Outdoors with Hiking Bob

On this week's podcast, Kevin "Wild" Westendorf returns, and he and Bob catch up on what he's been doing since he was last on the podcast, including a brief review of his Garmin GPS watch and a comparison of it and his previous Apple watch. Then, they discuss the impacts the drastic federal budget cuts is having on our public lands, and also the collateral damage to the job market and local economies. Finally, Bob talks about a story in a local newspapers newsletter that quoted a Facebook post, which reported that an e-bike rider had to be rescued in the Texas desert after her e-bike battery went dead, and she then pushed the e-bike for twenty miles. As it turns out, other than a cyclist needing to be rescued from the Texas desert, most of the story is false. In an age where mis-information is rampant, Bob chastizes the newspaper and its newsletter for not doing basic fact-checking to ascertain the truth. Bob's recent article about federal budget cuts: https://tinyurl.com/avzx325k News release about Texas cyclist rescue: https://tinyurl.com/bpzmasnp 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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's episode, Bob talks with popular author and survival expert Creek Stewart about his latest book "Disaster Survival 101 - The Essential Guide to Preparing and Surviving any Emergency Scenario". Stewart has appeared on a multitude of news programs, TED talks and more. They discuss how inadequately prepared most households are for any type of emergency that might last more than 3 days. whether it be a fire, flood, blizzard, or anything else, the small steps people can take to be better prepared, and some of the misconceptions people have about preparedness and survival. Creek Stewart website: https://www.creekstewart.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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's podcast, the topic is Artificial Intelligence generated photography, and images that are produced that are falsely labelled as being of specific places, such as the Garden of the Gods or other scenic attractions. In the first part of the podcast, Bob chats with Colorado Springs-based photographers Jason Fazio, Daniel Forster and Jae Jarratt. They discuss what "AI photography" is, if it is even an art form, the different types of AI tools, how it affects peoples perception and expectations of photography, and more. In the second part of the podcast, Bob talks with Melissa Williams from Visit Colorado Springs about how they use photography and the controls they place on the use AI imagery. They also discuss how they plan to manage visitors expectations when they see an image that is not actual reality. Links: Jason Fazio: https://www.jasonfaziophotography.com/ Daniel Forster: https://www.danielforsterphotography.com/ Jae Jarratt: https://www.distantlandsphototours.com/ Picture Perfect Colorado: https://pictureperfectcolorado.com/ Visit Colorado Springs: https://www.visitcos.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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On episode 432 of the podcast, Bob chats with Todd Marts, Director of the El Paso County Parks and Community Services Department. They discuss what the department did in 2024, and plans for 2025. Topics include newly completed and updated master plans for Paint Mines Interpretive Park and Jones Park, a new trail in Pineries Open Space, continuted work towards building a nature center in Fox Run Regional Park, an assessment of the parks system in 2025 and more. 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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

Bob talks with Alicia Filley, a/k/a "The Healthy Hiker" about hiking and building and maintaining balance and why it's important for hiker fitness. They discuss the proper use of hiking poles for balance, how to evaluate your balance, and what kinds of exercises help increase balance. The Healthy Hiker website: 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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On episode 430 of the podcast, Bob chats with Britt Haley, Director of the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. They discuss some of the accomplishments of department in 2024, and plans for 2025. Topics include Blodgett and Fishers Canyon Open Spaces, e-bikes, a comprehensive managment plan for Pikes Peak and the Ring the Peak Trail, the 2025 budget, and more. 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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

It's the first ever New Years Day podcast (it just worked out that way) for Bob and Kevin! They discuss how 2024 went for them and reveal if Bob reached his yearly goal of 800 hiking miles, and also review Bob's recent newspaper column on outdoor recreation New Year's resolution. Along with other topics, Kevin also discusses what drove him to switch to a new GPS smartwatch and he compares his new model to his old. 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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

Bob's co-host Kevin "Wild" Westendorf returns. After catching up on recent adventures, they discuss last minute holiday buying, setting resolutions, Bob's progress on getting to his yearly goal of 800 miles, donating during the Give campaign and much more. Give Pikes Peak website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

On this week's episode, Bob talks with Susan Davies, the Executive Director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC), on her upcoming retirement. They talk about her fifteen-year tenure at the helm of the organization, including the biggest accomplishments - and disappointments - of TOSC during that time. They also discuss how the political climate regarding outdoor recreation has changed in the last fifteen-years and how it may change in the future. They also discuss what her plans are moving forward, both personally and as an parks advocate. Finally, they also talk about the Give Pikes Peak campaign, and why you should donate to TOSC. TOSC website: https://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/ Give Pikes Peak website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob

2024 Give Pikes Peak campaign participant Code 4 Outdoor is the guest. Hear about what they do and why you should donate to them during the 2024 campaign. Code 4 Outdoor website: https://www.code4outdoor.org/ Give Pikes Peak website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.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://wildwestendorf.com/ Where to listen, download and subscribe to this podcast: https://pod.link/outdoorswithhikingbob