Podcasts With Park Rangers - A National Parks Podcast

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Oregon Caves NM: Wild Caving, Geology, and the River Styx - Ranger Katie Dagastino — **Oregon Caves NM: Wild Caving, Geology, and the River Styx – PWPR 25** Oct 22, 2018
Show notes
In the Siskiyou mountains at 4,000 feet exists one of the few marble caves in the National Park Service. On this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers, we explore the unique features of Oregon Caves National Monument you can find strange geology, go wild caving, and visit the only Wild and Scenic river underground called the River Styx.
Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr25/
Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/ **Podcast Resources:**

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve – NPS Website

Full-Time Freedom Week

National Wild and Scenic Rivers

Episode 1 – Carlsbad Caverns: Finding Peace in the Darkness

Episode 2 – Carlsbad Caverns: Bats, Caves and Microbe Wars

**Topics Covered**

About Ranger Katie Dagastino

About Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve

How the Oregon Caves Are Formed

1874 – The Caves Are Discovered

The River Styx

Wild Caving at Oregon Caves National Monument

Unique Ecosystems at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve

Early 1900’s Cavemen?

Bats in Oregon Caves National Monument

Katie’s Interest in Oregon Caves National Monument and the NPS

Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!

**About Ranger Katie Dagastino**

Ranger Katie works with both the Forest Service and the National Park Service. With the NPS, she’s been at Oregon Caves National Monument for 3 seasons. Her background in geology gives her a unique perspective on the park, and she guides tours within the caves all summer long.

**About Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve**

Oregon Caves is located at 4000 feet above sea level in the Siskiyous, a sub range of the Klamath Mountains in Southwest Oregon. The area is home to 30 different types of rocks and minerals.

Many of the rocks found around the caves are found at the bottom of oceans or come from volcanoes. This includes serpentine rocks which are toxic when they break down, so plants and animals in the area are adapted to survive the poisonous conditions of the environment.

**How the Oregon Caves Are Formed**

The caves themselves are solution caves formed via carbonic acid and are much more intimate compared to a larger cave like Carlsbad Caverns. Cave decorations are formed via calcite.

The Oregon Caves are some of the few in the Park System formed out of marble. Around 250 million years ago, the modern day caves laid under the Pacific Ocean. Bacterial reefs formed and eventually become a sedimentary rock. The heat and pressure underneath the surface created metamorphic marble, and latere the mountain process uplifts the caves to over 4000 feet above sea level.

Carbonic acid traveled down and dissolved the carbonate rock to shape out the caves. And water also aided in the formation of the tunnel systems. The modern day River Styx still flows through and shapes the cave today.

**1874 – They Discover Oregon Caves**

Elijah Davidson discovers the caves while hunting. His dog found a bear and chased it all the way into the cave, and the rest is history. By the 1880s people go on tours all throughout the cave and others try to claim mineral rights within.

In 1909, Oregon Caves becomes a National Monument. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) changed how people traveled through cave when they created a series of human made passageways. Prior to the CCC’s work, exploration of the tunnels required a lot of belly crawling, including through the River Styx. Today, you can still go wild caving and belly crawl throughout the cave and the river.

The CCC also diverted part of the River Styx to flow through the dining room of the Oregon Caves Chateau.

**The River Styx**

The River Styx is first and only Wild and Scenic River located underground, and derives its name from Greek mythology. In mythical tales, the infamous river flowed between the living world and the underworld.

Several of the rooms and formations have spooky names given by early explorers like the Ghost Room and Adam’s Tombstone. Visitors might see shadows and become nervous about otherworldly beings.

Ranger Katie speculates the caves spooky nature might be one of the reasons why they named it the River Styx.

**Wild Caving at Oregon Caves National Monument**

Visitors can buy tickets for wild caving tours at Oregon Caves. While the wild caves don’t contain nearly the same amount of cave formations, visitors can crawl through marble and clay caves much like those who first discovered the caves.

It’s like rock climbing underground where you need to squeeze and belly crawl with the cave wall inches from your face.

The main caves receive about 75-80,000 people touring a year. However, the off trail tour gets only about 1,500 visitors per year. The group works as a team with only their headlamps guiding the way.

Ranger Katie says people on the tour feel quite connected with one another. If someone feels they don’t have the strength to climb up something, others will help. People get through the tour in about 3-4 hours without complications and finish with a sense of camaraderie.

**Unique Ecosystems at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve**

On hikes, Ranger Katie loves to share the unique plants or show visitors the toxic serpentine rock. Some plants, like the darlingtonia, are carnivorous because the soil is so toxic they adapted to eat insects instead.

Many of the species of the ecosystem above ground are connected to the cave environment below. For example, the sideband snail lives near entrances of the cave and needs the calcite from the marble to form its shell.

In other instances, the rain and snow melt travels from the surface and picks up carbon dioxide before it makes its way into the cave, creates cave formations, and as it filters through it flows out through the cave creek.

**Early 1900’s Cavemen?**

In order to create the roads and buildings at the monument today, the local businessmen called the Oregon Caves Cavemen helped fund the National Monument.

They’ve been known to kidnap local politicians to get funds for projects at the caves and they helped fund the construction of the Chateau.

**Bats in Oregon Caves National Monument**

Several different species of bat hibernate in the caves during the winter. The park does bat net surveys to study what kind of bats use the cave and to determine if the bats have White Nose Syndrome (WNS).

The state of Oregon and the park do not currently have WNS. However, Washington state recently reported incidents of WNS.

It’s important avid cavers are responsible about not wearing the same clothing from one cave to another. Even if the cave didn’t have WNS before, it can take a few months to show up. Visitors can find out how to decontaminate their clothes and be a responsible caver at whitenosesyndrome.org.

More than 8 million bats have died in the past 10-12 years, and to stop the spread of the disease we must be smart cavers. If you visit Oregon Caves after visiting another cave, let the staff know and they can help you decontaminate your shoes or camera.

**Katie’s Interest in Oregon Caves National Monument and the NPS**

Katie focused on hydrology, and because of the wild river — Oregon Caves was a natural fit. In addition, she grew up visiting caves with her family. Season after season, she returns to the monument.

She loves to connect with visitors at their level. All sorts of people travel through the caves, and she hopes to show why the park is worth protecting. Because, if people can’t connect with a park, they may not understand why it needs to be part of the Park Service.

Katie emphasizes these are our National Parks in every tour she gives. We can enjoy the lands how we want in a respectful way, and it’s also our job to preserve them for us and for future generations.

**Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!**

We love chatting with you and would love your feedback to make this podcast even better.
You can do that by:

**Leaving a comment** on this episode’s page.

**Subscribing and/or reviewing** Podcasts With Park Rangers on iTunes or on Android.

Joining our **Facebook page**.

Signing up for our **email updates** below.

Checking out our Patreon page where you can get **exclusive content** only available to our patrons.

PodcastOptin

SIGN UP FOR PODCAST UPDATES

**As a thank you,** we'll send you a **National Parks** **Checklist** so you can see what parks you still need to visit!
Get Updates! Get Updates!
The post Oregon Caves NM: Wild Caving, Geology, and the River Styx – PWPR 25 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Bainbridge Island: The Incarceration of Japanese Americans in WWII Oct 08, 2018

