Parkography

One week in, we have a clear as mud idea about which National Parks and areas of parks are open and which aren't. In this episode, I'll show you where to find the most up to date info, and former National Park Superintendents share with us some more details about how a shutdown works and the concerns over protecting parks during one. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

This week’s National Parks & Public Lands News Roundup covers the impending federal government shutdown and its affect on National Parks, an expansion of coal mining on federal lands, the re-opening of the north rim of the Grand Canyon, vandalism at Gettysburg, and more. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction 01:48 Impact of Government Shutdown on National Parks 02:37 State Responses and Historical Context 03:30 Concerns and Appeals from Park Officials 05:44 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove 06:22 Grand Canyon North Rim Reopening 08:18 Vandalism at Gettysburg National Military Park 09:01 White Nose Syndrome Detected in Bats 10:02 Federal Land Coal Leasing Announcement 10:26 National Park Service Concessionaire Opportunities 11:41 Conclusion

This week’s National Parks & Public Lands News Roundup covers some big and controversial stories: Reports that slavery- and racism-related exhibits are being removed from multiple National Park Service sites following a new Interior Department directive. A proposal to create “Florida Springs National Park” is facing growing opposition. The Interior Department’s plan to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule. The launch of a brand-new U.S. Wildland Fire Service to modernize wildfire response. A major water system failure at Mount Rainier’s Paradise Inn. A tragic fatality at Grand Canyon National Park. Zion National Park reopening its Weeping Rock Trail. And finally… why Yellowstone’s geysers have coughed up more than 300 hats (plus some bizarre bonus items). Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:46 Controversial Removal of Slavery Exhibits 03:37 Debate Over Florida Springs National Park 06:36 Changes at the Bureau of Land Management 08:17 New US Wildland Fire Service 09:16 Mount Rainier Water System Failure 10:11 Grand Canyon Incident 10:58 Zion National Park Reopens Weeping Rock Trail 11:44 Yellowstone's Lost and Found 12:59 Conclusion and Farewell

At the edge of Utah and Colorado, where canyons plunge and rivers carve through stone, lies Dinosaur National Monument — a place known today for Jurassic fossils and wild rivers. But hidden within its history is the story of a woman who lived on the frontier with grit, resilience, and ties to some of the West’s most notorious outlaws. This episode of Parkography explores the life of Josie Bassett Morris — rancher, homesteader, friend (and sometimes lover) of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch — who carved out a life of independence in one of the harshest landscapes of the American West. From her outlaw entanglements in Brown’s Park to her rugged cabin at Cub Creek, Josie’s story is one of resilience, hardship, and defiance. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​

Law enforcement rangers cleared an illegal cannabis grow in Sequoia National Park, where they found thousands of plants, toxic chemicals, and major environmental damage. A new national park could be coming to Florida—legislation has been introduced to study the creation of “Florida Springs National Park.” Workers at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon have voted overwhelmingly to unionize, joining a growing movement across the Park Service. Plus: new hunting and fishing opportunities at wildlife refuges, the Maurice Bathhouse restoration at Hot Springs, a fruitless year at Capitol Reef’s orchards, and more. The NPS report, via National Parks Traveler: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/sites/default/files/attachments/nps_staffing_impact_data_july_2025_-_copy.xlsx Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

Everyone knows about America’s 13 original colonies… but did you know there was almost a 14th? In 1775, a private land deal known as The Transylvania Purchase sought to create a brand-new colony in the rugged mountains where Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee meet. Frontiersman Daniel Boone carved the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap, opening America’s first true gateway to the West. But the plan was tangled in conflict with Indigenous nations, colonial governments, and the Revolution itself. In this episode of Parkography, Jason explores the rise and fall of the Colony of Transylvania, the battles that defined it, and how the Cumberland Gap went from a dangerous frontier to a National Historical Park that tells the story of America’s earliest westward expansion. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​

A ranger stabbed in a Colorado state park, hundreds exposed to rabies at Grand Teton, Isle Royale wolf put down, plus updates on hurricane closures, statue restoration, peak renaming, and more national park news. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction 00:07 Colorado Park Ranger Stabbing Incident 00:59 Rabies Exposure at Jackson Lake Lodge 02:24 Rabid Raccoon at Delaware Water Gap 03:01 Wolf Issues at Isle Royal National Park 04:38 Sponsored by Slinky Stove 05:15 Restoration of Albert Pike Statue 06:12 Mount Woodring Name Change 08:01 Hurricane Erin Impact on East Coast Parks 09:20 Reopening of Black Canyon of the Gunnison 10:30 Grand Canyon Fire Update 10:50 Yosemite Ranger Fired Over Trans Pride Flag 12:27 Conclusion

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir embarked on a legendary three-day camping trip through Yosemite. Away from politics and public life, they huddled under the stars, explored the towering sequoias, and shared a vision that would change the future of America’s wild places. This unforgettable meeting is often credited with sparking the modern conservation movement—leading to the expansion of national parks and permanent protection for some of our most treasured landscapes. Join us as we retrace their journey, uncover the stories behind their conversations, and explore how a few nights in the wilderness helped shape the course of American environmental history. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

At Petrified Forest National Park, a strange phenomenon has persisted for decades: people from all over the world mailing back pieces of petrified wood they stole—along with heartfelt apology notes. These “conscience letters” speak of bad luck, misfortune, and regret. But is the so-called curse real, or just a product of guilt? In this episode of Parkography, we explore the fascinating history behind the curse of the Petrified Forest and the power of a national park to stir the conscience. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

In this episode, we cover the Trump administration's reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and its impact on the US Forest Service, as well as ongoing wildfires, including the Dragon Bravo fire at the Grand Canyon, and debunk myths about animals fleeing Yellowstone. We'll also discuss significant land acquisitions in Texas that will lead to the establishment of new state parks, a tragic incident at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas, a Netflix series set in Yosemite, and much more. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography 00:00 Introduction 00:08 US Forest Service Reorganization 01:49 Interior Department Job Cuts 02:57 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove 03:36 Muir Woods Exhibit Removal 04:17 Bear Incidents and Safety 05:13 Yellowstone Animal Rumors 07:15 Lake Powell Water Levels 07:40 New Shark Species Discovery 08:02 Wildfire Updates 11:05 Texas State Parks Expansion 11:56 Arkansas Hiking Tragedy 12:35 Netflix Show Set in Yosemite 13:33 Conclusion and Farewell  

In Michigan, the country’s second National Park would be established in 1875, only to be redesignated just twenty years later as the state’s first State Park. Likewise, a cave named for its position overlooking the trail of Lewis and Clark would begin its protected life as an early National Monument before later joining a growing number of State Parks in the United States. And in Oklahoma, a former National Park remains preserved under the jurisdiction of the Park Service, providing key insight into the conversation of how and why we protect the places that we do for generations to come.  Join us as we explore three parks you won’t find in your National Park Service  Passport: Mackinac National Park, Lewis and Clark Cavern National Monument, and Platt National Park.  Written by Lizzie Tesch Hosted by Jason Epperson Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​

Deep within Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, one can find so much more than rock formations. The shale-capped mass of 400 known miles of caverns holds the history of America, told by the Black enslaved cave guides that made it one of the country's top tourist attractions, then and now.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography  

In this week's episode, a controversial provision to sell off over a million acres of public land has been blocked, but significant cuts to National Park funding are still proceeding. We cover the construction of a massive migrant detention center inside a national preserve, sparking legal actions and protests. Yellowstone's iconic hot spring tragically claims the life of a bison, and new signs asking visitors to report negative information about Americans are causing quite a stir. We also bring you critical safety updates from Rocky Mountain National Park, the transition to cashless payment systems at two parks, and more. Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Controversial Public Land Sales Blocked 02:27 Rescinding the Roadless Rule 03:28 New National Park Signage Sparks Protests 04:45 Migrant Detention Center in National Preserve 06:15 National Parks Move to Cashless Payments 07:36 Tragic Bison Incident at Yellowstone 09:41 Safety Updates from Rocky Mountain National Park 10:28 White Nose Syndrome in Bats 11:28 Ken Burns' American Revolution Series 12:59 Conclusion

