The WildeBeat

Thu, Jun 29, 2006

Keeping Bears Hungry

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is a look at the arms race between campers and bears in Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. How should you protect your food from bears?

We include excerpts from interviews with Tori Seher, the wildlife biologist in charge of human/bear management at Yosemite National Park, and Laurel Boyers, the Wilderness Manager at Yosemite. They talk about the history of keeping bears from camper's food in the Sierra Nevada, and the destructive effect that human food has on Yosemite's bears. They also give advice on dealing with bear encounters.

You can find out more about bears in the Sierra Nevada and the site SierraWildBear.GOV, which is jointly operated by the park service and the forest service.

The interviews with Tori Seher and Laurel Boyers were recorded for a future show we're still working on. But we thought it would be a good time of the year to remind you to be bear-aware right now. We're taking a travel break, and the next show will be in at least two weeks from now.

• Show number 48 [MP3 format; length 9:57; 2,389,914 bytes]
• Show number 48 script
• Show number 48, extended version [MP3 format; length 11:02; 5,298,177 bytes]

Thu, Jun 22, 2006

Kid's Nature, part 2

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is part two of a piece on kids in nature and wilderness. Specifically, why they need it and how to get them into it.

Steve continues an interview with Scott Graham, author of the book, Extreme Kids, How to Connect with Your Children Through Today's Extreme (and Not So Extreme) Outdoor Sports. Scott talks about how parents can get their kids into the wilderness.

Richard Louv, author of the book, Last Child in the Woods, Saving our children from nature deficit disorder, gets in the last word on why this matters.

See below for a bonus clip from the Scott Graham interview. Scott tells the story of a particularly exciting outing with his kids.

• Show number 47 [MP3 format; length 9:46; 2,356,059 bytes]
• Show number 47 script
• Scott Graham bonus clip [MP3 format; length 7:57; 955,830 bytes]

Thu, Jun 15, 2006

Kid's Nature, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/skills [link ]

This skills program is part one of a piece on kids in nature and wilderness. Specifically, why they need it and how to get them into it.

We hear comments by Richard Louv, author of the book, Last Child in the Woods, Saving our children from nature deficit disorder. Richard describes how today's children are being raised mostly indoors, or without contact with the wild and natural world.

Steve begins an interview with Scott Graham, author of the book, Extreme Kids, How to Connect with Your Children Through Today's Extreme (and Not So Extreme) Outdoor Sports. Scott talks about how parents can get their kids into the wilderness.

Next week, in part 2, Steve continues his interview with Scott, and we hear more from Richard Louv.

• Show number 46 [MP3 format; length 9:00; 2,160,664 bytes]
• Show number 46 script

Thu, Jun 08, 2006

Rain Pants Reviewed

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of three different rain pants models. The reviews are provided by volunteer reviewers from Backpack Gear Test.

Brian Tannehill reviews the Red Ledge Full Zip Rain Pants. Pam Wyant reviews the Big Sky Products Warm-n-Cozy Epic Pants. Kathy Waters reviews the Integral Designs eVENT Rain Pants.

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 45 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,397,960 bytes]
• Show number 45 script

Thu, Jun 01, 2006

The Orestimba Wilderness

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program explores the Orestimba Wilderness of California's Henry W. Coe State Park. This often overlooked state park wilderness is 23,000 acres, and is rarely visted.

Steve rides with backcountry ranger Cameron Bowers on a patrol trip to the wilderness. Volunteer park historian Teddy Goodrich rides along. Along the way they meet Bob Bambauer, a horse camper. They stop for lunch and to talk along Red Creek, in the heart of the wilderness area.

The Pine Ridge Association provides a lot of volunteer help to operate and maintain the park, and they maintain an excellent informational web site. Several years ago, the wilderness area was threatened by a proposal to route a high speed rail line through it.

Traveling into the Orestimba Wilderness is a challenging trip. But no where is California's inter-coastal range so well preserved and undeveloped. And you could have it all to yourself!

• Show number 44 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,399,214 bytes]
• Show number 44, extended high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 11:28; 11,017,949 bytes]
• Show number 44 script
• Photo album

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