Show notes

The flourishing immigrant community at Bainbridge Island was home to people from all over the world looking for a new start in America. People from Finland, Japan, Italy, Austria, Hawaii, China and other countries came together to form an American melting pot of cultures and traditions. However, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans tore apart the community of Bainbridge Island. On this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers, we explore the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr24/Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/ Podcast Resources: Visit the Bainbridge Island Memorial – NPS Website Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community Register to vote! Episode 23 – Klondike Gold Rush NHP: Seattle’s Gold Rush Boom Topics Covered About Ranger Kevin Mahé About Bainbridge Island Japanese Exclusion Memorial Japanese Immigrants on Bainbridge Island Pre World War II Racism During World War II FBI Investigations of Japanese Immigrants Arrests Made Without Probable Cause Executive Order 9066 The Executive Orders Effects on Bainbridge Island Effects on Property Owned by Japanese Americans Camps at Manzanar and Minidoka Do Those Incarcerated Talk About It Today? An End to Incarceration A Formal Apology The Memorial on Bainbridge Island Kevin’s Interest at Bainbridge Island and the NPS Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More! About Ranger Kevin Mahé Ranger Kevin’s been with the Park Service for 10 years, both as an employee and a volunteer. Specifically, he’s been with Bainbridge Island for 1 year. Kevin’s background in education gives him a unique perspective of the parks. They’re a place where people can learn in a hands-on environment and he’s still been able to apply his expertise. Additionally, the NPS gives Kevin the opportunity to be a lifelong learner — a reason why many end up in the Park Service. About Bainbridge Island Japanese Exclusion Memorial Bainbridge Island is located just west of Seattle across the Puget Sound — part of Minidoka National Historic Site located in Idaho where they imprisoned many of the Japanese Americans during World War II. The Japanese Americans on Bainbridge Island were the first community forced from their homes after Pearl Harbor. They initially imprisoned many at Manzanar in California. Then, they were later transferred to the prison in Minidoka, Idaho which is why Bainbridge Island is part of Minidoka NHS. Unfortunately, the expulsion of Japanese Americans went so well at Bainbridge Island, they ended up interning over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Japanese Immigrants on Bainbridge Island Pre World War II Bainbridge Island drew both Chinese American and later Japanese American workers to form the labor force for two of the largest sawmills in the world in the late 1800s. As the Japanese immigrate, they set up Japan towns near the lumber mills. The lumber trade begins to die off in the early 1900s. As a result, many of the Japanese became farmers and on Bainbridge Island, they grew strawberries. In cities like Seattle, immigrants tended to isolate across racial and cultural lines. However, on Bainbridge Island, a Japanese American immigrant’s farm would be right next door to Filipino Americans, Swedish Americans or any other number of ethnic groups. The neighborhood had a diverse number of backgrounds and compared to the cities the Japanese Americans felt a huge part of the local community on Bainbridge Island. In cities, racism against Asian Americans in general existed — starting with those of Chinese descent in the late 1800s and later shifting against those of Japanese descent in the early 1900s. Racism During World War II The racist sentiments against Asian Americans boiled under the surface at first and news stories about those issues were rarely seen in newspapers. However, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the undercurrent of racism became much more obvious. In World War II, America fought Japan, Italy, and Germany. But, only racism against the Japanese ran rampant — the racism didn’t happen as much with Italian or German immigrants to the US. Obviously, those of Japanese descent could be identified easily by how they looked and their last names, while many people of Italian or German descent governed the country or acted in movies at the time and rarely underwent scrutiny. Laws wouldn’t allow first-generation Japanese immigrants to become citizens. In fact, immigrants from several Asian countries couldn’t gain citizenship. However, Germans and Italians could easily naturalize when they immigrated. It goes to show how deeply the racist sentiments ran before the bombing of Pearl Harbor even occurred. FBI Investigations of Japanese Immigrants In the 1930s before the war began, the US determined we could go to war with Japan in the near future. So, the government launched an FBI investigation into Japanese immigrants in the country. During that investigation, they had a file on nearly every single immigrant and determined no real threats existed amongst those of Japanese descent. However, they determined Japanese Americans were the most anxious to become Americanized and become accepted in their local communities. Arrests Made Without Probable Cause The FBI went door to door to Japanese American homes after Pearl Harbor and entered without a warrant or probable cause. They asked if the families had firearms or dynamite — and for most farmers, dynamite played an important role in destroying tree stumps to develop farmland. When the FBI found either firearms or dynamite, they arrested the head of household without a warrant. Additionally, they also arrested anyone with a prominent business or newspaper. We expect the FBI to uphold the constitution and due process. However, they ignored the rights of Japanese Americans and arrested prominent leaders of the community. They refused to tell their families where they took them. Many wives and children were left without the patriarch of their family for 6 months up to a year — when they were also imprisoned in the camps. The FBI and armed forces all knew from their own investigations the Japanese Americans weren’t a threat. However, they did it anyway. The government, including the presidential administration, employed the logic that since no treason has yet to occur within these communities, they must be planning something big. Much of the fear and racist sentiments were fueled by propaganda published in newspapers on the west coast. Executive Order 9066 Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9066 — out of military necessity people can be excluded from military areas at the discretion of the government. Essentially, he handed a blank check to the military and understood what they would do next. Even though Japanese Americans weren’t called out explicitly, this leads to them being relocated and incarcerated. The government creates the War Relocation Authority (WRA) as the west coast becomes a militarized zone. Japanese Americans are no longer allowed to live on the west coast because it’s now an exclusion zone. However, they did not exclude Italians and Germans. The administration justifies the order by saying the US was under threat of imminent invasion. However, the military knew an invasion would not occur because supply lines existed too far across the ocean. The Supreme Court upholds the Executive Order because they didn’t have all the facts. The military held back the information which indicated no imminent threat of invasion and Japanese American communities were already investigated and found to be harmless. The Executive Orders Effects on Bainbridge Island March 24, 1942, the army shows up with notices indicating Japanese Americans need to vacate Bainbridge Island in 6 days to their new homes with only what they could carry. In such a short amount of time, families prepared and carried at most 2 suitcases of possessions with them. Additionally, the day the army shows up with the notices, the Japanese Americans help to post the notices within their own communities because they want to help. They saw what was happening and trusted the government needed to relocate them for some reason. In Japanese culture, a big part of getting through rough times is to shoulder the unbearable and survive what cannot be helped. The amount of inner strength they had to leave and survive the camps must have been immense. Effects on Property Owned by Japanese Americans Japanese Americans also needed to vacate their homes in the big cities as well. The Cadillac Hotel in Seattle, now home to Klondike Gold Rush NHP, was owned by the Takitas — a Japanese family. When they left they had to entrust their home to their Italian American neighbors who also owned a restaurant in the building. In cities where Japan towns thrived, Japanese Americans’ neighbors were often other Japanese which meant they had no one to watch over their homes while they were imprisoned. Unfortunately, many had to sell everything they owned, including the property. On Bainbridge Island, with such a tight-knit diverse immigrant community, many were fortunate enough to come back to their homes because their neighbors could look after their property. Camps at Manzanar and Minidoka The first Japanese Americans incarcerated from Bainbridge Island were sent to Manzanar in the California desert. Later, folks from Los Angeles and San Francisco come to the camps and those from Bainbridge Island find they had little in common with those from the cities. Eventually, they complete the camp at Minidoka and other rural Washingtonians are sent there. Those from Bainbridge Island ask to be transferred because they had more in common other rural farmers and were often friends with them. Life in the internment camp was difficult. People had a limited amount of space and often shared beds with family members. Little to no privacy existed in the bathrooms and sand from their surroundings worked its way into clothes and food. The military surrounded the camps by barbed wire and guard towers. People in the camps needed to come up with ways to pass the time. They begin to farm in the camps and grow a wide variety of food to supplement the canned food supplied to them. Additionally, they built baseball diamonds, an important pastime for those from Bainbridge Island where they had a baseball team. Do Those Incarcerated Talk About It Today? According to Ranger Kevin, they don’t have many concrete stories about what happened in the camps. Over 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated means over 120,000 stories. However, many of those alive today were quite young and have vague memories of the camps. The older generation who have now passed away often pushed down their feelings and didn’t talk about what happened. They “shouldered the burden” to deal with a complex time. An End to Incarceration With the successful uprooting of those at Bainbridge Island, the military uprooted all Japanese Americans on the west coast. They were sent to 10 different camps across the US and forced to live for a couple of years. In general, no one protested this practice or rioted over it. In 1944, some people could leave camps under very specific circumstances. Students could go east to go to schools and some farmers could work on local farms if they had an agreement with the WRA. In 1945, the government dissolves the exclusion and allows the Japanese Americans to return home. However, what kind of home could families expect to find? Some even dealt with anti-Japanese groups and were held at gunpoint on their return to the west coast. Representatives returned to scout the situation back home and reported back if they could return safely. Generally, Bainbridge Island inhabitants found little problems beyond vandalism on their property. Others who inhabit cities choose not to go back because people in the city may have become hostile to their return. A Formal Apology In the 70’s, the US government determines they should issue an apology and award reparations. The Ford administration begins to figure out what that should look like. And in 1988, Reagan issues a formal apology from the government and awards $20,000 to each survivor of the Japanese American incarceration. Many Japanese Americans who were incarcerated had passed away by 1988. And, if the family lost their livelihoods, does $20,000 really cover that? For many, the apology was more significant than the check. The Memorial on Bainbridge Island How do we ensure this will never happen again? In the early 2000s, the local Japanese community on Bainbridge Island decides to build a memorial, and by 2011 it’s complete. The entire community came together to fundraise for the memorial and approached Congress to have it added to the National Park Service. Today, it’s now part of Minidoka National Historic Site. The community at Bainbridge Island always stood behind those incarcerated during World War II. Their newspaper was one of the few on the west coast speaking out about the camps and racism against Japanese Americans. The community looked out for each other’s rights and stand as an example of what other communities could have done during that time. The memorial itself is 276 feet long for the 276 inhabitants of Bainbridge Island incarcerated. Plans for a memorial deck overlooking the water and a larger visitor center are in the works — all of which will be built with funds from the community. Kevin’s Interest at Bainbridge Island and the NPS Ranger Kevin feels fortunate to tell the story of the Japanese American Exclusion at Bainbridge Island. The people of the island have told their story for years, and are actively involved in the Memorial. He hopes visitors at Bainbridge Island learn we need to be active defenders of the constitution and our neighbors. The internment of 120,000 innocent loyal Americans occurred because no one stepped up and took a stand. It’s not enough to only believe in the constitution, we must defend those values. And, when we find excuses to take away people’s rights, it’s a slippery slope for what the future could hold. When Kevin talks to descendants and elders connected to the site, they have hope things are getting better. Compared to the past, people are now more outraged when rights are taken away. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like we’ve gone far enough, but we are in a better place and will hopefully get to where we need to be in the future. Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More! We love chatting with you and would love your feedback to make this podcast even better.You can do that by: Leaving a comment on this episode’s page. Subscribing and/or reviewing Podcasts With Park Rangers on iTunes or on Android. Joining our Facebook page. Signing up for our email updates below. Checking out our Patreon page where you can get exclusive content only available to our patrons. PodcastOptin SIGN UP FOR PODCAST UPDATES As a thank you, we'll send you a National Parks Checklist so you can see what parks you still need to visit! Get Updates! Get Updates! The post Bainbridge Island: The Incarceration of Japanese Americans in WWII appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Full show notes at the publisher

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park: Seattle's Gold Rush Boom - Ranger Julie Fonseca de Borges — **Klondike Gold Rush NHP: Seattle’s Gold Rush Boom – PWPR 23** Oct 01, 2018
Show notes
The Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 caused an economic boom for the city of Seattle. People flocked to the Pacific Northwest to gather supplies and board steamships north to Alaska. Newspapers promised new wealth and riches for any who made it to the Klondike. On this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers, we take a look at how the Gold Rush made Seattle the city it is today.
Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr23/
Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/
**Podcast Resources:**

Klondike Gold Rush NHP – NPS Website

Register to vote!

Find more episodes of Podcasts with Park Rangers!

**Topics Covered**

About Ranger Julie Fonseca de Borges

About Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Seattle – A Nice Place to Call Home

Coast Salish Peoples and the Denny Party

The Great Seattle Fire

Rebuilding Seattle

The Klondike Gold Rush – 1897

Stampeders – Who Are the People of the Klondike Gold Rush?

Strike it Rich? Or Fool’s Gold?

Modern Day Seattle

Julie’s Thoughts on Klondike Gold Rush NHP and the National Park Service

Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!

**About Ranger Julie Fonseca de Borges**

Ranger Julie Fonseca de Borges is Chief of Interpretation for the Seattle area National Park units which include Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. She’s been a Park Ranger for almost 13 years, and specifically at Klondike for 4 of those years.

With a background in journalism and art education, Julie’s start in the parks began at Chamizal National Memorial where they celebrate the peaceful resolution of a 100-year old border dispute between the US and Mexico through the arts. With Ranger Julie’s background, she created art education programs for the public before she relocated to Seattle.

**About Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park**

Klondike is unique because it’s an international park which celebrates the 1897 Gold Rush. Two US sites — located in Seattle, WA and Skagway, AK — commemorate the event.

Seattle’s history is important because of the 100,000 people who journeyed to the Klondike for the Gold Rush, about 70,000 came through Seattle. The majority of the people through Seattle took a boat to either Skagway or Dyea, AK.

The story in Seattle is the experience most people who ventured to the Klondike experienced. People landed in Skagway and then journeyed up to Dawson City and beyond to the gold fields. The site in Canada tells more of the tale about the gold fields themselves.

**Seattle – A Nice Place to Call Home**

The Seattle area is the home of the Coast Salish people for generations. And in the mid-1800’s, Euro-Americans begin to settle in the area.

The landscape is quite a bit different than what you’d find in Seattle today. New settlers found hilly tidal flats with a lot of wooded areas. The Puget Sound offered great access to seafood, and most people found it a nice place to settle because of the resources.

**Coast Salish Peoples and the Denny Party**

The Denny Party receives credit for founding the city of Seattle. The coast was a too cold and harsh, and they decided to move inland to what is now Pioneer Square in the heart of Seattle.

The Coast Salish traded with the Denny Party as they settled into the area and helped them survive their first winter. The group named the new settlement after the Suquamish Chief Si’ahl, and he’s commonly referred to today as Chief Seattle.

As more settlers arrived, people began to fill in the hilly landscape with dirt so the city was more flat and amenable to building. However, this also displaced the Salishan people, because to be a modern city you couldn’t have Native American people living in the city — a harsh reality of Seattle’s history.

In the 1950s-70s, a resurgence of Coast Salish culture and history made its way back into Seattle. Their culture is still alive and thriving today in spite of past efforts to displace them out of the city — today the Salishan people are celebrated.

**The Great Seattle Fire**

With an influx of people moving from the midwest, new structures needed to be built in order to support the new settlers. And since Seattle had an abundance of wood, they built most of the structures with local timber.

In 1889, a fire broke out at the local glue factory. Since so many of the structures in downtown Seattle were close together, the fire progressed from building to building. And the fact they constructed city plumbing out of wood didn’t help matters either.

The volunteer fire department took time to round up, and the tide was out so retrieving water to extinguish the fire proved difficult. Fortunately, the fire moved slow enough such that no one died. However, the entire downtown was decimated.

**Rebuilding Seattle**

Undeterred by the fire’s destruction, city officials decide to rebuild Seattle. The city would rise from the fires like a Phoenix and be better than it ever was before.

Officials decide the city of hills needs to be flatter and more land needs to be next to the Puget Sound. So, dirt from the hills on the east side of the city is pulled down to fill in the gaps on the west side. For existing buildings, the second floor would become street level and the first level would become the basement.

New structures used brick, and people built the buildings with the intention of the second floor becoming the grand entryway. During the transition, open pits and alleyways connected the buildings via the basements and were open at street level. People had to be careful or else they could fall into the pits.

Today, you can see tiny purple square windows on the sidewalks which allow light to enter the lower level tunnels still in existence today.

**The Klondike Gold Rush – 1897**

People flock to Seattle because the rebuilding efforts created jobs. And in 1897, the US found itself in the midst of an economic depression.

In July 1897, Klondike gold finds its way into Seattle. Newspapers around the country proclaim all you have to do is get yourself to the Klondike and you will find gold like the Klondike Kings and Queens of Seattle.

The American identity says if you work hard, you can make a better life for yourself. So, this idea propels people west towards Seattle.

The National Park site is located in the Cadillac Hotel, one of the first 10 buildings built after the Great Fire. The bottom of the building where the exhibits are today held shops and restaurants. And the upper stories were single occupancy hotel rooms, home to the people who sold goods and services to those traveling to the Klondike.

**Stampeders – Who Are the People of the Klondike Gold Rush?**

The exhibits at the Visitor Center follow 5 different Klondike stampeders which examine why people went on the journey north. For as many people who went there were just as many stories as to why. Some people wanted wealth, others adventure, some wanted freedom or to find another life.

