Our program number 34: Desert Backpacking Tips, can get you started.

We welcome your story contributions about outings, skills, or wild places that matter to you. Please see our Contribute page for details.

• Show number 113 [MP3 format; length 9:58; 2,394,874 bytes]
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Thu, Nov 15, 2007

Ticket to Half Dome

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program examines whether the hike to Yosemite's Half Dome has become too popular to be considered wilderness. Is this national park attraction too attractive?

Steve tells the story with the help of the following voices:

• Thomas Herrera, a Half Dome climber from Stockton, California.
• Rick Deutsch, author of the book, One Best Hike, Yosemite's Half Dome.
• Scott Gediman, spokesman for Yosemite National Park.
• Karen Hamilton, a Half Dome climber from Cobb, California.
• Laurel Boyers, retired wilderness manager of Yosemite National Park.
• Francis Engler, a backpacker from Oceanside, California.

The steel cables, which make the climb possible for most people, are down for the season. So at this time, the park highly discourages trying to climb the peak. The cables are usually reinstalled by the end of May.

While climbing Half Dome may be an adventure and a proud achievement for many, some people feel the popularity of the route takes away some of its wilderness character. Scott Gediman recommends planning your climb on a weekday, perhaps a Tuesday or Wednesday, to avoid crowds. Former wilderness manager Laurel Boyers goes further, and says that the best wilderness experiences in Yosemite are away from the crowds that often fill the Half Dome Trail. Yosemite has Web pages devoted to planning wilderness trips.

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Thu, Sep 27, 2007

Thanks Ranger Boyers!

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is a thanks and tribute to Yosemite National Park's wilderness manager, Ranger Laurel Boyers. Ranger Boyers is retiring from the park after 31 years of service on October 1st.

We hear from Mike Tollefson, the superintendent of Yosemite National Park. Mike comments on Ranger Boyers' Career. Steve interviews Laurel Boyers, who talks about her experiences in the span of her career.

We understand that Laurel Boyers and her husband, also a park service employee, will soon be taking some time to visit other national parks. We thank her for her service in the interest of preserving Yosemite's wilderness, and wish her the best in her future adventures and endeavors.

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This edition was made possible by:

Thu, Sep 13, 2007

Ranger Changes, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part two of an exploration on how the job of wilderness rangers is changing. (Listen to part 1 first.) Many people who worked for parks and forests when the Wilderness Act went in effect are still working.

Last week, we started out by getting a look at the traditional skills and duties of a wilderness ranger. This week, we find out about the greatest changes affecting their jobs, and changes in the way we interact with them.

We hear from:

• Gregg Fauth, Wilderness Coordinator for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
• Laurel Boyers, Wilderness manager for Yosemite National Park.
• Don Mason, seasonal patrol ranger for the Lassen National Forest.
• Steve Zachary, the education specialist for Lassen Volcanic National Park.

What do you expect from wilderness rangers? You can share your opinions with your fellow listeners anytime using our toll free comment line at 866-590-7373.

• Show number 103 [MP3 format; length 9:49; 2,386,826 bytes]
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• Combined script, show numbers 102 & 103

Thu, Sep 06, 2007

Ranger Changes, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part one of an exploration on how the job of wilderness rangers is changing. Many people who worked for parks and forests when the Wilderness Act went in effect are still working.

We start out by getting a look at the traditional skills and duties of a wilderness ranger. We hear from:

• Gregg Fauth, Wilderness Coordinator for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
• Laurel Boyers, Wilderness manager for Yosemite National Park.
• John Roth, Chief Ranger for Lassen Volcanic National Park.
• Brian Palmentier and Michelle Minnehan, experienced hikers and climbers from San Francisco, visiting the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Office in Yosemite.

Next week, in part two, we find out about the changes in government, in environmental threats, and in the wilderness users are affecting the job of wilderness rangers.

What do you expect from wilderness rangers? You can share your opinions with your fellow listeners anytime using our toll free comment line at 866-590-7373.

• Show number 102 [MP3 format; length 9:56; 2,386,826 bytes]
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Thu, Aug 23, 2007

Thousand Lakes

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program is part one of a visit to the Thousand Lakes Wilderness in the Lassen National Forest. This small, 25 square-mile wilderness shouldn't be judged by its size.

The Thousand Lakes Wilderness is just north of Lassen Volcanic National Park, which we explored in our edition numbers 96 & 97. While national parks are high-profile places that attract a lot of attention, nearby national forest wilderness areas are often overlooked.

Steve talks with Jan Sorochtey, the recreation officer for the Hat Creek District of the Lassen National Forest. Steve hikes to the largest lake in the wilderness, Eiler Lake, with patrol ranger Don Mason. They encounter an over-used campsite on the lake shore.

If you want to plan a trip to the Thousand Lakes Wilderness, you should start by contacting the Hat Creek Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest. Jan Sorochtey says that they don't require any permits. But take note, there is a complete campfire ban for the summer and fall of 2007.

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• Show number 100, extended script

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]
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• 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]
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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]
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• Show number 89 & 90, combined script
• Supplemental information

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]
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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]
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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.

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• 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.

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