The WildeBeat

Thu, Jan 10, 2008

Reprise: Really Cool Camping, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is an introduction to snow camping. Snow camping is really cool, but it doesn't have to be cold if you know what you're doing. This is a reprise of our program number 27 of January 26, 2006.

Mike Clelland is a winter camping instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School. He's also the illustrator and co-author of Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book.

In this part, Mike talks about kitchens, cooking and nutrition, and staying warm at night. Ben Lawhon from the Leave No Trace Center gives some additional tips for low-impact snow camping.

WildeBeat members can download the entire, unedited interview with Mike Clelland from our WildeBeat Insiders web site.

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Thu, Jan 03, 2008

Reprise: Really Cool Camping, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is an introduction to snow camping. Snow camping is really cool, but it doesn't have to be cold if you know what you're doing. This is a reprise of our program number 26 of January 19, 2006.

Steve interviewed Mike Clelland, a winter camping instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School. He's also the illustrator and co-author of Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book. In this part, Mike talks about clothing, campsite selection, and shelter. Next week in part two, he'll tell you the rest you need to know to get started.

• Show number 119 [MP3 format; length 9:43; 2,335,118 bytes]
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Thu, Dec 27, 2007

Year in Gear '07

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program is a wrap-up of Backpack Gear Tests's reviews of 2007. Steve asked the volunteer editors and moderators from Backpack Gear Test to talk about their most memorable reviews. Memorable reviews might be about their favorite gear; but they might instead be about especially thorough or innovative approaches to reviewing outdoor gear. These four people responded: Thomas Vickers¹, Ralph Ditton², Rick Allnutt³, and Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd⁴.

Out of more than a thousand reviews published on BGT this year, they were impressed by these:

1. Black Diamond One Shot Tent¹
2. GoLite Odyssey Pack²
3. Trail Designs Caldera Cone Stove System²
4. AntiGravityGear Poncho Villa³
5. AntiGravityGear TarpTent³
6. MontBell UL Super Stretch Hugger 2007⁴

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You can start out by reviewing gear you already own, and then you might be able to get other free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

• Show number 118 [MP3 format; length 9:53; 2,375,013 bytes]
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Thu, Dec 20, 2007

Baking in the Sun

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is a piece of cake. Well, really it's about baking a cake, in camp, without a fire or a stove.

Steve returns to visit the kitchen of backcountry cooking author Linda Frederick Yaffe. Ms. Yaffe is the author of the books Backpack Gourmet, Solar Cooking for Home and Camp, High Trail Cookery, and The Well Organized Camper.

Our guest backpack gourmet gives us an introduction to baking a cake with a homemade solar oven. Without fuel or fire, she bakes a delicious gingerbread cake. Find out how you can make these kind of fun foods yourself on your backcountry trips. She offers to tell us about a more packable solar oven in a future program.

Ms. Yaffe mentions the non-profit organization, Solar Cookers International, which she recommends as a source for appropriate cook pots and pans. Follow the supplemental information link below to get the complete recipe and pictures of her cooker and the cake.

• Show number 117 [MP3 format; length 9:51; 2,369,058 bytes]
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Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Camping Together

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program provides some ideas on how to have a romantic camping trip. Outdoors folks have this image of being tough, and of facing risky challenges in adverse situations. But there's also a softer, warmer type of outdoor adventure.

Steve talks with Michelle Waitzman, the author of the book, Sex in a Tent: A Wild Couple's Guide to Getting Naughty in Nature. Michelle talks about how to look for an outdoorsy partner. She tells the story of author Kathleen Meyer's search for the perfect match.

How do you get a less outdoorsy sweetie into your tent? And what are some of the benefits to your relationship if you do? Michelle retells some of the stories she gathered for her book.

We had to edit out some of the interview from this G-rated version. WildeBeat members can download those portions from our WildeBeat Insiders web pages.

Michelle invites you to share your stories about romance in the wilderness on her blog, Love in a Tent. We invite you to share your wilderness love stories by calling our toll-free comment line at 866-590-7373.

• Show number 116 [MP3 format; length 9:53; 2,373,759 bytes]
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Thu, Dec 06, 2007

Vox WildeBeat for December 6, 2007

Posted at 20:45

/vox [link ]

Listener Oliver Hager, who lives in Germany, frequently visits American wilderness areas. He commented on our edition number 113, Desert Roadless Traveled. Kurt Repanshek, who contributed that story for us, responds.

