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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Bridget Biddy Mason was forced to walk from Mississippi to California when her enslaver followed Mormon leader Brigham Young to the west. While others rode in wagons or on horseback, she walked the entire way while caring for her newborn baby. Her story is one of survival, courage, and strength that results in her becoming one of the most successful and wealthiest black women of her time. For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our soci...
Today’s stories include naked rescues, unfortunate events, dumb Americans, magical moments, eerie encounters and signs of encouragement. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! 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 or Apple Subscriptions to gain acce...
When a rafting trip goes wrong deep in the remote wilderness of Alaska, a father and son fight for their lives. With limited supplies the pair have to battle the elements, wildlife and themselves in order to survive. 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 Pat...
This episode recounts the chilling 1924 Lava Lake Murders in Deschutes National Forest, where three fur trappers were found brutally murdered and hidden beneath the ice. The investigation uncovered a deserted cabin, blood-stained evidence, and a harrowing hypothesis of multiple attackers. The manhunt for the prime suspect, Charles Kimsey, a dangerous fugitive with a violent past, spanned years. Despite strong circumstantial evidence linking Kimsey to the victims' furs, he was ultimately only convicted for an earlier attempted murder and prison escape, leaving the triple homicide officially unsolved.
As a follow up to last episode, we sit down for a chat with one of Danielle’s oldest friends - Tyler, who has first hand experience with a wilderness therapy program in Utah. He was blindfolded and taken out into the desert, where he became the first to “escape” the program. 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 a...
Wilderness Therapy – some praise it, others shame it. In the 1980’s Steve Cartisano created the Challenger Foundation, the wilderness therapy camp that promised to reform wayward teens. It seemed like a perfect solution for concerned parents until kids experienced abuse and others died while in camp care. Today we venture to Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument to understand how Hell Camp earned its name. For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npad...
Illegal marijuana operations are popping up around National Parks in West, and they're worth millions of dollars. We examine the impact of these operations and stories that have lead to arrests and fatalities. 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...
Today’s stories include haunted school houses, questionable disappearances, LSD UFO sightings, bear dances, keeping traditions and no gear - just vibes. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! 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 or Apple Subscripti...
In May of 2014 two 12-year-old girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, lured their friend Payton Leutner into the woods and stabbed her 19 times - all in an attempt to appease a fictional horror character. Follow along as we discuss what the media dubbed “The Slenderman Stabbing”. 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 Outsi...
The Copper Mining Strike of 1913 is one of the most violent in US History. When strikers throw a Christmas Eve Party for their families and children, 73 people end up dead when someone falsely yells "fire!". 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 A...
Today’s stories include horsey adversaries, near death experiences, best burro friends, ghostly smells, unseen predators, suddenly appearing underwear and playing dead. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! 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 or ...
It’s here, it’s happening - Danielle finally gets to talk about the Titanic .. kind of. Today’s episode will introduce you to the real woman behind The Unsinkable Molly Brown, a self proclaimed “daughter of adventure”. For this episode Danielle visited the Molly Brown house in Denver’s Capitol Hill for guided tours (three times in one week) to get you the full scoop on her extraordinary life and the ghostly happenings in her home following her death. For the latest NPAD updates, group travel det...
Today we tell the story of Ishi, the last surviving member of the Yahi people. The Gold Rush of California brought on the mass murder of Ishi's people and indigenous groups throughout the state. After years of surviving alone in the foothills of Lassen Volcanic, he came out of hiding, certain he would be killed just as his family had been. Interactive native land map: native-land.ca For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: I...
After Brad was diagnosed with late onset epilepsy, he and his epilepsy alert service dog Ranger decided to set off on a journey across the US National Park system to prove that living with a disability shouldn't stand as a barrier to accessibility, because the outdoors are for everyone. You can follow Brad and Ranger’s journeys @ rangerlovestravel Learn about the NPS America the Beautiful Interagency Access Pass HERE For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us o...
Part three of the Starved Rock murders saga delves into the controversies surrounding Chester Weger's confession, revealing inconsistencies with physical evidence and allegations of coercion by law enforcement, including a “dirty cop.” The episode introduces alternative theories, such as a mob hit linked to “Smokey” Rona and a possible murder-for-hire plot involving one of the victim's husbands, supported by an overheard phone call and a detailed confession. As DNA testing is currently underway, the case continues to divide the community, leaving the ultimate truth about Weger's guilt or innocence hanging in the balance, amidst questions about evidence contamination and the reliability of Weger's shifting narratives.
