The WildeBeat

The audio journal about getting into the wilderness.

 

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The WildeBeat
Wilderness newsBeat

The outdoor recreation and adventure radio show and podcast about backcountry news and activities, like camping, backpacking, skiing, and snowshoeing. MORE...

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Thu, Jul 26, 2007

Lassen National Park, part 1

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Lassen Volcanic National Park sign] 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.


Thu, Jun 14, 2007

Listening to Parks, part 2

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Sound Monitoring System] 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.


Thu, Jun 07, 2007

Listening to Parks, part 1

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Half Dome, NPS Logo, and audio waveform] 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.


Thu, May 31, 2007

Out in front on the PCT

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Pacific Crest Trail] 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.


Thu, May 10, 2007

Orestimba Wilderness Updated

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Red Creek in the Orestimba] 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.


Thu, May 03, 2007

Sheep Watering Holes

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[desert bighorn sheep] 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.


Thu, Mar 22, 2007

Sheephole Valley Wilderness

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Sheephole Valley panorama]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.


Thu, Jan 25, 2007

Race in the Backcountry

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Doctor Nina Roberts]This wild places program asks why ethnic minorities are even more in the minority in wilderness recreation areas.

Steve interviewed Nina Roberts, Ph.D., in November 2005. Dr. Roberts is an assistant professor at San Francisco State University in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. An expert on the demographics of National Park visitation, she previously worked for the National Park Service as an education and outreach specialist.

The National Park Service has this web page on diversity issues and resources that Dr. Roberts originally developed while working with the NPS. She also conducted a major study of diversity issues in Rocky Mountain National Park, published in 2004.

Update: (1/29/2007) Listen to Vox WildeBeat number 11 for some updated information provided by Dr. Roberts.


Thu, Dec 21, 2006

Park Pass Pique

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[2007 America The Beautiful Pass?]This wild places program investigates the new America The Beautiful National Parks and Federal Lands Interagency Recreation Pass. Is this new public lands pass a sneaky price hike, or a great new bargain?

Steve visits Muir Woods National Monument and buys a new National Parks Pass. He tells the rest of the story with the help of:

The America The Beautiful National Parks and Federal Lands Interagency Recreation Pass will be available at most federal fee areas, including national parks, after January 1st, 2007. In the remaining week or so, the original National Park Pass with the Golden Eagle sticker, or the Golden Eagle Pass, looks like a pretty good deal.


Fri, Nov 24, 2006

Wilderness Deals for Wheels

Posted at 20:30 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[No Bikes in Wilderness] 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:

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.

The bonus material linked below includes additional interview clips about responsible mountain bike riding in the backcountry. Steve talks to Tom Ward, the California Policy director of the International Mountain Bicycling Association and Ben Lawhon, the education director of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.


Thu, Nov 02, 2006

The Poop on Mount Whitney, part 2

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Removing waste for fly-out] This wild places program investigates an effect that 20,000 hikers and climbers a year have on the trail to Mount Whitney (14,498'). In order to preserve the environment and scenic beauty of that narrow, rocky canyon, the Inyo National Forest has had to take Leave No Trace a step further.

Steve tells the story with the help of:

  • Erika Jostad, Wilderness Manager from Sequoia National Park.
  • Brian Spitek, Wilderness Manager for the Mount Whittney Ranger District of the Inyo National Forest.
  • Mike Miele, a wilderness ranger on the Mount Whitney Trail.
  • David Ramierez, a 20-time hiker of the Mount Whitney Trail, from Palmdale, California.
  • Sam Ungar, a hiker from Agora Hills, California.

Both the Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park issue Wag-Bags for hikers to use to pack out their waste. Other areas, including Mount Shasta and Mount Rainier have similar requirements but use other systems.

The bonus material linked below includes an additional interview clip from Brian Spitek and Mike Miele, and photos of a waste removal operation.

Photo credits: Brian Spitek, Inyo National Forest


Thu, Oct 26, 2006

The Poop on Mount Whitney, part 1

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
Listen now:

[Mount Whitney Trailhead Sign] This wild places program investigates an effect that 20,000 hikers and climbers a year have on the trail to Mount Whitney (14,498'). In order to preserve the environment and scenic beauty of that narrow, rocky canyon, the Inyo National Forest has had to take Leave No Trace a step further.

Steve walks into the Mount Whitney visitors center, and hears about the new policies that affect every hiker and climber in the Mount Whitney zone. He talks to Deputy District Ranger Margaret Wood, and Wilderness Manager Brian Spitek to find out about the history of their policy.

Next week, in part two, we'll hear more about the surprising job of forest rangers, why this new policy was established, and what the hikers on the trail have to say about it.


Thu, Oct 19, 2006

Mount Whitney for Beginners

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Mount Whitney and checklist] This wild places program presents some tips for climbing the highest mountain in the continental United States, Mount Whitney (14,498').

