479 10th Anniversary Special - Bob is on the hot seat!

On this week's podcast, the guest is David Deitemeyer, the Senior Program Administrator for the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (PRCS) Department's Trails Open Spaces and Parks (TOPS) program. A Colorado Springs native, he talks about how growing up in North Cheyenne Canon set the path for his future in outdoor recreation, what goes into planning and building parks and open spaces, the value of community outreach and public participation in the planning of new spaces, lessons learned and policies adapted after each new project, and the value of the partner organizations PRCS works with. It's an insightful and behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the parks department. Colorado Springs Parks website: https://coloradosprings.gov/PRCS 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, Kevin "Wild" Westendorf return and he and Bob catch up on what they've been doing since the last time they were both on the show together. Kevin talks about two hikes he did- one to a high altitude lake, the other to a peak to honor a late relative. They also discuss the recent monsoon weather and how flooding is now a concern, including recent floods in the Grand Canyon. Bob talks about a couple of "members" only events he'll taking part in for a local non-profit. 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 episode, Bob chats with Andrew Dwyer, keynote speaker, TedX presenter and Colorado resident about hiking with mindfulness. The conversation goes further than mindfulness and touches on stoicism, Leave No Trace principles and there's even a quote from Nietzsche. Bob theorizes that most hikers conduct themselves with mindfulness without even realizing it and Andrew says it goes beyond just hiking. They discuss how combining a love of the outdoors with mindfulness techniques can set the stage for a more peaceful existence. You won't want to miss this lively, funny and though-provoking podcast. Andrew Dwyer website: https://www.moredwyer.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 10th Anniversary edition of the podcast, the table is turned and Bob becomes the interviewee instead of asking the questions. Heila Ershadi, the editor of the Pikes Peak Bulletin stops by and asks Bob about his background, how he became "Hiking Bob", the start of his journalism life and how the podcast came about, and more. Pikes Peak Bulletin website: https://pikespeakbulletin.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

The first episode of the "Outdoors with Hiking Bob" podcast aired on August 3rd, 2016, with Susan Davies, who was the Executive Director of the Trails and Open Spaces Coalition at the time, as the guest. Now, exactly 10 years later and retired, she sits down with Bob to talk about the major accomplishments to outdoor recreation that have occurred since the first episode. They discuss new trails and parks in both Colorado Springs and El Paso County's parks systems, improvements and expansions to state parks, and even a new state park, among many other achievements. 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 special bonus episode, Bob and co-host Kevin celebrate the up-coming 10th anniversary of the podcast by talking about their 10 favorite hikes over the last 10 years. In this listener-suggested episode, Bob details his favorite hikes in each of the last 10 years, while Kevin discusses his cumulative10 favorite hikes over the last 10 years. 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 and Kevin "Wild" Westendorf discuss Kevin's recent hike down Pikes Peak on a little used route, Bob's recent visit to one of Colorado's remote state parks, an incident involving a bison in Yellowstone National Park, wildfires in Colorado and much 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 and Kevin "Wild" Westendorf discuss the wildfires burning around Colorado and the dangers of a the driest winter in Colorado history. Will the coming weeks bring us rain to get us out of the drought? Kevin talks about his experiences hiking in a Colorado Springs city park that was heavily damaged by a storm weeks ago that resulted in it being closed to vehicle traffic, and remains closed as repairs are made. Note: After this podcast was distributed, it was announced that the park would re-open to vehicle traffic on July 2nd, 2026 They then tell of a hike they did together a few years ago and how they potentially saved some hikers lives by talking them out of a bad decision. 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 sits down with Mary-Jo Lewis and Kylee Taylor from El Paso County (CO ) Parks Departments Bear Creek Nature Center to talk about the nature center's 50th anniversary. Bear Creek Nature Center was the first nature center in Colorado, and originated as a simple pavillion where the current building now stands. They discuss how the current building literally rose from the ashes, the history of the nature center, the many programs it provides and many of the innovative services it provides to visitors and the community and more. The center will be celebrating its anniversary with an event on August 22nd. Bear Creek Nature Center 50th Anniversary website: https://www.elpasoco.com/bcnc50/ 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 chats with Stephanie Pearson, the author of National Geographic's "100 Hikes of a Lifetime - U.S.A. The Country's Ultimate Scenic Trails". The book, which features trails in every state and many U.S. territories is intended not as much as a detailed guidebook, but as Pearson explains, to be more "aspirational". It features details about each hike, including length, difficulty, etc, along with stunning photography that shows what makes each trail one of the "ultimate scenic trails" in the country and why some trails have significant cultural and historic significance. In this fun and lively dicusssion, Pearson explains the methodology she used to pick each trail and which trails unexpectedly made it into the book. The book is available from Disney Books: https://tinyurl.com/rx3jh8fe , Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc. 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