National Parks Traveler Episode 81: Yosemite Turns Into Assateague, And Species Extinction

By Kurt Repanshek - August 30th, 2020

In this week’s show, we question whether national parks can serve as a barrier to slow the sixth mass extinction.

Certainly, the large landscape parks such as Yellowstone and Yosemite and Grand Canyon offer the habitat many species require. But parks are slowly being hemmed in by development, making it harder and harder for species to follow their natural paths across the landscape.

So can they slow the sixth mass extinction? We’re going to be taking a look at that in the coming weeks and months, and today we’ll lay out that proposal in an essay.

But first, what can turn a five-day trip to Yosemite National Park into a one-day trip to Assateague Island National Seashore? Covid can. In this lighthearted and informative story of their trip to the beach, the Traveler’s Lynn Riddick and her friend Michele Hogan demonstrate that it’s all about flexibility when trying to find some outdoor space in the age of a global pandemic.

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:10 Beyond the Reef - Tim Heintz and Grant Geissman - Seascapes: A Musical Journey
1:45 North Cascades Institute promotion
2:03 Grand Teton National Park Foundation promotion
2:41 When Covid Turns A Yosemite National Park Vacation Into A Visit To Assateague Island National Seashore
35:52 Caribbean Song - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of the Everglades
36:17 National Parks Traveler promotion
36:31 Washington’s National Park Fund promotion
37:04 Friends of Acadia promotion
37:32 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation promotion
38:03 Essay| Can National Parks Slow The Sixth Mass Extinction
45:22 The Offering - Bill Mize - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
45:45 Episode Closing
46:10 Orange Tree Productions promotion
46:45 Splitbeard Productions
46:56 National Parks Traveler footer

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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 272 | Fossilized Parks

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Spur a discussion about traveling to a national park for a vacation and odds are that it will revolve around getting out into nature, looking for wildlife, perhaps honing your photography skills, or marveling at incredible vistas.
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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 268 | Music Inspired By The Parks

With March madness down to the Sweet 16, and Opening Day of Major League Baseball having arrived, we’re going to take a break this week and dive into our podcast archives for this week’s show.

This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. My NCAA bracket was busted the very first day, and while the Yankees won their opening day game against the Houston Astros, I don’t think they’ll go undefeated this year.

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The Essential RVing Guide

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.