Crosscut Escapes

Crosscut Escapes episodes:

• 01.12.2022

  Introducing the Mossback podcast!

  This week we have a special preview of Mossback, a companion podcast to the popular Mossback’s Northwest video series that airs on KCTS 9. The Mossback podcast digs deeper into the topics that fans want to know more about from...

  
• 10.05.2021

  The Meaning of a Mountain

  Peter Rainier never set foot on this continent. Some tribal members suggest giving a more fitting name for Washington’s tallest peak. For the very first episode of Crosscut Escapes, we told a story about a mountain. Not just any mountain —...

  
• 09.28.2021

  For the Love of Birds

  Ted Alvarez thinks birding is boring. But with so much interest in it now, he decides to investigate. The Pacific Northwest is a haven for thousands of bird species, from sage grouse to bald eagles to common finches. Many impressive migrations...

  
• 09.21.2021

  Flower Power

  Professor Steven Clark is on an ongoing quest to find a rare daisy that helps us understand the intricacies of evolution. Professor Steven Clark spends his days bushwhacking brushy trails until they turn into rocky scrambles, then vertical cliffs. It’s arduous...

  
• 09.14.2021

  The Science of Sasquatch

  To find the mythical beast, members of the Olympic Project first analyze the evidence. Bigfoot, Sasquatch or whatever your favorite nickname; this giant, apelike cryptid is cemented in the minds of many Americans — and nowhere is that more true than...

  
• 09.07.2021

  The Fungus Among Us

  Wild mushroom foraging can be deadly. But in a region crammed with thousands of edible species, it’s fiercely beloved. With its plentiful moisture and forest cover, the Pacific Northwest is home to some of the greatest proliferations of wild mushrooms in...

  
• 08.31.2021

  To the Rescue!

  For outdoor adventurers, search and rescue teams provide a critical service, often for free — and it all started in Seattle. For outdoor adventurers in Washington state, potential trouble can be just a few steps away. The combination of topography, weather,...

  
• 08.26.2021

  Climate Change and the Future of Outdoor Adventuring

  In this special episode, we speak with the director of the UW Climate Impacts Group about the ways that outdoor recreation is changing and what can still be saved. For a long time, climate change was more of a theoretical threat...

  
• 08.19.2021

  Coming Soon! Crosscut Escapes, Season 2

  The adventure begins August 31, 2021. Host Ted Alvarez returns with six new episodes that will take you to the wildest places in the Pacific Northwest with the people who know them best.

  
• 02.09.2021

  The Beige Blur

  The shrub-steppe ecosystem may seem boring, but it is essential to the survival of grouse, orcas and people.When people think about Washington’s beautiful natural landscapes, most envision serrated mountain ranges, dense forests or perhaps the wild waves on the coast.  But...

  
• 02.02.2021

  The River Rewild

  Few rivers define a region like the Columbia, where tribal scientists are making headway in bringing back its most important species: salmon. Since time immemorial, the Columbia River ha been a food source, a dividing line and a driver of culture...

  
• 01.26.2021

  Do You Speak Orca?

  Oceanographer Scott Veirs shows us how to listen for whales in Puget Sound, identify their signature sounds and maybe help save them. If Puget Sound has an animal celebrity, it’s the orca — specifically, the southern resident population of killer whales....

  
• 01.18.2021

  The Carnivore Next Door

  During the pandemic, more people are spotting animals slinking around the neighborhood. It’s no secret that Washington state is home to many charismatic carnivores — wolverines, bobcats, cougars and bears (oh my!). But it might come as a surprise that plenty...

  
• 01.12.2021

  Quiet Riot

  In 2005, Gordon Hempton made a single spot within the Hoh Rain Forest famous for its serenity. But now it’s noisier than ever. For outdoor enthusiasts, Olympic National Park offers a smorgasbord of ecosystems: rocky peaks, driftwood-strewn beaches and high-mountain meadows...

  
• 01.04.2021

  Volcano Songs

  Mt. Rainier’s roiling innards make constant noise — and by listening, geologists can tell what kind of mood it's in. Looming on the horizon like a holographic ice cream cone (when we can see it), Mt. Rainier draws eyes skyward everywhere...

  
• 12.17.2020

  Crosscut Escapes Trailer

  Coming January 5, 2021. Crosscut Escapes asks big questions about what makes the region tick — and visits the wildest, most unique places to find answers.