National Park After Dark - podcast cover

National Park After Dark

Audioboom Studiosnpadpodcast.com
Hosted by two friends who share a passion for the wilderness and a fascination with what can go wrong there, each week hosts Danielle and Cassie explore the darker side of our National Parks and explore these treasured places in a whole new way - because behind the iconic arches and towering trees lie layered histories, grisly encounters, extraordinary stories of survival, tragic ends and so much more. But it isn’t always chills and thrills. By sharing inspiring tales and their desire for protecting our planet’s wild places, they hope the show will inspire listeners to lace up their own hiking boots and take a walk into the wild to create meaningful adventures of their own.

Episodes

81: 69 - An Ode to Ian

Today we remember and honor the life of Danielle’s partner Ian along with all the smiles, laughs and immense love he left behind. We also discuss grief, in its many forms, and what life after death for the living can be like. Make sure you have your tissues for this one. We love you Ian. Ian’s GoFundMe Grief Support Recs: Terrible, Thanks for Asking. Good Mourning. Hey Spirit (Podcasts). Hot Young Widows Club (Book). TED Talk . 2023 Trips will go on sale Monday June 27th at 9am PST. Add your ema...

Jun 23, 202250 minEp. 81

80: Trail Tales 9

Today’s stories include guardian spirits, trail stalkers, and the elusive Washington pineapple. All stories shared with consent. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episode, bonus content and more. Follow our socials Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter . To...

Jun 20, 202249 minEp. 80

79: People of the Parks - Kathryn Miles

In May of 1996, Lollie Winans and Julie Williams headed to Shenandoah National Park on a backpacking trip. They were two avid outdoor women who were in love and celebrating their relationship, new jobs, and moving in together. Several days into their trip they went missing and eventually park rangers found that they had been brutally murdered. To this day the case has still not been solved and investigations have slowed down, until now. In this episode we speak to investigative journalist Kathry...

Jun 13, 20221 hr 9 minEp. 79

78: Premonition. Olympic National Park.

This month we take a trip back to Olympic National Park and get to know Jane Constantino – a young woman who lived life to the fullest. Her adventures and subsequent brushes with death led her to Washington state, all in the hopes of checking off an item on her list. Perhaps driven by an ominous premonition, Jane explored the world and experienced life while she still had time. Time, that was cut short – just as she thought it would be. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when ...

Jun 06, 202248 minEp. 78

77: People of the Parks - Rolf Peterson

For this People of the Park's Segment, we sit down with Dr. Rolf Peterson. Dr. Rolf Peterson is celebrated as a world authority on wolves and as an internationally recognized wildlife ecologist. We discuss his extensive and impressive career, conducting wolf and moose research in places like Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Yellowstone National Park, and Isle Royale National Park. If you haven't listened to episode 61 - Caught in the Crosshairs yet, you're going to want to for this one. Rolf Pete...

May 23, 202253 minEp. 77

76: Buried Alive in the Australian Outback.

Join us this week as we head into the Australian Outback. In 2006 Ricky Megee was offered a job on the opposite side of the country. He accepted and packed his bags for a 55 hour road trip to begin his new adventures. When he comes across a group of men broken down on the side of the road, inside Australia's most desolate countryside, he stops to help them. These men aren't broken down though and shortly after, he wakes up buried alive hundreds of miles from any civilization, in one of the most ...

May 16, 202257 minEp. 76

75: The Bone Collector. Effigy Mounds National Monument.

National Parks, as most places do, have rules. And for good reason. It is expected as visitors that we abide by them, and it is also expected that Park Rangers not only uphold them themselves, but enforce them. But what happens when they don’t? What happens when those whose objective is to preserve, protect and enhance - turn their back on those very commitments? Today we venture to Iowa, to Effigy Mounds National Monument – a place rich with cultural history. This monument is famous for its hun...

May 09, 20221 hr 1 minEp. 75

74: Trail Tales 8

Today’s stories include feisty goats, spooky skeptics, haunted trails, guardian angels and surviving a serial killer. (Outsiders – two bonus stories can be found on Patreon!) All stories shared with consent. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episode, bon...

May 05, 202244 minEp. 74

73: An Adventure Worth Dying For. Murchison Falls National Park.

Grab your lifejacket, a paddle, and your best dry-bag because this week we're heading to different countries throughout Africa to explore some of the best whitewater rapids in the world. We follow the extraordinary life of Hendrik Coetzee, an avid outdoorsman who finds his true love and passion on the white waters. Not only are these some of the best rapids in the world, they're also some of the most dangerous, and are filled with aggressive hippos and man-eating crocodiles. During his journey h...

May 02, 20221 hr 24 minEp. 73

72: A Martyr and a Murder. Everglades National Park.

