Rocky Mountain Channel Podcast

How do you manage a wildfire that’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before? 

In 2020 when the two largest wildfires in Colorado history surrounded the town of Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park’s Fire Management Officer, Mike Lewelling, relied on twenty years of planning and fire treatments in Rocky along with a dream team of multiple fire agencies and our very own Alpine Hotshots crew to help save the town from burning.

 However, those two things alone wouldn’t have saved Estes Park from the fast moving East Troublesome Fire. 

It was a rare weather event on the morning of October 22, 2020 that ultimately kept the fire from entering town, and it reminded Lewelling of a quote he once read from renowned chemist and microbiologist, Louis Pasteur.  “Chance favors the prepared mind.”

The video version of this Podcast includes rare and never before seen photos and videos from the 2020 wildfires and  is available  to subscribers of our Rocky Mountain Channel Streaming Service. (Available on Roku, Apple TV, FireTV, Android, AndroidTV and iPhone.)

There are over 360 miles of hiking trails in RMNP, not to mention many more in the surrounding areas of Estes Park and the Roosevelt and Arapaho National forests.  That’s more than one mile for every day of the year.  Whether you’re an avid hiker or a family with young children and elders to consider, Rocky has something for you.

So what kind of hiking adventure do you want to choose?  You may not have thought of it before, but when preparing for a high altitude trail adventure it can be helpful to be a little mindful and ask yourself, “How do I feel today?  What do I want out of this hike?  What is my body up for?’ and “What kind of adventure do I want to experience?”

In this episode, Brett Wilson sits down with Emmy nominated filmmaker, Nick Molle, to talk about his new PBS documentary, "Nature of the Beasts"!

"A Walk in the Park with Nick Mollé: Nature of the Beasts" is a soul searching dive into the effects of climate and crowding in the pristine wilderness of a national park. Starring among others, the lovable Pika, Beasts examines environmental changes in quality and the experience with a concept that may surprise some viewers. As with his previous work, Nick displays his love of music as he weaves the soundtrack through this film including original work crafted by him and his creative team. 

One of the many things that make Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes so special is the variety of options you have when planning your trip.
In this episode  we give you mountains of helpful tips, hints, and straight-out advice on where to stay and how to book your reservations for staying in Estes Park.

Brett Wilson talks with Estee Rivera from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.
Estee Rivera is the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.  Estee Rivera Murdock hails from Washington, D.C., where she worked for the National Park Service (NPS) for more than eight years. Estee manages the Rocky Mountain Conservancy as a whole, working with their partners, directing organization goals and priorities and advising managers. She interacts directly with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Board and provides on-the-ground feedback to guide board decisions.

The Video Podcast version of this episode is available on the Rocky Mountain Channel Streaming Service. (Available on your favorite device.)

Brett talks with ecologist and wildlife expert, Delia Malone, who is a passionate advocate for wolves and their future here in Colorado and the rest of the world.  In this episode she explains why Colorado needs wolves.

The Video Podcast version of this episode is available on the Rocky Mountain Channel Streaming Service. (Available on your favorite device.)