Seattle drew people west with a great advertising campaign. Everything a stampeder needed could be found in Seattle, and from there they could get on a boat towards the gold fields.

The Canadian Mounties required stampeders to bring a year’s worth of materials to survive — a literal ton of supplies — which in today’s dollars costs about $20-25,000. Of course, all the stores in Seattle had the required shopping list.

People borrowed money from banks and business, or communities came together to send one person to chase fortunes for all of them.

**Strike it Rich? Or Fool’s Gold?**

Many myths surrounded the Klondike Gold Rush:

People thought after they stepped off the boat they’d be in the Klondike. However, they landed in Alaska and needed to travel even further to the Yukon territory in Canada.

Newspapers said all you needed to do was shake a bush or kick around dirt and you’d find gold.

Only 50 of the 100,000 made any amount of wealth and kept it for any significant amount of time. People didn’t realize how difficult the trip would be. Two routes existed into the Yukon:

The Chilkoot trail – an icy staircase at the Canadian border

The White Horse trail – sticky marshland where many horses ended up dying on the journey

The people who made the most were those who sold supplies and took advantage of the Stampeders.

Many stampeders turned around and started a life in Seattle. Some found a claim with gold and sold it off — this is how Nordstrom made his money. And others came back penniless but with a wealth of stories.

**Modern Day Seattle**

Seattle reaped the rewards of the Klondike Gold Rush. Even though it lasted only 2 years, the influx of people and wealth birthed of the city we know today.

New thoughts, new ideas, investment, transportation allowed Seattle to become an anchor for the Pacific Northwest.

Starting in the 2000’s, the city now experiences another sort of gold rush through a tech boom. And, an influx people with new ideas and investments flock to the anchor of the Pacific Northwest once again.

**Julie’s Thoughts on Klondike Gold Rush NHP and the National Park Service**

Throughout each step of the tale at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, we find stories of opportunity. As Chief of Interpretation, Julie sees the opportunity to go into other stories at the park: the gold rush’s impact to Native Americans and the Non-Euro American stories.

Just as Seattle was a gateway to gold fields, today it’s a gateway for other National Parks. Ranger Julie hopes to dive into the tale of how Seattle is a stepping off point today for park exploration in the Pacific Northwest.

With regards to the National Parks, it takes a lot for a designated site. The unit must preserve a unique history or resource and it must detail what it means to be an American. Every National Park site helps define and tell the American story — the triumphant tales and the stories which we may not be so proud of.

The NPS is an agency and cultural institution which defines what it means to be an American and where we are going in the future. For Julie, the parks help us to strive to be better.

**Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!**

We love chatting with you and would love your feedback to make this podcast even better.
You can do that by:

**Leaving a comment** on this episode’s page.

**Subscribing and/or reviewing** Podcasts With Park Rangers on iTunes or on Android.

Joining our **Facebook page**.

Signing up for our **email updates** below.

Checking out our Patreon page where you can get **exclusive content** only available to our patrons.

PodcastOptin

SIGN UP FOR PODCAST UPDATES

**As a thank you,** we'll send you a **National Parks** **Checklist** so you can see what parks you still need to visit!
Get Updates! Get Updates!
The post Klondike Gold Rush NHP: Seattle’s Gold Rush Boom – PWPR 23 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Mount Rainier National Park: Glaciers and Climate Change - Geomorphologist Paul Kennard — **Mt Rainier NP: Glaciers and Climate Change – PWPR 22** Sep 24, 2018
Show notes
Geomorphologist Paul Kennard calls Mount Rainier National Park the canary in a coal mine when it comes to climate change. Glaciers on Rainier melt at a rapid rate, causing issues with the park’s rivers and wildlife. And, resource rangers are at the forefront of dealing with a rapidly changing environment. On this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers, we talk about the effects of climate change on the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states.
Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr22/
Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/
**Podcast Resources:**

Mount Rainier NP – NPS Website

An Ascent of Mount Rainier by John Muir

Episode 21: Mt Rainier NP – Volcanic Activity and Park Geology

**Topics Covered**

About Paul Kennard

Glaciers at Mount Rainier

What is a Glacier?

Glacial Formation at Mount Rainier

Seasonal Changes at Mount Rainier

How Do We Measure the Amount the Glaciers Have Receded?

Issues Caused by Climate Change at Mount Rainier

Debris Flows in Mount Rainier

How Do We Deal with Climate Change Issues?

The Pineapple Express of 2006

Why Climate Change Study at Mount Rainier Important?

Paul’s Love for Mount Rainier National Park and the NPS

Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!

**About Paul Kennard**

Since 2003, Paul has worked as the regional geomorphologist for Mount Rainier National Park. Geomorphologists study landscape features and look at the forces which create and destroy them. Paul calls it “geology on steroids” because unlike most geology, a lot of these changes occur in time spans as little as hours and up to about a decade.

Paul’s background in the oil industry, studying changes in glaciers, and research on forestry effects on salmon in rivers put him in a unique to work for the National Park Service when the position opened at Mount Rainier.

**Glaciers at Mount Rainier**

Mount Rainier is quite striking in it stands nearly 2 miles higher than all the other mountains in the area and because it’s capped with glaciers.

The number of glaciers at Rainier fluctuates due to definitions and climate change. At the time of this recording, there are 29 named glaciers at the mountain’s peak. Paul anticipates this number to decrease because of climate change — especially the ones located lower on the mountain.

**What is a Glacier?**

A Glacier is a body of perennial ice. The ice actually moves under its own weight like a slow river. This movement differentiates a glacier from a perennial snowfield, which stays in place.

Snow from the winter accumulates, and when it sits over the winter, ice forms at the top of the glacier. The glacial ice flows to a lower part of the mountain and melts. The ice formation at the top and the melt at the bottom are definitive features of a glacier.

Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in lower 48 states of The United States. The rivers in Mount Rainier National Park are also milky in color — a prominent feature around some glaciers.

The water and debris flowing from the bottom of the glaciers break down into glacier flour. Glacier flour is a good indication of the existence of a glacier — colors range from striking teal similar to the lakes in Glacier National Park or the more muddy waters of the Nisqually River of Mount Rainier.

**Glacial Formation at Mount Rainier**

The last ice age in North America was approximately 12,000-13,000 years ago. At the time, glaciers extended far outside Mount Rainier National Park. Several other mini ice ages occurred in Mount Rainier’s history — the most recent is the little ice age of the mid-1800s. Many of the park’s glaciers were a full 1-1 ½ miles bigger than they are today.

Naturally, glaciers are variable. The Nisqually Glacier is the most studied glacier in the United States. One of the major roads into Mount Rainier passes by where the bottom of this glacier used to exist. In fact, an ice cream stand used to exist at the bottom of the glacier. When the glacier retreated, the ice cream operation was abandoned.

There are a few advances of the glaciers around the 70s-80s at Mount Rainier. However, the present day glaciers are undeniably retreating due to climate change. The ice levels are at historic lows and the rate of ice loss has accelerated.

The glaciers at Mount Rainier shouldn’t completely melt, however, those glaciers lower than 10,000 feet are in peril. Rainier lost several glaciers over the past few decades, and the Paradise Glacier recently lost its well-known ice caves.

**Seasonal Changes at Mount Rainier**

South facing glaciers melt the most because they naturally receive the most sun.

Paradise, a well-known location in Mount Rainier, is the snowiest place on earth. It averages about 650” of snow a year. However, glaciers lose about 30 ft of ice near the bottom every year without accounting for climate change. Current glaciers can’t keep up — even with monumental snow falls.

The glaciers should replenish their ice from the melt at the top of the glacier which flows down. However, because of climate change, we see the glaciers receding. Two issues are at play: more ice melt without replenishment or less snow.

**How Do We Measure the Amount the Glaciers Have Receded?**

A common measurement scientists record is the mass balance: the amount of water which goes into a glacier and the amount which melts. Since 2003, they’ve recorded this statistic by hand. A core measurement of snow indicates the amount of water located on the glaciers.

They also check how deep the ice exists. Recently, the amount of snow on top of the glaciers reduced to create a negative mass balance. By scientific measurements, approximately 45 feet of ice has been lost since 2003.

Resource rangers also use photography to indicate the amount of glacial retreat. Currently, 1 cubic mile of ice exists on top of Mount Rainier.

Since 1936 through the late 90’s, we’ve lost about ¼ the volume of ice on the mountain. In 2003, another 20% of ice on the glaciers disappeared — indicating an acceleration of ice loss around of 600%

**Issues Caused by Climate Change at Mount Rainier**

As we look at the incidence of climate change — glaciers melt quickly and cause more sediment in the rivers. The rivers can’t hold as much water as before as the bottom of the rivers rise, and displacement of water is inevitable elsewhere into the park.

Record-breaking storms also pass through the United States, which means the rivers need to hold an excess amount of water from storms. To balance an influx of water and handle rising river beds is impossible, which create massive issues.

Rainier’s roads throughout the park were built before we knew the effects of climate change and constructed to old standards. Because the park is 97% wilderness, rangers have limited options to deal with rivers behaving badly.

Some roads run through valleys. However, the rivers are 15 feet or more above the road. So as the water level increases, we need to rely on the trees along the river bed to hold the water within its banks.

The rivers are now so dynamic and the aggradation of sediment in the beds is significant enough each river bed builds several feet every decade. Eventually, the trees along the river banks will lose the battle and the water will flow freely throughout the park.

**Debris Flows in Mount Rainier**

Mount Rainier has seen an acceleration of debris flows start in areas previously covered in glaciers. The recently deglaciated locations contain heaps of sediment easily moved off steep slopes of the mountain by influxes of water.

During the fall, warm storms off the Pacific called Pineapple Expresses, or atmospheric rivers, create an influx of water on Rainier. Debris from the mountain moves further down river, throughout the park, and into neighboring cities — creating what we call a debris flow.

Debris flows are the most destructive form of landslide — debris accumulation builds in size as it moves down the mountain. The water and debris create boulders bigger than pickup trucks which pulse down rivers at fast speeds.

Rivers have a hard time dealing with the excess sediment, and impacts are felt outside the park. Additionally, endangered species, especially fish, are put at risk by the unpredictable debris flows.

**How Do We Deal with Climate Change Issues?**

The newly created imminent threats program at Mount Rainier National Park allows for sustainable repair and engineering of the road in trails through the park. Areas of the park which are resource sensitive can use various low-cost resources to repair issues which also affect wildlife the least.

For example, a recent windstorm in Longmire caused 100s-year-old growth trees to fall. Paul and other resource rangers used these trees to help fix a road which was closed off because of debris flows. This road survived every year since and was resilient against other debris flow threats because of the more natural and economical approach.

**The Pineapple Express of 2006**

A severe storm moved into the park in 2006, and any trail or roadway which crossed a waterway was damaged. Eighteen inches of rain in 18 hours served as a wakeup call to the changing climate.

The park shut down for 6 months to repair the damage from that storm. At least 10 debris flows were created, which the rivers of the park are still processing to this day. In response, Mount Rainier created the imminent threats program in the park.

**Why Climate Change Study at Mount Rainier Important?**

Mount Rainier has shut down various parts of the park due to climate change. As mentioned previously, various historic roadways lie below the rivers due to necessity. Some parts of the park were unable to be saved from flooding. The trees on the banks of the rivers couldn’t withstand the hold the water within its banks and the roadways of the park flooded.

Mount Rainier is like the canary in the coal mine for climate change. In the lower 48, it’s the most glaciated peak and has been hit by some of the worst effects of climate change. To see where climate change will take the rest of the continent, we need to look at what’s happened in the park, take the lessons learned there, and apply them to the rest of the country.

**Paul’s Love for Mount Rainier National Park and the NPS**

During Paul’s graduate studies, he connected with Mount Rainier through escapes to glacier research huts in the summers and volcanic studies throughout the Cascades after Mt St Helens’ eruption. And even after graduate school, he made sure to visit Rainier every year before he became employed at the park.

Paul hopes his river research and the imminent threats program can serve as standards for the NPS and the rest of the nation going forward as we face climate change.

As he retires, he will continue to work walking the rivers throughout the park and help develop methods to predict short-term changes in Rainier’s environment. The park is a huge complex system, and all pieces must be managed together: environmental, historical, and cultural.

Paul always loved Rainier, and it’s become part of him. The NPS serves as a place to preserve these natural places and allows for educational opportunities, so we can understand how we as a nation need to respond to climate change.

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The post Mt Rainier NP: Glaciers and Climate Change – PWPR 22 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Mt Rainier NP: Volcanic Activity and Park Geology – PWPR 21 Sep 10, 2018

Show notes

A trip to Mount Rainier National Park brings you through lush landscapes dotted with wildflowers. However, a beast lies beneath the park! The mountain is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Does that mean the park is dangerous? On this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers sit down with a Park Geologist to learn more about the volcanic activity and geology of Mount Rainier National Park.Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr21/Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/ Podcast Resources: Mount Rainier NP – NPS Website Mount Rainier Wiki Page Episode 22: Mt Rainier NP – Glaciers and Climate Change Topics Covered About Scott Beason About Mount Rainier An Active Volcano How Does a Subduction Zone Work? Historical Eruptions at Mount Rainier Types of Volcanoes One of the Most Dangerous Volcanoes in the World How They Monitor the Volcano Current Research into the Geology of Mount Rainier Not All Lahars Occur During Eruptions Travels to Colombia to Study Lahar The Devastation of Nevado del Ruiz What Mount Rainier’s Geologists Can Learn from Nevado del Ruiz The Ultimate Question: Is It Safe to Visit Mount Rainier? Scott’s Love for Mount Rainier and the NPS Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More! About Scott Beason Scott is one of the few Park Geologists in the National Park System. According to him, there are about 8-9 people who work in the specialty. Since 2004, Scott has worked off and on with the National Park Service and started as an intern at Mount Rainier. Through a variety of roles: interpretation, law enforcement, and resources — Scott found a love for the NPS. Additionally, the Pacific Northwest captured Scott’s heart. It’s why he now calls Mount Rainier home, even after he’s worked at other parks. As a result, he decided to work on the NPS resource team and study the geology of Mount Rainier after he graduated with his Master’s degree. About Mount Rainier Mount Rainier is approximately 70 miles southeast of Seattle/Tacoma in Washington state. As the fifth National Park in the Park System, it spans 240,000 acres and a variety of ecosystems. Low elevation rainforest, sub-alpine areas, volcanoes, and glaciers draw over 2 million visitors a year. The mountain is a beacon in the Pacific Northwest at 14,410 feet tall. And when you consider all the other mountains in the area are around 3,000 feet, it stands out for hundreds of miles around. In addition to the height, it’s also the most glaciated peak in the Cascade Mountain range. An Active Volcano Mount Rainier is considered to be an active volcano because it has a magma source beneath the surface. And over ½ million years, it’s erupted over and over again. Evidence of both magma eruptions and lahars exist. Small earthquakes are a regularity with about 3 per month. However, they’re quite small — measuring at less than a 1 on the seismometer. Evidence of more volcanic activity is seen through hydrothermal vents on Mount Rainier. Water heats and pressurizes from a source several miles beneath the mountain. Mount Rainier sits near the Juan de Fuca plate, part of a subduction zone which creates volcanic activity. How Does a Subduction Zone Work? Scott explains: The Juan de Fuca plate sits in the ocean and subducts under the North American plate at the rate your fingernails grow each year. Since the denser oceanic plate made of basalt and hits the less dense continental plate made of granitic rock, the oceanic plate sinks beneath the North American plate. The process brings ocean water down into the subduction zone to create a pressure cooker. The plate begins to sweat and it decreases the temperature needed to melt rock which leads to the formation of magma. And since magma is less dense, it flows upwards towards the surface to create pressure release valves aka volcanoes! Historical Eruptions at Mount Rainier The last known eruption of Mount Rainier was 2000 years ago. In the late 1800’s, some accounts indicate steam aka phreatic activity near the summit. However, geologists have never found evidence of such an eruption and believe onlookers were probably fooled by clouds at the peak. In spite of current calmness, the geology of Mount Rainier indicates it will erupt in the future. Past successive eruptions built up ridges and layers on the mountain — much like a layer cake. Ash and lava flow blanket the area after repeated eruptions and build up over time. Historically, geologists found evidence of a couple big eruptive episodes lasting about 50,000-100,000 years each! Between those periods, they’ve found very little eruptive activity. Today, Mount Rainier is in one of the calmer time periods. Types of Volcanoes There are different types of eruptive volcanoes: Cinder/Spatter Cones: The lava flows out of the volcano and forms a crust. Then, as the newly formed crust cools, magma shoots or spatters pieces out through it into the air. Example: Capulin in New Mexico. Shield Volcano: Low viscosity lava erupts out of the crust and travels great distances. Example: Kilauea on the big island of Hawaii. In fact, all of the Hawaiian islands are built from shield volcanoes. Stratovolcano: Layers of distinct eruptive periods build up over time. Geologists can pull out rocks from eruptions and date them. Low viscosity lava is associated with this type of volcano which means it builds up high, travels slowly, and forms a small base. Example: If you guessed Mount Rainier, you’re right! Episode 4: Life Among Ancient Lava Flows features El Malpais NM where cinder cone eruptions took place 3,900 years ago. Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano because of the layer cake effect and how it towers upwards. However, the volcano has a small base. One of the Most Dangerous Volcanoes in the World Two factors contribute to Mount Rainier’s designation as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world: A cubic mile of ice and glaciers sit on top of the volcano. During an eruption, an ash column shoots up into the air. As some of the ash cools, it falls back on top of the volcano like a hot blanket. The glaciers would melt quickly, and water would travel out from the volcano picking up debris in its path. The slurry, called a lahar, has the consistency of concrete. Cities far from the volcano could be wiped out from the lahars and the number of people living along the rivers and streams radiating out from the volcano could be killed. Some lahars have made it to the Puget sound 60-70 miles away. About 5,600 years ago, the geology of Mount Rainier shows exactly this happened. They named the eruption the Osceola Mudflow. Episode 8: A Fossil Day at Florissant features historic lahar flows in Colorado and how lahars contributed to the preservation of insect fossils. Evidence shows a side of the mountain failed during the eruption and a lahar traveled along the White River north towards the city of Enumclaw. Enumclaw sits about halfway between the volcano and Seattle, and they believe the flow only took a couple hours to get there. Today, the primary concern today is not so much the gas and ash from an eruption, which would probably stay within the park boundaries, but rather the lahar flows. How They Monitor the Volcano A seismic network of about 5-10 stations in the park at various altitudes help monitor the Mount Rainier’s activity. Due to the danger it presents to humans, it’s the most well-monitored volcano in the Cascade Range. Seismometers Seismic activity is a good way to know when the volcano begins to wake up. An increase in activity and harmonic tremors would show up on the seismographs. A harmonic tremor is similar to when fluid moves under pressure in an old house. You can feel or hear it on the opposite side of the house where the water flows. If geologists saw a harmonic tremor, they would know fluid began to move vertically under the surface. Earthquakes are common with around 3/month. They sometimes see swarms of hundreds. However, volcanoes swarm a lot so that alone doesn’t mean much. If the amount of swarms increased or the period between them decreased significantly, then they would begin to worry. In particular, west Rainier contains a seismic zone known for bigger earthquakes. However, anything over a 4.5 is unusual. GPS and Deformation Stations The USGS also placed GPS and deformation stations around the park. The stations monitor the altitude and distance between various locations. If one moved higher or to a new position, they’d know the volcano is “inflating”. Current Research into the Geology of Mount Rainier The USGS has a program to understand more of the eruptive history at Mount Rainier. Researchers look at ash and lahar deposits to date them. Additionally, they monitor gas coming out of the volcano. Geophysical studies look at the stability of the rocks around the park. Much of the rock is andesite – an intermediate volcanic rock. Andesite is red or black in color with white silica crystals. The silica forms chains, which trap gases in the rock. And, the more silica in the rock, the more explosive it is in an eruption. Andesite can also degrade into clay found in big areas of the park. They’re concerned the clay could be washed away in a lahar and create an area more prone to blow out during an eruption. Not All Lahars Occur During Eruptions Lahars can happen in the park without an eruption. The last known lahar at Mount Rainier occurred 500 years ago called the Electron mudflow. The rush of water traveled northwest of the park to Orting along the Puyallup River. The andesite clay buildup mentioned previously is along the same side of the mountain where this lahar occurred. So, the USGS placed a couple types of monitors near the valleys: Seismometers which monitor for a lahar seismic signature. A Deadman which is a log cabled to an alarm system. If a lahar rushed in and removed the log, it’d pull the plug and cause an alert. If the USGS saw the seismic signature of a lahar and more than one of the deadman alarms going off, they’d know of an imminent lahar and set off the lahar sirens. In several of the cities around Mount Rainier and Orting, in particular, has lahar drills where people go to higher ground to escape the path of a lahar flow. Travels to Colombia to Study Lahar USGS partners with the Department of State to send people abroad through the US Aid program. The program allows an exchange of information between countries as well as help in disaster situations. Employees monitor, provide warnings and help in response to disasters. A binational exchange of emergency planners allowed Scott to travel to Colombia and learn how they built their systems to monitor volcanoes. Then, the USGS brought the Colombians to Mount Rainier to learn from us. The Devastation of Nevado del Ruiz In particular, the 1985 tragedy of Nevado del Ruiz brings to light how devastating a lahar can be. Nevado del Ruiz is very similar to Mount Rainier — both are stratovolcanoes composed of andesite with glaciers on top. An eruption created a pyroclastic flow which melted the glaciers and started a lahar. Armero, a city 60 miles away, didn’t get the warnings they needed. Residents couldn’t evacuate in time, and almost 25,000 people lost their lives. The tools to predict and alert people to a lahar didn’t exist at the time. However, systems are in place today because of the lessons learned at Armero. Colombian geologists don’t ever want a repeat of the tragedy again in their country. Since 1985, other more devastating eruptions occurred in Colombia with few fatalities because of the warning systems in place today. What Mount Rainier’s Geologists Can Learn from Nevado del Ruiz As a geologist, Scott studied Armero in school. However, when he saw the volcano and talked to survivors, it drove home the point. They need to understand the dangers of lahars so such a tragedy doesn’t happen in the United States. Studying the geology of Mount Rainier and the work to build and improve disaster plans help the USGS and NPS build seismic alert systems. Now, they can warn residents downstream and allow for timely evacuation. Orting is one of the fastest developing areas near Mount Rainier. The town sits in a flat area right next to the volcano, which could allow a lahar to spread out across the plains. So, when the Colombian geologists brought up how similar the surroundings of Orting are to Armero, the USGS knew they needed to monitor the area well. The people of Orting don’t have a first-hand understanding of the possible devastation a lahar could bring — the most recent lahar flow was over 500 years ago. There’s a current push to provide better education in schools from a young age about volcanic hazards and the proper response is an important disaster planning tool. As a result, the school has a lahar drill every year so they can practice in case of future dangers The Ultimate Question: Is It Safe to Visit Mount Rainier? Scott assures us Mount Rainier is safe! The mountain shows no signs of reawakening and is more akin to a sleeping person: sometimes they move around, but they’re still asleep. Mount Rainier is an incredibly beautiful place. You can go from a low elevation area to a high elevation area in a few hours, visit the glaciers, and see the volcano. You can also hear the glaciers move from time to time. While there’s potential for terrible destruction from a volcanic eruption, Scott lives just outside the park in Ashford and he isn’t worried. There’s monitoring, public education, and alarms to help keep everyone safe. Scott’s Love for Mount Rainier and the NPS Scott has a love for mountains and a special connection to Mount Rainier. Both the beauty and the geological features draw him to work there every day. He loves the opportunity to make new discoveries about the geology of Mount Rainier and improve how the park understands the volcano. Scott is in awe of just how big Mount Rainier is — everything in the immediate area radiates out from the peak. As for the National Park Service, Scott finds value in setting aside places where you can experience the world around you in its natural state — in a state untouched by humanity. To find solace without the modern amenities like cell phones is a necessary escape nowadays. And, these places offer a unique experiences where people like Scott have access to a natural laboratory. For scientific research, we can examine what mother nature does on its own, and apply the lessons learned to other places in the world. Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More! We love chatting with you and would love your feedback to make this podcast even better.You can do that by: Leaving a comment on this episode’s page. Subscribing and/or reviewing Podcasts With Park Rangers on iTunes or on Android. Joining our Facebook page. Signing up for our email updates below. Checking out our Patreon page where you can get exclusive content only available to our patrons. PodcastOptin SIGN UP FOR PODCAST UPDATES As a thank you, we'll send you a National Parks Checklist so you can see what parks you still need to visit! Get Updates! Get Updates! The post Mt Rainier NP: Volcanic Activity and Park Geology – PWPR 21 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Full show notes at the publisher

Lewis and Clark NHP: A Multilayered Tale of Exploration - Ranger Jon Burpee — **Lewis and Clark NHP: A Multilayered Tale of Exploration – PWPR 20** Sep 03, 2018
Show notes
The tale of Lewis and Clark is one many Americans heard in school. Two mountain men who explore the west with a passion for adventure. While many of us romanticize the expedition, there’s a lot more to this story. The Corps of Discovery, composed of 33 people, heads west with military men, hunters, translators, a slave and a dog. This won’t be the tale you remember from high school.
Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr20/
Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/
**Podcast Resources:**

Mount Rainier NP – NPS Website

The Journals of Lewis and Clark

Discover more Podcasts with Park Rangers episodes!