In the late 1800's feathers were a huge fashion craze, to have them on your clothing was a signal of wealth and importance. To obtain these feathers, plume hunters decimated the fragile ecosystem and wading birds of the Everglades. The devastation caused an uproar and a call for conservation efforts to be put into place. Guy Bradley happily accepted the position as Game Warden and wildlife protector of the Everglades. He believed in the cause, and was willing to give his life for it. After his m...

Apr 25, 20221 hr 18 minEp. 72

71: Trail Tales 7

Today’s stories include gut instincts, haunted happenings, park magic, more signs from the universe and respectful run ins with predators. Patreon bonus stories involve bears, dogs and staying safe in bear country. All tales shared with consent. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon ...

Apr 21, 202240 minEp. 71

70: The Trailside Killer. Point Reyes National Seashore.

We turn to nature for so many reasons. To find peace, seek answers, to heal and more. It’s amazing what a simple walk in the woods can do for the soul and thus, why so many of us trek out into the wild in search of our own slice of magic. But not every person found in the forest is searching for the same. Some turn to nature not for magic, but to search for victims. Today we discuss the crimes of The Trailside Killer, who terrorized the trails and claimed the lives of at least 10 people in Natio...

Apr 18, 20221 hr 19 minEp. 70

69: Caught in the Crosshairs. Yellowstone National Park.

The relationship humans have with animals stretches back thousands of years. Animals provide us joy and companionship, can be the source of sadness or elicit fear. They can be our closest friends or our fiercest enemies, but out of all the species we share our planet with, there is one that evokes a greater range of human emotion than any other. An animal who has divided us and also unified us. Join us on another journey to Danielle’s favorite park, Yellowstone, where she shares the story of the...

Apr 11, 20222 hr 30 minEp. 69

68: Trail Tales 6

Today’s stories include stumbling across a body, cries for help, a ghostly encounter, camping in a graveyard, Icelandic lore, and a scary encounter … with a chicken? All tales shared with consent. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episode, bonus content ...

Apr 07, 202242 minEp. 68

67: Great Smoky Mountains Murder.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in America. When park rangers discover a jeep that has crashed off the side of the road, they investigate. When they find a man inside who is deceased, they immediately suspect foul play. Their investigation brings them down a long family line of money, drugs, and death. In this twisted tale of a horrible fate, greed is the motive. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy t...

Apr 04, 20221 hr 7 minEp. 67

66: In Dog We Trust. Iditarod National Historic Trail.

Bundle up it your warmest gear, because today we head to Alaska to discover the roots of the Iditarod National Historic Trail. Currently most infamous for “The Last Great Race on Earth” this trail was blazed by courageous people and our most loyal companions. The Iditarod is synonymous with sled dogs, but you may be surprised to learn the origin story you remember – isn’t entirely accurate. Come along as we uncover the true story of the Iditarod and celebrate its underdogs – both human and anima...

Mar 28, 20221 hr 2 minEp. 66

65: What is Buried Beneath the Sea? Biscayne National Park. (February Patreon Release)

Originally posted last month to Patreon for February’s bonus episode, in honor of Black History Month, we dive (literally) into an important and heartbreaking story which has been largely lost to time. This week we bring it to the surface, have difficult conversations and discuss the efforts the NPS, independent diving groups and historians have taken to rediscover what was lost to history and to the elements in order to honor its story in the present. Videos discussed in this episode: The Guerr...

Mar 24, 20221 hr 1 minEp. 65

64: Britain's Worst Caving Disaster. Yorkshire Dales National Park.

In June of 1967 10 people headed into the Mossdale Caverns, a cave system known for being dangerous and unexplored. These caver's mission was to explore unmapped passages and reveal new caving systems. When thunderstorms and torrential down pours suddenly flood the tunnels, the largest rescue mission in Britain's history ensues. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe f...

Mar 21, 202255 minEp. 64

63: Where Was Walton? Sitgreaves National Forest.

Tickets to Spirited Stays: The Crescent Hotel HERE ! As humans, we have spent millennia advancing to this very moment. We have more collective knowledge and advancements in technology today than we ever have before. We have a lot of things figured out. We are comfortable, and for the most part, we are in control. But what if that all changed? What if something came along that flipped your world and the understanding of it, upside down? Today we head to Sitgreaves National Forest, to the location...

Mar 14, 20221 hr 7 minEp. 63

62: Abandon. National Park Ghost Towns.

Join us this week as we venture around the US to different National Parks. First stop is Cuyahoga National Park. A park that holds a lot of history and is a staple for conservation and restoration of it's resources. Here lies an abandon ghost town, where people were forced to vacate. Now all that is left are their homes and businesses, boarded up and abandon. Next we head to Wrangell St. Elias National Park in Alaska. The place of a once upon of time booming mining town. Today, it sits in the be...

