This week's podcast is in response to a listener request! Bob and co-host Kevin discuss some of the different adventure travel companies, such as National Geographic, REI Adventures, Sierra Club Outings and Natural Habitat. They also discuss what it's like to travel with these kinds of companies, and how they can enable adventures that might not otherwise be possible. National Geographic Expeditions: https://www.expeditions.com/ REI Adventures: https://www.rei.com/adventures Sierra Club Outings: https://content.sierraclub.org/outings/ Natural Habitat: https://www.nathab.com/our-trips/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

Bob goes solon on this week's podcast, telling the story of his recent trip to the Great Bear Rain Forest with National Geographic Expeditions. While on the trip, he and his shipmates saw many great sights, not the least of which was the rare white Kermode bear. Find out all about the experience on this episode. Link to Nat Geo video about this specific trip: https://bit.ly/3SoMbdp National Geographic Expeditions: https://www.expeditions.com/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's podcast, Bob chats with Trails and Open Spaces Coaliton (TOSC) Executive Director Susan Davies and also GIS expert Mike Rigney about their development of "story map" that details some of the history and highlights of the Colorado Springs Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) program. They discuss the history of the TOPS program and where it is heading in the future. TOPS Story Map: https://bit.ly/3BzZBgD TOSC website: https://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's episode, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss Kevins planned hike on Crestone Needle; Fishers Peak State Park's draft master plan and public input period; the Keep Colorado Wild Pass and the refund policy for overlapping passes; and a proposal to close Old Stage Road, at night. Should Colorado Springs close access to national forest land? Fishers Peak Master Plan: https://adobe.ly/3RFqSDY Fishers Peak Master Plan Feedback Survey: https://bit.ly/3eLFsv5 Keep Colorado Wild Pass refund policy: https://bit.ly/3BaBvIb Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's podcast, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss how the summer season is persisting into September and why it's not the time to let your guard down with being ready for the heat. Also, the "What if..." celebration in Colorado Springs, and Kevin's upcoming climb on a difficult mountain. Hiking Incident in Arizona: https://bit.ly/3x29G3z What if... event: https://whatif-festival.org/ Fall Colors Map: https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's podcast, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss hiking to Colorado's only remainng fire lookout tower; some recent hiking deaths that could've been prevented; and hikes they recommend to visitors. Links to stories mentioned in this episode: New Hampshire fall: https://abcn.ws/3CJiQpi Grand Canyon fall: https://bit.ly/3PVa5uZ Lake Havasu incident: https://bit.ly/3q0RrY1 Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's podcast, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss being adequately prepared and the roll-out of COSReady, an emergency notification and preparedness system in Colorado Springs. They discuss how a system like this can be useful when hiking and how it helps meet Leave No Trace's "Plan and Prepare" principle. Also, an activity that Kevin experienced for the first time, Bob's continuing preparations for a new trip, and an update on Coal's recent surgery. COSReady: https://coloradosprings.gov/ready Fjallraven Colorado Springs store: https://bit.ly/3R3wkjs Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's podcast, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss Bob's recent return trip to far south-central Colorado and also the town of Chama, New Mexico, and his experiences hiking there on this trip and in the past. He believes that many people miss out on the excellent opportunities for hikers and backpackers in that part of Colorado and New Mexico. Also, Bob talks about his thoughts on the return of the Starlight Spectacular event. The two also discuss the opening of a park in Colorado Springs after a multi-million dollar rebuilding project; the US Forest Service is building a new trail to a little known lake in central Colorado; and a leader in the outdoor recreation community in the Pikes Peak region is moving to a different agency. Previous articles Bob wrote for southern Colorado: Red Lake: https://bit.ly/3K165rt and https://bit.ly/3QSustB Duck Lake: https://bit.ly/3c3ileD and https://bit.ly/3bXK2FC Hidden Lake: https://bit.ly/3Qooxgd and https://bit.ly/3CcmCXG Also, Lost Lake: https://bit.ly/3Pux3cl Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's podcast, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss a recent guest editorial in the Colorado Sun by an aspiring politician who seemingly endorses taking private land, specifically 14,000' peaks, away from land owners so they can be used for recreational purposes. Link to the Colorado Sun guest editorial: https://bit.ly/3BOGDnk Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

Frequent guest Alicia Filley, "The Healthy Hiker" returns this week and discusses the "internal loads" we carry around with us, and how it affects our performance in outdoor recreation. She discusses how to recognize the affect your internal load is having on you and how to overcome it. https://www.thehealthyhiker.com Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob website: https://www.HikingBob.com Wild Westendorf website: https://www.Wildwestendorf.com Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob