Parkography

Latest Episodes:

The Wild West Life of Josie Bassett Morris and Dinosaur National Monument Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

At the edge of Utah and Colorado, where canyons plunge and rivers carve through stone, lies Dinosaur National Monument — a place known today for Jurassic fossils and wild rivers. But hidden within its history is the story of a woman who lived on the frontier with grit, resilience, and ties to some of the West’s most notorious outlaws.

This episode of Parkography explores the life of Josie Bassett Morris — rancher, homesteader, friend (and sometimes lover) of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch — who carved out a life of independence in one of the harshest landscapes of the American West. From her outlaw entanglements in Brown’s Park to her rugged cabin at Cub Creek, Josie’s story is one of resilience, hardship, and defiance.

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NEWS: New Florida National Park? Illegal Grow Site in Sequoia, Park Staff Unionize Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Law enforcement rangers cleared an illegal cannabis grow in Sequoia National Park, where they found thousands of plants, toxic chemicals, and major environmental damage. A new national park could be coming to Florida—legislation has been introduced to study the creation of “Florida Springs National Park.” Workers at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon have voted overwhelmingly to unionize, joining a growing movement across the Park Service. Plus: new hunting and fishing opportunities at wildlife refuges, the Maurice Bathhouse restoration at Hot Springs, a fruitless year at Capitol Reef’s orchards, and more.
The NPS report, via National Parks Traveler: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/sites/default/files/attachments/nps_staffing_impact_data_july_2025_-_copy.xlsx

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The Forgotten 14th Colony — Daniel Boone and the Cumberland Gap Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

Everyone knows about America’s 13 original colonies… but did you know there was almost a 14th?

In 1775, a private land deal known as The Transylvania Purchase sought to create a brand-new colony in the rugged mountains where Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee meet. Frontiersman Daniel Boone carved the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap, opening America’s first true gateway to the West. But the plan was tangled in conflict with Indigenous nations, colonial governments, and the Revolution itself.

In this episode of Parkography, Jason explores the rise and fall of the Colony of Transylvania, the battles that defined it, and how the Cumberland Gap went from a dangerous frontier to a National Historical Park that tells the story of America’s earliest westward expansion.

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Ranger Stabbed, Rabies Outbreak Fears, Grand Teton Peak Faces Renaming Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

A ranger stabbed in a Colorado state park, hundreds exposed to rabies at Grand Teton, Isle Royale wolf put down, plus updates on hurricane closures, statue restoration, peak renaming, and more national park news.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

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00:00 Introduction
00:07 Colorado Park Ranger Stabbing Incident
00:59 Rabies Exposure at Jackson Lake Lodge
02:24 Rabid Raccoon at Delaware Water Gap
03:01 Wolf Issues at Isle Royal National Park
04:38 Sponsored by Slinky Stove
05:15 Restoration of Albert Pike Statue
06:12 Mount Woodring Name Change
08:01 Hurricane Erin Impact on East Coast Parks
09:20 Reopening of Black Canyon of the Gunnison
10:30 Grand Canyon Fire Update
10:50 Yosemite Ranger Fired Over Trans Pride Flag
12:27 Conclusion

3 Days in Yosemite That Changed America Forever Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir embarked on a legendary three-day camping trip through Yosemite. Away from politics and public life, they huddled under the stars, explored the towering sequoias, and shared a vision that would change the future of America’s wild places.

This unforgettable meeting is often credited with sparking the modern conservation movement—leading to the expansion of national parks and permanent protection for some of our most treasured landscapes.

Join us as we retrace their journey, uncover the stories behind their conversations, and explore how a few nights in the wilderness helped shape the course of American environmental history.

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The Curse of the Petrified Forest Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

At Petrified Forest National Park, a strange phenomenon has persisted for decades: people from all over the world mailing back pieces of petrified wood they stole—along with heartfelt apology notes. These “conscience letters” speak of bad luck, misfortune, and regret. But is the so-called curse real, or just a product of guilt?

In this episode of Parkography, we explore the fascinating history behind the curse of the Petrified Forest and the power of a national park to stir the conscience.

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News | More Fed Land Job Cuts, "Unamerican" Exhibit Removed From Nat'l Park, State Park Double Homicide Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we cover the Trump administration's reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and its impact on the US Forest Service, as well as ongoing wildfires, including the Dragon Bravo fire at the Grand Canyon, and debunk myths about animals fleeing Yellowstone. We'll also discuss significant land acquisitions in Texas that will lead to the establishment of new state parks, a tragic incident at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas, a Netflix series set in Yosemite, and much more.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

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00:00 Introduction
00:08 US Forest Service Reorganization
01:49 Interior Department Job Cuts
02:57 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove
03:36 Muir Woods Exhibit Removal
04:17 Bear Incidents and Safety
05:13 Yellowstone Animal Rumors
07:15 Lake Powell Water Levels
07:40 New Shark Species Discovery
08:02 Wildfire Updates
11:05 Texas State Parks Expansion
11:56 Arkansas Hiking Tragedy
12:35 Netflix Show Set in Yosemite
13:33 Conclusion and Farewell

America's Forgotten National Parks Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

In Michigan, the country’s second National Park would be established in 1875, only to be redesignated just twenty years later as the state’s first State Park. Likewise, a cave named for its position overlooking the trail of Lewis and Clark would begin its protected life as an early National Monument before later joining a growing number of State Parks in the United States. And in Oklahoma, a former National Park remains preserved under the jurisdiction of the Park Service, providing key insight into the conversation of how and why we protect the places that we do for generations to come.

Join us as we explore three parks you won’t find in your National Park Service Passport: Mackinac National Park, Lewis and Clark Cavern National Monument, and Platt National Park.

Written by Lizzie Tesch
Hosted by Jason Epperson

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The Incredible History of Mammoth Cave Guides Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Deep within Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, one can find so much more than rock formations. The shale-capped mass of 400 known miles of caverns holds the history of America, told by the Black enslaved cave guides that made it one of the country's top tourist attractions, then and now.

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News: Nat'l Forests Opened to Logging, "Alligator Alcatraz" Built in National Preserve, More Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

In this week's episode, a controversial provision to sell off over a million acres of public land has been blocked, but significant cuts to National Park funding are still proceeding. We cover the construction of a massive migrant detention center inside a national preserve, sparking legal actions and protests. Yellowstone's iconic hot spring tragically claims the life of a bison, and new signs asking visitors to report negative information about Americans are causing quite a stir. We also bring you critical safety updates from Rocky Mountain National Park, the transition to cashless payment systems at two parks, and more.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

00:00 Introduction
01:31 Controversial Public Land Sales Blocked
02:27 Rescinding the Roadless Rule
03:28 New National Park Signage Sparks Protests
04:45 Migrant Detention Center in National Preserve
06:15 National Parks Move to Cashless Payments
07:36 Tragic Bison Incident at Yellowstone
09:41 Safety Updates from Rocky Mountain National Park
10:28 White Nose Syndrome in Bats
11:28 Ken Burns' American Revolution Series
12:59 Conclusion

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