The WildeBeat

]

Listen now:

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:

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.

Thu, Dec 20, 2007

Baking in the Sun

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[book cover: Solar Cooking for Home and Camp] 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.

Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Camping Together

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Michelle Waitzman and book] 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.

Thu, Dec 06, 2007

Vox WildeBeat for December 6, 2007

Posted at 20:45

/vox [link

]

Listen now:

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.

Vox WildeBeat 14 [MP3 format; length 4:22; 1,051,449 bytes]

Three Three-Season Bags

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

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.

Thu, Nov 29, 2007

Urban Girls Gone Wild

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Heather Menicucci and Let's Get Primitive] 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.

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.

Thu, Nov 22, 2007

Desert Roadless Traveled

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

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.

Wed, Nov 21, 2007

Discussion about Ticket to Half Dome

Posted at 16:08

]

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

]

Listen now:

[Cable route on Half Dome] 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.

Thu, Nov 08, 2007

Reprise: Indoor Snow Camping

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Sieera Club's Bradley Hut] 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.

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

]

Listen now:

[Curt Black with a bat] 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.

Thu, Oct 25, 2007

Creatures of the Night, part 1

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Bat over moon] 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.

Thu, Oct 18, 2007

Inner-City Outings, part 2

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[ICO Kids at Dinner] 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.

Thu, Oct 11, 2007

Inner-City Outings, part 1

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Kids at Arroyo Seco] 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.

Thu, Oct 04, 2007

Bags for the Cold

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

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.

Fri, Sep 28, 2007

More on Ranger Laurel Boyers

Posted at 10:55

]

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!

Join the WildeBeat, Get Books

Posted at 08:30

/blog/sponsors [link

]

We're delighted to welcome Wilderness Press Books as new supporters. They are sponsoring editions of the WildeBeat by providing promotional copies of their books for us to give to WildeBeat members as thank you gifts.

If you join as a full member ($48/yr.), or above, we'll thank you by sending you a copy of one of these books:

Joy of Backpacking by Brian Beffort
Wild Soundscapes by Bernie Krause
Afoot & Afield San Francisco Bay Area by David Weintraub
The Trinity Alps by Luther Linkhart & Mike White
Best Snowshoe Trails of California by Mike White

Higher levels of supporting membership will get you more of these books. A $250 donation will net you all five! Our quantities are limited, so if you want one title in particular, join soon.

Thu, Sep 27, 2007

Thanks Ranger Boyers!

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Ranger Laurel Boyers] This wild places program is a thanks and tribute to Yosemite National Park's wilderness manager, Ranger Laurel Boyers. Ranger Boyers is retiring from the park after 31 years of service on October 1st.

We hear from Mike Tollefson, the superintendent of Yosemite National Park. Mike comments on Ranger Boyers' Career. Steve interviews Laurel Boyers, who talks about her experiences in the span of her career.

We understand that Laurel Boyers and her husband, also a park service employee, will soon be taking some time to visit other national parks. We thank her for her service in the interest of preserving Yosemite's wilderness, and wish her the best in her future adventures and endeavors.

This edition was made possible by:

A Berkeley-based publisher of outdoor guidebooks and maps for California and beyond. From the peaks of Yosemite to the stairways of San Francisco, we've helped people find their way in the outdoors for over 40 years.

Thu, Sep 20, 2007

It's Soup

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[book cover: Backpack Gourmet] This skills program is a guide to cooking and dehydrating a gourmet bouillabaisse soup for your backcountry trips. A lot of people think you can't take food this good on the trail.

Steve visited 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 dehydrating our own meals from gourmet recipes and ingredients. Listen to this show, and learn how to make four servings of delicious soup fit in a small plastic bag weighing four ounces per serving.

Follow the supplemental information link, below, to get the complete recipe, and pictures of the soup.

We'll hear more from Linda Frederick Yaffe in a future program. WildeBeat members can download a longer extended version of the interview from the WildeBeat Insider web site.

Thu, Sep 13, 2007

Ranger Changes, part 2

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[NPS Ranger on Horse] This wild places program is part two of an exploration on how the job of wilderness rangers is changing. (Listen to part 1 first.) Many people who worked for parks and forests when the Wilderness Act went in effect are still working.