**Topics Covered**

About Ranger Jon Burpee

About Lewis and Clark National Historic Park

Who Are Lewis and Clark?

The Corps of Discovery

Not All of the Corps of Discovery Are Military

York – An Enslaved Explorer

Seaman – Lewis’ Dog

The Rocky Mountains Present a Dilemma

Sacagawea and an Amazing Coincidence

Future Implications of Lewis and Clark’s Expedition

Lewis and Clark’s Arrival at Fort Clatsop

Relations with the Chinook and Clatsop Tribes

Ranger Jon Burpee’s Love for Lewis and Clark NHP and the NPS

Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!

**About Ranger Jon Burpee**

Ranger Jon Burpee pinpoints his fascination with history to two particular National Park visits as a child: Fort Vancouver in Washington state and Fort Clatsop at Lewis and Clark National Historic Park.

Those two particular adventures lead him to a 20-year career with the NPS. And, we coincidentally find him back at Fort Clatsop for today’s interview. He’s now superintendent of the park sharing with us the same history he found enchanting as a child.

**About Lewis and Clark National Historic Park**

Today, many people follow the expedition of Lewis and Clark by car — they start in St Louis and drive to Fort Clatsop in Oregon. Located on the Pacific along the Columbia River, the park marks the western end of Lewis and Clark’s journey.

Fort Clatsop is a few miles from the Ocean, but near all the resources necessary to spend 4-5 months over the winter. Wood, water and elk are prolific throughout the area and allowed for survival.

**Who Are Lewis and Clark?**

Lewis and Clark both embodied the young republic — they’re both landed gentry from Virginia families.

President Jefferson hired Lewis as his secretary. Both knew each other growing up, and they both bonded as bachelors in the White House. They discussed the importance of science and the exploration of America in order to combat British corporate interests.

Shortly after the Louisiana Purchase, President Jefferson entrusted Lewis to head west and explore the new territory. Jefferson hoped to find Wooly Mammoths out west. And, the expedition was an opportunity to prove America was just as good if not better than the rest of the western world.

Lewis began to round up an army of men for the expedition, and he brought on Clark in St. Louis. In the past, the two served as officers together, and at one point Lewis served under Clark.

As the younger brother of a Revolutionary War hero, Clark found the prospective journey compelling as a way to make his own name in the world.

Forevermore, the two names Lewis and Clark would be entwined in American history.

**The Corps of Discovery**

Many people think of Lewis and Clark as two mountain men along with a group of ragtag individuals headed west. However, the group of 33 people was more like a military outfit.

Lewis served as Captain, and even though Clark is named Lieutenant, Lewis called him Captain as well. They started out with a larger group up until Fort Mandan in North Dakota — where they spent the first winter of the expedition.

After winter, they headed west with the group of 33. The rest of the party returned with documented discoveries and journals of the expedition back east to President Jefferson. One documented discovering included a live prairie dog.

**Not All of the Corps of Discovery Are Military**

While a good number of the 33 people headed west were military, a few worked in entirely different roles — hunters and translators also went on the expedition to the Pacific.

French-Canadian translator Toussaint Charbonneau joined the Corps of Discovery along with his wife Sacagawea.

Modern history knows Sacagawea well, and she’s a valuable member of the party. No tribe would see Lewis and Clark’s crew as hostile because they had a woman as part of the group. As we’ll see later, she played a big role in this story.

Other expedition members included French-Canadians and Americans, some of whom are military.

**York – An Enslaved Explorer**

One notable member of the party was Clark’s servant York. However, you can’t really say he chose to go on this journey because he was enslaved.

York played a surprising role over and over again. In a time where slaves couldn’t carry rifles, York was entrusted with one. And, he proved to be a great hunter for the Corps of Discovery.

For the natives, York was a curiosity. Many of them had never seen a black man before. One notable journal entry talks about how the Mandan are entranced with the color of York’s skin and try to “rub the color off”. You have to wonder: How did that make York feel?

Unfortunately, we’ll never know. His side of this story was never recorded.

Even though York was given a voice and a vote amongst the Corps of Discovery, at the end he was put back into slavery. Later in life, Clark freed him, but not directly after the journey when many believe he deserved his freedom.

**Seaman – Lewis’ Dog**

While gathering supplies in Pittsburgh, Lewis bought a Newfoundland dog. He spent $20 on the new pet — a huge amount considering $20 was about 1 ½ months pay at the time.

The dog was named Seaman, and he also became a member of the expedition. He scared away a grizzly bear and diverted a buffalo stampede while he protected the group. In fact, he’s often mentioned more than the enlisted men in Lewis and Clark’s journals.

**The Rocky Mountains Present a Dilemma**

President Jefferson instructed Lewis to find a water route to the Pacific — the “Northwest Passage”.

The Corps of Discovery traveled with large boats and expected an easy path west. However, things dramatically changed as they hit the Rocky Mountains.

Imagine the disappointment of Lewis and Clark as they crested the first set of mountains in the Rockies. For miles and miles, there were only mountains to be seen. To continue on, they needed to procure horses.

**Sacagawea and an Amazing Coincidence**

Toussaint Charbonneau brought his teenage wife Sacagawea with him to help translate with the native peoples, and in a quirky moment of American history, she played a pivotal role. Before this moment, Sacagawea was abducted in a raid on the Shoshone people as a young girl. She went on to marry Charbonneau later in life, and they had a child together.

As she translated for Lewis and Clark in an attempt to procure horses, she realized the person she spoke with was her brother. If not for the reunion, Lewis and Clark would’ve never made it west.

Even though she saw her family again, she decided to continue on with the Corps of Discovery. Perhaps it’s because she loved Toussaint Charbonneau? Or, because they had a son, Jean Baptiste — who was also the youngest member of the Corps of Discovery?

As the Corps of Discovery made it to the Pacific, Sacagawea asked to go see the ocean with the men. It’s obvious from the journals she desired to see the continent just as much as the men did. Perhaps it was the adventure she desired.

**Future Implications of Lewis and Clark’s Expedition**

Lewis and Clark kept accurate maps during their journey. They documented resources found along the way and painted a picture of the way west. They spent 4 months on the coast, but the impact was huge: it was a claim to the Oregon country for America.

However, as much as it is a story of a rollicking good time, it’s also a harbinger of challenges to come for the native peoples. Even with Lewis and Clark, disease began to spread west.

**Lewis and Clark’s Arrival at Fort Clatsop**

At the western end of the expedition, Lewis and Clark arrive in bad condition. It’s cold, wet and rainy as the winter months crept in. Their clothing had rotted off their backs, they were hungry, and they traded away most of their goods.

While they weren’t in the best condition, they found the area contained a good deal of resources for survival. So, they built Fort Clatsop to weather the next 4 months of winter.

For most of the journey, Lewis and Clark have little trouble with the Native peoples. In general, they were received peacefully and were able to trade.

However, the Clatsop and Chinook tribes in the area weren’t quite as receptive to their arrival.

**Relations with the Chinook and Clatsop Tribes**

Lewis and Clark ran into an issue with the local tribes because the tribes were already accustomed to trading with French fur traders. The locals understood the value of goods, and the Corps of Discovery had very little of worth to trade.

At one point, Sacagawea had a blue beaded belt she valued and had to trade for otter skins. The Corps held out hope a trade ship would stop by to help them resupply. However, that never happens either.

The Clatsop and Chinook tribes see their canoes as living things — they’re sacred and passed down for generations. So, when Lewis and Clark attempt to barter for a canoe necessary for the trip home, they were unable to get one.

Then, the Corps of Discovery decided to steal a canoe, which would leave a lasting legacy amongst the local tribes.

**Ranger Jon Burpee’s Love for Lewis and Clark NHP and the NPS**

For Ranger Jon, he often wonders where the end of the trail might be. Some places in Lewis and Clark National Historic Park could be considered the end, but perhaps the trail still lives on today. Many people travel it every year, and the spirit of exploration continues on with them.

He has a deep love for Lewis and Clark National Historic Park because the tale told is one from a multitude of perspectives. And while he may not have appreciated it all as a child, he loves to dig deep into the history and tell those stories today.

He finds you can discover a deep history at many of the National Park units in the NPS. And for him, that varied history is what makes the Park Service worth preserving. There’s a park out there for everyone, and we can all take a journey to discover what suits us.

**Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!**

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The post Lewis and Clark NHP: A Multilayered Tale of Exploration – PWPR 20 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Whitman Mission National Historic Site: Cultural Misunderstandings - Ranger Michael Bogert — **Whitman Mission NHS: Cultural Misunderstandings – PWPR 19** Aug 27, 2018
Show notes
In the early 1800’s the US went through a revival of Christianity and people of faith signed up to minister to the Native American people in the west. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman leave their lives behind in New York to become one of the first families to travel the Oregon Trail. They preach to the Cayuse Tribe, and through a series of cultural misunderstandings, they become part of a national tragedy. On this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers we explore Whitman Mission National Historic Site.
Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr19/
Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/
**Podcast Resources:**

Whitman Mission National Historic Site NPS Site

Marcus Whitman

Discover more Podcasts with Park Rangers episodes!

**Topics Covered**

About Ranger Michael Bogert

The Location of Whitman Mission National Historic Site

Who are the Whitmans?

The Cayuse Are Interested in the Whitmans

The Oregon Trail

Relations Between the Whitmans and Cayuse Head South

The Murder of the Whitmans

America’s Reaction

How Whitman Mission National Historic Site Has Changed

What can we learn from Whitman Mission?

Ranger Michael’s Interest in Whitman Mission and the NPS

Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!

**About Ranger Michael Bogert**

Ranger Michael has worked as a Seasonal Ranger with the National Park Service since 2012, and this summer he’s at Whitman Mission National Historic Site. The sites he’s worked range all the way from Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska to the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Michael explores new places through hiking and he connects with locals to find out their stories about each site he works at. This connection helps him tell the story of each park in a unique way.

**The Location of Whitman Mission National Historic Site**

In the Walla Walla Valley of southeast Washington, north of the Oregon border, you’ll find Whitman Mission. The green hills surround the park and it’s mostly farm country today. The Walla Walla River runs nearby and it combines with mountain runoff to create a watershed.

The mission sits in a temperate area, and in the summers it can reach 100 degrees. While there are trees surrounding the area today, in the mid-1800’s there were none. So, it’d be a very hot place to call home with little to no shade, but it’s a great place to settle and farm.

**Who are the Whitmans?**

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman traveled across the country from New York to the area now known as Walla Walla, Washington. As missionaries, they spread the word of God to the Cayuse Nation. In the 1830s, America saw a revival of Christianity, and it wasn’t enough to be a good Christian. The church expected people to preach their faith as well.