This episode, part two of the Starved Rock murders, meticulously dissects the investigation, challenging the established timeline and the evidence used to convict Chester Weger. It highlights conflicting eyewitness accounts, photographic evidence discrepancies, and problematic legal procedures of the era regarding withheld information. The hosts introduce other suspicious individuals, including a troubled youth and the lodge owner's son, whose alibis, behavior, and even mysterious death raise further questions about Weger's sole culpability.
Today’s stories include evil raccoons, love for law enforcement, UFOs over Phoenix shi***ing on a perfect day and vibrating packs. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! 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 or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ...
Part one explores the brutal 1960 triple murder of three women at Starved Rock State Park, detailing the initial investigation, the panic it caused, and how State Attorney Harlan Warren's unconventional methods led to the arrest of Chester Weger. It covers Weger's background, a prior unsolved assault linked to him, and his disputed confession after a 24-hour interrogation, setting the stage for his conviction and the enduring questions surrounding his guilt over 60 years.
Today’s stories include circling hawks, dumb ways to die, trail angels, Maya Rudolph-ing on Mount Washington, dispatching mamas, shark scares, hallucinating on the dunes and butterscotch smelling pines. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! 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 ...
Today we are joined again by John Jurko, director and producer of Rhino Man, a film that follows the courageous field rangers who risk their lives to protect South Africa's rhinos. A lot has happened since our first discussion with John. He catches us up with all the developments regarding the film, his life and the legacy work he and his team continue to dedicate in memory of Anton Mzimba. Please visit the following links for more information, further listening and to lend your support. Website...
Join us in South Dakota to witness the screams of the Banshee of the Badlands. Venture to Alaska where a cryptid lurks that disguises themselves as our favorite... otters? Do you believe in the Lizard Man of South Carolina? Because the police sure do, and one sighting led to manhunts with bounties for his capture. Today we're taking you to several different parks to explore the creatures that lurk there. For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast....
We are joined by author of “Haunted Hikes of New England” Marianne O’Connor to talk all things trail death in the White Mountains. A self proclaimed collector of ghost stories, NH native Marianne is an avid hiker and historian. She shares the stories behind some of the most notable death markers in the White’s and what we can learn from the tragedies they commemorate. You can find more information on hiker safety cards here and find her book here ! Please consider purchasing from your local book...
Victorians, they’re just like us! Er, well, kinda. It’s easy to judge a group of people who strapped raw meat to their faces for beauty or fastened taxidermy cats on their hats for fashion, but their obsessions went far beyond beauty and style. They were fanatic about death and speaking to the deceased. Today we dive into the history of Spiritualism and get familiar with one of its most famous and loyal followers, Mary Todd Lincoln. For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and mo...
Today’s stories include killers in the forest, charging cougars, invisible drums, papa bears, death in the White’s and aliens stalkers. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! 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 or Apple Subscriptions to gain acces...
Andrea Lankford returns! We last spoke with the author of Ranger Confidential last year, but today she is back to discuss her new book Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail. The book outlines the stories of missing hikers Chris Sylvia, David O'Sullivan and Kris Fowler, their families and the lengths they (and complete strangers) have gone to find them. Please support your local bookstore when shopping! For the latest NPAD updates, gr...
Kathy was just looking for love, but after she found it, she died under suspicious circumstances inside of Acadia National Park. Her new husband was the prime suspect. 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? C...
Do you really think we could visit Banff and Jasper and NOT come back with some stories to share? Today we are switching it up to bring you two tales we were introduced to on our travels to the park. Get to know Grizzly 122 aka The Boss and learn about Operation Habbakuk - an idea so crazy, it may just have worked - a prototype aircraft carrier for use against German U-boats made out of ... ice? For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and o...
Today’s stories include volcanic adventures, a VAN down by the RIVER, ghostly side hugs, hairbrush shivs in the Badlands and bears, butterflies and birds from beyond. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! 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 or Ap...
On October 2nd, 1999, 3 year-old Jaryd Atadero vanished on a group hike in the Roosevelt National Forest of Colorado. His father Allyn has been searching for answers to who (or what) what was responsible ever since. The search for Jaryd set off one of the largest search and rescue missions in the state’s history and has remained one of Colorado’s greatest unsolved mysteries. For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram...
Today we welcome back Wes and Jeff from Tooth & Claw Podcast! There’s a reason we keep teaming up with them - get ready for a fun episode full of stories from their time working with black bears in Bryce and find out why the hell Jeff would want to be Gateway Arch National Park and mushrooms on a cheeseburger. For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Su...