Last week, we started out by getting a look at the traditional skills and duties of a wilderness ranger. This week, we find out about the greatest changes affecting their jobs, and changes in the way we interact with them.

We hear from:

Gregg Fauth, Wilderness Coordinator for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Laurel Boyers, Wilderness manager for Yosemite National Park.
Don Mason, seasonal patrol ranger for the Lassen National Forest.
Steve Zachary, the education specialist for Lassen Volcanic National Park.

What do you expect from wilderness rangers? You can share your opinions with your fellow listeners anytime using our toll free comment line at 866-590-7373.

Thu, Sep 06, 2007

Ranger Changes, part 1

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Wilderness Ranger Cabin] This wild places program is part one of an exploration on how the job of wilderness rangers is changing. Many people who worked for parks and forests when the Wilderness Act went in effect are still working.

We start out by getting a look at the traditional skills and duties of a wilderness ranger. We hear from:

Gregg Fauth, Wilderness Coordinator for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Laurel Boyers, Wilderness manager for Yosemite National Park.
John Roth, Chief Ranger for Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Brian Palmentier and Michelle Minnehan, experienced hikers and climbers from San Francisco, visiting the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Office in Yosemite.

Next week, in part two, we find out about the changes in government, in environmental threats, and in the wilderness users are affecting the job of wilderness rangers.

What do you expect from wilderness rangers? You can share your opinions with your fellow listeners anytime using our toll free comment line at 866-590-7373.

Thu, Aug 30, 2007

The Next 100

Posted at 09:00

/shows [link

]

Listen now:

[The WildeBeat?] In this program we take you behind the scenes to learn about how we put together our shows. Just what goes into producing an edition of the WildeBeat?

From fixing your feet to using your head, from camping in the snow to backpacking in the desert, we've spent two years finding ways to help you get into the wilderness. The WildeBeat is a free public service to help you discover, and get the most out of America's wild public lands. And while the show is free to you, it costs us a lot to bring it to you.

With your support, we can continue to bring you our weekly features. Without it, we'll have to cut back on what we're doing -- a lot. Please join us, and give us the support we need to bring you the next hundred editions of the show.

Thu, Aug 23, 2007

Thousand Lakes

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Thousand Lakes Wilderness sign] This wild places program is part one of a visit to the Thousand Lakes Wilderness in the Lassen National Forest. This small, 25 square-mile wilderness shouldn't be judged by its size.

The Thousand Lakes Wilderness is just north of Lassen Volcanic National Park, which we explored in our edition numbers 96 & 97. While national parks are high-profile places that attract a lot of attention, nearby national forest wilderness areas are often overlooked.

Steve talks with Jan Sorochtey, the recreation officer for the Hat Creek District of the Lassen National Forest. Steve hikes to the largest lake in the wilderness, Eiler Lake, with patrol ranger Don Mason. They encounter an over-used campsite on the lake shore.

If you want to plan a trip to the Thousand Lakes Wilderness, you should start by contacting the Hat Creek Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest. Jan Sorochtey says that they don't require any permits. But take note, there is a complete campfire ban for the summer and fall of 2007.

Tue, Aug 21, 2007

More on the SPOT

Posted at 13:10

/blog/gear [link

]

In this week's edition number 99, Andy Mytys of BackpackGearTest.org described the SPOT Satellite Messenger as a potentially cost-effective alternative to the Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) that Doug Ritter of the Equipped to Survive Foundation recommended in our edition numbers 78 & 79, titled Counting Up Essentials.

The SPOT Satellite Messenger, as well as a conventional PLB, are devices that are designed to summon search and rescue services in life-threatening situations. They're proven to be more reliable in remote locations where more conventional communication techniques might be ineffective.

Andy's preliminary impressions of the product, before actually having one to test, is that it promises to provide more user-friendly features than a PLB, for less than a quarter of the price. While it's too soon to tell whether this claim is true, or too good to be true, Doug Ritter has published a more thorough analysis of this product.

If you want to know more, you can read Doug Ritter's article, First Look, SPOT Satellite Messenger.