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Three Three-Season Bags

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of three-season sleeping bags. Three-season bags are those that you would typically use in spring, summer, or fall.

Edward Ripley-Duggan reviews the Valandre Mirage. Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Montbell UL Alpine Burrow Bag. Andrew Buskov reviews the Big Agnes Lost Ranger.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

• Show number 115 [MP3 format; length 9:58; 2,397,276 bytes]
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Thu, Nov 29, 2007

Urban Girls Gone Wild

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is an introduction to how life-long urbanites can discover camping. What happens when you take a city girl to the woods?

Steve interviews Heather Menicucci, the author of Let's Get Primitive, The Urban Girl's Guide to Camping. Heather talks about the boyfriend who seduced her with the outdoors, how she made the transition from neurotic New Yorker to nature girl, and some of the things you need to know to get out of the concrete jungle and into the primeval forest.

What is pastoral paranoia, and how do you cure it? Heather Menicucci says that it's all in getting a dose of nature and discovering what you've been missing.

Heather invites you to share your fears about getting out of the city and into the wilderness at her blog, Let's Get Primitive. We invite you to share your story about how you got out of the city and discovered camping and nature by calling our toll-free comment line at 866-590-7373.

• Show number 114 [MP3 format; length 9:54; 2,380,451 bytes]
• Show number 114, extended version [MP3 format; length 15:15; 7,326,689 bytes]
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Fri, Nov 23, 2007

Comment on Desert Roadless Traveled

Posted at 14:39

/blog/letters [link ]

This week's program, Desert Roadless Traveled, prompted a thoughtful comment from a listener, and a response from Kurt, our guest reporter who contributed the story.

See more ...

Thu, Nov 22, 2007

Desert Roadless Traveled

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Show number 113 [MP3 format; length 9:58; 2,394,874 bytes]
• Show number 113, extended version [MP3 format; length 12:14; 5,875,538 bytes]
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Wed, Nov 21, 2007

Discussion about Ticket to Half Dome

Posted at 16:08

/blog/wild_places [link ]

The National Parks Traveler web magazine has been hosting an interesting discussion thread about the topic of this week's edition of our show, Ticket to Half Dome.

The discussion ranges from calls for drastic changes in park management, to expressions of satisfaction with the status quo.

We encourage you to provide us audio comments about our shows. Just pick up your phone and record your thoughts by calling our toll-free comment line at 866-590-7373. We'll post any comments you provide on our companion podcast, Vox WildeBeat.

Thu, Nov 15, 2007

Ticket to Half Dome

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

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

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

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

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

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

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Thu, Nov 08, 2007

Reprise: Indoor Snow Camping

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program presents a way to try snow-camping without actually sleeping on the snow, but rather in a rustic backcountry ski hut. This is a reprise of our program number 69 of December 14, 2006.

Steve starts out at a volunteer maintenance work-party at the Sierra Club's Bradley Hut in the Tahoe National Forest. We hear from Dick Simpson, the volunteer coordinator for the four huts in the Sierra Club's system.

Steve then talks to Howard Weamer, the Hut Master of the Ostrander Lake Hut in Yosemite National Park. He wraps up by talking to Ben Dodge, the Executive Director of the Tenth Mountain Division Hut Association in Colorado. Ben mentions Vance's Cabin as being a typical hut in the system.

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Tue, Nov 06, 2007

Support us by buying new gear

Posted at 13:45

/blog/sponsors [link ]

iGearList is free classified ad directory web site focused on outdoor gear. You can buy, sell, or trade used outdoor gear and equipment by placing an ad in their listings.

iGearList also offers a gateway to a number of online retailers of new gear. Between now and the end of February, iGearList will donate 100% of their referral commissions from new gear sales to the WildeBeat.

Just browse to their new gear page, and click on any of the retailer banners or buttons, or use any trip planner you see on iGearList, and buy what you need.

The proceeds go to support the WildeBeat's educational mission to help more people to discover our wild public lands.

Thu, Nov 01, 2007

Creatures of the Night, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is part 2 of a look at how to appreciate bats in the wild. (Part one is here.)

