Author: Matt

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17 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

It was a close call for sure. Had the government not stepped in to protect the land that today makes up these magnificent parks, the Giant Sequoias may have been lost forever. These amazing trees are a natural wonder everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. And the trees in the parks are not the only natural wonder. As John Muir observed over 100 years ago, the valley of Kings Canyon, surrounded by its towering cliffs, is as equally breathtaking as Yosemite. Yet today, only a small fraction of the number of people who visit Yosemite make it to Kings. In this episode, we talk about our visits to these parks and what it’s like to spend a few days walking amongst giants.

Some topics we discuss include:

  • When our Photo of the Day Contest began and how Karen ended up becoming the sole judge of our travel photos
  • How we found out that Sequoia and Kings Canyon are managed as one unit
  • Matt’s filing system for all of our park literature
  • Hiking to the largest tree in the world in The Giant Forest in Sequoia NP
  • Other must-see sites close to The Giant Forest like Moro Rock and a tree you can drive through
  • Staying at the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia and what Matt tried to buy in the gift shop
  • Visiting Grant Grove in Kings Canyon NP and the 2nd-largest tree in the world
  • Camping and hiking deep in Kings Canyon
  • And in our mail bag segment, we answer a question about which is better for hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park, trekking poles or one of those long, wooden poles you rent from a local outfitter.

Links to more information:

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16 The Wave in Northern Arizona

We had all but given up on ever getting a permit to hike to one of the most sought-after sites in the American Southwest: The Wave in Northern Arizona. But in the fall of 2019, an email from a kind and generous stranger changed all of that. The adventure to this spectacular rock formation was as awe-inspiring as we’d heard it would be, and in this episode, we describe our experience at The Wave in January 2020. And if you think the excitement was over at the end of the hike, it wasn’t. The drive back to civilization on the half-frozen dirt road was an adventure all its own.

Some topics we discuss include:

  • What it’s like to participate in the walk-in lottery for permits in Kanab, UT
  • The process for applying for a permit online, and a few tips on how to increase your chances of winning
  • How to prepare for hiking to The Wave in different seasons of the year—spoiler alert: it can be dangerously warm in the summer with no shade
  • Advice on navigating the sometimes-dicey House Rock Valley Road on the 8-mile drive to the trailhead
  • What to expect if/when you finally make it to The Wave
  • And in our mail bag segment, we share some tips about how we’ve reduced the weight in our backpacks on overnight trips, including some of the gear that goes into our packs and what we leave at home.

Links to more information:

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Bonus Episode: How much it costs to visit all 62 national parks

It is by far the most frequent question we get from readers and listeners: How much did it cost you to visit all 62 national parks? This bonus episode is essentially a detailed mail bag response to this very question. While we know everyone’s expenses will be different based on where they live, where they stay in and around the parks, how they get there, and how long they spend in each park, in this episode we discuss what it cost us to visit them. We also provide some tips on how to plan a journey to all the national parks and a few ways to save money along the way.

Some topics we discuss include:

  • Brief overview on the categories of costs incurred when visiting the parks
  • How we planned our journey to all the parks
  • How much it cost us to visit all of them
  • A discussion of another couple’s accounting of their costs when visiting all of the parks (see link below)
  • Some ideas about how to group parks together into a single trip to save on travel costs
  • How we find lodging, hikes, and hidden gems along the way
  • And more!

Links to more information:

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15 Our Favorite Places in Yellowstone

Few places, if any, in the lower 48 states have remained as wild and undisturbed as Yellowstone National Park. Sure, there are roads and boardwalks throughout the park to accommodate the millions of annual visitors, but its wildlife and unique landscape remind you that this part of our great country has never been tamed. Out of all the 62 national parks that we’ve visited, there is no place like Yellowstone. Because of its size and the many points of interest, to really see and experience all the wonders of this park will require more than a visit or two, preferably in different seasons. In this episode of The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast, we discuss our favorite places to visit inside the park and share a few tips we’ve learned from our trips.

Some topics and places we discuss include:

  • A brief history of the world’s first national park
  • Why there are so many geysers in Yellowstone (That’s geysers, the things that shoot hot water into the air, not geezers.)
  • Best times to visit the park
  • A bit about the large mammals you’ll likely see
  • Our favorite places in the different areas of the park: North, Central West, Central East, and more
  • A few hiking tips and suggestions
  • And, in our mail bag segment, we discuss why we didn’t narrate our Dear Bob and Sue audiobooks

Links to more information:

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14 Outdoorsy in Vegas

Come on seven! Mama needs a new pair of shoes! Yep, you’re in the right place, this is still The Dear Bob and Sue Podcast. Except, this episode has a bit of a twist. In it we explore many of the great public lands that are within day-tripping-distance from—that’s right—Las Vegas. During our many visits to Sin City over the years, we’ve managed to take a few breaks from the general debauchery of The Strip to explore some of the magnificent outdoor attractions in the area. And there are many. So leave the sequined dress and sharkskin suit in your hotel room closet and join us as we get outdoorsy in the desert just beyond the glare of the neon signs.

Some topics and places we discuss include:

  • How and why we got started collecting National Park passport stamps
  • Red Rock Canyon – a desert beauty with towering red cliffs offers an escape for hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and even drivers who just want to cruise along the 13-mile scenic drive
  • Valley of Fire State Park – this amazing park has a little bit of everything: petroglyphs, petrified wood, amazing rock formations, a slot canyon, and even an “elephant” arch
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area – America’s first and largest national recreation area boasts two lakes and nine wilderness areas with miles of hiking trails, showcasing its spectacular scenery whether you’re on the water or on a trail 
  • Mojave National Preserve – Covering a whopping million and a half acres, this preserve has sand dunes, cinder cone volcanoes, and the world’s largest Joshua tree forest
  • And, of course, at the end of the episode we answer a question from the mail bag

Links to more information:

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13 The Great American Bison Road Trip

Who doesn’t love an end-of-summer road trip? Few activities compare to the joy of packing a duffel bag full of stuff, filling the snack bag with Cheez-Its and animal crackers, and heading down the open road with all of your cares in the rearview mirror. It’s even better when you have a theme. In this episode, we talk about a buffalo-themed road trip we took across the northern plains states to some national and state parks where we visited as many public bison herds as we could fit into two weeks. You’ll also hear about some of the trails we hiked and places we visited along the way. 

Some topics and places we discuss include:

  • Fun facts about bison (or “buffalo” if you prefer)
  • National Bison Range, Montana
  • Theodore Roosevelt National Park, N. Dakota
  • Bear Butte State Park, S. Dakota
  • Custer State Park and the Black Hills, S. Dakota
  • Badlands NP, S. Dakota
  • Devil’s Tower, Wyoming
  • Yellowstone NP
  • Grand Teton NP
  • And more

Links to more information:

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