The WildeBeat

Thu, Oct 26, 2006

The Poop on Mount Whitney, part 1

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program investigates an effect that 20,000 hikers and climbers a year have on the trail to Mount Whitney (14,498'). In order to preserve the environment and scenic beauty of that narrow, rocky canyon, the Inyo National Forest has had to take Leave No Trace a step further.

Steve walks into the Mount Whitney visitors center, and hears about the new policies that affect every hiker and climber in the Mount Whitney zone. He talks to Deputy District Ranger Margaret Wood, and Wilderness Manager Brian Spitek to find out about the history of their policy.

Next week, in part two, we'll hear more about the surprising job of forest rangers, why this new policy was established, and what the hikers on the trail have to say about it.

• Show number 62 [MP3 format; length 8:59; 2,159,201 bytes]
• Show number 62 script

Thu, Oct 19, 2006

Mount Whitney for Beginners

Posted at 09:00

/shows/wild_places [link ]

This wild places program presents some tips for climbing the highest mountain in the continental United States, Mount Whitney (14,498').

Steve tells the story with the help of:

• Scott Morrow, a hiker from San Diego, CA.
• Mike Noone, a hiker from Huntington Beach, CA.
• Todd Vogel, the Wilderness Education Coordinator for Friends of the Inyo.
• Doug Thompson, an owner of the Whitney Portal Store.
• Stephanie Schmidt, a hiker from Lee Vining, CA.
• Dean DeBennedictus, a hiker from Los Angeles, CA.

You need a wilderness permit to climb Mount Whitney. The U.S. Forest Service provides general information about the Mount Whitney area, and more detailed information about the lottery for wilderness permits.

The bonus material linked below includes an additional interview clip from Todd Vogel about planning a Mount Whitney trip.

• Show number 61 [MP3 format; length 9:59; 2,397,855 bytes]
• Show number 61, extended high-fidelity stereo [MP3 format; length 10:25; 10,003,921 bytes]
• Show number 61 script
• Bonus audio and pictures

Wed, Oct 18, 2006

Article about Marijuana Raids

Posted at 22:45

/blog/outings [link ]

In our edition #19, Restoring a Park Gone to Pot, we spent a weekend at a former marijuana plantation in California's Big Basin State Park. We reported on the volunteer effort to restore the park after the law enforcement agency had removed the growers and their crops.

A local paper, the Silicon Valley Metro, published a detailed story about what went into the law enforcement raids, titled Dark Green.

Thu, Oct 12, 2006

Taking a break this week.

Posted at 17:00

/blog/news [link ]

We realized that we forgot to include the statement in edition number 60 that we're taking a break this week. We'll post our next edition of The WildeBeat on Thursday, October 19th.

Thanks to a couple of you who asked, "where's this week's show?"

Thu, Oct 05, 2006

Lightweight Solo Shelters

Posted at 09:00

/shows/gear [link ]

This gear program presents reviews of two lightweight solo shelters. The reviews are provided by volunteer reviewers from Backpack Gear Test.

Jason Boyle reviews the TarpTent Rainbow. Andrew Buskov reviews the Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape.

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 60 [MP3 format; length 9:38; 2,313,114 bytes]
• Show number 60 script

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