Thu, Aug 16, 2007

Summer OR 2007

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

This gear program is an overview of some of the new gear exhibited at the 2007 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Steve intervews testers from BackpackGearTest.ORG in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Andy Mytys comments on the SPOT Satellite Messenger, new tarps by Go Lite, and new products by Sea to Summit. Jennifer Koles comments on the Magellan Triton GPS receiver and National Geographic Topo! maps. Jason Boyle comments on a new eVent® jacket by Rab, new drinks by Cliff Bar, and jackets by Mont-Bell. Andy talks about the green trend he saw in new gear this year.

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 get free gear, and help your fellow wilderness travelers evaluate what gear will work for them.

Thu, Aug 09, 2007

What's in Sierra Water?

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Giardia Lamblia] This skills program is an interview about backcountry water quality in general, and about California's Sierra Nevada in particular.

Steve interviewed Dr. Robert Derlet. Dr. Derlet is a professor of emergency medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. Dr. Derlet is also a recognized researcher and expert on the quality of backcountry water in the Sierra Nevada. His latest paper on the subject is titled, Coliform bacteria in Sierra Nevada wilderness lakes and streams: what is the impact of backpackers, pack animals, and cattle?.

In this interview, Dr. Derlet talks about how he tests water quality, what kinds of problems lurk in our water, about the various purification treatments for backcountry water, and some tips on choosing a good water source.

We'll hear more from Dr. Derlet in a future program. WildeBeat members can download a longer extended version of the interview from the WildeBeat Insider web site.

Mon, Aug 06, 2007

Welcome New Radio Listeners

Posted at 16:55

/blog/recognition [link

]

We'd like to welcome our new listeners from these public radio stations:

KTIM: 101.9FM in St. George, Utah.
Heard twice a day on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
KVMR: 89.5FM in Nevada City and 105.1FM in Truckee, California.
Heard on Tuesday afternoons between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m.

If you'd like to hear the Wildebeat on your local public, community, or college station, please let them know, and then let us know.

Thu, Aug 02, 2007

Lassen National Park, part 2

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Lassen Peak from Hat Lake] This wild places program is part one of a visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park. It's been called a little Yellowstone because of its wilderness and its volcanic features.

We hear from Steve Zachary, the park's education specialist, about some of the most interesting features of the park's wilderness areas. He mentions the Cinder Cone, the Fantastic Lava Beds, and Boiling Springs Lake.

Jean Higham, our normally silent co-writer and co-editor, provides a trip report on her four day hike in the backcountry. A map and pictures of her trip are available on the photo album link, below. Jean's hike was relatively easy, and she never got more than a few miles from the road. You don't have to get very far into the wilderness to have an extraordinary experience.

If you want to plan a trip to the backcountry of Lassen Volcanic National park, you'll, of course, want to start with this PDF map. Then you'll want to contact the park to arrange for a wilderness permit. You can apply for one in-person, by phone, or online.

Thu, Jul 26, 2007

Lassen National Park, part 1

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Lassen Volcanic National Park sign] This wild places program is part one of a visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park. It's been called a little Yellowstone because of its wilderness and its volcanic features.

Jean Higham, our normally silent co-writer and co-editor, takes off for four days of solo backpacking in the park's wilderness. Steve talks to Steve Zachary, the park's education specialist, about some of the features that attract people to the park. Of course, one of the most prominent is the peak of the volcano itself. Steve checks-in with Jean's progress on the trail by radio.

Next time, in part 2, we'll find out more about why the backcountry features are even more fantastic than the front country features of the park, and get a report on Jean's adventure.

Thu, Jul 19, 2007

Leave No Trace Revisited

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Leave No Trace logo] This skills program presents the Leave No Trace skills for minimizing our impact on wilderness areas. This is a remix of our show number 4 of July 18, 2005.

Steve encountered hikers on the trail last week in the Lassen National Forest, and tested them on their knowledge of Leave No Trace principles. Then we replay portions of our 2005 interview with Ben Lawhon, the education director of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Ben quizzes Steve on his low-impact wilderness skills.

The Leave No Trace organization offers hundreds of training classes around the country, ranging from two hour introductions to week-long master classes. They have partnerships with parks, equipment manufacturers, commercial outfitters, major media outlets, and small non-profit organizations like ours. Check the training schedule on their web site for opportunities to learn these minimum impact skills from a qualified volunteer.

Thu, Jul 12, 2007

Reprise: Keeping Bears Hungry

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Bear Foraging] 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? This is a reprise of our show number 48, first presented on June 29, 2006.