Marcus left his life as a doctor, and the two rode in a covered wagon drawn by oxen along the Oregon Trail. In 1836, they began a new life out west without their families. On a journey like this, they never expected to see their family once again.

The trip sounds difficult, but their faith drove them. If they didn’t reach Washington and preach the word of God to the Cayuse Tribe, they’d be considered failures.

**The Cayuse Are Interested in the Whitmans**

The Cayuse Tribe are receptive and welcoming to the Whitmans. Marcus and Narcissa weren’t perceived as aggressive, so they wanted to understand them. Eager to learn, the Cayuse attended their church.

Initially, they wanted to see if the Whitmans could teach them something new to use with their lifestyle. They’d seen fur traders with the Hudson Bay Company before, and those folks were helpful.

However, relations start to sour as Dr. Whitman insists the Cayuse need to begin farming. Their tribe is nomadic and they breed horses. So, when the Whitmans insist they need to be contained in one spot, they probably found it confusing!

This was only the beginning of rising tension between the Cayuse and the newcomers.

**The Oregon Trail**

People begin to move west along the Oregon Trail. And, several decided to stay with the Whitmans as a respite during their journey to reach the Pacific.

What started as a trickle becomes a flood. The idea of new beginnings and the 1938 Gold Rush spurs westward expansion, and the Cayuse feel more and more invaded as time goes by.

Dr. Whitman sets up a blacksmith shop, and the Whitmans’ mission becomes a detour along the Oregon Trail. If people fell ill or needed a blacksmith shop along the way, they could journey 30 miles off of the main trail to find help with Marcus and Narcissa.

**Relations Between the Whitmans and Cayuse Head South**

A combination of issues come together to sour the Cayuse Tribe’s relationship with the Whitmans:

Church gospel preached to the Cayuse indicates they are going to hell if they don’t follow God’s path.

A farmer who knows Dr. Whitman poisons watermelons because the Cayuse are eating them. He ends up killing people and Marcus takes the blame.

Dr. Whitman begins to ignore the Cayuse in favor of the pioneers.

As more pioneers flood west, they bring measles with them. More Cayuse are dying than immigrants and they think Dr. Whitman might not be treating them with the same care as the pioneers.

Eventually, some of the Cayuse ask the Whitmans to leave. They warn someone could get hurt if they don’t leave.

As the Cayuse people become sick and die, they become angry. One person, in particular, reaches his tipping point. Two of his children die from the measles, and he feels something must be done about it.

**The Murder of the Whitmans**

The Cayuse Tribe have a belief that if a medicine man practices bad medicine and kills your family, he can be killed himself. If the medicine man isn’t helping, it’s better to get rid of them.

On Nov 29th, 1847, five Cayuse people lead a raid to kill the Whitmans. Dr. Whitman is killed with a tomahawk to the back of the head. While Narcissa isn’t a doctor, she’s considered a nurse by many, so she was targeted as well. Eleven others are killed in the raid, including a couple children.

**America’s Reaction**

The Christian Revival is still going strong. So, when the news of Marcus and Narcissa’s deaths reach the east coast, the public seeks justice swiftly.

To have missionaries die while doing God’s work is an abomination to the general public. A group of 500 volunteers head west and put the five men who committed the attack to death.

One year later, the US creates the territory of Oregon. And, in an effort to create safer travel for new pioneers, the Cayuse are moved to a reservation. Even though only five committed the crime, many saw the creation of the reservation as justice for the Whitmans’ death.

**How Whitman Mission National Historic Site Has Changed**

In Walla Walla today, the Whitmans are revered and their settlement of the area is has a positive reception in the Oregon history books. For many years, the story at Whitman Mission National Historic Site left out the Cayuse perspective entirely.

The National Park Service now works with the Cayuse Tribe to present their side of the story. They work cooperatively with the NPS to ensure their point of view and culture are correctly represented.

The NPS works to give as neutral of a view as possible. It’s up to the visitor to decide who might be right or wrong.

**What can we learn from Whitman Mission?**

First, we must understand it was a different time when this tragedy occurred. With that in mind, how can we take what happened at Whitman Mission and ensure it never happens again?

Communication is the key to help us cooperate with other cultures. Many of the misunderstandings at Whitman Mission would have been avoided if the language barrier didn’t exist and they understood one another more clearly.

**Ranger Michael’s Interest in Whitman Mission and the NPS**

The NPS tries to keep a balanced story between both the Whitmans and the Cayuse Nation. While Ranger Michael enjoys working at Whitman Mission, the tale saddens him. Both sides didn’t want people to die, but it happened.

There’s no real group to blame in this story. And on a visit to Whitman Mission, people will hopefully see both perspectives and add it to their worldview for the future.

The National Park Service preserves our history, and it’s important to know where we came from. They preserve Both the celebrated and the difficult places because both have huge learning opportunities.

As a Ranger, Michael believes it’s his job to make you fall in love with America all over again and preserve what the founding fathers tried to create. He wants people to come together, enjoy themselves, and rediscover the idea of America.

**Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!**

We love chatting with you and would love your feedback to make this podcast even better.
You can do that by:

**Leaving a comment** on this episode’s page.

**Subscribing and/or reviewing** Podcasts With Park Rangers on iTunes or on Android.

Joining our **Facebook page**.

Signing up for our **email updates** below.

Checking out our Patreon page where you can get **exclusive content** only available to our patrons.

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The post Whitman Mission NHS: Cultural Misunderstandings – PWPR 19 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Glacier NP: Wildlife Safety with the Bark Ranger – PWPR 18 Aug 20, 2018

Show notes

Bark Ranger Gracie has a big job at Glacier National Park: to keep wildlife away from high visitor use areas in the park. But once she’s finished her work, Ranger Mark Biel steps in and educates visitors on the importance of wildlife safety. Listen in to this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers to find out more about changing our mindset around how we interact with the animals in the parks. Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr18/Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/ Podcast Resources: Glacier National Park NPS Site Discover more Podcasts with Park Rangers episodes! Topics Covered About Ranger Mark Biel About Glacier National Park Why are glacial lakes blue or teal? Work With Bark Ranger Gracie Visitor Wildlife Safety Education Why Did Glacier Begin the Bark Ranger Program? Looking Towards Other Parks For Inspiration Gracie – From Family Dog to Bark Ranger What Do Other Parks Do Without a Bark Ranger? Gracie’s Winter Work Wildlife Incidents That Spurred This Decision Gracie’s Days Off How To Measure Gracie’s Effectiveness? Changing The Mindset Around Wildlife Safety Wildlife Trading Cards Why Keep Wildlife Wild? Mark’s Connection with Gracie Ranger Mark’s Love for Glacier and the NPS Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More! About Ranger Mark Biel Ranger Mark Biel is the Natural Resources Program Manager at Glacier National Park. He’s worked with the Park Service for 25 years, 8 of which have been at Glacier. Mark’s background is in wildlife management. He started at Yellowstone in bear and bison management and he also aided in the wolf reintroduction. However, many of you might know him for his recent work at Glacier with Bark Ranger Gracie. Gracie is Mark’s family pet who he trained to keep wild animals off the road and away from park visitors. Gracie is a bit of a celebrity, and helps mark teach visitors about wildlife safety. About Glacier National Park Glacier National Park derives its names from the glacial process which shaped the park rather than the glacier remnants left in the park. The park spans over 1 million acres and is located in the heart of the Crown of the Continent ecosystem. The Blackfeet Indians call it the Backbone of the World based on the jagged peaks of the mountains. The Continental Divide runs through the whole park from north to south and its known for high alpine environments and unique vegetation. West of the divide is a wetter more temperate climate and east of the divide is drier and occupied by grasslands. The iconic Going to the Sun Road is 54 miles long and runs east to west through beautiful passes along a narrow road with steep drop offs. Additionally, a trail system over 740 miles makes this park a hiker’s paradise! Why are glacial lakes blue or teal? Many people know the park for its teal and blue lakes. The color derives from glacial flour, generated as glaciers grind against the mountain rock. Sediment from this process is carried by snow melt in the summers down to the rivers and lakes in the park to create the unique hues of water visitors see on a trip to Glacier National Park. The snow melt also creates a ton of waterfalls. Hikers can see the best waterfall displays in the late Spring and early Summer seasons. Work With Bark Ranger Gracie Ranger Mark uses Bark Ranger Gracie to remove wildlife from Logan Pass and other high visitor use areas in the park. Often times, people see bighorn sheep and mountain goats and forget the animals are wild. This can lead to dangerous encounters, so the park comes up with ways to keep wildlife a safe distance from visitors. That’s where Gracie comes in. She stalks towards the goats and sheep with her “border collie creep”. The animals see the Bark Ranger as a threat and move about 50-75 yards away. At that point, Mark and Gracie “release the pressure” to enforce a hardline where wildlife can graze in safety without interacting with visitors. And, from that point on, Gracie and Mark’s work turns towards wildlife safety education for visitors. Visitor Wildlife Safety Education After Gracie does her job, visitors approach Ranger Mark with questions like: What is a Bark Ranger? Why does the Bark Ranger do that? Why is it such a concern? If it were only Ranger Mark, most visitors wouldn’t want to approach him with these types of questions. However, with Gracie, people are attracted to this beautiful blue merle border collie. People want to pet her and interact with her. And, as Mark says, once they approach to start a conversation about Gracie he’s “got ‘em”! He then uses the opportunity to educate visitors about wildlife safety! Why Did Glacier Begin the Bark Ranger Program? With record high visitation at Glacier National Park over the past 5 years, the park needed to implement a management plan for the Going to the Sun Road corridor. Rangers looked for ways to disperse visitor use and attract visitors to different areas of the park. During this process, they asked for the public’s opinion about their issues in the park. And, one major concern which continued to come up with both Rangers and the public was an increase in the number of human/wildlife interactions. These types of interactions can be harmful to not just humans, but the wildlife as well. So, Ranger Mark decided to be proactive. Looking Towards Other Parks For Inspiration Mark didn’t have to look far. Glacier’s sister park — Waterton Lakes National Park — is right across the border in Canada. Waterton contracts with a company which uses border collies to move the mule deer. The deer would move into the housing area of town to drop their fawns. And, as good mothers do, they protected their offspring. At Waterton, this meant aggressive charges at people who came too close. An increase in the number of predators, like grizzlies, also came into town in search of the deer. With the use of the border collies, Waterton has seen a decrease in the amount of human/wildlife interactions with both deer and predators. In the US, the National Mall in DC uses a company called the Geese Police who employ border collies to keep duck and geese out of the reflecting pool and surrounding lawn. The birds would fowl up the pool and drive up costs for the park. In the 90s, Glacier used karelian bear dogs, bred to deal with bears, to keep bears from becoming habituated along the roads of the park. Gracie – From Family Dog to Bark Ranger Ranger Mark first welcomed Gracie to his family as their new pet, and he never intended for her to become a working dog. However, he began to realize this eager border collie could be trained to do what other parks contracted with external agencies to accomplish. He ran the idea across the park leadership team at Glacier National Park. They approved the training, but said he needed to find the funding. So, he approached the Glacier National Park Conservancy for a grant. The Conservancy approved the grant, and sent him to the Wind River Bear Institute near Missoula, MT to begin training. Bark Ranger Gracie has worked at the park for 3 years now. Additionally, the pursuit proves cost effective, because to do what Mark does with Gracie would cost $10,000 or more per year with a contractor. They were trained for under $10,000, and all from private donations. What Do Other Parks Do Without a Bark Ranger? Aversive conditioning, or hazing, is done to keep animals out of high visitor use areas in other parks. Types of hazing include: Clearing visitors out and using a vehicle with a loud siren to scare animals away. Rocks shaken in an aluminum can. Shaking a black plastic garbage can visually and auditorily scare away animals. While many of these options work well, they often lose their effectiveness over time. Glacier still uses these types of hazing, because Ranger Mark and Gracie can only get up to Logan Pass once a week. Unfortunately, other work draws Mark away, and he can’t be a Bark Ranger handler all the time. So far, Gracie is and remains effective in hazing the mountain goats and bighorn sheep. Gracie’s Winter Work During the past two winters, they’ve used Gracie around the Ranger housing to keep deer away. The deer attract mountain lions, so it’s in the parks interest to keep the deer out. When deer see Gracie, they move 50-100 yards away. Ranger Mark has found both a morning and evening walk to be sufficient for this purpose. Wildlife Incidents That Spurred This Decision A habituated goat followed a hiker in Olympic National Park. The goat may have seen them as a source of food or salt. Eventually, it became aggressive and charged the visitor, severing an artery, and they bled out. When Glacier opened the comment period for the Going to the Sun Road corridor management plan, the public mentioned this particular incident over and over. Additionally, people often take pictures around wildlife with kids. The mountain goats and sheep seem tolerant of people getting close and they seem tame. However, incidents like the above prove otherwise. They’ve found an increase in the number of visitors feeding animals — which is illegal in National Parks. And, an increase in trash at Logan Pass means food remnants and waste draw wildlife to the parking lot. Goats and sheep also follow people off trail as they heed nature’s call because the animals use urine as a source minerals in their diet. A combination of all the above led to Bark Ranger Gracie’s training to become a deterrent for wildlife, and to be used as a tool for wildlife safety education. Gracie’s Days Off When Gracie’s not working up at Logan Pass, she’s at home curled up on the back deck or in the backyard. Sometimes Ranger Mark’s cat Bob and Gracie hang out, but it’s more of a frenemy relationship. On occasion, Bob chases Gracie around the house. Mark finds it a bit funny to see a 12 lb cat chasing a 45 lb border collie around the house! How To Measure Gracie’s Effectiveness? What metrics can the park use to measure success? For every hazing event, with or without Gracie, Glacier gathers a number of statistics: The number of animals near the road. How far away from the road they are before hazing? Did they move after hazing? How long they stay away after the event? As of right now, the park does not have enough data to scientifically state if Gracie is more effective than other methods. And while Ranger Mark doesn’t have scientific data, the amount of work he puts into wildlife education is worthwhile. It’s bigger than anything he ever imagined it could become. Gracie is an international celebrity. Earlier this year, international tour coordinators met in Kalispell just outside of Glacier, and they all wanted to meet the Bark Ranger. Mark brought her to the conference and she met coordinators from Italy, France, Germany and 15 other countries. Changing The Mindset Around Wildlife Safety It’s a big ship to turn, and to change the mindset around wildlife safety seems like a monumental task. However, the NPS was successful in the past with bear education. Until the 60s and 70s, people used to go to the dump and watch bears eat garbage and feed them in the parks. After nearly 30 years of education, the majority of people you ask today would say that’s a horrible idea. Ranger Mark hopes his work with Gracie will shift the mindset over time with all wildlife much like the bear education movement. He advises safe viewing distances are: 100 yards from bears or wolves 25 yards everything else People are often confused when wildlife approaches them about what they should do, but it’s their responsibility to move out of nature’s way. Wildlife Trading Cards Ranger Mark added another tool to the education tool box by employing a set of wildlife trading cards. Each card has a safety message on it: “Wildlife might know better, but you do”. They have a general card with the distances park visitors should maintain, as well as 9 cards with commonly habituated animals in Glacier. And, of course, one with Bark Ranger Gracie explaining the program. Mark wanted a positive way to educate on wildlife safety. In one particular incident, he found a young kid feeding potato chips to ground squirrels. Of course, he got all “rangery” and said the kid couldn’t do that. The ground squirrels bite, carry disease, and become habituated. He was about to ask where the kids parents were, only to find they were taking pictures of him feeding the wildlife. Then, the parents left nowhere to be seen with Mark unsure what to do. He thought it would be better to talk in a positive manner with visitors, rather than get angry. And, the wildlife trading cards were created with another grant from the Glacier National Park Conservancy. Now, Rangers who interact with the public in all capacities carry the cards. Law enforcement, maintenance, interpretive rangers and resource rangers can educate the public. They can hand out cards to teach people proper safety and reward those who also advocate for the safety of the animals in the park. Why Keep Wildlife Wild? We asked Mark, “Why keep wildlife wild?” Perhaps for the sake of preserving the wild state that we have in our mind of these animals. We don’t imagine them eating garbage or licking antifreeze, but Glacier has had issues with those activities. Too much antifreeze might not be good for the mountain goat, but the park hasn’t hit that tipping point quite yet. Additionally, human food causes the animals to gain bad kinds of fat which they don’t easily burn off. Wildlife along the roads may cause more animal death by vehicular collision. And of course, Ranger Mark emphasized close proximity to the wildlife is not safe for people! Animals carry diseases and parasites. Or, you could be physically injured or killed. Mark’s Connection with Gracie When Mark and Gracie work together, it’s a special connection. They work together often enough it’s to the point where Gracie knows what Mark needs before he asks. She knows when to go left before he signals or she begins work on a task before he even gives a command. Border collies are very smart breed and the connection between the two runs deep. Ranger Mark’s Love for Glacier and the NPS Glacier National Park offers so many opportunities for recreation, and he loves it there. He intends to stay in Glacier long term. He’s inspired by the scenery along the Going to the Sun Road, and how around every corner more and more amazing views are to be had. The whole park is continually awe inspiring, and he enjoys hiking in the park. To get away from your worries of the day or to be reminded of your place in the universe is valuable to Ranger Mark. To be in charge of places the American public deemed to set aside is a great feeling, and he considers himself lucky to be doing his job! Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates Glacier National Park enlists volunteers to do everything from administrative work and maintenance to backcountry patrols and river guiding. Their volunteer efforts are coordinated through the Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates organization. To find out more visit gnpva.org. Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More! We love chatting with you and would love your feedback to make this podcast even better.You can do that by: Leaving a comment on this episode’s page. Subscribing and/or reviewing Podcasts With Park Rangers on iTunes or on Android. Joining our Facebook page. Signing up for our email updates below. Checking out our Patreon page where you can get exclusive content only available to our patrons. PodcastOptin SIGN UP FOR PODCAST UPDATES As a thank you, we'll send you a National Parks Checklist so you can see what parks you still need to visit! Get Updates! Get Updates! The post Glacier NP: Wildlife Safety with the Bark Ranger – PWPR 18 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Full show notes at the publisher

