401 Luis Benitez and How Outdoor Recreation can Save the World

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

In one of four podcasts with participatiing non-profits in the "Great Outdoors" category of the 2025 Give Pikes Peak campaign, Bob chats with Teri Peisner of the Friends of Monument Valley Park (FMVP). They discuss the history of Monument Valley Park, which runs along Monument Creek on the west side of downtown Colorado Springs, and the organizations work to raise funds to restore much of its old original stone work. They talk about the recently completed reconstruciton of Duck Lake, the previously finished Shadow Lake and their upcoming projects. They also discuss how your donation during the Give Campaign will help advance their mission. Give Campaign website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ FMVP website: https://www.fmvp.net/ 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/outdoors

In one of four podcasts with participatiing non-profits in the "Great Outdoors" category of the 2025 Give Pikes Peak campaign, Bob chats with Sam Hinkel of the Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI). They discuss the groups work as a boots on the ground organization that does trail construction and trail maintainence in the Pikes Peak Region. They talk about their work in the Garden of the Gods Park, the Devils Playground trail on Pikes Peak and they training the conduct every year, along with their strong reliance on volunteer help. They also discuss how your donation during the Give Campaign will help advance their mission. Give Campaign website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ RMFI website: https://www.rmfi.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/outdoors

In one of four podcasts with participatiing non-profits in the "Great Outdoors" category of the 2025 Give Pikes Peak campaign, Bob chats with Kristen Cannon of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA). They discuss the groups work in bringing together land managers from all levels of government, non-profits, and businesses to help guide recreational land use policy in Pikes Peak Region, including completing the Ring the Peak Trail around Pikes Peak. They also discuss how your donation during the Give Campaign will help advance their mission. Give Campaign website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ PPORA website: https://ppora.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 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 one of four podcasts with participatiing non-profits in the "Great Outdoors" category of the 2025 Give Pikes Peak campaign, Bob chats with Niki Amidei of the Women's Mountain Biking Association of Colorado Springs (WMBACOS). They discuss the groups mission of "Empowering Women Through Group Mountain Bike Rides", by organizing weekly group bike rides, training and other events, and how your donation during the Give Campaign will help advance their mission. Give Campaign website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ WMBACOS website: https://www.wmbacos.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

On this week's podcast, Bob talks with Dr. Rob Scanlon, the author of "Surviving the Trail- Five Essential Skills to Prepare Every Hiker for Adventure's Most Common Perils" from Falcon Guides. They discuss the common things people do, or don't do, or don't know how to do that gets hikers in trouble, and how to have a trouble free hike. It's a fun and lively conversation about how to have a non-newsworthy hike. Bob's review of the book in the Pikes Peak Bulletin: https://tinyurl.com/mtcm6srt Dr. Rob Scanlons book at Falcon Guides: https://tinyurl.com/4ukp5sxc 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