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.

Thu, Jul 05, 2007

Wool-Blend Socks

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

This gear program presents reviews of wool-blend socks. You probably don't think much about socks, until you find yourself wishing you had different ones.

Andrew Buskov reviews the Bridgedale X-Hale Socks. Pam Wyant reviews the Defeet Blaze socks. Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Defeet Classico socks. Ray Estrella reviews the Wigwam Wool/Silk Hiker socks.

Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Bay Area Wilderness Training, part 2

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

This outings program takes us on a Wilderness Leadership Training course offered by the non-profit group, Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT). This part 2 of 2 is a follow-up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users.

Steve meets a diverse group of teachers, counselors, and other youth workers on the trail just outside of Yosemite National Park. He talks to:

Roger Miller, executive director of BAWT.
Hector Nuño, a volunteer youth counselor from San Jose, California.
Judy Kuang, a youth coordinator for the Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco.

We also hear from:

Katie DeClercq, a program assistant for the Norcal Mountain Bike Racing League in
Kellie Meehan, camp director for the Presidio Community YMCA in San Francisco, California.
The entire WLT class singing.

If you're a teacher, youth counselor, or other youth development professional in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, BAWT's Wilderness Leadership Training can teach you all the skills you'll need to take at-risk and under-privileged youth out on life-affirming wilderness adventures.

You can help BAWT with their work by participating in Climbing for Kids. A program that provides you gear and gets you up a major mountain in exchange for your fund-raising assistance.

Thu, Jun 21, 2007

Bay Area Wilderness Training, part 1

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[logo for Bay Area Wilderness Training] This outings program takes us on a Wilderness Leadership Training course offered by the non-profit group, Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT). This part 1 of 2 is a follow-up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users.

Steve meets a diverse group of teachers, counselors, and other youth workers at the Cherry Lake campground just outside of Yosemite National Park. He talks to:

Roger Miller, executive director of BAWT.
Hector Nuño, a volunteer youth counselor from San Jose, California.
Judy Kuang, a youth coordinator for the Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco.
We also hear from Chelsea Griffie, program director for BAWT.

So what happens to our teachers on the trail? How does BAWT finish the process of turning them into qualified wilderness guides? We'll rejoin them in part two of Bay Area Wilderness Training.

Thu, Jun 14, 2007

Listening to Parks, part 2

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Sound Monitoring System] This wild places program explores sounds in national parks. Do you go to parks for the peace and quiet? Should you expect peace and quiet at national parks?

We hear from Kurt Fristrup, a scientist for the Natural Sounds Program of the National Park Service. He plays clips recorded by their audio measuring systems, which were placed near Sentinel Dome in Yosemite National Park. He describes the greatest sources of noise pollution in the park, and how it can adversely effect visitors and wildlife.

We hear from Dan Dugan, a technical advisor to the Nature Sounds Society, and a noted expert in nature sound recording. Dan explains how you can save some of those natural sounds for yourself, using recording equipment that's comparable in price to a typical digital camera. Dan says, "Unfortunately, quiet places are vanishing fast, and that's one good reason to go out and record before they're entirely gone."

The Nature Sounds Society offers an annual Field Recording Workshop in California. For more advice from Dan, follow the Supplemental Information link, below.

Members of the WildeBeat can download an additional bonus clip with more sounds provided by the Park Service's Natural Sounds Program, and an additional interview segment on how they do their research.

Fri, Jun 08, 2007

Tom Mangan's Hiking Column

Posted at 11:55

]

Tom Mangan is another San Jose local who's given us a lot of recognition and behind-the-scenes moral support. Tom created and writes the Two Heel Drive blog about all things hiking.

We want to offer our belated congratulations to Tom for his new job as a hiking columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. You can see the archive of his hiking columns here: www.mercurynews.com/tommangan.

Best of luck on this endeavor, Tom, and happy trails!

Thu, Jun 07, 2007

Listening to Parks, part 1

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Half Dome, NPS Logo, and audio waveform] This wild places program explores sounds in national parks. Do you go to parks for the peace and quiet? Should you expect peace and quiet at national parks?

Steve starts out in a relatively remote campground in Yosemite National Park, and discovers some noises he wasn't counting on. He interviews two campers, Maria Mustanen and Bill Garcia, about how they feel about man-made noise in parks.