Just steps from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall lies the barely visible foundation of a house that once held the weight of a revolution, a presidency—and a deep contradiction. This week on Parkography, we uncover the story of the President’s House in Philadelphia, a mansion that passed through the hands of a British general, a colonial governor, a wealthy financier, a traitorous American officer, and two U.S. presidents. But beneath its grand halls and bowed windows lived another story—one of enslaved people fighting silently for their own freedom in the shadow of a nation proclaiming liberty for all. Join Jason Epperson as he walks through the rubble and history of the forgotten home at Sixth and Market, where the founding of the United States unfolded brick by brick—and where the legacy of freedom remains unfinished. Written by Lizzie Tesch Hosted by Jason Epperson Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​

In 1870, Truman Everts set out as part of an exploration of the Yellowstone wilderness. What followed was a harrowing 37-day survival story filled with fire, frostbite, mountain lions, and near starvation. Lost, alone, and presumed dead, Everts defied all odds to become one of Yellowstone’s most legendary figures. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

In this episode, an update on the dramatic hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin, the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal for the National Park Service, and the opening of Voyager's National Park's Crane Lake Visitor Center. Also, Denali National Park's live puppy cam is back, and Disney announces a new Piston Peak National Park-themed expansion at Magic Kingdom.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography 00:00 Introduction 00:07 Yellowstone's Hydrothermal Explosion 03:08 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove 03:47 Trump Administration's Budget Proposal 05:53 Controversial Directives on Public Lands 07:50 Voyager's National Park New Visitor Center 08:24 Denali National Park Puppy Cam 09:12 Disney's New National Park Themed Land 10:17 Conclusion

A $50 bet turned into a six-day national spectacle atop Devils Tower: The bizarre true story of George Hopkins—the daredevil parachutist who leapt onto the summit of America’s first national monument... and couldn’t get down. Stranded on the iconic rock formation for nearly a week, Hopkins sparked a media frenzy, drew thousands of spectators, and prompted wild rescue offers from blimps to military helicopters—all thanks to a friendly wager. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

Massive job cuts at the National Park Service are paused while contract approval at the US Forest Service is slowing cleaning and maintenance. A bear that can flip 800lb dumpsters is euthanized, hunting and fishing are expanded in wildlife refuges, and a hiker tells her harrowing tale of being lost for 24 days, surviving on wild leeks and boiled snow. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Comment on federal regulations here: https://www.regulations.gov/

In this episode of Parkography, I sit down with Chris Greer and Paul Daniel, the adventurous creators behind the PBS series View Finders. We dive into their creative journeys, the challenges of capturing the perfect shot in the wild, and their mission to inspire a deeper connection to nature through their work. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just someone who loves the call of the wild, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Hosted By: Jason Epperson Guests: Chris Greer: https://www.instagram.com/pauldaniel5010/ Paul Daniel: https://www.instagram.com/pauldaniel5010/ View Finders on PBS: https://www.pbs.org/show/view-finders/ View Finders on Instagram: @viewfinderstv Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography  

In this National Park and Public Lands news roundup, we dive into the proposed 38% budget cut for the National Park Service, which could lead to the removal of some sites from the system. We cover the Interior Department's leaked plans to allow drilling, mining, and selling off federal land, as well as the potential reopening of Alcatraz as a federal prison. Updates on Yosemite's summer reservations, a tragic crash near Yellowstone, various park closures, and more. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:35 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove 01:22 Trump Administration's Budget Proposal for National Parks 03:09 Leaked Interior Department Plan for Federal Lands 04:20 National Monuments and Endangered Species 05:15 House Appropriations Bill and National Park Funding 07:18 Staffing Issues and USACE Campground Closures 11:26 Yosemite Summer Reservations 13:01 Tragic Crash Near Yellowstone 13:41 Theft at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park 14:24 Jackson Hole Airport Achieves Dark Sky Status 15:18 Conclusion