Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

39 Mailbag!

It’s time for our monthly mailbag episode again, where we answer questions about national parks and other public lands, as well as gear, camping and a broad range of travel-related topics.

Some of the questions/topics we discuss in this episode:

  • What NPS sites turned out to be more than we expected
  • Whether or not you need a campsite reservation in Olympic NP in the summer
  • Have we been recognized by fans during our travels
  • In which parks did the cost to get there outweigh the experience
  • How many days does it take to see Congaree NP
  • What are some ways to visit the ocean parks
  • What has been our most difficult day hike

These questions and more on this episode of Mailbag!

Links to more information:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posted on

38 The Ten Essentials

What’s in your backpack? To prevent emergencies from happening while you’re hiking, and to deal with any that might arise, it’s important to include items from the Ten Essentials list. The National Park Service encourages all hikers to know what the Ten Essentials are, and to carry some version of them in their backpack. In this episode, we’ll discuss each of the ten categories, and give suggestions about what we like to carry with us on day hikes. 

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode include:

  • What forms of navigation you could bring in addition to a paper map
  • What first aid items we’ve used the most
  • What a ferro rod is and why you should practice using it
  • Why you should carry duct tape
  • What the 3-in-1 tool is that Karen never leaves home without
  • Why we always pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
  • What are some ways to sterilize water along a trail
  • What items we pack that are not on the Ten Essentials list
  • What is Karen’s 11th Essential

Links to more information:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posted on

37 Above the Arctic Circle

Alaska’s eight national parks contain some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the NPS system, but two of them, Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley, consist of nothing but millions of acres of wilderness. There are no roads, no trails, no campsites and no services of any kind. In this episode we talk about our adventure to these two remote parks, the last parks on our original national park journey. Join us as we travel to these places that few visitors ever see, above the Arctic Circle. 

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode include:

  • Where these parks are located
  • What the options are for tourists who want to visit them
  • Why we saved these two parks for last
  • Where we stayed and what it was like
  • How it felt to climb into a small plane again
  • What our park visits entailed
  • Why Matt tipped our pilot extra
  • Who we met that had a big impact on us
  • How much this trip cost

Links to more information:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posted on

36 Dead Horse Point State Park

One of the most beautiful state parks in the country, Utah’s Dead Horse Point State Park, offers jaw-dropping views and incredible hiking trails. You can also rent one of nine yurts for a camping experience that combines the fun of tent camping with some of the luxuries of a hotel room. In this episode, we’re coming to you from inside one of those yurts, and we’ll discuss what it was like spending the night here, plus everything you’d want to know about the park and our experience driving the nearby, infamous Shafer Trail.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode include:

  • What is the Shafer Trail and what kind of a vehicle do you need to drive it
  • Why we had to race to the top of Canyonlands to find a park ranger
  • How Dead Horse Point got its name
  • What are the yurts like on the inside
  • Why Karen thinks the parking lot bathrooms by the yurts would be a nice place to spend the night
  • Why Dead Horse Point is known for its sunrises and sunsets
  • What the campgrounds are like at Dead Horse Point

Links to more information:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posted on

35 Mailbag!

It’s time for our monthly mailbag episode again, where we answer questions about national parks and other public lands, gear, camping and a broad range of travel-related topics.

Some of the questions/topics we discuss in this episode:

  • Is it a good idea to visit all four Colorado national parks in one trip?
  • What happens after you spray a bear with bear spray?
  • What kind of shoes are best to hike in for water crossings? 
  • What are some good parks to visit if you only have a long weekend?
  • Where are the best places in the Southwest to stargaze?

These questions and more on this episode of Mailbag!

Links to more information:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posted on

34 New Mexico Land of Enchantment

New Mexico has so many natural and historical wonders you’ll have to visit several times to see them all. But if you have a free week, might we suggest that you start in Albuquerque and make a big loop the way we did a few years back. Whether you do this trip yourself or simply join us on this episode as we recount our experiences, you’ll agree that Land of Enchantment is a fitting nickname for New Mexico.

Some of the sites we discuss in this episode include:

  • Bandelier National Monument – could this be our next national park?
  • Santa Fe – why this is such a magical place
  • Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument – a must-see natural wonder
  • White Sands National Park (was a National Monument when we visited it) – why this site is no longer a premier spring break destination for college kids
  • Smokey Museum and Historical Park – what is it exactly that makes Karen want to hold Smokey’s hand
  • Carlsbad Caverns – we can’t talk about New Mexico without mentioning its most famous cave system
  • Albuquerque – in search of The Chicken Brothers and the Walter White residence
  • Petroglyphs National Monument – you can walk your dog and see thousands of examples of ancient rock art at the same time

Links to more information:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices