Podcast appearances and mentions of kurt repanshek

Most, if not all of us, have bucket lists. Places we want to visit…but don't always get the opportunity.   This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. One of the destinations on my bucket list is Gates of Arctic National Park and Preserve and the Noatak River that runs through it. A week or two floating the river sounds pretty ideal to me.   While it's debatable whether I'll cross that off my bucket list remains to be seen, today's guest has floated the river more than once and backpacked all over Gates of the Arctic. And Jon Waterman returned from those trips with incredible stories of the places he saw, the people he met, and the wildlife that came in range of his eyes.   But over the course of several decades Jon also has witnessed the impact of climate change to the region, and it hasn't been good. It's the main thread of a story he lays out in his latest book, Into the Thaw.

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.   Michael Aday has a similar passion for history, and has a great job to soak in it. He is, after all, the archivist or librarian at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Recently he came out with a book, Letters from the Smokies, which is built around 300 years of written down history that's held in the park's archives.

With March madness down to the Sweet 16, and Opening Day of Major League Baseball having arrived, we're going to take a break this week and dive into our podcast archives for this week's show.   This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. My NCAA bracket was busted the very first day, and while the Yankees won their opening day game against the Houston Astros, I don't think they'll go undefeated this year.   While I ponder the sports world, we're going to let Lynn Riddick reprise her interviews with National Park Radio and the National Parks, two bands with great names that we think you'll like.

While most visitors to the National Park System view the parks as incredibly beautiful places, or places rich in culture and history, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes within the parks, and with the National Parks Service.  Traveler editor Kurt Repanshek has closely followed the parks and the Park Service for more than 18 years. Over that timespan, he's seen a lot of changes in the parks, and the agency itself. In today's show we are going to offer a sort of “State of the Parks” with you. After all, as much as you enjoy the park system, you have a vested interest in their oversight and management. 

With nearly 430 units in the National Park System, of which 63 are National Parks, we all probably could use a little help in planning our adventures into the park system. But do you simply visit a park's website to plan your trip? Find an online guidebook? Buy a hardcover guidebook? Or simply wing it when you reach your destination? This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. I must confess, I've taken all three approaches, and I've even written a guidebook to the parks, and there's probably a fair amount of guidebook material on the Traveler.  Today we're reaching out to two writers who make their living writing national park guidebooks. Becky Lomax is the author of “USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 63 National Parks” from Moon Travel Guides, as well as her latest titles “Best of Glacier, Banff and Jasper: Make the Most of One to Three Days in the Parks”, which she co-wrote with Andrew Hempstead, and “Glacier National Park: Hiking, Camping, Lakes, and Peaks”. Michael Oswald is the author of “Your Guide to the National Parks”, “National Park Maps: An Atlas of United States National Parks”, and “The Day Hiker's Guide to the National Parks”.

This week, we talk with Kurt Repanshek of National Parks Traveler about the state of National Park Service campgrounds, and his new guidebook that details every one of them for RVers in order to help demystify national park camping.  Get the Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks here: https://nationalparkstraveler.myshopify.com/products/essential-rving-guide-to-the-national-parks-2022-edition Our favorite weather app, Storm Radar: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/storm-radar-weather-tracker/id1216396545 Get your RV Miles Merchandise here: https://merch.rvmiles.com Join the RV Miles Mailing List: https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ Support our Sponsors:  *Visit L.L. Bean to find your next great piece of gear: https://llbean.com *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Everything for your RV, tow vehicle and more at https://etrailer.com/rvmiles Looking for more deals on RV memberships or gear? Check out:  https://rvmiles.com/category/deals/ RV Miles YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RVMiles Leave RV Miles a 5-star review on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Let's go shopping! Support RV Miles every time you shop Amazon, no matter what you buy when you start at https://Amazon.com/shop/RVMiles.  Join the RV Miles Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvmiles

On today's show, we talked to Rich Schnippel, the founder and president of Encore RV–an Elkhart-based RV OEM manufacturing lightweight and easy-to-tow trailers. Our regular guests also joined us on MC Fireside Chats. Experts on both the RV Industry and outdoor recreation include Eleanore Hamm, President at RVDA of Canada; Shane Devenish, the Executive Director at CRVA; and Kurt Repanshek of National Parks Traveler.  Hamm started the discussion by saying that while reports say that the RV industry is experiencing shipment decline, it is still solid and resilient.  “We're seeing some media saying that numbers are dropping in terms of shipments and as well as dealer sales, but I think realistically when we look back, and we compare our stats over a year prior, there's just been a bit of adjustment.” Hamm added that while retail sales in Canada are down about 15% to the end of May, over the last 15 years, it's still probably the second best year ever for the industry.  Hamm also emphasized the surge in Class C motorhome sales, meaning the rental industry is bouncing back and are seeing the tourism coming in from international travel. Devenish reiterated that Canadian shipments were still over last year and acknowledged that while the U.S shipments number goes down, it is not necessarily a bad thing.  Repanshek shared his experience from his trip to different national park units, saying he has seen a lot of RV traffic, particularly 5th wheels and trailers. Repanshek highlighted that in addition to RV traffic, he noticed a growing concern about the lack of awareness in some smaller national park units. He noted that last year, 150 million park visitors have only been to 25 national parks.  Rich Schnippel, who has been in the RV industry for 22 years, discussed the endless possibilities of overlanding. Last year, they targeted the growing adventure trailer industry by launching a lightweight adventure trailer.  Schnippel also shared their challenges amid supply chain issues and staffing shortages.

Homestead National Historical Park near Beatrice, Nebraska, isn't that big, just 211 acres, but as the saying goes, it plays much, much bigger. Here you'll find the National Museum on Homesteading, historic buildings including the Palmer-Epard log cabin that despite its small size – just 14 feet by 16 feet – was home to a family of 12, along with agricultural equipment, genealogy research opportunities, an education center, hiking trails through 100 acres of restored tallgrass prairie and a burr oak forest. This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. On a warm, late June day I caught up with Jonathan Fairchild, the park historian, to learn a bit more about Daniel Freeman, the man generally accepted to have been the very first to take advantage of the Homestead Act. Freeman claimed the 160 acres in what at the time was the Nebraska Territory on January 1, 1863, the day The Homestead Act that Congress had passed the year before took effect. Freeman, who was a Union soldier at the time, didn't settle on the land until the end of the Civil War, in 1865, but he lived there until he died in 1908. Those 160 acres are the bulk of the setting for the historical park, though it's much changed from how it appeared during Freeman's life there. The National Park Service acquired the property in the 1930s and restored the farmed acres to tallgrass prairie. In a minute, I'll be back to take you across the landscape with Jonathan.

Waking up in the middle of the night in the backcountry of a national park can often be an interesting, or even unnerving, experience. What was it that caused you to wakeup? Fourteen years ago, deep in the interior of Yellowstone National Park it was the howling of a wolf that woke me, and when I think about it, it still seems like it was just yesterday. The melodic howl hung in the air, seesawing up and down as the wolf sang his song. We go into national parks to view spectacular scenery, hike, and see wildlife. But have you ever just stopped to listen? As much as a national park's scenery catches you, the sounds you can pick up during your park visits are just as memorable. And, in the case of a howling wolf, bellowing grizzly, or bugling elk, I would suggest that they're more memorable. This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. This week, we're doing away with talking and focusing on listening.   NPT Ep 174 Spot List - Run Time - 35:31 :02 National Parks Traveler introduction :12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek 1:06 Beyond the Reef - Tim Heintz & Grant Geissman - Seascapes: A Musical Journey 1:16 Interior Federal Credit Union 1:35 Yosemite Conservancy 1:55 Eastern National Passport 2:38 Great Smoky Mountains Association 2:58 Friends of Acadia 3:25 Listening to the Parks - Yellowstone 15:27 Listening to the Parks - Rocky Mountain 21:15 Listening to the Parks - Everglades 24:35 Listening to the Parks - Hawaii 31:23 Episode Closing 32:04 Wonder Lake - Various Artists - The Spirit of Alaska 32:12 Orange Tree Productions 32:44 Wild Tribute 33:08 Grand Teton National Park Foundation 33:36 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation 33:56 Washington's National Park Fund 34:28 Everglades Foundation 34:39 Potrero Group 35:05 Splitbeard Productions 35:15 National Parks Traveler footer

In this week's episode of MC Fireside Chats, industry experts and content creators talked about pressing news from the RV industry and the Outdoor Recreation. The guests highlighted the importance of the collaboration between influencers and the RV industry in providing education to RV consumers. Phil Ingrassia, president of the https://www.rvda.org/ (Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association )(RVDA), briefly discussed the reports on increasing gas prices and how it would impact travel and camping. “On the RV and camping side, it doesn't appear to affect them. They will continue to travel,” said Shane Devenish, Executive Director at https://crva.ca/ (Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association) (CRVA). Mark Bennett of https://rvlove.com/ (RVLove) said that even though the increasing gas prices did not slow down their travel, one thing they've learned from RVing is the ability to make expenses flexible. “In general, what's great about RVing is so many of the expenses are variable. If your fuel prices go up, you can travel slower–less distance, or [maybe] stay longer, use campground membership that allows you to stay at places longer at lower costs. There are a lot of variables that you can work, ” Bennett said. Ben and Michelle, from https://www.intentionaladventure.com/about/ (Intentional Adventure), who sold all of their stuff to do full-time RVing and are now in their fifth year of RVing with two kids, shared how they travel and enjoy the travel life. The Intentional Adventure couple who advocates for homeschooling also talked about the education part of exploring National Parks, State Parks, and other outdoor recreation destinations and how their kids benefit from RVing. The discussion also pivoted around accessibility to RV education and how crucial RV education is to new RV owners. “Empowering the RV population is a big variable,” Bennett added. National Parks Traveler's Kurt Repanshek shortly discussedhttps://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/94343F6C-EAB9-4AF0-941B-A68D732E42C7 ( America's Outdoor Recreation Act of 2022.) The legislation, if passed and signed, would allow public-private partnerships to modernize campgrounds and buildings on Forest Service and BLM land.

Take a moment to explore what comes up for you when you think about national parks. Are you seeing imagery of a specific place that you've been to or want to visit? Are memories scrolling across the screen in your mind of family vacations? Trips with friends? Solo adventures? Recalling the sights, smells, and experiences we've had exploring these incredible places can truly be a visceral experience, something that brings us back to our intrinsic connection with nature. It comes as no surprise that just like everywhere else, national parks are feeling the impacts of climate change. Join Jenna and her guest, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of National Parks Traveler, Kurt Repanshek, as the two explore how our changing climate is impacting some of the country's most treasured places, national parks.

Everglades National Park very easily can be viewed as the poster child for invasive species. It's infested with non-native Burmese pythons, Argentine black and white tegus are making inroads, there is invasive vegetation like Melaleuca and Brazilian pepper, and nonnative fish are making their way into the park's ecosystems. Kurt Repanshek, editor of the National Parks Traveler, recently had a chance to sit down with Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades National Park, to discuss the battles against these invasive species and look ahead to the park's 75th birthday this fall. 

Lake Powell long has been the shimmering heart of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah and Arizona, but it's not the only asset of the NRA that covers 1.25 million acres.  This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. Last year I had the good fortune to visit Glen Canyon NRA twice –- once in May to kayak Lake Powell -- and then in July when I backpacked into the park's backcountry to not just admire its beauty but watch efforts to reverse the spread of invasive vegetation in the park. But not all is well with the NRA. A drought said to be the longest in 1,200 years has left Lake Powell at its lowest level since it began filling in 1963. It reached its full impoundment in 1980. But shrinking snowpack levels in the Colorado River drainage in recent years has failed to generate enough runoff into Lake Powell to more than offset the water running through the hydroelectric generating station in the Glen Canyon Dam. To discuss the state of Lake Powell, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area as a whole, we've invited Glen Canyon Superintendent Bill Shott to join us. We'll be back in a minute with the superintendent.

This week on MC Fireside Chats, presented by Modern Campground, we'll be discussing the latest industry news in our open discussion format with our brand new panel of industry leaders who will appear once every month with us! Casey Cochran, Director of Business Development at Campspot Software; Randy Hendrickson, Founder & CEO of https://www.facebook.com/groups/2307434256226268/user/100064164094093/?__cft__[0]=AZVDklRp5TkgIW1VLXWo2bG-2BMkEhwq5XZxTT4pAMQQy6ubdDsQVC0rwRhhFIGCXJlZH8IoeYvWdTkx9NoiSzuCxYlWoPv8oDQOcfMY7qf1Z4OXlmwFRbWoH1YnQrlOQrwa9OKKI4vpYd-1fIROxttS88LpHxH0rGV4cTIxdUsV2sbGQ9j4qR9fev7aT0Vj94HpwXADpujQo50G1ZZs3sKR&__tn__=-]K-R (United Park Brokers); Scott Foos, CEO & Owner of Horizon Outdoor Hospitality; Sandy Ellingson, RV Industry Consultant; Kurt Repanshek, Founder of National Parks Traveler; Mark Koep, Founder, and CEO of http://campgroundviews.com/?fbclid=IwAR0Br1bjFeB_XCZLFGrYzRM_u-vhJ_WMLbcN1X-wurJ0toogpPYjenR3Huk (CampgroundViews.com); Angela Hylton, Project Manager at Insider Perks.

NPT Ep 136 Spot List - Run Time - 48:00 :02 National Parks Traveler introduction :12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek 1:05 Parks Book Reviews 23:14 The Offering - Bill Mize - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains 23:33 WNPA 23:54 Yosemite Conservancy 24:17 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation 24:38 Potrero Group 25:06 North Cascades Institute 25:24 Nova Scotia 25:56 Parks Book Reviews Continue 43:22 Bass Harbor - Nature's Symphony - The Sounds of Acadia 44:07 Episode Closing 44:50 Washington's National Park Fund 45:26 Interior Federal Credit Union 46:00 Friends of Acadia 46:27 Grand Teton National Park Foundation 46:59 Orange Tree Productions 47:32 Splitbeard Productions 47:42 National Parks Traveler footer

Have you ever visited the "other" side of Yellowstone? Left the Old Faithful and Steamboat geysers behind, fled the conga lines of vehicles mired in bison and bear jams in the Hayden and Lamar valleys, the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on the boardwalks ... and opted, instead, for the wild side, where you and nature can become one...if you are willing? For a few minutes Kurt Repanshek takes you to Yellowstone's other side with a kayak trip on Yellowstone Lake.

One of the newest additions to the National Park System is the World War I Memorial in the District of Columbia. Traveler's Kurt Repanshek and Contributing Editor Kim O'Connell offer this short audio postcard from the site.

Go take a hike. Wouldn't that be a great escape this weekend? Some of my most enjoyable hikes have been along the Appalachian Trail. That path was easy to reach when I was growing up in New Jersey. Now based in Utah, the A.T. is a distant aspiration. Much closer are both the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at National Parks Traveler. All three of those trails – the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail – are officially recognized as National Scenic Trails. In all, there are 11 trails across the United States that carry that designation. Are they all treated equally when it comes to funding, maintenance, and even completion of an uninterrupted path? Not at all, and we'll dive into those issues and why they are what they are.

Kurt Repanshek and Joe Miczulski, whose friendship dates back more than 50 years, take time from their sea kayaking trip on Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to discuss the recent rush to public lands by Americans yearning to get outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kurt Repanshek is the founder and editor-in-chief of National Parks Traveler, the country's only news outlet dedicated to covering national parks and protected areas, and an early entrant to the now-growing group of nonprofit newsrooms. Repanshek joins Brian Stelter during National Parks Week to discuss his nimble operation, the significance of its nonprofit status, and the immense challenges he faces covering this broad and dynamic beat. He also touches on funding issues within the National Parks Service system, noting that "politics greatly intrude on efforts to cover the parks." Climate change is also an urgent part of the parks story, he says: From Cape Cod to the Grand Canyon, "just about everywhere you look in the national park system, there is a climate change story." To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

A Wallace Stegner Center Green Bag - Kurt Repanshek traces the history of bison from their near extinction to present-day efforts to bring them back to the landscape—and the biological, political, and cultural hurdles confronting these efforts. Repanshek explores Native Americans' relationships with bison and presents a forward-thinking approach to returning bison to the West and improving the health of ecosystems. Kurt Repanshek is an award-winning journalist well versed in public lands, wildlife, recreation, environmental, and development issues. After graduating from West Virginia University in 1979, he was hired in 1980 by The Associated Press, initially as a temporary legislative relief staffer, but offered a full-time job late that same year. In 1988, when wildfires swept across Yellowstone National Park and captured the world's attention, he directed and provided coverage of the fires for The Associated Press. He has a diverse journalistic background, having written about the rich biodiversity that lies within Great Smoky Mountains National Park and launched National Parks Traveler, the world's top-rated editorially independent website dedicated to daily news and feature coverage of national parks and protected areas. Originally Broadcast and recorded January 28, 2021 By SJ Quinney, College of Law, University of Utah. Utah Law, ULaw

Fort Laramie National Historic Site is a rare, overlooked outpost in the National Park System. It's not the only 19th century fort in the system, but it is richly steeped in Western history, from the fur trappers and the cavalry to the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express. During a recent visit, Kurt Repanshek and Fort Laramie Ranger Clayton Hanson walked the grounds. In this week's episode, they started at the approximate site of original Fort William and headed over to the sutler's store.

Just off the coast of Maine lies anchored the oldest national park east of the Mississippi, a park with an artistic flair and blue blood in its founding. Though Acadia National Park is small, coming in around 35,000 acres, it plays much bigger, as they might say in golf. You can explore more than 40 miles of bucolic carriage roads, hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain, search tide pools for marine life at low tide, or kayak the waters surrounding Mount Desert Island. Kurt Repanshek sits down with Acadia Superintendent Kevin Schneider to talk about his park, the challenges it faces, and how they’re preparing for your visit this summer.

National Parks Traveler founder and editor-in-chief, Kurt Repanshek will discuss the destructive behavior in national parks caused by the Covid19 virus and other topics about our National Parks. Kurt is the founder and editor-in-chief of National Parks Traveler, the No. 1-ranked, editorially independent nonprofit media organization that provides daily news, feature, and commentary coverage of national parks and protected areas.Traveler's journalists work to inform the general public of environmental, scientific, and newsworthy developments surrounding, involving, and affecting these areas and their governing bodies. As the Covid19 pandemic has taken hold of the world ironically more people have sought to escape to the outdoors and visitation to parks has increased causing tremendous pressure of delicate resources and brining a new breed of visitor. That visitor is often unfamiliar with park etiquette and has led many to observe the destructive behavior in national parks caused by the Covid 19 virus. Kurt will share his thoughts on this subject and other issues affecting our parks.Kurt does not just write about our parks, he has climbed the Grand Teton, river rafted the Grand Canyon, hiked Mount Ranier and taken his family on trips to many of the National Park Service's most sacred historical and cultural sites.The Traveler has an annual readership of ~3 million via its flagship website and affiliated Apple News feed. The New York Times, Washington, Post, CNN, and many other media outlets follow our coverage. Our weekly podcasts, launched in mid-February 2019, provide a complementary medium for staying atop national parks and related topics.Traveler's social media footprint is ~300,000 between Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.The Traveler has been mentioned or cited by the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, Huffington Post, Yahoo! Travel, the Daily Kos, smartmoney.com, and backpacker.com. It's coverage of national parks has been profiled by the prestigious Columbia Journalism Review.

We look back at the top news stories from the National Park System in July. There was the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act by Congress, the ongoing issue of the coronavirus pandemic and how parks have been dealing with it, and news that the renowned Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Program at Padre Island National Seashore is to be greatly scaled back. Joining host Kurt Repanshek to discuss some of the news impacting national parks in July is Mike Murray, a member of the executive council of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.

Michael Kellett, the executive director of RESTORE: The North Woods, discusses a campaign to see the size of the National Park System roughly tripled to more than 182 million acres. And Traveler contributing editor Erika Zambello and Becky Lomax, author of Moon’s USA National Parks, the Complete Guide to All 59 Parks, join Kurt Repanshek to discuss their favorite winter national park destinations.

While there's concern that one day Joshua trees might no longer grow in Joshua Tree National Park, or that Glacier National Park might lose its rivers of ice, what about Saguaro National Park and its iconic cacti? Kurt Repanshek travels to Saguaro National Park to discuss the decadal survey of saguaros with park biologist Don Swann. Erika Zambello heads to coastal Georgia for an off-season visit to Cumberland Island National Seashore.

Jacob W. Frank is one of the photographers who frames Yellowstone National Park's wildlife, geysers, lakes and forests for you to enjoy. How did he get his job with the National Park Service, and how many parks has he captured with his cameras? He discusses his job with host Kurt Repanshek. You'll also find an overview of visiting South Dakota's national parks, monuments, and memorials in this episode.

Phil Francis, chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, and Kristen Brengel, vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, join host Kurt Repanshek for this special roundtable discussion about current events in the National Park System.

Grand Teton National Park Foundation CEO Leslie Mattson discusses how her organization is able to help raise the visitor experience at Grand Teton National Park. Kurt Repanshek reviews two books focused on the Civil War, and Erika Zambello explores Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama.

Dr. Rolf Peterson, a long-time wolf biologist at Michigan Tech University, discusses Isle Royale National Park's wolf recovery program in this week's episode, while host Kurt Repanshek reviews a book on butterflies you might encounter in national parks and another on marine life photography, and ends the program with a look at the many national parks with caves you can explore.

Kevin Poe, the original "Dark Ranger" of the National Park Service, talks dark night skies in the National Park System in this week's episode. Traveler contributing writer Kim O'Connell discusses what she's learned while researching a story on the state of Venezuela's national parks during the current social and political turmoil in that country, and host Kurt Repanshek concludes with a look at some of the "devilish" places in the park system.

There are thousands of miles of hiking trails in the National Park System. Traveler host Kurt Repanshek discusses some of the best with Michael Lanza, who keeps track of his adventures via his blog, The Big Outside. He’s also the author of Before They’re Gone, a Family’s Year-long Quest to Explore America’s Most Endangered National Parks. Also in this week's show, Kurt discusses the status of endangered Florida panthers with Elizabeth Fleming from Defenders of Wildlife. The show concludes with an interesting segment from the backcountry of Shenandoah National Park. 

In this week's edition of National Parks Traveler, host Kurt Repanshek discusses lodging in the National Park System with David and Kay Scott, authors of The Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges, updates congressional efforts to whittle away the park system's nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog, and reviews a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

In this inaugural National Parks Traveler podcast, host Kurt Repanshek talks with Friends of Acadia Communications Director Earl Brechlin about when best to visit the park, where to go, and what issues the park staff is facing. Traveler contributor Rita Beamish provides a preview of her story on the recovery Santa Monica Mountains NRA is going through following last fall's Woolsey fire.

Matthew Brodsky of Security Studies Group on Syria. Andy Rivkin of Johns Hopkins University and DART Investigation Team on first ever planetary defense mission. Nilanga Jayasinghe of World Wildlife Fund on tigers. Kurt Repanshek of National Parks Traveler on national park shutdown. Andrew Novakovic of Cornell University on the cheese economy. Kirsten Hawkes of Parent Previews on "The Upside" and Hollywood's take on disability.

Chris Karpowitz and Grant Madsen of BYU weigh in on whether President Trump is succeeding. Steve Melnyk of Michigan Univ explains how millennials are changing shopping. BYU's Scott Steffensen studies treating addiction with acupuncture. Sam Payne of The Apple Seed shares a Donald Davis story. National Parks Traveler's Kurt Repanshek talks about the backlog of maintenance needed in national parks. Naomi Hirahara and Heather Lindquist share their book, "Life After Manzanar."

J.B. Silvers of Case Western Reserve Univ and Patricia Boozang of Manatt Health on states' role in health care. Univ of Utah's Jacqueline Chen explains race as a cultural phenomenon. Taylor Nelson of SolutionsU says journalism can feature problem solving. Phillip Sanov, Merlin Law Group, on how to fight insurance companies after a disaster. Lauren Cardoso of Univ of Penn: tech ownership changes women's view of abuse. Kurt Repanshek of National Parks Traveler talks about bringing back bison.

How Indian-Americans took over the motel industry with Susan and Jake Rugh of BYU. Kurt Repanshek of NationalParksTraveler.org reveals where to find silence. Apple Seed stories with Sam Payne of BYUradio. Tracy Fullerton of the Univ of Southern California created a video game version of Thoreau's "Walden." Fred Gedicks of BYU Law on the travel ban and religious-school funding.

National Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews John Hennessy regarding Stonewall Jackson's arm.

National Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Dr. Donna Shaver regarding the Kemps Ridley sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.

National Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Senator Tom Udall regarding the promotion of our National Parks.

National Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Trevor Thomas, First blind person to thru-hike the ATC unassisted.

National Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Gerard Baker, Associate Director for American Indian Relations

National Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Doug Smith, project leader of gray wolf restoration in Yellowstone National Park.

SOUND: Snowmobiles in [url=http://www.nps.gov/yell]Yellowstone National Park[/url]. KURT: At a time when politics in Washington truly are a “contact sport,” we shouldn’t be too surprised when we learn that science has been trumped when it comes to decisions affecting the national park system. Should we be disappointed? Of course. But surprised? Unfortunately not. These past seven years there long have been suspicions that politics shaped the National Park Service’s position on snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park. Those suspicions gained tremendous weight when I talked with Fran Mainella, who a little over a year ago resigned from her position as director of the National Park Service. During her six years in office Ms. Mainella refused to call for a ban on snowmobiling in Yellowstone, even when two environmental impact studies and an environment assessment pointed to snow coaches as the environmentally preferred alternative for motorized winter recreation in the park. Now, though, she’s changed her position and believes science should be the final measure when it comes to deciding if snowmobiles are appropriate for Yellowstone’s resources, its wildlife, visitors, and even employees. She made that change publicly known recently when she decided to join seven other former Park Service directors in asking Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to oppose an increase in snowmobile use in Yellowstone and to favor snow coaches for winter motorized recreation in the park. MAINELLA: Part of what I was trying to do was just again further reinforce the importance of the science and making sure that we rely on the science. Anyone making a decision has multiple factors that come to play. Access is an important part. There’s the other considerations, visitor services and all these other things that we’re responsible for in the National Park Service. But what I was just trying to encourage was when all is said and done is that the science, taking care of the resource has to be the predominant force. That’s really it. It doesn’t mean that you don’t have snowmobiles in there. That isn’t what I was saying. I’m just saying as a former national park service director to help just further reinforce the fact that it is important that we just stay to the science. KURT: Of course, Ms. Mainella's latest view begs the question of why she didn't hold that position during her tenure as director. When I reached Ms. Mainella at Clemson University, where she’s a visiting scholar, she explained that as Park Service director she did not hold the final decision on snowmobiling in Yellowstone. MAINELLA: All I can say is that those decisions, I chose to have my discussions in the 'house' of the Department of Interior, so whether I agreed or disagreed was reflected in those meetings. Once a decision was made by the Department of Interior, I did come out and speak on behalf (of it) because I felt that was my responsibility in the position (as Park Service director). KURT: When I pressed her a bit later on whether she supported the science of those environmental studies conducted during her tenure, as she now says the Park Service and Interior Department should do in the saga’s latest chapter, Ms. Mainella had this to say: MAINELLA: We helped develop the new snow coaches to further enhance the improvement of snow-coach use in the national parks. Those were some of the things that we were able to do. But again, all I can tell you is that those decisions were decided at a level beyond our office. A pay grade higher than mine. KURT: Of course, Ms. Mainella’s newfound position begs another question: What does current Park Service Director Mary Bomar really favor in Yellowstone? When I sat down with her back in October she, too, voiced support for letting science guide on-the-ground decisions. BOMAR: When I came into the National Park Service, I didn't realize the in-depth that the good stewards in the national parks went to. Often, we'd be accused of studying things to death. If you didn't like the answer we'll do another study. But I will say over time that I've come to really appreciate that, that we make good decisions based on good information. KURT: Despite those words, don’t you still wonder whether science or politics are guiding snowmobiles in Yellowstone? SOUND: Snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park. KURT: At the National Parks Traveler, I’m Kurt Repanshek

At the new National Parks Traveler, Kurt Repanshek and I have as a goal to provide original multimedia content about our parks. It's an advantage of the web that we can bring you audio and video programs from time to time. As part of an ongoing series, we'll provide interviews with folks who have special insight on the parks. Today I have a conversation with Nancy Bandley. Nancy has accomplished something very few others have done, she has visited every single unit of the National Park Service, all 391 of them. On her travels to the parks, she collects park passport stamps, and is very involved in a large community of folks who do the same. When she's not on the road traveling, she has found time to write a series of articles about travel to Alaska's National Parks for our website. If you've ever collected those little stamps in the Visitor Center, I think you'll enjoy what Nancy's got to share today.