Steve interviews Kurt Fristrup, a scientist for the Natural Sounds Program of the National Park Service. Kurt explains the mission of the Natural Sounds Program, and how they monitor the parks for noise pollution. He plays clips recorded by their audio measuring equipment, which they place in remote locations in the parks. Kurt mentions the park service's Night Sky Program, which we covered in our Wilderness at Night, part 1 (#13) and part 2 (#14).

So what have Kurt and his colleagues found out about noise in parks? How can you help their efforts, and collect sounds for yourself? We'll explore those questions in part two.

Thu, May 31, 2007

Out in front on the PCT

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

This wild places program presents an interview with the first of the class of 2007 through-hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to reach Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park.

Charlie Guyer and his companions Ryan Kern and Lee Neil started on their hike of the entire length of the trail on March 9th. The majority of PCT through hikers usually start later, around the end of April. These guys are far ahead of the pack, and so they have helpful news on conditions for the hikers who will come after them.

A long-distance hike like this is a major undertaking. It requires considerable planning and preparation. A lot more information about the Pacific Crest Trail, and planning for a long-distance hike, is available at the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Many long distance hikers on the trail maintain journals on the site, Trailjournals.com. (Charlie and his group are not maintaining online journals.)

Members of the WildeBeat can download an additional bonus segment, in which Charlie and his companions tell about some of their most harrowing incidents. Look for the link in our insiders newsletter.

Thu, May 24, 2007

Using All Fours, part 2

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

This skills program is part 2 of our look at the science and skills, myths and fact around trekking poles. Is hiking with poles a trendy gimmick, or a valuable skill?

Julianne Abendroth-Smith talks about the results of research into the effects on the body of hiking with trekking poles. She's a biomechanics professor at Willamette University in Salem Oregon.

We hear from Jayah Faye Paley, an author and educator, and co-host of an educational DVD, POLES for Hiking, Trekking & Walking. Jayah's web site, Adventure Buddies, provides more information about her educational products and services. Jayah describes basic skills for using trekking poles.

Trekking poles can have a destructive effect on the trails that shoes alone don't have. Ben Lawhon, the education director of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, talks about those effects.

Members of the WildeBeat can download an additional bonus segment, featuring Jayah Faye Paley in a beginner's tutorial about proper pole use. Look for the link in our insiders newsletter.

Thu, May 17, 2007

Using All Fours, part 1

Posted at 17:00

]

Listen now:

[Pole Hiker's silhouette] This skills program is part 1 of our look at the science and skills, myths and fact around trekking poles. Is hiking with poles a trendy gimmick, or a valuable skill?

Steve talks to Julianne Abendroth-Smith of Willamette University in Salem Oregon. She's a biomechanics professor studying the physics of hiking, and how hiking with various poles and walking sticks affect the body.

Steve talks to Jayah Faye Paley, an author and educator, and co-host of an educational DVD, POLES for Hiking, Trekking & Walking. Jayah's web site, Adventure Buddies, provides more information about her educational products and services.

We'll hear more from Julianne Abrendroth-Smith and Jayah Faye Paley in part two. We'll find out Jayah's techniques for using poles, and about what science says about those techniques.

Thu, May 10, 2007

Orestimba Wilderness Updated

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

[Red Creek in the Orestimba] This wild places program revisits the Orestimba Wilderness of California's Henry W. Coe State Park. It's an amazingly remote wilderness surprisingly close to the San Francisco Bay Area. A new entrance to the park will make this remote wilderness more easily accessible.

Steve rode with backcountry ranger Cameron Bowers on a patrol trip to the wilderness. Volunteer park historian Teddy Goodrich came along. They stopped 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 a comprehensive 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!

This is an update of our edition number 44 of June 1st, 2006. At the time of our original story, the Ortestimba Wilderness was indeed difficult to get to. But as of next week, a new entrance will provide a trailhead much closer to the edge of the wilderness. Steve talks to C. L. Price, a sector superintendent for the California State Parks responsible Henry Coe State Park. He explains the new entrance that opens up on May 19th.

Thu, May 03, 2007

Sheep Watering Holes

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

This wild places program looks at a proposal to provide artificial water sources for California desert bighorn sheep. Are we going to have to ruin a wilderness to save them?

