Parkography

Latest Episodes:

The Mysterious Disappearance of Everett Ruess: Artist, Adventurer, and Enigma Apr 16, 2023

Show notes

Join us as we explore the enigmatic life and mysterious disappearance of Everett Ruess, a young artist, poet, and adventurer who vanished without a trace in the remote wilderness of southeastern Utah in 1934. We'll delve into Ruess' life, his love for the rugged landscapes of the American Southwest, and the enduring fascination with his unsolved disappearance. We'll also discuss the modern-day search for answers, the tantalizing DNA evidence, and how you can follow in Ruess' footsteps by visiting Capitol Reef National Park.

Sponsored by LL Bean | www.llbean.com

and by Campendium | www.campendium.com

Nature’s Open Door: Unlocking Accessible Adventures in National Parks Apr 03, 2023

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Discover the beauty of accessibility at America's National Parks in this episode. From scenic drives and picturesque vistas to innovative adaptive activities, we dive into the wonders of national parks for people with mobility disabilities, families with young children, and anyone seeking less strenuous outdoor experiences. Join us as we explore how the National Park Service is committed to providing equal opportunity and unforgettable adventures for all.

Written by Lauren Eisenberg Davis

Hosted by Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LL Bean | www.llbean.com

and by Campendium | www.campendium.com

Explore a variety of national parks with accessible trails, including Yosemite, Zion, Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Congaree, Glacier, Denali, Shenandoah, and more
Learn about the National Park Service's commitment to accessibility and the America the Beautiful Access Pass
Find out about adaptive activities offered in national parks, such as sand wheelchairs at Great Sand Dunes National Park, guided adaptive climbing at Devil's Tower National Monument, and accessible canoe and kayak launches at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Discover historic refurbished bus tours in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks
Hear about the accessible beach in Grand Teton National Park and its adaptive sports programs

America’s Outdoor Recreation Act Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

A new bill in the U.S. Senate is poised to make major changes to federal lands recreation. In this episode, we have all the details.
Find the press release, along with the full text of the bill here: https://www.energy.senate.gov/2023/3/manchin-barrasso-introduce-bipartisan-america-s-outdoor-recreation-act

Sponsored by LL Bean | www.llbean.com

and by Campendium | www.campendium.com

The Mysterious Lives of Northern Elephant Seals Mar 18, 2023

Show notes

This episode of America's National Parks Podcast delves into the fascinating world of the Northern Elephant Seal, including its near-extinction in the 1800s due to overhunting and the subsequent discovery of remnant populations in Mexico. Protective legislation was eventually put in place, allowing the species to rebound and return to the California coastline to breed.

Written by Dr. Charlotte Hacker
Edited by Peter Xiong
Hosted By Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LL Bean | www.llbean.com

and by Campendium | www.campendium.com

Agate Fossil Beds Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

In the grassy High Plains of Northwest Nebraska, the landscape is punctuated by flat top buttes, and a few isolated landforms reminiscent of the badlands. A layer of sandstone builds the foundation of the area, sitting over a remarkable bonebed.

The grasslands provided good grazing, and James Cook acquired his ranch here, where the wetlands meet the prairie. Unbeknownst to him when he purchased the land, as his cattle grazed on the nodding heads of grain, beneath their feet lay a remarkable history of animals that came before them, the mammals of the Miocene Epoch.

Dinosaur fossils tickle everyone’s imagination – but other, more recent (albeit still ancient) paleontology discoveries give rise to a continuum of long extinct animals indigenous to a region. As much as we tend to think of museums as focusing on dinosaurs, with examples such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton named Sue, which is housed at the Field Museum in Chicago, museums also have extensive displays on the history of the rise of mammals.

Agate Fossil Beds tells the story of a treasure trove of mammal fossils in America’s Midwest.

Written By Lauren Eisenberg Davis
Audio Editor and Theme Music: Peter Xiong
Host: Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide
and Campendium www.campendium.com

The History of North American Elk in our National Parks Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode of America’s National Parks, the comeback story of North
American elk.

Written By Dr. Charlotte Hacker
Audio Editor and Theme Music: Peter Xiong
Host: Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide
and Campendium www.campendium.com

National Park News: 2023 Parks Budget, Daring Helicopter Rescue Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

In this month's news roundup, the National Park Service has set its budget priorities for the year, including repairs from last year's extreme weather events and prevention measures to help keep them from happening again. Plus, a daring helicopter rescue at Zion, and more.

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide
and Campendium www.campendium.com

Assateague - Beyond the Ponies Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

In the stillness of winter, the waves still roll in and out, in and out, slicking the sandy shore of Assateague Island, a narrow thirty seven mile long barrier island which spans both Maryland and Virginia between the Atlantic Ocean and the Sinepuxent Bay. The wind can be sharp this time of year, rustling the sand into small ever changing dunes, and the temperature is nippy. In the cold of the Mid-Atlantic winter, no swimmers sluice through the water, no sunbathers lie on blankets or towels strewn across the shore. The beach stretches as far as the eye can see, an inviting expanse of sand and ocean treasures brought in on the tide.

The famous horses roam the island even in winter, grazing in the tall marsh grasses on the bay side of the island, trotting along the beach, nosing around the trash receptacles in the picnic areas and campgrounds. They are ever present on the island, and the reason that many people visit Assateague, combining a beach camping trip with the novelty of wild horses all around. Drawn by the annual Pony Penning, also known as the Chesapeake Pony Swim, or nostalgia for Marguerite Henry’s beloved book Misty of Chincoteague, throngs of people descend on Assateague Island in the spring and summer. But in the winter, without the crowds and their noise, without the smell of picnics, without all the distractions that high season brings, Assateague offers up a different kind of experience, full of quiet discovery.

By Lauren Eisenberg Davis
Script Editor: Kelsey Skonberg
Audio Editor and Theme Music: Peter Xiong
Host: Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide
and Campendium www.campendium.com

White Nose Syndrome Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

Bats have survived shifting continents, mass extinction events, rapid anthropogenic expansion, and supervolcanic explosions. But can an important North American subset of bats survive the latest threat to their existence?

By Dr. Charlotte Hacker
Script Editor: Kelsey Skonberg
Audio Editor and Theme Music: Peter Xiong
Host: Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide
and Campendium www.campendium.com

2023 National Park Entry Reservations, New Funding for Parks, and More Jan 01, 2023

Show notes

In this month's national park news, we share some changes to timed-entry reservation programs at Glacier, Yosemite, Arches, Zion, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Plus, there's some new funding for parks, and what destinations might become national parks in 2023.

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