Podcasts about kenai fjords

Explore Alaska's magnificent Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks by land and sea on today's exciting adventure!   We hike iconic Alaska trails to get stunning views of the rugged landscape loaded with wildlife and glaciers.  We kayak to watch brown bears feeding on salmon while bald eagles soar above.  We float raft down the river to spot yet more wildlife.  And we take a jeep safari through Denali where we get the opportunity to see even more wildlife on this unforgettable active holiday. COMPLETE SHOW NOTES  See important links for planning your adventure, photos and more cool info about today's show. Get FREE Travel Planners for ATA adventures (and each month you will get an email from Kit with links to all future Travel Planners (no spam promise!).  Get the monthly newsletter here. CONTACT KIT Resources  RECOMMENDED TOUR COMPANIES ******* EMAIL ME FOR PROMO DISCOUNT CODES***** Travel Insurance:  Quickly and easily compare rates and policies from different companies - no need to give any identifying information unless you decide to buy!  The best way to find the right policy for your adventures.  Train For Your Adventure  Ask Becki at Trailblazer Wellness to customize an at home, online personal training program for your upcoming adventure using whatever equipment you already have!  You'll get phone consultations, instruction videos and a plan to give you the best chance of success.  Becki offers a FREE initial phone consultation to see if you are a good fit.  AND she offers ATA listeners a 10% discount! Buy Me a Beer Want to support the program?  You can always buy me a coffee or beer - thanks! Amazon Kit's Picks   Please use my Amazon link to access your Amazon account.  Even if you don't purchase any of my recommendations, I get credit for anything you DO purchase - at no additional cost to you, you'll be helping to support the show and keeping it AD FREE:) SUBSCRIBE to the Adventure Travel Show (the “How to's of adventure travel) SUBSCRIBE to Active Travel Adventures (fantastic adventure destinations) Join the Active Travel Adventures Facebook Group Follow ATA on Instagram Follow ATA on Pinterest (C) Active Travel Adventures, LLC - All Rights Reserved  

Mik Dalpes is an avalanche forecaster for the Chugach National Forest in Alaska. Her previous roles included teaching at the Alaska Avalanche School and Outward Bound, ski patrolling at Alyeska, and being a Ranger at Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks. Mik’s story in this conversation comes from a patrol on Denali, where she foundContinue reading "Mik Dalpes: Leadership & Vulnerability"

This episode takes us to Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah, home to the world's largest concentration of hoodoos—towering, otherworldly rock formations sculpted by millions of years of erosion. Bryce Canyon's breathtaking amphitheaters, vivid red and orange cliffs, and pristine dark skies make it a treasure of the National Park system.We're joined by Jim Ireland, the park's superintendent since 2021. With nearly 30 years of experience in the National Park Service, Jim's journey began with a youth internship at Petrified Forest National Park during high school and has taken him to parks across the country, including Natural Bridges, Kenai Fjords, and Timpanogos Cave. A Bevinetto Fellow and former state coordinator for Utah's 13 national parks, Jim brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for public lands to his current role.In this episode, Jim reflects on his career, from his early days as a GS-1 federal employee to moving around the country to work at different parks. He shares insights into Bryce Canyon's unique geology, the park's world-class stargazing programs, and its growing offerings, like expanding the biking trail and adding cross-country skiing. We also explore his personal side, including building a camper van with his son, his favorite hikes, and his love for old-fashioned sanded lemon drops—a must-have desert hiking snack.You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at info@whorunsthispark.com or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com. Sign up for the Who Runs This Park's newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark. Who Runs This Park is produced by Maddie Pellman with music by Danielle Bees.

Use code PARKS30 for $30 off of a $500 or more booking at www.rvshare.com. In this episode, we're looking at the federal government's decision to reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades, Death Valley National Park has reopened most of its roads after last year's severe flooding, a group of skiers is rescued at Kenai Fjords, and more.  Comment on the Rocky Mountain National Park camping fee increase proposal here: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/RMNP_FrontcountryCampground_Fees_2024

In this episode, Jared Lloyd and Annalise Kaylor talk shop after spending 10 days on boats photographing in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. Kenai Fjords is one of the most dynamic landscapes on Earth and plays home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife from marine mammals to pelagic seabirds. The PhotoWILD crew timed their expedition to the edge of the world for the peak of the orca migration. Following huge schools of chinook salmon, each day was filled with countless orca sightings in addition to humpback whales, Stellar sea lions, harbor seals on icebergs, sea otters, three species of puffin, and so much more.  Key Takeaways Photographing from little boats in a big ocean can be challenging and how to overcome those challenges There really is no such thing as bad light, only our lack of knowledge of how best to exploit that light When the photography gods throw you lemons, make high key images Ice drives the entire ecosystem here Mastering Light book discussed in show: https://www.photowildmagazine.com/mastering-light Want to join us in Kenai Fjords next year? https://www.jaredlloyd.com/wildlife-of-kenai-fjords-photography-workshop

"The sub-frequency calls of the planet's largest animal, the endangered Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), are too low for human ears to perceive. But this inspired some questions: What might these low frequencies feel like? What new sensations might arise? Would these feelings enter our subconscious? If I could play my bass flute deep into the waters of the Antarctic, how might I  converse with a Blue Whale? What would we say to each other? How might we play? This work is an exploration of what it might be like to interact, in dream-time, with these extraordinary beings, if we could use our senses, imagine, play, dream and explore. "I used the original recording (which had already been altered by the scientists so that we could hear these sub-frequencies) and then also created versions of the whale calls with very slight pitch and time adjustments. In addition, I incorporated recordings of the Kenai Fjords off of Seward, Alaska that I collected in 2012 using both hydrophone and shotgun microphones, which captured the resonant sounds of the glacier caving. My performance on the bass flute (plus electronic effects), in relation to the Blue Whale calls and the glacier sounds, produce a kind of tickling effect in my ears. I wonder what you will feel? "Special gratitude to the exceptional sound engineer Joe Shepard for guidance on these extremely low frequencies in the final mix. "Blue whales are the Earth's largest animal, and therefore they also have the largest beating heart on the planet, weighing 400 lbs (or more). Will we be the cause of its cessation? Or, will we help take care of this vulnerable being?"   Blue whale reimagined by Jane Rigler. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). Explore the project in full at http://citiesandmemory.com/polar-sounds. 

Abby Hornacek has been traveling across the United States visiting the country's national parks for years. As the host of "Park'd" on FOX Nation, she has spent the last six seasons touring majestic places like Alaska's Kenai Fjords, and California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Earlier this week, Abby joined the FOX News Rundown's Chris Foster to discuss highlights from travels across the country and some of the adventures she experienced along the way. Abby explained how her FOX Nation job has taught her appreciation for our country's national parks and why she encourages all Americans to visit them. She also detailed some challenges that come along with shooting the show in adverse conditions. Due to time limitations, we could not include all of the conversations in our original segment. On the FOX News Rundown Extra, you will hear our entire interview with FOX Nation's Abby Hornacek and learn more about America's incredible beauty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abby Hornacek has been traveling across the United States visiting the country's national parks for years. As the host of "Park'd" on FOX Nation, she has spent the last six seasons touring majestic places like Alaska's Kenai Fjords, and California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Earlier this week, Abby joined the FOX News Rundown's Chris Foster to discuss highlights from travels across the country and some of the adventures she experienced along the way. Abby explained how her FOX Nation job has taught her appreciation for our country's national parks and why she encourages all Americans to visit them. She also detailed some challenges that come along with shooting the show in adverse conditions. Due to time limitations, we could not include all of the conversations in our original segment. On the FOX News Rundown Extra, you will hear our entire interview with FOX Nation's Abby Hornacek and learn more about America's incredible beauty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abby Hornacek has been traveling across the United States visiting the country's national parks for years. As the host of "Park'd" on FOX Nation, she has spent the last six seasons touring majestic places like Alaska's Kenai Fjords, and California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Earlier this week, Abby joined the FOX News Rundown's Chris Foster to discuss highlights from travels across the country and some of the adventures she experienced along the way. Abby explained how her FOX Nation job has taught her appreciation for our country's national parks and why she encourages all Americans to visit them. She also detailed some challenges that come along with shooting the show in adverse conditions. Due to time limitations, we could not include all of the conversations in our original segment. On the FOX News Rundown Extra, you will hear our entire interview with FOX Nation's Abby Hornacek and learn more about America's incredible beauty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Black Friday and while it's no longer seen as the unofficial kickoff to the Holiday shopping season, the day is still important to retailers. This year, with Americans coping with inflation and feeling on edge about the direction of the economy, there seems to be even more concern about how much consumers will buy in the coming weeks. Gerald Storch, CEO of Storch Advisors and former CEO of Hudson Bay Company and Toys "R" Us joins the Rundown to preview this year's holiday shopping season and discuss how he thinks both consumers and retailers will be impacted by inflation and supply chain issues. Abby Hornacek has been traveling across the United States visiting the country's national parks for years. As the host of "Park'd" on FOX Nation, she has spent the last six seasons touring majestic places like Alaska's Kenai Fjords, and California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon. She joins the Rundown to discuss highlights from her trips, why all Americans should visit and appreciate our national parks, and the challenges that come along with shooting the show in adverse conditions. Later, Abby also shares some of her favorite Christmas memories from growing up. Plus, commentary from Outkick's Tomi Lahren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Black Friday and while it's no longer seen as the unofficial kickoff to the Holiday shopping season, the day is still important to retailers. This year, with Americans coping with inflation and feeling on edge about the direction of the economy, there seems to be even more concern about how much consumers will buy in the coming weeks. Gerald Storch, CEO of Storch Advisors and former CEO of Hudson Bay Company and Toys "R" Us joins the Rundown to preview this year's holiday shopping season and discuss how he thinks both consumers and retailers will be impacted by inflation and supply chain issues. Abby Hornacek has been traveling across the United States visiting the country's national parks for years. As the host of "Park'd" on FOX Nation, she has spent the last six seasons touring majestic places like Alaska's Kenai Fjords, and California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon. She joins the Rundown to discuss highlights from her trips, why all Americans should visit and appreciate our national parks, and the challenges that come along with shooting the show in adverse conditions. Later, Abby also shares some of her favorite Christmas memories from growing up. Plus, commentary from Outkick's Tomi Lahren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Black Friday and while it's no longer seen as the unofficial kickoff to the Holiday shopping season, the day is still important to retailers. This year, with Americans coping with inflation and feeling on edge about the direction of the economy, there seems to be even more concern about how much consumers will buy in the coming weeks. Gerald Storch, CEO of Storch Advisors and former CEO of Hudson Bay Company and Toys "R" Us joins the Rundown to preview this year's holiday shopping season and discuss how he thinks both consumers and retailers will be impacted by inflation and supply chain issues. Abby Hornacek has been traveling across the United States visiting the country's national parks for years. As the host of "Park'd" on FOX Nation, she has spent the last six seasons touring majestic places like Alaska's Kenai Fjords, and California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon. She joins the Rundown to discuss highlights from her trips, why all Americans should visit and appreciate our national parks, and the challenges that come along with shooting the show in adverse conditions. Later, Abby also shares some of her favorite Christmas memories from growing up. Plus, commentary from Outkick's Tomi Lahren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most amazing settings in the National Park System are glacial landscapes. From Glacier National Park in Montana and Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state to Alaska, these rivers of ice are captivating to see and, if you're lucky enough, to walk upon or watch as they calve blocks of ice into Pacific waters. But as amazing as these rivers of ice are, they are vanishing under the warmth of climate change. Glacier National Park's glaciers could be gone by mid-century. Many of those in Alaska are almost visibly in retreat. But how serious is the problem, what is the overall state of glacial ice in the Park System? Two researchers, Deborah Kurtz from the National Park Service and Taryn Black, a doctoral student in Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington, have tried to answer that question as it applies to Kenai Fjords National Park two hours south of Anchorage, Alaska. We're joined today by Taryn Black.

Alaska is a big state, and within that big state are 17 units of the National Park System spanning more than 100 million acres. Denali, Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords, Katmai, Wrangell-St. Elias are just some of those units. But if you want to visit the parks in Alaska, how do you decide which ones to explore? Contributing editor Kim O'Connell recently spent 10 days in Alaska with her family, and is here to discuss her travels in Denali and Kenai Fjords and offer some suggestions on how to decide where to go in Alaska.

The Nature Pyramid   Experience Nature: Find a place in the park (or nature) that speaks to you. Close your eyes. Focus on the feeling of the air . . . the sounds and scents around you. When you open your eyes, notice the small details—a drop of dew, light, and shadows. Describe your experience for someone who has never been here—what did you feel, hear, smell, and see . . .  Was there something you could taste?  (Amy Ireland, for Kenai Fjords National Park Explorer Journal)   Also, it's a mountain goat on the Explorer pin, not a bison! (though I did see a bison at another place)   Bonus Quote (not on the podcast episode, but in the booklet): “What we do not see, what we do not hear, what we do not touch, we can never really know.” St. Lawrence Island Yupik Elder   National Parks Service Jr. Ranger Program   Kenai Fjord National Parks Jr. Ranger Program (They even have an app!)   Book--Loose Parts Learning in K-3 Classrooms: https://www.gryphonhouse.com/books/details/loose-parts-learning-in-k-3-classrooms Loose Parts Play Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LoosePartsPlay/ Loose Parts Play Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LoosePartsPlay/   Inside Outside Michiana Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutsideMichiana/   Loose Parts Nature Play Website: http://insideoutsidemichiana.blogspot.com

The birds Laura saw on her Alaska boat trip into Kenai Fjords National Park were even more thrilling than the humpback whales.

Jeff Rose has worked as an outdoor educator for over two decades, including 19 seasons with Outward Bound. Besides Outward Bound, Jeff has worked for numerous colleges and universities, including the University of Utah, Davidson College, San Diego State University, UC San Diego, and Indiana University. He also worked for Adventures Cross Country and various summer camps. As an instructor, Jeff taught climbing, glacier mountaineering, backpacking, sea kayaking, and a few rafting and canyoneering courses. Most of his field time has been in Washington's North Cascades and Puget Sound, as well as Alaska's Chugach Mountains, Prince William Sound, and Kenai Fjords. Jeff also goes by Dr. Jeff Rose and is currently a faculty member in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah, where he teaches courses in Outdoor Recreation Studies, with an emphasis on social and environmental justice. His research uses qualitative and spatial methods to examine systemic inequities expressed through class, race, political economy, and relationships to nature.

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/072Will you leave Written Review on Apple Podcasts:  https://ordinarysherpa.com/review/ Join the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to interact with other listeners.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ordinarysherpa Brown signs: defines a local attraction, used universally around the world as I have a listener @amyrunskncoffee on IG who has shared brown signs in South Korea.  (Referenced in Episode 041 | Adventure Potential of Brown Signs https://ordinarysherpa.com/041/ My daughter is 10 and has a goal to visit all the national parks before she graduates high school. Here is the list of the parks she has visited and highlights from each. Even though National Park week has past I imagine many are still planning summer park visits so I thought I'd dedicate this episode to “best of national parks” ten year old edition.   Below are the parks my daughter visited, when we visited, and her favorite memory from that visit.  1. Gateway Arch, St. Louis (July 2013): she was asleep for the views from the top, but fireworks under the arch was a highlight 2. Yosemite, California (June 2016) all the waterfalls and climbing on the rocks 3. Cuyahoga, Ohio (June 2018) biking the towpath 4. Smoky Mountains (August 2019) the “llamas” at Roaring Forks  5. Mammoth Caves (August 2019) the squirrel that fell from the tree after our cave tour 6. Saguaro, AZ (Nov 2019) horse camp but was a little scary too when her horse took off 7. Lassen Volcanic, CA (June 2020) hike to boiling lake 8. Crater Lake, OR (June 2020) our June snowball fight 9. Red Woods, CA (June 2020) hiking fern canyon and Lady Bird woods at sunset 10. Kenai Fjords, AK (August 2020) climbing the bluffs and memorable was the massive shift in weather…soaked! 11. Grand Tetons, Wy (Dec 2020) Seeing the moose fighting  12. Congaree, SC (March 2021) the junior ranger scavenger hunt on the boardwalks 13. Hawai'i Volcanoes (June 2021) climbing on lava beds 14. Haleakala, Maui (June 2021) walking in the clouds  15. Channel Islands (June 2021) playing tag in the Eucalyptus grove, seeing dolphins on the boat ride 16. Theodore Roosevelt NP (August 2021) the prairie dogs and sliding down the rocks 17. Wind Cave (August 2021) didn't tour, the buffalo 18. Badlands National Park (August 2021) climbing up and down the cable ladder on the hike  19. Rocky Mountain National Park (Sept 2021) The baby moose who kept running after us, and all the elk 20. White Sands National Park (Dec 2021) jumping/sliding down the dunes at sunset. The sand was really cold! Key Takeaways While National Parks are well-known brown signs, a brown sign is a locally designated attraction worth checking out.   The 4th grade pass is a great excuse to let you children determine your national park trip.  Since it provides free entrance for the entire car for any one with the Every Kid Every Park pass from September 1- August 31st, you can even make an entire year of it. There are other National Park pass benefits for veterans, and seniors, in addition to the yearlong America the Beautiful Pass. How do you or your kids document their adventures?  As mentioned my daughter has a tradition of taking a picture with the entrance sign, has a postcard of all of the national parks (Link on Amazon to the pack) and writes a point in time memory from her experience.  Not all of her highlights were planned.  Make sure during an experience you take time to allow things to develop.    Don't overlook the simple things.  The highlight of Yosemite for Heidi's daughter was climbing on the rocks.   Consider more than checking the box.  What are some lesser known aspects to the park?  What makes this park unique? No need to correct their memories.  They experience things through their own filter, let that memory be theirs.  If my daughter wants to remember the llamas. Let them “Walk in Clouds”  Wildlife in the winter is a very different experience.  Consider off-season to discover elements of the park that shine during different seasons. Slow down and smell the eucalyptus trees.  Memories are not always based on what you are “doing” all of your senses contribute to the overall experience.   Nature is a built in playground, but kids don't see it that way unless you nurture it.  Wild animals are still wild animals and all safety considerations are there for a reason.  Moose are not ho-hum animals.   Feel free to join the conversation in the Ordinary Sherpa Facebook Group to learn from others or share some of your favorite National Park experiences.   I want to close this episode by saying thank you and highlighting a written review.  I have not read a written review in a while and thought this was a great example of what to write.  If you have not left a written review, please do.  I have an entire tutorial on how to leave a written review on apple podcasts at ordinarysherpa.com/review This review comes from Hitix006 and it states  “Inspirational, down to earth and energizing Love the focus on adventure big and small. Heidi is sooo authentic and energizing as she shares her families adventure journey and brings great guests to her passionate community.” Thank you for those kind words, for tuning in each week and sharing these episodes.  It's what makes this work so energizing.  I can't wait to read your written review next week!

Join Katie, Beanie, and Josh in the Getaway Car! Check out our latest episode to hear about what to do in a bear attack, where you definitely *shouldn't* go hiking, what made us sing a song from The Lion King, and more! Hear about our experience in Kenai Fjords National Park! Got wanderlust? Travel with us on our road trip adventures! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/getaway-car-pod/support

In 2005, before starting university, Gina completed a 14-day Outward Bound kayaking trip in the Kenai Fjords of Alaska. Regina is an American writer living in Bristol. She specializes in poetry and essays related to the arts, culture, travel, wellness and the unique people and places in those spheres. She is most at home pedaling her bicycle or on her yoga mat. Read more of Regina's writing and listen to her podcast at reginagbeach.com http://reginagbeach.com/ http://instagram.com/reginagbeach https://www.facebook.com/ginabeach https://twitter.com/reginagbeach

Eva Saulitis was intitally trained as a marine biologist and has studied the killer whales of Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords and the Aleutian Islands and is the author and co-author of numerous scientific publications. Dissatisfied with the objective language and rigid methodology of science, she later turned to creative writing – poetry and the essay – to develop another language with which to address the natural world. Saulitis’ most recent book publications include Into Great Silence: A Memoir of Discovery and Loss among Vanishing Orcas (nonfiction), Many Ways to Say It (poetry), and Leaving Resurrection: Chronicles of a Whale Scientist (nonfiction). Her essays and poems have appeared in numerous literary journals, including Crazyhorse, Prairie Schooner, Quarterly West, Northwest Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, Cimarron Review, Carnet de Route, Seattle Review, and Kalliope. She lives in Homer, Alaska, where she teaches creative writing at Kenai Peninsula College, at the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference, and in the Low-Residency MFA Program of the University of Alaska Anchorage.This biography was drawn from Saulitis' profile at Orion Magazine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mona Mesereau, husband Tom and family have explored at least 75 of America's national parks and monuments. Mona shares history, tales, tips and the joys of family travels, exploring the U.S.A.'s precious public parks system.-- "America's Best Idea"- Mona shares the history of our National Parks, starting with the oldest, Yellowstone. -- Lea shares some of her park experiences including sunrise at Acadia; a drive around southern Utah parks; the blue water of Crater Lake; dawn at Zabriski Point in Death Valley; Denali in Alaska; Dry Tortugas, 99% underwater -- "ya have to want to get there," on a catamaran from Key West; birds of the Everglades, "brightened my mood, pumped me up,"says Mona; Gateway Arch in St. Louis; popular Great Smoky Mountains, "near the salt and pepper museum"; Hawaii Volcanos National Park, sometimes active; Joshua Tree (really bushes and surreal boulders; Kenai Fjords, "whole bunches of bears"; Painted Desert, spectacular colors; Yosemite, stayed at the historic lodge, the waterfalls.-- Mona tells of pleasures including Great Smoky National Park -- "a bear jam"; and Grand Teton in Wyoming, catching trout.-- Mona recommends going off-course, a balance between planning and wandering, and using guides and tours; Grand Canyon, Lake Powell/Glen Canyon, veering off to Wupatki National Monument; reservations for lodges, and the benefits of shoulder season. -- On Mona's 50th birthday, she details a magnificent day at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, exploring the back country. -- She reminds us to protect our parks 'these are our houses in nature"; pick up trash, make purchases, get National Park passports. -- Mona says take lots of photographs; great lodges and the beauty of the parks remain much the same. -- Leave crowds behind, there are plenty of trails, "I've seen Old Faithful erupt at midnight"; solitude of Glacier National Park -- "a chance to think."-- Lesser known parks: beyond ruins at Mesa Verde, Canyon de Chelly; Eastern Parks? New River, the newest National Parks in West Virginia; Gauley River nearby, to raft; Harpers Ferry.-- Mona's most memorable experience, at "the American Serengeti" in Yellowstone_____Mona Mesereau, editor and executive, launched Mesereau Travel Public Relations with her husband Tom, marketing executive and former magazine editor. www.mesereaupr.com; (@monasays) / Twitter; Mona McCoy Mesereau/ Facebook._____Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, written eight travel books, including Places I Remember, and contributed to dozens of guidebooks. She's @lealane on Twitter and blogs about travel at forbes.com Contact her at placesirememberlealane.com_____Please subscribe and leave a quick review! New travel episodes every Tuesday, wherever you listen.

Jerry's made a painting and it's....Leslie as a centaur?! Susie and Beks break down "Jerry's Painting" along with Ben and Leslie's growing romance, April and Andy's marriage, Orin, Perd, and more!This week's National Park is Kenai Fjords National ParkFollow us here:Twitter: @pawnee_commonsInstagram: pawneecommonspodFacebook: The Pawnee CommonsProducer: Andy MeyerIntro and Outro Music:Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3976-life-of-rileyLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Links:https://www.nps.gov/kefj/index.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/bear-safety.htmhttps://www.alaskawildland.com/lodges/kenai-fjords-glacier-lodge/?utm_source=301&utm_medium=secondary_domain&utm_campaign=kenaifjordsglacierlodge.comhttps://www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature/the-harding-icefield.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/harding_icefield_trail.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/bear-glacier-lagoon.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/articles/alutiiq-outer-kenai-coast.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature/glacier-repeat-photography.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature/fjord-estuary-ecosystem.htmhttps://www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/upload/KEFJ_Fact_Sheet_2018_508compliant_FINAL.pdfhttps://www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/kidsyouth/upload/Student_Info_Sheet_508.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenai_Fjords_National_Parkhttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/kenai-fjords-national-park/https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/kenai-fjords/exit-glacier-tour

Hear all about the Wild and Exposed Podcast team’s voyage at sea as they encounter an abundance of marine wildlife and breathtaking coastal landscapes throughout the Kenai Fjords region of Alaska!

Join the Wild and Exposed Podcast team out at sea as they hear firsthand what it’s like to be a boat captain, from Bill Bruner, owner of Seward Charters. Bill reveals many treasures and entertaining tales from the Kenai Fjords region of Alaska!

Vegan Martin Zeman from Czech RepublicVegan is a choice I am able to make. In the past, people in Czech Republic couldn't really make those choices because of the scarcity of so many things but today we have developed a very competitive country. The old regime is recent and people still remember that and so whenever there are ways or rules that seem impossible we will find a way through it.  We have the freedom to study and the freedom to travel. I am an electrical engineer. All of the good schools are free because they are public which means I did not have to pay for my studies. My degree allows me to work for a great company which brings me to the United States from time to time. Being a vegan was a choice I made about a year ago but I was thinking about quitting eating meat for a long time. The final step was the inspiration of the movie Earthlings. It was narrated by Joaquin Phoenix and it shows the brutal truth about the food industry and that kind of made me do the next step and quit eating all animal products-- meat, dairy products, eggs. The pure reason behind my being vegan is ethical for me. My selection of food doesn't involve cruelty in killing animals. There are other options out there of what to eat and I can replace everything. Being vegan just makes me feel better. I learned English in the Carnival and playing video gamesI've been studying English since nursery school but the school system is not very good in terms of languages. I started watching movies in English and playing computer games. With computer games I have communicative interactions with other actors in the games.  When I was at the University I decided to go somewhere abroad to work so I chose this program called Work and Travel USA. I traveled to USA and worked for three months and then spent one month traveling. I went to Pennsylvania to work for a carnival which was pretty interesting.  So work as a carney is very adorable. I meet a lot of nice people and every time I give rides to a kid their parents will stand next to me and talk. This is by the way one of the greatest advantages of American people as they are really open-minded and open to talking to other people; to strangers. Two summers as a carny developed my English skills.  I also work for an American company in Czech Republic so I speak English every day. My traveling took me to Alaska. Alaska was well known for having to work long hours and which was good money. I was a poor student with no money and I also wanted to go there. Working at the cannery was good work. While in Alaska I got to go to Denali, Kenai Fjords and I saw bears, elk, caribou, and whales. Environmental Tip Plus PhilosophyI'm staying at a hotel where they serve vegan meals. There's a sign in the lavatory, like most hotels, that says if you'd like to use the towels again just hang them up but if you'd like us to wash them then throw them on the ground. For conserving water. Well I go to the restaurant inside the hotel and they serve me with paper plates and plastic silverware and I don't understand that. I think I'm the only one at the hotel to do this but I bring my ceramic plate and my metal from my room to use for meals. I have a quote from a movie that I really love. I'm no extraordinary movie person but my favorite movie is Forrest Gump. It's just so positive and I love the quote about life being like a box of chocolates and never knowing what you're going to get. But the quote that inspires my philosophy is from Tennessee Williams. It was used in the movie Transsiberian. The quote from the movie taken from his quote is, “Kill all my demons and my angels may die too.” His quote is, “If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.” Part of my job is to take care of people as I am a supervisor and I need to help them...

“It just makes you realize that you’re not the only person out here, you know? Think about everybody else. You’re the one person living your life but there’s so much more… there’s so many people and we’re all experiencing it.” -Heidi Goheen   Heidi Goheen a really fun interview because we got along right away and were able to have a conversation about not only the Kenai Fjord National Park, where she’s visited more than a dozen times, and about the bummmppyyyy boat ride we were on, but also about the other Parks she’s been to, what drew her to the Park, why she takes everyone that visits her there, and some magical experiences she’s had in the Park — seeing bears, whales breaching, and river otters, and even swimming in glacial water on a hot summer day!   About 15 minutes in, you’ll hear as we spot a sea lion and get a taste of what it felt like to see wildlife on this dense, foggy day in this spectacular and unique Park.   And as I found out during the interview, Heidi is a tour guide and Alaska Travel Expert, so about 20 minutes into the interview, she’ll tell you about all the many interesting things you can do within the Kenai Fjords.    Then we meandered into talking about my journey, why I’m doing this podcast, my personal take on this Park, and how I fund my travels.   And at the end, I see the first whale I’ve ever seen.  You can feel my excitement, and the enthusiasm of the people all around me.    After we see the whale, Heidi and I say our goodbyes off the mic.    This is a fun episode to give you a real taste of what the boat ride to the Kenai Fjords felt like and of all the experiences that can be had within just this one National Park.    Want to see more? Check out Nat Park Stories on Facebook and Instagram or on the Patreon Blog.

"I think everyone should explore their parks... I've gotten to go to quite a few and there isn't anything quite like Kenai Fjords National Park.”  -Josh Grove   During the ride to Kenai Fjord National Park, I talked with a deck hand on the ship, Josh Grove, who has been working out in Seward for a few years.   During the course of his interview, we talk about what brought him to this National Park, and he gives some really interesting information about what a fjord is and how the glaciers have receded just in the few short years he’s been at the Park.   You really feel like you're on the boat during this interview, as the waves hit the boat and we surge more than 6 feet in the water (which is apparently NBD to Josh).   Want to see more? Check out Nat Park Stories on Facebook and Instagram or on the Patreon Blog.

“I’m from Tennessee where in the winter time, it can get to mid-80s... and I love the heat and I will sacrifice all that just to be here because it’s so impressively cool.” -Mikey Martin   Mikey Martin is a Safari Guide that I met on the boat ride to the Kenai Fjords National Park.   In his two summers in Alaska, he has done that boat ride about 80 times. And as hard as it is to believe, each time provides a new and unique experience.    And it would have to… What else would bring a Nashville boy who loves the warmth all the way up to the icy glaciers of Alaska two years in a row?   This conversation starts off a little slow, but it really picks up speed 4 minutes in when you hear Mikey talk about what draws him to the parks and to Alaska and what his favorite memories of the park are.    And at 8 minutes into the interview, you get to actually hear the glacier lose a massive chunk of ice, and the crowd ooohs and awes. It still gives me chills to hear that part of the interview.    You can feel like you’re right on the boat, listening to the chunks of ice hit the metal, with the wind blowing, and the ranger talking just a little bit over the interview.   You can hear Mikeys excitement really build after the glacier calves, and you hear how extremely knowledgeable and passionate he is about this part of the world. Twenty minutes into the interview, Mikey describes the ice burgs (or car size burgees) that our boat literally hits as it backs away from the glaciers.    As he mentions in the interview, he planned on returning to Alaska this winter and because we’re became friends during the interview, I saw that he just a couple of weeks ago, he did in fact head back up to Alaska to tough it in the winter.    Want to see more? Check out Nat Park Stories on Facebook and Instagram or on the Patreon Blog.    

"We're the Parkbound Maitlands. This is our 402nd Park. We're going to all of them. It's taken about 8 years to get to this many... Our job is not to be like 'oh look at us, we've been to all these Parks', we want kids, we want more people to come visit these Parks to learn about the history of these Parks. We need to help the world because the glaciers are slowly going away. We need more people to help... to understand that these glaciers aren't going to be here that long if we don't do something about it." -Gerald Maitland   The Parkbound Maitlands are a traveling family of four that have been to HUNDREDS of National Park Units, and have collected incredible stories and fascinating knowledge, over the last 8 years.   I met the Junior Park Rangers Gerald and Jameson Maitland, and their parents Cheri and Jim at Exit Glacier in Alaska, because of their vests and jackets that were LITERALLY covered in Jr Park Ranger badges and patches.  I asked if I could hear their story for the podcast and they excitedly agreed.    Meeting the Parkbound Maitlands were one of the highlights of my entire trip.  You can tell how much I enjoyed the conversation during this interview, and after I turned the mic off, we continued to chat for hours, and still keep in touch.    We had so much in common, even beyond our shared love of Parks we had so many stories to exchange. Plus, they’re just really nice people!   After I chatted with the kids about National Parks, I talked to their parents about stories of traveling and meeting people on the road, then we headed to their RV (with an attached trailer) to get out of the rain and talk even more.   In this interview we talk about their many years of National Park travel, the things they’ve learned while visiting the units, some of their many stories, tips for travel, and so, so much more.    And I end this episode in a unique way, so you won’t want to miss that.   After listening to this interview, you will want to see the incredible amount of patches and badges they have. You can find a picture of the family (holding my pup) with all of the badges on the Nat Park Stories Instagram and Facebook.   You can also see a bunch of pictures of them and hear a ton of their fascinating stories online, just google Parkbound Maitlands.

Fall back in love with America through stories of strangers in the National Parks. Follow the adventures of a solo female VanLifer exploring the US National Parks, and talking to people she meets about their impact.  --- Welcome to the Nat Park Stories Podcast. This is a podcast that follows me, Summer Slevin, as I travel to all the National Parks in my home van with my pup and have conversations with the many strangers I met. In 2015, I went to my first National Park, the Rocky Mountain National Park, and I fell in love. I bought my National Parks Pass, and traveled in my car for two months talking to strangers and exploring Nature. A couple years later, after working the rat race and settling into the corporate world, I found myself burnt out and miserable. I had also witnessed so much division in America that I had started falling out of love with it and looking for international places to relocate. At the end of 2017, I tried to remember a time when I felt at peace and in love with the country. My mind went back to being in the National Parks and talking to people about their beauty. At the beginning of 2018, I decided to create a little home in a van, and set off to all our National Parks for the next two years, in hopes of falling back in love with America.  I wanted to start it in a big way, to prove to myself and others that I was serious. In July, I hit the road from my hometown in Central Illinois, and headed to Last Frontier, Alaska.   My first park of the podcast, Denali National Park, blew my mind and instantly I felt myself fall back in love with my country. My hope is that you will too, through the stories of strangers I meet in breathtaking places. Each interview will vary — every story is different and inspiring in their own way— most of the time, they will center on what it feels like in that specific national park and why others should visit these protected places. Sometimes you’ll hear my story of exploring the parks, or the people I meet along the way, but most of the stories are of the people I meet in parks.  Every month, I plan to release all the episodes from one park, in the order I traveled to each of them. Every 3-6 months, I will take a break, breaking the podcast into seasons. During season one, I will talk to strangers at Denali, Kenai Fjords, and Wrangell - St Elias National Parks all in Alaska, as well as Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Texas and New Mexico.  You’ll hear from park rangers, bus drivers, tour guides, retirees, children, friends of mine, families, couples, single travelers, bird watchers, authors, Americans, international travelers, and so much more. You can find pictures and stories of the parks, people, and my adventures -and chat with me-, on my Facebook, Instagram, and website. Just search Nat-Park-Stories. And if you want to support this podcast, receive post cards from the parks, get behind the scenes content and more, go to Patreon.com/NatParkStories. Just a note, most of these recordings are captured outside — in the parks, so you might hear quite a bit of Natural Sounds… please bare with me.  I have also never created a podcast before, so I’m really open to your feedback about what you think will make this podcast even better. Feel free to reach out to me on Facebook, Instagram, or my website.  I am really so excited to share this journey with you, so let’s get started! :)  

Cole and I speaking to luxury in the national parks is almost laughable, but stick with us. Even though we spent most of our time in a tent out of cell range and not showering, we did experience many moments of pure luxury throughout our time in the national parks. Today we're sharing two parks that lent themselves to particular extravagance: Virgin Islands and Kenai Fjords. And check out SwitchbackKids.com for blog posts, videos and ebooks with tips, info and visuals on each National Park. Or find us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for much more! Adventure on! Music: http://bensound.com

In our latest installment of Top Ten of the National Parks, we are sharing our favorite day hikes. Day hikes are a wonderful way to get up and out of the parks' main hubs of activity. Travel light, bring your lunch, reach new heights, climb mountains, and come back. All in the same day. From Great Sand Dunes to Pinnacles to Kenai Fjords, here are our favorite day hikes from our year in the national parks. And check out SwitchbackKids.com for blog posts, videos and ebooks with tips, info and visuals on each National Park. Or find us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for much more! Adventure on! Music: http://bensound.com