Steve tells the story with the help of:

  • Scott Morrow, a hiker from San Diego, CA.
  • Mike Noone, a hiker from Huntington Beach, CA.
  • Todd Vogel, the Wilderness Education Coordinator for Friends of the Inyo.
  • Doug Thompson, an owner of the Whitney Portal Store.
  • Stephanie Schmidt, a hiker from Lee Vining, CA.
  • Dean DeBennedictus, a hiker from Los Angeles, CA.

You need a wilderness permit to climb Mount Whitney. The U.S. Forest Service provides general information about the Mount Whitney area, and more detailed information about the lottery for wilderness permits.

The bonus material linked below includes an additional interview clip from Todd Vogel about planning a Mount Whitney trip.


Thu, Aug 31, 2006

The Story of Bear Cans, part 2

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Zoo Test - Inyo National Forest, Calder Reid] 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. Who makes these things, and how do we know they work?

Steve tells the story with the help of:

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.

Note: We'll have to delay posting the bonus audio we mentioned in the show until September 5th.

Photo credit: Calder Reid, Inyo National Forest


Thu, Aug 24, 2006

The Story of Bear Cans, part 1

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Garcia Machine Backpacker's Cache] 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, 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 find out more about how the industry grew from these beginnings, and the effect all of this has had on parks, forests, bears, and wilderness visitors.


Thu, Jun 01, 2006

The Orestimba Wilderness

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Red Creek in the Orestimba] This wild places program explores the Orestimba Wilderness of California's Henry W. Coe State Park. This often overlooked state park wilderness is 23,000 acres, and is rarely visted.

Steve rides with backcountry ranger Cameron Bowers on a patrol trip to the wilderness. Volunteer park historian Teddy Goodrich rides along. Along the way they meet Bob Bambauer, a horse camper. They stop 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 an excellent 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!


Thu, Apr 20, 2006

The Desert Trail

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Desert Trail Map] This wild places program explores an alternative to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 1,300 mile route called The Desert Trail. This trail runs roughly parallel to the PCT, through the high desert of California, Nevada, and Oregon, and is eventually planned to continue through Idaho and Montana.

Ross Edgington of The Desert Trail Association talks about the history of the trail, the development of the route in Oregon, and the current progress toward the trail's completion. Steve Tabor of The Desert Survivors talks about the development of the California and Nevada sections. He describes their 2005 relay hike of the entire trail. He contemplates the prospects of someone doing a through hike of the trail.

Maps and guides for The Desert Trail are available for the sections that are already established. The Desert Trail Association sells maps and guides for the Oregon section. The Desert Survivors sell guide and map books for the California and Nevada sections. Both organizations are looking for volunteers to support their efforts to complete the trail.

Now that the rain has subsided in Northern California, we're ready to wrap up our desert features for the season.


Thu, Jan 05, 2006

Riding Outside the Lines

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Snowmobile Sign] This wild places program is about motor vehicle intrusions into National Forest wilderness. This additional story came out of the interviews for our previous program number 23, Drawing Lines in the Snow.

The National Forest wilderness near Bear Valley, California, has a problem similar to a lot of wilderness areas. Some motorized recreation users, in this case snowmobiles, don't respect wilderness boundaries. This kind of thing happens with different kinds of vehicles year-round, but it's especially difficult to police in the winter. Find out how big this problem is, and what you can do about it.


Thu, Dec 15, 2005

Drawing Lines in the Snow

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Bear Valley Map] This wild places program is about conflicts over the use of winter recreation areas in national forests. Backcountry skiers and snowshoe hikers can be disturbed by snowmobilers. But are they actually seeking such different things?

Bear Valley, California, is popular with snowmobilers, skiers, and snowshoe hikers alike. The National Forest and the community are looking for ways that they can all get along. Find out what happens next...


Thu, Nov 24, 2005

The Cucamonga Wilderness

Posted at 09:00 /shows/wild_places [link [Bookmark Link]]
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[Ranger Sharon Barfknecht in the Cucamonga] This wild places program explores Southern California's most undiscovered National Forest wilderness, the Cucamonga Wilderness. The Cucamonga straddles the border between the San Bernardino National Forest, and the Angeles National Forest. It's the least-visited wilderness in the greater Southern California region.

Steve got into the wilderness with wilderness ranger Sharon Barfknecht, and district ranger Gabe Garcia. They met at the Lytle Creek Ranger Station, and then day-hiked from the Middle Fork trailhead. They hiked a few miles up the canyon of the middle fork of Lytle Creek.

There's another trailhead on the west side in the Angeles National Forest. This trailhead is in Ice House Canyon. It's a much more popular way to access the Cucamonga Wilderness.

The California Wilderness Coalition has proposed some additions to the Cucamonga. They publish a map of their proposed additions. Gabe Garcia provides some news on that effort.



   

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