464 El Paso County Parks 2025 recap, Director Marts Retirement

On this week's podcast, co-host Kevin "Wild" Westendorf talks about his recent experiences hiking in the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona and Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Parks. He and Bob talk about the difficulties of the hikes, Kevins encounters with other hikers and his overall experiences on this trip. It's a great travelogue and must-listen for anyone considering visiting any of these places in northern Arizona. 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

**Apologies for the echo at the beginning of the recording** On this week's podcast, Bob and Kevin discuss the recent announcement from Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department (PRCS) regarding cuts being made to city parks amenities, services and maintenance due to a lack of funding. They lament how elected officials, and not the PRCS staff, are to blame for the cuts and how elected officials talk a lot about how important parks are, until tough decisions have to be made and then the parks department gets hit hard. They talk about the history of the parks department being the victim of unreasonable cuts and how funding never seems to get back to where it was prior to the cuts. Bob calls out the Colorado Springs mayor for not even mentioning anything the parks department did in his 2025 list of city accomplishments and he lauds the PRCS staff for continuing to do their jobs for a seemingly unappreciative city government. Bob challenges any elected official who wants to discuss the cuts to come on the show and set the record straight. 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, Bob talks with Marisa Michael, a registered dietitian, about her recently released book "Nutrition for Outdoor Recreation". Michael, who has a long list of qualifications including being a Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics and holding a diploma in sports nutrition from the International Olympic Committee, talks with Bob about how outdoor recreationists can properly fuel themselves not only to make the most of their adventures, common mistakes recreationists make and how to avoid emergencies due to insufficient or improper nutrition. Their conversation covers real-life situations for Colorado's high elevations and how cyclists, hikers, runners and climbers can best prepare themselves for their next adventure. The book is available now from Falcon Guides and bookstores nationwide. Falcon Guides website: https://tinyurl.com/58mzwp6r Marisa Michael website: https://www.realnutritionllc.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, Bob talks with Todd Marts, the director of the El Paso County (CO) Parks Department. They discuss the significant accomplishments of the department in 2025 and what's ahead for 2026, including how El Paso County avoided a budget shortfall similar to what affected other governments in the area. They also discuss Marts' upcoming retirement, after 31 years with the parks department. 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, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss a Colorado Parks and Wildlife report on a recent fatal mountain lion attack in northern Colorado. Mountain lion attacks are exceedingly rare, and fatal attacks even more rare, which brings into question how concerned should the average hiker be and what precautions should they take? Also the latest step in the Colorado Springs Parks system-wide master plan process and the recent assessment that was done of parks needs and facilities. They wrap up with an update on their Patreon offerings and a special offer for new patrons. Colorado Parks and Wildlife mountain lion attack report: https://tinyurl.com/58vcy3kk Colorado Springs Parks system assessment: https://tinyurl.com/ybtpj7k6 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

In this week's podcast, Bob talks with Colorado Springs TV weather icon Matt Meister about his new endeavor, Peaks2Plains Weather. Meister talks about what set him on a path to leave the local TV media business and set out on his own and how he hopes it keeps him involved in the community. Bob and Matt also talk about the changing face of local news media, including print and TV and how that could create more out-sourcing what has traditionally been done in house at local TV stations and newsrooms. https://peaks2plainsweather.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

It's a "Happy Holidays" edition of the podcast, but of course it's more than just that. Bob and Kevin talk about their plans for the holidays and in 2026 and Bob talks about a great customer service experience he had recently, and Kevin talks about a neat new service that can help visualize your hikes. Mentoned in this episode: Cinematic flyovers: https://mapdirector.com/ Mountainsmith: https://mountainsmith.com/ Fjallraven: https://www.fjallraven.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

In this week's podcast, Bob chats with Colorado Springs Park, Recreation and Cultural Service Director Britt Haley. Haley discusses the accomplishments and challenges of the department in 2025 and a look forward for the department in 2026. They also discuss Haley's upcoming retirement, including her journey from the city attorney's office to the parks department and what she plans to do in her retirement. 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, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss their recent hikes to Picketwire Canyon and Red Canyon Park, both places new to them. They also discuss where they plan to go for adventure in 2026 and encourage listeners to donate during the on-going 2025 Pikes Peak Give Campaign. Give Pikes Peak Campaign: 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

This week's podcast is a short Thanksgiving message from Hiking Bob and Wild Westendorf. They'll be back next week with one of their regular episodes. In the meantime, thanks for listening and have a Happy Thanksgiving! 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