National Parks Traveler Episode 92: Glacier Bay, Wildfires, And Rocky Mountain Conservancy

National Parks Traveler Episode 92: Glacier Bay, Wildfires, and Rocky Mountain Conservancy

This week we visit with Estee Rivera, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, to discuss the damage wildfires inflicted on Rocky Mountain National Park and the role the conservancy is taking in helping park staff rehabilitate areas impacted by the fires and interpret the intense fire season. 

And Kurt Repanshek visits with Kim Heacox, a former park ranger turned writer and photographer at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Heacox’s book, The Only Kayak, was reissued this year, 15 years after it first appeared. Heacox discusses the book and how climate change and visitors are altering Glacier Bay and other national parks in Alaska.

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:07 Bass Harbor - Nature’s Symphony - The Sounds of Acadia
1:53 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Executive Director Estee Rivera discusses wildfire impact at Rocky Mountain National Park
15:21 Big Country - Randy Petersen - The Sounds of Yellowstone
15:44 National Parks Traveler promotion
15:58 WildTribute.com promotion
16:20 Grand Teton National Park Foundation promotion
16:51 Western National Parks Association promotion
17:18 The Only Kayak author Kim Heacox discusses Glacier Bay National Park and the impact of climate change and visitation on Alaska's national parks.
34:00 Wonder Lake - Various Artists - The Spirit of Alaska
34:33 Washington’s National Park Fund promotion
35:06 North Cascades Institute promotion
35:25 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation promotion
35:49 Friends of Acadia promotion
36:18 Kurt Repanshek's conversation with Kim Heacox continues
54:49 Kenai Fjords - Various Artists - The Spirit of Alaska
55:15 Episode Closing
55:52 Orange Tree Productions promotion
56:27 Splitbeard Productions

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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 376 | ESA's Future

Since this past December here at the Traveler we’ve been bringing you a series of stories on the Endangered Species Act and the threatened and endangered species it’s intended to keep from going extinct.

For me, it’s been an eye-opening series because of what our editors and writers have learned about threatened and endangered species — from birds to trees and even to grasses — and the work being done to help them recover. It’s certainly not an easy task, and one that often takes decades before you can see progress.

May 31st, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 375 | Rethinking Public Lands Stewardship

Public lands stewardship has most definitely changed under the second presidential administration of Donald Trump. Land-management agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management have lost thousands of employees, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is on a mission to turn the country’s public lands into a cash cow of sorts.

May 24th, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 374 | Cook Inlet's Beluga Whales

A fast-track proposal to develop a gold mine near Alaska’s Cook Inlet and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is alarming scientists, environmental groups and local communities because of the devastating effects it is expected to have on the region’s critically endangered beluga whales.

May 17th, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 373 | Southern Campaign of the American Revolution

America’s 250th birthday is coming up this summer, festivities will be held all over the country, and history buffs will be delving into the various nooks and crannies of the National Park System to see where they can visit sites of Revolutionary War battles.

Don't overlook South Carolina and its three park sites that preserve Revolutionary War battlefields – Kings Mountain National Military Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, and Ninety-Six National Historic Site. 

May 10th, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 372 | Print Ain’t Dead

We’re living in somewhat tumultuous times in the print media industry. Well-familiar titles are either disappearing, shrinking drastically, or shifting over to the internet. On top of that, the advent of Artificial Intelligence has some readers wondering how much human effort and talent went into the piece they're reading.

May 3rd, 2026 Read More

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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks 

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks. 

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks 

FREE for iPhones and Android phones.