Tom Smith, a professor of wildlife sciences at Brigham Young University and a member of the National Rifle Association, discusses how effective guns in backcountry locations are in defending against bear attacks. What he says might surprise you. This episode also looks at the Volcanic Legacy Highway that ties Lassen Volcanic National Park and Crater Lake National Park together.
By NPT Staff - July 7th, 2019
:02 Welcome to National Parks Traveler
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:48 Introduction to Thomas Smith's discussion on protecting yourself from bear attacks with guns
2:36 Thomas Smith interview
14:34 National Parks Traveler promotion
14:48 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation promotion
15:14 Yankee Freedom promotion
15:49 Thomas Smith interview continues
38:54 RVShare.com promotion
39:28 Friends of Acadia promotion
39:57 North Cascades Institute promotion
40:21 Volcanic Legacy Highway
44:32 Washington's National Park Fund promotion
45:07 Yosemite Conservancy promotion
45:43 Commentary: Close The Parks
51:07 Orange Tree Productions promotion
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There is so much rich history across the National Park System, from chapters of the Revolutionary War held in parks in the eastern half of the country to stories from the gold rush that stampeded through Alaska during the late 1890s.
This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at The National Parks Traveler. I’ve always been fascinated with history. And when you look at parks in the eastern half of the country, the reservoir is so much deeper than in the western half if only for the reason that more was written down.
Recently I read “The Wolverine Way”, by Douglas Chadwick. It’s a book from 2012 that really dives into the lives of wolverines, a small mammal with a cantankerous reputation that the US Fish and Wildlife Service late last year announced would be a threatened species. The book is a fascinating biography, if you will, of wolverines.
Did you know that there are some five and a half million acres of our National Parks that are underwater? There are sunken ships and aircraft. There are remnants of industry and mining. There are coral reefs and underwater caverns.
Summer is almost here. The upcoming Memorial Day weekend is the official kickoff to the summer travel season, and I’m happy to say that the National Parks Traveler will be continuing to bring you news about the parks and how you can enjoy them.
As much as Editor-in-Chief Kurt Repanshek was looking forward to retiring, listener and reader support has enabled the news organization to continue on with its editorially independent coverage of National Parks and protected areas.
With the summer vacation season not too far off, no doubt many National Park Service Superintendents are trying to figure out how to manage the crowds and avoid impacts to natural resources in the park system.
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The Essential RVing Guide
The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.
This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.
You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.
So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.
Comments
Great podcast, it not only addresses guns and bears but includes a lot of information on keeping yourself safe in a backcountry bear encounter. I had not been a big podcast fan but after listening to this one I have gone back and listened to several others from Nat Parks Traveler. Keep up the good work.