National Parks Traveler Podcast | Trail of the Lost

National Parks Traveler Podcast | Trail of the Lost

Author: Kurt Repanshek October 20, 2024 Duration: 42:58

The National Trail System in the United States spans many thousands of miles of foot trail. The crown jewels of that system, of course, are the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail.

While the adventurous might look at those long trails and set their sights on hiking one end from end, not all manage to complete the journey. Many become disillusioned after days spent hiking in the rain, or because they become homesick, or because of the blisters that sprout on their feet.

And some simply vanish. Today we're joined by New York Times Bestselling author Andrea Lankford to talk about her book, Trail of the Lost, the Relentless Search to Bring home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail. It's an incredible story Andrea has researched and woven together around three young men seemingly determined to go end to end on that trail. 


There's a world of stories waiting beyond the park entrance sign, and the National Parks Traveler Podcast is your audio guide to them. Led by Kurt Repanshek, this series goes deeper than trail maps and visitor statistics. It connects the natural wonder you experience firsthand with the crucial, often unseen work happening behind the scenes-the science informing conservation, the cultural histories embedded in the landscape, and the policy decisions that will shape these places for future generations. As the audio companion to the editorially independent nonprofit media organization, this podcast delivers a thoughtful blend of on-the-ground reports, interviews with researchers and park staff, and nuanced discussions about the challenges and triumphs in managing protected areas. You'll hear the sounds of the parks and the voices of the people dedicated to them. Each episode is an invitation to better understand the complex tapestry of ecology, history, and society that makes every national park far more than a scenic destination. Tune in for a regular dose of insight that will deepen your appreciation and perhaps even shape your next journey into America's most treasured public lands.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

National Parks Traveler Podcast
Podcast Episodes
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Campaign for the Parks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:44
It was back in 1967 when the Congress chartered the National Park Foundation to serve as the official charity of the National Park Service, and over the decades it has raised millions of dollars for the parks. The Founda…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Miserable Mammoth Cave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:33
Have you ever been to Mammoth Cave National Park? It's really not that impressive, is it. Sure, it's more than 425 miles long, but only about 10 miles are open to the public. Mammoth Cave is indeed a big, dark hole in th…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Climate Change Impacts on Acadia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:08
From Maine to Florida, coastal units of the National Park System are being impacted in various ways by the changing climate. Some of the impacts affect wildlife, some natural resources, and some the human populations who…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Lassen Peak's Volcanics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:09
When you hear the word volcano, where in the world do you think of? Mount Vesuvious in Italy? Mount Fuji in Japan? Maybe Cotopaxi in Ecuador? Do you ever think of Lassen Peak? The National Park System is full of volcanoe…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Save the Manatee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:31
Manatees are some of the most unusual looking wildlife creatures that you'll find in coastal units of the National Park System, places like Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park and Cumberland Island National…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Grizzly Confidential [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:35
What is it about grizzly bears that intrigues us, or scares us? They are magnificent apex predators that long have been vilified by some while admired by others. Enter the National Park System and you often will find you…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Investigating Recreation.gov [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:33
One of the most troublesome aspects of heading out into national parks, national forests, and other federal lands for camping, paddling, or climbing – as well as many other recreational pursuits – is the rising tide of f…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Coastal Climate Change Impacts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:53
Along 1,600 miles of the Eastern Seaboard, from Maine to Florida, sea level rise, subsidence, and more potent storms are challenging the National Park Service to figure out how best to protect wildlife and their habitats…
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Reporting from Cape Hatteras [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:43
There is never a shortage of stories to follow across the National Park System, whether you're in the West at Olympic National Park, the Northeast at Acadia National Park, or the Southwest at Grand Canyon National Park.…