We hear from Curt Black, a technical advisor for the nonprofit group, Bats Northwest. We join Curt on one of his evening bat walks, recorded in Seattle's Green Lake Park, on August 11th, 2007. Curt demonstrates the electronic equipment he uses to listen to the ultrasonic echolocation calls that bats produce. He identifies the call of a silver-haired bat. Afterwards, he talks about how we can watch and listen to bats on our own wilderness adventures.

Curt indicated that the level of environmental threats to bats are unknown. We don't know enough about them to know whether they are endangered. We do know that forestry practices and pesticide use is adversely affecting their populations. You can find more information on the web site of the Bat Conservation International organization.

WildeBeat members can download a bonus recording of an entire evening bat walk from the WildeBeat Insider web site.

• Show number 110 [MP3 format; length 9:57; 2,391,327 bytes]
• Combined show numbers 109 & 110, high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 18:25; 17,695,627 bytes]
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• Show numbers 109 & 110 combined script

Thu, Oct 25, 2007

Creatures of the Night, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is part one of a Halloween look at how to appreciate those mysterious flying, furry mammals that dominate the night sky. What do we really know about them, and how can we learn more about them?

Steve talks with Curt Black from Seattle, an expert on certain mammals of the order Chiroptera, who tells us why they're fascinating. Curt dispels some common myths that often cause people to fear them.

We also hear briefly from Dave Smith, an expert on safety around animals such as bears and cougars, who we interviewed in our show number 80, Fighting Animal Terror. Dave has his own reaction to these nocturnal creatures.

How can you go bat-watching? What's the best way to watch bats in your own favorite wilderness? Find out next week, in part two.

• Show number 109 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,390,801 bytes]
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Thu, Oct 18, 2007

Inner-City Outings, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program takes us on a campout with the Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings (ICO) section. This is part two of a follow up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users. (Part one is here.)

Steve visits a campout led by the ICO at the Arroyo Seco Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. We hear from:

• Gabriella, a campout participant and four-year veteran of ICO outings
• Debra Asher, the national administrator of the Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings
• Larry Volpe, a fifth-grade teacher and ICO leader
• Graciella, a campout participant
• Francesca, Graciella's mother

The Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings program continues to expand, entirely due to the energy of it's volunteers. But there are always more schools and youth organizations that would like to add outdoor outings to their programs. To find out more about volunteering as a leader, see their Get Involved page. To find existing groups that might be able to organize outings for your school or youth group, see their Local Contacts page.

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• Photo album

Thu, Oct 11, 2007

Inner-City Outings, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/outings [link ]

This outings program takes us on a campout with the Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings (ICO) section. This part one of two is a follow up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users.

Steve visits a campout led by the ICO at the Arroyo Seco Campground in the Los Padres National Forest. We hear from:

• Gabriella, a campout participant and four-year veteran of ICO outings
• Larry Volpe, a fifth-grade teacher and ICO leader
• Sergio, a campout participant
• Graciella, a campout participant
• Debra Asher, the national administrator of the Sierra Club's Inner-City Outings

So what do the kids think of the Inner-City Outings program? How does it affect them and their parents? What's it like to be an ICO outing leader, and how can you become one? Find out next week, in part two.

• Show number 107 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,390,801 bytes]
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Thu, Oct 04, 2007

Bags for the Cold

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of winter sleeping bags. Winter camping is cool. But it isn't cold if you have a warm sleeping bag to crawl into.

Michael Wheiler reviews the Sierra Designs Cirque. Jennifer Koles reviews the Sierra Designs Electra. Andy Henrichs reviews the Sierra Designs Echo.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test (BGT), read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide more gear than the volunteers at BGT can keep up with. By becoming a tester, you can help your fellow wilderness travelers find out what gear will work for them.

• Show number 106 [MP3 format; length 9:58; 2,395,285 bytes]
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Fri, Sep 28, 2007

More on Ranger Laurel Boyers

Posted at 10:55

/blog/wild_places [link ]

Among the ways in which Yosemite Ranger Laurel Boyers has been an inspiration to people, she's the role model for the protagonist in a series of spy novels. This week's edition of our show is a tribute to Ranger Boyers.

We asked our friend Tom Mangan, newspaper hiking columnist and author of the Two Heel Drive hiking blog, to look into any interesting history about Ranger Boyers' career.

Thanks Tom!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. (Details)