474 Bear Creek Nature Center 50th Anniversary

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

On this week's podcast, Bob sits down with expert meteorologists Matt Meister and Merry Matthews from Peaks2Plains Weather to discuss the upcoming El Nino and how it will affect Colorado, the Pikes Peak Region and outdoor recreation for this summer through winter. They talk about what an El Nino is, whether the hype about it being a "super" (and now some outlets are saying "mega") El Nino is warranted and how it could possibly even be less than some are predicting. The only thing certain is that this summer and winter will be different than last. Also, how to be safe in inclement summer weather and the importance of a local weather service such as Peaks2Plains. Peaks2Plains website: 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

Bob talks with author Randi Minetor about her latest book "The Bear at the Bird Feeder". A previous guest on the podcast, her current book is about the rising number of human-wildlife encounters in or near peoples homes, and more importantly, how to prevent them. The book covers not only bears, but many other animals, including raccoons, coyotes and even alligators to name a few. The book - and conversation between Bob and Randi - gets into the specific behaviors of each animal featured, what they're attracted to and how to prevent interactions with them. This is a lively, fun and informative conversation and also timely as bears come out of hibernation. The book is published by Globe-Pequot and is available everywhere books are sold. Publishers website: https://tinyurl.com/3sa734s5 Randi Minetors previous appearance on the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3tpnv9kp 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, Bob and Kevin express their appreciation of the volunteers who work in parks and on trails. They also discuss a local TV meteorologist who left their job and where they went, and finally, they discuss the profound effect this winters drought is having on the Colorado environment. Class 6 felony to cause a wildland fire during a formal burn ban is Colorado Revised Statute 18-13-109 (2) (a) 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 Kevin discuss Bob's recent trip to Monument Valley Tribal Park, news that Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be taking a bigger part in search and rescue some operations in Colorado, but not, as many believe, taking over SAR operations that are the responsibility of county sheriff's. Also, higher fees for daily passes to Colorado State Parks for cars with out-of-state license plates, even if driven by Colorado residents, and finally Kevin talks about his plans to spend the summer doing short hiking trips in Colorado and New Mexico. Bob's YouTube video about his trip to Monument Valley: https://tinyurl.com/4v4ztar2 Colorado Parks and Wildife search and rescue news release: https://tinyurl.com/r3z899z5 Article about state park entry fees: https://tinyurl.com/nheryr3v 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 welcomes back frequent guest Alicia Filley, a/k/a The Healthy Hiker. A professional physical therapist and avid hiker, she talks about four common myths about training for hiking and offers suggestions for proper ways to train. The Healthy Hiker website: https://www.thehealthyhiker.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, 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