Mar 07, 202258 minEp. 62

61: Trail Tales 5

Today’s stories include bones in the desert, how mountain biking solved a cold case, witnessing a volcanic eruption, a run in with a serial killers long lost friend, disembodied chants, an unwelcome nightly visitor and signs from the universe. All tales shared with consent. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of ou...

Mar 03, 202238 minEp. 61

60: People of the Parks – Andrea Lankford

For our second installment of People of the Parks segment, we sit down with Andrea Lankford. We discuss her career in the NPS in units including The Grand Canyon and Yosemite, her celebrated literary works such as Ranger Confidential and her astonishing outdoor accomplishments. We talk about what it is like being a woman in the outdoors, how to be safe, and encourage all women to get outside. An avid believer in outdoor exploration, Andrea is an advocate of solo ventures for all. We love our Nat...

Feb 28, 202240 minEp. 60

59: Legend Has It. Nahanni National Park Reserve.

Who doesn’t love a good legend? Stories of vanished civilizations, ancient beasts and long-lost gold sink their hooks into us and leaving us wanting more. Legends that allude to things that are lost are exciting because they suggest at one point, they must have been discovered … and could quite possibly be found once again. This week we are back in Canada, in one of the most beautiful and least visited National Parks in North America to discuss some of the many legends it holds. Is there any tru...

Feb 21, 20221 hr 2 minEp. 59

58: The Graveyard of the Pacific. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Have you ever wondered why some trails are created? In Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the coast of Vancouver Island, is the West Coast Trail. A beautiful trail that attracts backpackers from all over the world every single year. It is full of lush greenery, beaches, and exciting wildlife. It's the perfect place to escape to for an adventure. But this trail wasn't created for backpackers. It was created for a different reason, to rescue survivors of shipwrecks off the coast. Here lives some...

Feb 14, 20221 hr 5 minEp. 58

57: Trail Tales 4

Today's stories include glitches in the matrix, near misses with cougars, disembodied screams in an archeological site and potential Bigfoot encounters. All stories shared with consent . We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episode, bonus content and more. ...

Feb 10, 202245 minEp. 57

56: Dying for the Cause. Yosemite National Park

In today’s episode we head back to Yosemite to have a debate. National Parks were created “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”, but what happens when that enjoyment is restricted? BASE jumping is the most dangerous sport in the world, but that doesn’t stop people from wanting to pursue it. National Parks are some of the best (and safest) places to enjoy the sport, but it’s illegal. Today we talk about the history of the sport, the reasons the NPS have prohibited it and those who have su...

Feb 07, 20221 hr 11 minEp. 56

55: She Who Shapes the Sacred Land. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Grab your sunscreen, cameras and hiking shoes, this week we are heading to the incredibly diverse and magical landscapes of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. As we walk into these rainforests and barren volcanic landscapes, you can feel the mana, spiritual power, that lives here. Pele, the most revered goddess of Hawaiian Mythology, is to thank for the creation of these little islands. She has the power to destroy them and to create life. She is the spirit behind the two most active volcanoes in ...

Jan 31, 202245 minEp. 55

54: Murder, Mystery and Medicine. Holyrood Royal Park.

In 1836 a discovery of 17 miniature coffins in Holyrood Royal Park in Scotland sparked a heated debate. Who created them, and what did the represent? Theories abound, but today we go back in time to explore one of the most widely accepted theories out there - that they represent the victims of the famed serial killers William Burke and William Hare. Youtube Video discussed about the coffins can be found here We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to...

Jan 24, 20221 hr 13 minEp. 54

53: The Daring Escape of Ellen and William Craft. Boston African American National Historic Site.

This week we are traveling back in time to the 1800s. Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we are taking a deep dive into one story in black history. We follow Freedom Seekers Ellen and William Craft on their 1,000 mile journey to the north. After being enslaved their entire lives, they decide to risk everything to find freedom and create a life they always wanted. It's not an easy journey, as Ellen disguises herself as a white male and William's enslaver. They face many challenges and peopl...

Jan 17, 20221 hr 14 minEp. 53

52: The Man-Made Man-Eater. Jim Corbett National Park.

This week we cover the story of the Champawat tiger, the most deadly animal on record. In this week's episode Danielle tells us the tragic tale of this tiger, the lives she claimed and how it all began. A morbid story no doubt, but there is so much more to it than that. Underneath its terrifying outer skin, this story has layers of discussion regarding the repercussions of irresponsible wild land management, a sobering history of hunting in India and consequences of our collective actions - but ...

Jan 10, 20221 hr 19 minEp. 52