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

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

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