We hear from Steve Tabor, who taught us desert backpacking skills in edition 34, and helped introduce us to the Sheephole valley Wilderness in edition 81. Steve mentions a plan to build roads and dams in the Sheephole Valley Wilderness to provide water for desert bighorn sheep.

Dan Abbe, a wilderness specialist from the Needles office of the Bureau of Land Management, explains these artificial watering holes for the sheep, which are called big game guzzlers.

Brent Schoradt, the deputy policy director for the California Wilderness Coalition, explains why he thinks this plan is a bad idea.

What do you think? Will it ruin this wilderness to save the sheep? We'd love to hear your comments.

Tue, May 01, 2007

Vox WildeBeat for May 1, 2007

Posted at 14:20

/vox [link

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Listen now:

Amy Racina called to tell the story of her first mountain lion sighting in the wild. Amy also appeared our edition numbers 78 and 79, Counting Up Essentials. We hear a clip from our edition number 80, Fighting Animal Terror, about safety around mountain lions, and Steve relates his first experience with a mountain lion.

Vox WildeBeat 13 [MP3 format; length 7:51; 1,886,796 bytes]

Sun, Apr 29, 2007

Our New Nonprofit Status

Posted at 12:00

/blog/news [link

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The WildeBeat Adopted as a Project of Earth Island Institute

Read about it in this press release.

Earth Island Institute (a nonprofit incubator of environmental organizations) has adopted the WildeBeat as one of its projects, providing us the opportunity to support our efforts through tax-deductible donations and corporate underwriting, as well as foundation and government grants. This new relationship gives us a nonprofit structure that allows us to keep doing what we have been, and more.

We're excited about the future under this new organization. We hope to expand out efforts to produce more shows and make them available to a wider audience.

On our new support page, you'll find a link to a membership form where you can make a tax-deductible donation to support production of future programs. We'll be looking for ways to make that membership even more valuable to you. You might also notice that the Google Ads have been removed from the web site — they're not compatible with our nonprofit status.

Thank you for listening and participating, and for your continued interest.

— Steve Sergeant

Thu, Apr 05, 2007

Base-Layer Shirts

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

This gear program presents reviews of three base-layer shirts. A lot of us don't give much consideration to those layers we wear closest to our skin.

Kevin Hollingsworth reviews the Drimove L/S Top by Go Lite. Coy Starnes reviews the Outdoor Research Men's Sequence LS Tee. Kathy Waters reviews the women's version of OR's Sequence shirt, the Outdoor Research Women's Essence LS Tee.

If you're interested in reviewing for Backpack Gear Test, read: How to become a tester. Manufacturers provide too much gear for the reviewers they have.

Steve announced that we need to take a break to make some changes in what we're doing. Please watch our web page for updates.

Thu, Mar 29, 2007

Reprise: Mountain Rescuers

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

[Mountain Rescuers] This outings program joins a training exercise of the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit (BAMRU). The rescuers practice their winter alpine rescue skills in the Carson Pass area, just south of Lake Tahoe, California.

Most search and rescue teams in the U.S. are all-volunteer. BAMRU is just one example. To find out about the mountain rescue teams near you, you can look at the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA).

This is a reprise of our edition #32 of March 9, 2006. We followed it with a companion edition #33, Wilderness Rescuing, where talked more to John Chang of BAMRU and Tim Kovacs of MRA about how you can get involved and volunteer for mountain and wilderness rescue teams.

Thu, Mar 22, 2007

Sheephole Valley Wilderness

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

[Sheephole Valley panorama] This wild places program profiles the Sheephole Valley Wilderness in the Mojave Desert. This may be the largest waterless wilderness in the 48 states.

We hear from Steve Tabor, the president of the Berkeley, California based outings group, the Desert Survivors. Steve Tabor has extensive experience in the Sheephole Valley Wilderness, and may be one of the first in recorded history to cross it, unsupported, on foot. Dan Abbe, the Wilderness Specialist for the Needles Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management provides the official perspective on the area.

If you're considering visiting a desert wilderness, there are some things you should know. Steve Tabor got us started in our edition #34, Desert Backpacking Tips. Steve Sergeant visited the Sheephole Valley with the Desert Survivors last year, and produced our editions #35 & #36, Surviving the Desert, as a report on that trip.

Tue, Mar 20, 2007

The Best Wilderness At Night

Posted at 15:25

]

In our editions 13 & 14, titled The Wilderness at Night, we talked about the value of dark skies, and the detrimental effects that artificial night lighting can have on natural ecosystems. We interviewed Chad Moore, a physical scientist with the National Park Service, and Program Manager of their Night Sky Research Program. In that interview, Chad Moore said that the darkest skies in the National Park System are at Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah.

According to our friend Jeremy Sullivan, editor of the Park Remark site:

Natural Bridges National Monument, in the southeast corner of Utah, has been named the world's first ever International Dark-Sky Park, as designated by the International Dark-Sky Association.

You can read the rest of Natural Bridges is World's First Dark-Sky Park at Park Remark.

We'd like to congratulate Chad Moore and the rest of the NPS Night Sky Research Team for this well deserved recognition of their work.

Thu, Mar 15, 2007

Fighting Animal Terror

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

This skills program looks at how to handle potentially dangerous animals in the wilderness. How afraid of them do you really need to be? Is this something that should prevent you from getting into the wilderness?

Steve interviews Dave Smith, a former backcountry caretaker at Yellowstone National Park, and the author of two books, Don't Get Eaten, The Dangers of Animals that Charge or Attack, and Backcountry Bear Basics, the Definitive Guide to Avoiding Unpleasant Encounters. Dave talks about ways to handle bear, cougar, and large herd-animal encounters.

Two great sources of information about bears are the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group, and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. Also, check out our earlier edition titled Keeping Bears Hungry.

Thu, Mar 08, 2007

Counting Up Essentials, part 2

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Equipped To Survive/Angels in the Wilderness] This skills program is the second half of a look at the ten essentials. Are there ten, and why are they essentials?

Since it's mysterious introduction by the Mountaineers early in the twentieth century, the 10 Essentials have been the list that everyone should know, and few could recite with certainty. In this edition, Doug Ritter, the executive director of the Equipped To Survive Foundation, and Amy Racina, author of the book Angels in the Wilderness, compare notes on some of their ideas of the 10 essentials. Amy finishes her story about her rescue from a life-threatening emergency in a remote location of Kings Canyon National Park. Doug completes his list of the Ten Essentials.

There's additonal information about the ten essentials, and a bonus audio clip, under the To find out more... link, below.

Thu, Mar 01, 2007

Counting Up Essentials, part 1

Posted at 09:00

]

Listen now:

[Steve's 10 Essentials] This skills program is the first half of a look at the ten essentials. Are there ten, and why are they essentials?

Next week, in part two, we'll finish Doug's list, and you'll find out what happened to Amy.

Mon, Feb 26, 2007

Vox WildeBeat for February 26, 2007

Posted at 14:40

/vox [link

]

Listen now:

While we were away snow camping in our first good Sierra Nevada blizzard of the year, Jeremy Sullivan, editor of the Park Remark site, called in with some comments. His comments were in reference to the interview of Steve by Bob Cartright of the U.K.-based Backpacking Light podcast.

Vox WildeBeat 12 [MP3 format; length 4:40; 1,122,244 bytes]

Thu, Feb 22, 2007

Yosemite Snow Vox Pop

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

[WildeBeat Vox Pop] This outings program is a Vox Pop where we ask: Are snow campers and winter wilderness visitors super-human?

Steve recorded the candid thoughts of several skiers, snowshoe hikers, and snow campers at Summit Meadow along the Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park. Summit Meadow is about a mile from the Badger Pass downhill ski area, a popular trailhead for winter access to the Yosemite backcountry.

First, we hear from Howard Weamer, the Hut Master for Yosemite Park's backcountry ski hut at Ostrander Lake (who we heard from in edition 72), about the history of cross country skiing in Yosemite. Then we hear the intermingled comments of Kevin Schwartz, Tazuo Han, Ken Branson, Karina Schwag, Rich Rasmussen, Chris Gorton, and Chris Clay.

At the end, Steve invites listeners to contribute their comments to Vox WildeBeat, our companion podcast of community conversation.

Wed, Feb 21, 2007

Steve Interviewed by Bob Cartright

Posted at 21:55

/blog/recognition [link

]

Steve was interviewed a couple of weeks ago by Bob Cartright of BackpackingLight.CO.UK. Bob produces a podcast about backpacking in the U.K. and Europe. Bob did this as part of a series of shows interviewing other podcasters who focus on outdoor recreation topics.