Little Bighorn Battlefield NM: Examining Why We Preserve Battlefields – PWPR 17 Aug 13, 2018

Show notes

The Battle of Little Bighorn is one of the most written about and mythologized battles in US history. On this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers, we talk with Ranger Steve Adelson about Custer’s Last Stand, the evolution of the National Monument, and why we preserve battlefields. Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr17/Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/ Podcast Resources: Minuteman Missile NHS: Commanding the Missile – Episode 11 CSPAN: Ranger Steve’s Little Bighorn Ranger Talk Ranger Steve Adelson’s Author Page Discover more Podcasts with Park Rangers episodes! Topics Covered About Ranger Steve Adelson US Events Leading up to the Battle of Little Bighorn Protest by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse Living on the Little Bighorn River General Custer’s Mission Crow and Arikara Tribe Scouts The Morning of the Battle – June 25th, 1876 The Battle Begins in High Noon Heat Where does Custer go? How Do We Know What Happened Next? Sioux and Cheyenne Accounts Why Visit the Battlefield? The Evolution of Research on the Battle of Little Bighorn Changes at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Why Protect Battlefields? What Lessons Can We Learn From the Battle of Little Bighorn? Steve’s Passion for Little Bighorn National Battlefield and the NPS Volunteer.gov Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More! About Ranger Steve Adelson Ranger Steve has a deep love for history that began in childhood when his grandmother gifted him a set of Encyclopedia Britannica books. The books served as his first exposure to the story of the Battle of Little Bighorn. During both graduate school and later in life as a professor at Montana State University, he’s both studied and taught about the Battle of Little Bighorn. Now that he’s retired, Ranger Steve naturally transitioned into a seasonal Park Ranger position at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument for the past 9 seasons. US Events Leading up to the Battle of Little Bighorn The US economy tanked in 1873, which resulted in a stock market crash, massive unemployment, and people desperate for new opportunities. General George Armstrong Custer goes into the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1874 under the guise of looking for a fort site. However, they were really searching for gold. And, they found it. Gold miners and prospectors flood the Black Hills. However, this is a problem because the United States doesn’t own the land. The Treaty of 1868 awarded the land to the Sioux Tribe, which made it illegal for white people to be in the Black Hills of South Dakota. So, President Grant finds himself in a dilemma. He initially tried to stop the intrusion and he also tried to buy the Black Hills for $6 million. Since the land is sacred to the Sioux, Sitting Bull and other tribe leaders shot down the offer. Miners refused to leave the Black Hills because they were desperate for economic opportunity. Thus, the United States issued an ultimatum for the Sioux to return to their reservations by January 31st, 1876, or be considered hostile. Protest by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse In protest, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and many other Sioux leaders move into the Unceded Territory in Montana. The government allowed the Sioux to hunt in this territory, but they weren’t allowed to live there. So, Chief Sitting Bull decided since they couldn’t stay in the Black Hills, they would live in the Unceded Territory illegally rather than move to a reservation. In response, the United States sent 3 columns of the military into the Unceded Territory to force the Sioux onto the reservation or fight. Living on the Little Bighorn River Around 7,000 – 8,000 people are on the banks of the Little Bighorn River. Of those, 1,500 – 2,000 warriors inhabit the migrant village. Many notable warriors are present that day: Sitting Bull, Gall, Crazy Horse, Crow King, Rain in the Face, along with many others. The tribes are aware of the military’s search for them. However, Crazy Horse just won a battle against 1,000 soldiers 30 miles away. Spurred by confidence, they continue to camp on the banks of the river. General Custer’s Mission The government ordered the military to move the Sioux and other tribes onto reservations. However, they demonstrated over and over again, if they found the villages the inhabitants would scatter with no way of containment. They originally planned to attack during the winter when the villages were less mobile. A couple other columns of the military are in the area early, and successfully carry out the mission. However, Custer didn’t begin his mission until mid-May of 1876, and they arrived 6 weeks later on June 25, 1876. Crow and Arikara Tribe Scouts General Custer employed several Crow and Arikara scouts to help them find the tribal villages. Many wonder why would they help put other Native Americans on reservations? The reason is that both the Crow and Arikara hated the Sioux. The Sioux inhabited the Crow Tribe’s land along the Little Bighorn, and they wanted it back. But because of the Sioux’s numbers, they didn’t have the manpower unless they aligned with the US military. The Arikara constantly fought with the Sioux in the past and after many lost battles, they wanted to exact vengeance. So, they also joined the US military. As it goes, even though the Sioux go on to win this battle, they lost the war and are forced onto reservations. Today, the Crow own the land where the Battle of Little Bighorn was fought, so they accomplished their goal in the end. The Morning of the Battle – June 25th, 1876 At 4:30 AM, Custer’s men camp in the mountains surrounding the valley of the Little Bighorn River when Crow scouts see the smoke from the teepees. They’re convinced of a mass village below, and tell Custer to look for “worms in the grass”. The “worms” they speak of are the 20,000 horses accompanying the tribe encampment. Advice to Custer is divided. Some of the Crow scouts think there are too many Sioux, others think they will scatter if they attack. However, Custer gets news the Sioux and Cheyenne spotted them. So, rather than rest and take time to decide, he starts the soldiers down the mountainside for the attack at high noon. Custer found the land itself difficult to maneuver in for an attack. Many of the bluffs and ravines made it easy to hide, but not so easy to negotiate for a battle. As the day progresses, spirits are high in the Sioux camp after Crazy Horses’ win the previous week. Celebrations occurred the night before, and families gather along the river to play and work for the day. It almost seems idyllic right before the battle descends. The Battle Begins in High Noon Heat At 90 degrees, the sun beats down on the soldiers as they begin the attack at high noon. Custer separates his command: Frederick Benteen goes south to scout and Marcus Reno separates to attack the village head on because Custer believes the Sioux and Cheyenne are running. These 3 men hate each other’s guts, so you might imagine the separate commands might struggle to trust one another. Custer promises Reno he’ll have the whole outfit’s support on his charge. As Reno leads 140 men into the village, he quickly begins to realize the Sioux and Cheyenne aren’t running and he’s faced with a huge force. Reno had very little experience, and most likely panicked before he even needed backup. Reno was right though, Custer’s outfit would never return. Where does Custer go? Custer moves north onto the bluffs to see down into the valley and watches Reno advance. However, he has trouble penetrating the Cheyenne camps as he encounters quicksand along the way. Native American survivors, backed by archaeological evidence, suggest Custer then goes further north to attempt to capture fleeing women and children from the encampment. Custer employed this strategy before to his advantage during other battles with Native Americans. So, even though not a soldier from his outfit survived, this is accepted as the most likely reason he went north. How Do We Know What Happened Next? At a high level, Reno ends up retreating back to Benteen. These two will testify about the events of that day, but they’re unclear on Custer’s intentions and movements because the General never shared anything with Reno and Benteen. However, what we gather from these two is a scene of utter chaos. Sioux and Cheyenne warrior witnesses are able to piece together the day’s events on Last Stand Hill. And then in 1984, a fire at Little Bighorn Battlefield creates an opportunity for archaeologists to corroborate Native American accounts with thousands of artifacts. Using forensics and archaeology, the artifacts found on the field after the fire build a more solid picture of events than ever before. Sioux and Cheyenne Accounts With over 1500 different Native American accounts of events spanning the battlefield over a mile in size, it’s difficult to piece history together. Each warrior had his own perspective of how the battle played out. However, the way in which Custer died at the Battle of Little Bighorn is clear. After he attempts to head north, the Sioux and Cheyenne overrun his soldiers. Slowly, they are forced to retreat to Battle Ridge and dig in atop Last Stand Hill. The Sioux and Cheyenne shot their horses so Custer and his soldiers had no quick escape, and within a matter of 10-15 minutes, the whole outfit dies on the retreat or on top of the hill. Why Visit the Battlefield? Plenty of books are written about the Battle of Little Bighorn. However, it’s difficult to figure out how a battle occurs without walking the terrain. Ranger Steve describes it as trying to paint a picture into thin air without a canvas. You must have a canvas, and that’s the land. It’s easier to understand Custer’s tactics, how it fell apart, and the sheer scale of the battle when you visit the Monument. The Evolution of Research on the Battle of Little Bighorn Custer’s Last Stand is one of the most mythologized pieces of US History because we don’t know exactly what happened on Last Stand Hill. However, the way we understand the battle has changed. The fire in 1984 helped archaeologists build a better picture of the events, and more credence is lent to warrior accounts now than in the past. Racism and distrust being the major causes for why historians brushed off Sioux and Cheyenne testimony for decades up until the ‘60s. Changes at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Originally, the park unit bore the name Custer’s Battlefield National Monument, but this isn’t a story about Custer alone. In 1991, the government changed the name to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. However, the cemetery still bears Custer’s name. An Indian memorial dedicated in 2003 recognizes the Native Americans who fought in this battle and many others in a desperate attempt to hang on to their way of life. The memorial helped calm anger and resentment amongst Indian people and white people which existed at the Monument for over 100 years. Now, a new peace takes over in its place. A unique feature on the battlefield are markers for fallen soldiers. Ranger Steve emphasizes many are not exactly accurate, because they placed them 15 years after the battle. The markers show only fallen US soldiers. So, in the early ‘90s, the Park Service placed 17 markers to commemorate the Sioux and Cheyenne who also died in battle that day in places where their families believe they fell. Why Protect Battlefields? Battlefields deal with human drama, catastrophe, and loss. Is there anything more powerful in the human experience than death and sacrifice? If we can’t commemorate and honor what men fought and died for, we may risk losing who we are as a people. What Lessons Can We Learn From the Battle of Little Bighorn? We need to learn to not be so judgemental in how we look at the way other people live. The reason this happened is a clash of cultures. One culture attempted to dominate and extinguish another because they didn’t have the ability to step back and dismiss their own judgments. Steve’s Passion for Little Bighorn National Battlefield and the NPS This is a story about humanity and human suffering. Ranger Steve wants people to feel what happened and emotionally connect with the enormity of loss and suffering as the result of the conflict, and to have people know what it was like to be there that day. The National Parks are an essence of our heritage and who we are. To maintain and preserve these places provides an opportunity to understand where we’ve been and where we’re going in a democratic society. Volunteer Opportunities All of our public lands are in search of volunteers. Whether it’s with the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service or the National Park Service which includes Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, there’s probably a volunteer opportunity in your area. Find out more information by visiting Volunteer.gov Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More! We love chatting with you and would love your feedback to make this podcast even better.You can do that by: Leaving a comment on this episode’s page. Subscribing and/or reviewing Podcasts With Park Rangers on iTunes or on Android. Joining our Facebook page. Signing up for our email updates below. Checking out our Patreon page where you can get exclusive content only available to our patrons. PodcastOptin SIGN UP FOR PODCAST UPDATES As a thank you, we'll send you a National Parks Checklist so you can see what parks you still need to visit! Get Updates! Get Updates! The post Little Bighorn Battlefield NM: Examining Why We Preserve Battlefields – PWPR 17 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

