Trail magic is part serendipity, part heroism, part… well, magic. It's a helping hand when hikers need it most. Outlandish is partnering with the Out There podcast to bring you today's story. We'll meet Willow Belden, a radio-maker who's thru-hiked the Colorado Trail. She helps us answer the question of why trail angels are so kind. What makes an angel commit to offering repeated acts of altruism?

The Selfless Act of Trail Magic

Outlandish is a podcast started by the United States Forest Service as part of our "Your Forests Your Future." campaign. Through this podcast we will bring you interesting and relevant stories about what's happening out on your public lands right now!

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Wilderness

New York's Adirondack State Park is bigger than Yellowstone, the Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Parks... combined. This week, we're handing the mic off to producers Emily Russell and Brian Mann, who show us how the Adirondacks serve as a testing ground for ideas shaping public lands management across the U.S.

'Forever Wild'

On the Idaho-Wyoming border, the future of a special piece of land hangs in the ether. It’s called the Palisades. Some people want to see it protected as Wilderness. Others want to preserve its wild character AND keep it open to motorized and mechanized uses. Producer Scott Stuntz wonders if the two sides have more in common than they think.

The Pickle of the Palisades

What happens when a professional skier/cliff jumper decides to start a trail running series? Well, let's just say running isn't the main focus. The Cirque Series in the brain child of famous cliff-jumper Julian Carr, and takes place on some of the most well-known ski resorts around the West. Producer Claire Jones sets off to learn more about the series and Julian, which leads her down a path to answer one question: What on earth draws people to run up and down 3000 vertical feet?

Julian Carr and The Fix

How many people know a gold miner? Producer Monica Gokey knew exactly zero before she set off into the backwoods of Idaho to find one. She thought she'd find grizzled old men hellbent on striking it rich. Instead, she found an eclectic community of people for whom gold mining is a hobby, a social connection, and their bridge to the great outdoors. 

The Selfless Act of Trail Magic

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