Here's a link to the Backpackinglight.CO.Uk podcasts. Here's a link directly to the audio:

Interview with the man behind Wildebeat [MP3 format; length 40:06; 19,993,258 bytes]

Thu, Feb 15, 2007

WildLink Program

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

[WildLink Program] This outings program is a visit to the WildLink program, a partnership between the Yosemite Institute and the Sierra Nevada Wilderness Education Project. This is the first follow-up to our original program on ethnic diversity among wilderness users.

WildLink is a program to expose teens from low-income, ethnically-diverse families to a wilderness experience. Nina Roberts, Ph.D, assistant professor at San Francisco State University, explains why a program like WildLink is necessary.

Steve visited one of WildLink's family weekends in November of 2005. He goes on a day hike to the Tuolumne Grove of giant sequoia trees, and talks to:

Mandy Vance, the director of the WildLink program.
Lawrence, a WildLink student from Sanger, CA.
Lawrence's mother.
Lawrence's sister, Christella.
Jonathon, a WildLink student from Traver, CA.

In the bonus interview segment, linked below, Mandy Vance talks about the origin of WildLink, why she thinks minorities are under-represented in the wilderness, and her thoughts on how others can help her efforts.

Thu, Feb 08, 2007

Winter OR 2007

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

This gear program is a report on the Winter 2007 Outdoor Retailer's Expo. When the outdoor industry gathers, it's a major expedition for the folks at Backpack Gear Test; but it isn't all about the toys.

Jason Boyle¹, Raymond Estrella², and Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd³ report on the most interesting gear they hope to test for BackpackGearTest.ORG. They comment on products by: GoLite¹, Snow Peak¹, MSR¹, Primus¹, Fox River¹, Injinji¹, Sierra Designs², Osprey Packs², Blue Desert³, MontBell³, and Go Pro³.

Backpack Gear Test has more gear to review than reviewers. You might be able to get free gear to review. Read: How to become a tester.

As a wrap-up, we invited Kurt Repanshek to comment on a larger issue facing the outdoor industry. His commentary includes a statement by Peter Metcalf, president of Black Diamond Equipment. More of Kurt's commentary is available on his web site, National Parks Traveler.

Thu, Feb 01, 2007

Reprise: Staying On Top of the Snow

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

[Avalanche photo by Brad White, courtesy of avalanche.org] This skills program is a reprise of our February 2nd, 2006 introduction to avalanche safety.

Gary Bard, an avalanche safety instructor for Mountain Adventure Seminars, talks about easy ways to stay out of avalanches, and describes a rescue. Brandon Schwartz of the Sierra Avalanche Center talks about avalanche forecasting and the Snow Condition Report. Tom Murphy, of the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), talks about avalanche safety education.

There's a lot of additonal information about avalanche-related organizations, and avalanche safety, under the To find out more... link, below.

Mon, Jan 29, 2007

Vox WildeBeat for January 29, 2007

Posted at 17:00

/vox [link

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Listen now:

In this week's edition of The WildeBeat, number seventy three, we presented a fourteen month old interview with Nina Roberts, Ph.D., of San Francisco State University. After listening to the show, she called to update her answers to a couple of Steve's questions, based on more timely information.

Vox WildeBeat 11 [MP3 format; length 4:09; 998,110 bytes]

Thu, Jan 25, 2007

Race in the Backcountry

Posted at 09:00

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Listen now:

[Doctor Nina Roberts] This wild places program asks why ethnic minorities are even more in the minority in wilderness recreation areas.

Steve interviewed Nina Roberts, Ph.D., in November 2005. Dr. Roberts is an assistant professor at San Francisco State University in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. An expert on the demographics of National Park visitation, she previously worked for the National Park Service as an education and outreach specialist.

The National Park Service has this web page on diversity issues and resources that Dr. Roberts originally developed while working with the NPS. She also conducted a major study of diversity issues in Rocky Mountain National Park, published in 2004.

Update: (1/29/2007) Listen to Vox WildeBeat number 11 for some updated information provided by Dr. Roberts.

Thu, Jan 18, 2007

History of Backcountry Skiing

Posted at 09:00