Full show notes at the publisher

Mount Rushmore: Preservation of the Sculpture - Ranger Blaine Kortemeyer — **Mt Rushmore: Preservation of the Sculpture – PWPR 16** Aug 06, 2018
Show notes
How does the National Park Service keep the presidents looking pristine? In this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers we discuss Mount Rushmore preservation efforts with the Assistant Cheif of Interpretation, Blaine Kortemeyer. We learn about his unique role on the Rope Access team — a unique group of Rangers who see eye to eye with the presidents for the sake of maintenance.
Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr16/
Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/ **Podcast Resources:**

Mt Rushmore: The Story Behind An American Icon – Episode 15

NPS Website for Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore’s New Preservation Technology

Wallace Stegner

Discover more Podcasts with Park Rangers episodes!

**Topics Covered**

About Ranger Blaine Kortemeyer

The Rope Access Team and Mount Rushmore Preservation

Eye To Eye With The Presidents

Geological Flaws of Mount Rushmore

Monitoring The Sculpture

Sealing The Cracks

What’s Rope Access Work Like?

The View Atop Mount Rushmore

Vegetation on the Sculpture

Laser Scanning

Ranger Blaine’s Love For Mount Rushmore and the NPS

The Mount Rushmore Society

Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!

**About Ranger Blaine Kortemeyer**

Ranger Blaine is the Assistant Chief of Interpretation at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. He started as a seasonal ranger at various sites across the US and returned to his home in South Dakota to work at the sculpture in 2001.

He decided to become a park ranger to continue service to our country. After High School, he went into the Marine Corp, where he developed a sense of patriotism and service to his fellow citizens. So, becoming a park ranger after that seemed a logical step as he headed into college where he could continue that service today.

**The Rope Access Team and Mount Rushmore Preservation**

A team of Rangers from a variety of roles in the park work on the Rope Access Team to preserve Mount Rushmore. Everyone is required to be at least a level 2 rope access technician.

To achieve level 2, rope access technicians take a written, practical and an oral test on the intricacies of rope access work as well as compile 500 hours of experience.

**Eye To Eye With The Presidents**

Ranger Blaine describes being “eye to eye” with the presidents as both inspiring and scary. For many on his team, they don’t have a problem with the height. But, he says he’s struggled from time to time. However, once they begin work on the sculpture, a lot of the fears fade away as they focus on the task at hand.

**Geological Flaws of Mount Rushmore**

From the very beginning, Mount Rushmore had several geological flaws the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, worked around. Borglum adjusted each presidential face to ensure they used the most durable granite in the sculpture. However, those flaws still exist today.

In 1998, the NPS took several high def 2D images of the sculpture from various angles with markers placed on each face. These markers allowed them to piece together a 3D model of the sculpture on a computer to aid in Mount Rushmore preservation efforts.

The Park Service mapped out the cracks in the sculpture on the 3D model and discovered several of them intersected to form 22 individual rock blocks. Each block is numbered and begins with a letter: W for Washington, L for Lincoln and R for Roosevelt. Jefferson is not included in this system because there aren’t any flaws in the piece of granite he’s carved into that the NPS is concerned about.

**Monitoring The Sculpture**

Of all the individual rock blocks, only 4 are of major concern because they could move out of the sculpture. Fiber optic strain gauges are attached to each block to monitor any abnormal movement.

Currently, thermodynamics cause each block to move a small amount every day from the sun heating up the rock to cool down at night or from the weather. However, none of the cracks have changed in width, so everything is well with the memorial for now.

**Sealing The Cracks**

The granite itself is durable, eroding only 1 inch every 10,000 years. However, there are two kinds of cracks that concern the rope access team for Mount Rushmore preservation:

Horizontal cracks accept water and don’t dispel it well. Because of this, they seal all horizontal cracks in the sculpture.

Vertical cracks weep water, but because the water flows down to the ground, they do not seal those cracks because it could do more harm than good to trap the water in the sculpture itself.

**What’s Rope Access Work Like?**

It’s similar to climbing because some of the same equipment is used. But in general, it’s a different technique. The team is on the rope at all times, and they are always anchored to the top of the sculpture.

A high line system allows the team to shuttle equipment from either the top of the sculpture down to workers or from the ground up in a unique manner.

Ascending and descending from anchors is pretty straightforward, but it gets a bit more challenging moving laterally. Often the team will throw a rope under a president’s nose to facilitate lateral movement across each president’s face.

**The View Atop Mount Rushmore**

Visitors are not allowed on top of the memorial, so we asked Ranger Blaine what the view is like.

After ascending the canyon behind the sculpture, Rangers can easily access the top of Washington’s and Jefferson’s head. However, Lincoln and Roosevelt are a bit more difficult to access because Rangers must go through a crack to get over to those faces.

The heads are rounded out, and they can’t see the faces all that well from the top. The views of the landscape are similar to that found at the parking structure — a view across the plains of South Dakota. So, visitors get nearly the same perspective the Preservation Team has on top of the Memorial from a much safer location.

**Vegetation on the Sculpture**

Sometimes the preservation team needs to weed and pull vegetation out of the cracks of the memorial. In fact, a good crop of raspberries is found at the top of the mountain.

Lichen is an issue on the sculpture and has been since it was finished in 1941. In 2005, the rope access team power washed the sculpture in one of their first major projects.

A German company called Karcher donates a large power cleaning to a place in need every year, and in the spring of 2005, they cleaned Mount Rushmore for the very first time. They don’t anticipate needing to do so again for several decades because lichen takes a very long time to grow.

**Laser Scanning**

In 2009, CyArk laser scanned the sculpture to create a subcentimeter accurate 3D rendering of sculpture. The scan is used as an interpretive medium online, and they can map the cracks to a better degree for Mount Rushmore preservation.

Public schools in the area also worked with the NPS to create lesson plans to apply math and geometry concepts to the 3D map of the sculpture. The curriculum follows kids from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

You can see the 3D rendering on the CyArk website, and you can go to the top of the mountain as well as the Hall of Records virtually from home!

**Ranger Blaine’s Love For Mount Rushmore and the NPS**

For Blaine, Mount Rushmore is home. The power of the memorial can change people’s lives if they’re open to a broader experience of their emotions. It can make them a better human being, and that resonates with Ranger Blaine in his life.

Helping people connect to Rushmore on a meaningful level has helped him grow as a human being. Mount Rushmore can change people, just as many places in the Park Service can change people if their open and receptive to the lessons that place has to offer.

**Volunteer.gov**

All of our public lands are in search of volunteers. Whether it’s with the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service or the National Park Service which includes Mount Rushmore National Memorial, there’s probably a volunteer opportunity in your area. Find out more information by visiting Volunteer.gov

**Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!**

We love chatting with you and would love your feedback to make this podcast even better.
You can do that by:

**Leaving a comment** on this episode’s page.

**Subscribing and/or reviewing** Podcasts With Park Rangers on iTunes or on Android.

Joining our **Facebook page**.

Signing up for our **email updates** below.

Checking out our Patreon page where you can get **exclusive content** only available to our patrons.

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The post Mt Rushmore: Preservation of the Sculpture – PWPR 16 appeared first on Virtual Kamper.

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