Hosted by two friends who share a passion for public lands and a fascination with what can go wrong there, each week hosts Danielle and Cassie explore the darker side of our National Parks. But it isn’t always chills and thrills. By sharing inspiring tales and their desire for protecting our planet’s wild places, they hope listeners will be inspired to take a walk into the wild and create meaningful adventures of their own.
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In June 1972, 23-year-old Harry Walker left Alabama for the adventure of a lifetime. Days after arriving in Yellowstone National Park, he was killed by a grizzly bear. Harry's death exposed decades of controversial bear management practices and sparked a legal battle against the federal government. At the center of it all was a question that Yellowstone had been struggling to answer for generations: how do you keep bears wild while keeping people safe? For a full list of our sources, visit npadp...
Today’s stories includes campsite sabotage, bigfoot gaslighting, Yosemite Valley spookiness, type 3 fun, finding belonging, and titanic-ing in Voyageurs National Park. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! Connect with LGBTQ Outdoors!! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and r...
In June of 1987, 16 year old Theresa Ann Bier vanished while on a camping trip outside of Yosemite National Park. The man who accompanied her, 43-year-old Russell “Skip” Welch, returned alone days later with a startling story - Bigfoot took her. For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Su...
On the shores of Vermont’s Lake Champlain in the summer of 1968, two camp counselors watched a glowing craft descend over the dark water before losing hours of time they could never explain. What followed were terrifying dreams, recovered memories, hypnosis sessions, and claims of telepathic contact that would haunt them for decades. Known today as the Buff Ledge abduction case, the encounter became one of New England’s most chilling and heavily investigated UFO cases. For a full list of our sou...
Today’s stories include ghost grandpas, tent crushes, trail angels and spooky flavored lore. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts . Want to see our faces? Ca...
Looming over St. Augustine, Castillo de san Marcos, the oldest stone masonry fort in the country, has drawn paranormal enthusiasts from far and wide. With over three centuries of history, the fort has seen its fair share of tragedy. Spanish battles, sordid affairs, indigenous internment and more have led to a plethora of ghost stories - today’s episode delves into the truth behind the legends. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group trave...
Serial killers. Unsolved murders. Investigations that gripped America. If you think you know these cases, think again. America's Most Infamous Crimes is a Crime House original hosted by Katie Ring. Each week, we go deep on one of the most notorious true-crime cases in American history. Not the quick recap version, but the full story told across multiple episodes every Tuesday through Thursday. From the serial killers who terrorized entire cities to the cold cases that still don't have answers, t...
A couple heads out for a picnic, but everything changes when they’re attacked by masked strangers and taken deep into the wilderness of Alpine National Park. Their disappearance sparks a massive search, but as police begin investigating, strange details start to emerge, and suspicion grows that something far more calculated than originally believed may be behind it… possibly even a cult. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel deta...
Today’s stories include pussy poltergeists, wholesome hauntings, cobbler killers and horrible first impressions. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts . Want ...
Henno Martin and Hermann Korn were two German-born geologists conducting research in present-day Namibia when World War II broke out. Instead of facing internment or being forced into a war they did not believe in, these two friends loaded up a truck with their dog Otto and some basic survival supplies and set out to escape the war by surviving off the land in the harsh Namib desert. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details,...
Every Mother’s Day, hundreds of climbers hike up Mount St. Helens wearing bright and elaborate dresses, a tradition that’s fun and easy to laugh at. However, behind this celebration is the story of Kathy Phibbs, a bold climber who helped create space for women in the mountains. When a winter climb on Washington’s Dragontail Peak goes wrong, a legacy that’s as inspiring as it is heartbreaking is left behind, and a tradition that celebrates the strength of women is carried forward. For a full list...
Today’s stories include full moons, lost partners, foam to the face, and getting high in God’s Country. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts . Want to see ou...
This episode recounts the catastrophic 1903 Frank Slide, where 100 million tons of rock from Turtle Mountain buried a thriving Canadian mining town, killing 70 people. It explores the town's boom, the geological factors, ignored indigenous warnings, and the harrowing stories of survivors, including miners trapped underground and those who lost entire families. The episode also highlights modern monitoring efforts and the disaster's lasting legacy, including an educational program and a historic hotel.
Across California, incarcerated women are sent to the frontlines of wildfires, risking their lives for a chance at reduced sentences and a small paycheck. On Malibu 13-3, an all-women fire crew, the work was brutal, the stakes were high, and the bond between crew members ran deep. When a falling boulder killed one of their own, it exposed the reality behind the program, the risks, the lack of protection, and the lives forever changed in its wake. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast...
Today we are joined by Aylish and Annaliese from the National Park Trust! They speak to us about all the wonderful programs the NPT facilitates while also helping us share trail tales that include thieving bears, grandpa lore, wise 5th graders, bison close encounters and the healing power of nature. Learn more and support the National Park Trust Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
This episode delves into the mysterious death of Bianca Rudolph during a 2016 hunting trip in Kafue National Park, initially deemed an accidental shooting. However, a web of deceit unfolds, revealing her husband Larry's long-standing affair with an office manager, his history of insurance fraud, and violent outbursts. The FBI's investigation ultimately uncovers forensic evidence contradicting Larry's claims, leading to his conviction for Bianca's murder and mail fraud, leaving their children to fight for their rightful inheritance.
Acadia, it’s just not for everyone! Today we are joined by sibling hosts Christine and Xandy Schiefer of Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet to visit some of the most loved, and apparently loathed, locations in the park. WE WERE NOMINATED FOR A WEBBY! VOTE FOR US HERE BY APRIL 16TH! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outside...
Today’s stories include silent fury, collecting clouds, Titanic misses, cougar snacks, haunted Maine, and late night cheesy bread. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! WE WERE NOMINATED FOR A WEBBY! VOTE FOR US HERE BY APRIL 16TH! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and recei...
This episode recounts John Muir's challenging 1880 expedition to Glacier Bay National Park with Tlingit guides and a small dog, Stickine. Initially dismissive, Muir witnesses Stickine's extraordinary courage during a severe storm on Brady Glacier, forcing him to reevaluate his perception of animal consciousness. The hosts also discuss Muir's complex legacy, the impact of climate change on Glacier Bay, and share personal reflections on animal empathy.
In 1989, 23-year-old Duncan MacPherson vanished from an Austrian ski resort. His parents, Linda and Bob, spent 14 years tirelessly searching, only for his body to be found in a melting glacier, revealing a web of official dismissals and suspicious circumstances. The episode explores their fight for justice against a community seemingly protecting its vital tourism industry, presenting a compelling theory of a snowcat grooming machine accident and subsequent cover-up.
Today’s stories all have a theme - rangers! We are joined by former US Forest Service field ranger Liz Crandall to chat between the tales about the current state of public lands, what challenges they are facing - and more importantly, how we can help and keep hope alive. Rangers of the Lost Park: Instagram Rangers of the Lost Park: Website Get involved with Conservation Lands Foundation: Here Resistance Rangers Instagram Take Action for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Take Action to ...
During World War II, the United States government rounded up over 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens, and sent them to remote incarceration camps across the western United States for suspected disloyalty. One of those camps was Manzanar, located in the harsh desert of eastern California. When a popular community leader was arrested without explanation, thousands of incarcerated residents gathered in protest, sparking what we now know as the Manzanar Uprising, which left ...
Today’s episode is unlike any other we have done before! We will be speaking to Alissa Smith Moore, an evidential medium and spiritual intuitive. She answers your questions about her gift, what she has learned on her journey and how we can all connect to our loved ones - who never quite leave us. Alissa’s Website Alissa’s Social Media For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nat...
Danielle and Cassie share several listener "Trail Tales," starting with an intense backpacking and kayaking trip in Patagonia, complete with getting lost in the dark and close calls. The episode continues with an amusing account of mistaking a giant marmot for a terrifying mountain lion in Rocky Mountain National Park, sparking a discussion on preparedness. Listeners also hear inspiring stories of disability advocates fighting for accessibility in national parks and a touching encounter with a legendary park ranger at Guadalupe Peak. Finally, a solo night hike after a tough breakup leads to unexpected clarity and a comical scare.
In 1988, Claudia Brenner and Rebecca White were brutally attacked on the Appalachian Trail in a homophobic hate crime that left Rebecca dead and Claudia severely wounded. Despite her extensive injuries, Claudia survived and bravely worked with law enforcement, initially concealing her sexuality due to societal prejudice. Her subsequent advocacy led to significant changes in hate crime legislation and challenged stereotypes within the justice system, transforming a personal tragedy into a powerful fight for LGBTQ+ rights and recognition.
Welcome to National Park After Dark. Join us every week as we explore the dark side of our beloved National Parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This episode recounts the harrowing 1909 Greenland expedition of Ejnar Mikkelsen and Iver Iverson, who sought lost records to prove Greenland was a single landmass for Denmark. Stranded for years in the Arctic's largest national park, they faced starvation, polar bear attacks, and mental unraveling. Their story highlights human endurance against extreme isolation and nature's unforgiving power.
Today’s stories include haunted cabins, fake moose, symbolic dragonflies, probable alien abductions and a whole lot of yapping. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Appl...
This episode takes listeners on a ghostly road trip along the legendary Route 66, exploring various historic sites from Illinois to California. From Abraham Lincoln's family home to the Landers Theater and the opulent Overholser Mansion, each stop reveals tales of tragic pasts, unexplained phenomena, and lingering spirits. The journey also highlights the cultural significance of the "Mother Road" and ongoing efforts to preserve its rich history and captivating lore.
Sophia Koetsier's disappearance in Murchison Falls National Park is shrouded in mystery, with initial investigations hindered by assumptions and an unsecured scene. Despite authorities focusing on accidental death, the unusual placement of her belongings and the discovery of unidentified male DNA suggest foul play. Her family relentlessly seeks answers, facing financial obstacles and fighting to keep her story alive, hoping a reward will bring clarity to the ten-year-old cold case.