On this episode of Big Blend Radio, author Jim Ostdick gives an overview of his latest book, “Walks Far Man: In Step with History on the Pacific Crest Trail.” A long-distance hiker and cyclist, Jim is also the author of “Palomino and the Dream Machine: A Retired Dude's Bicycle Tour Around the Lower Forty-Eight United States,” and “Palomino Nation: My 2016 Crazyass Walk Across America”. This is Part 1 of his "Walks Far Man" interviews on Big Blend Radio. The book is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Walks-Far-Man-History-Pacific/dp/B08KQZNS2V

National Parks Radio

Walks Far Man - Part One with Jim Ostdick on Big Blend Radio

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show features conservation photographer Ian Wilson-Navarro and traditional Japanese fish print artist (Gyotaku) Austin Armstrong who discuss their art and 1-month off-the-grid artist residency experience on Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park. See Ian's photography: https://www.ianwilsonmedia.com/Dry Tortugas National Park is located almost 70 miles west of Key West. The 100 square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of birdlife that frequent the area. More: http://www.nps.gov/drto/ This artist residency program is made possible by the National Parks Arts Foundation and the National Park Service, as well as the Key West Art and Historical Society. Info: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

Dry Tortugas Artists-in-Residence Ian Wilson-Navarro and Austin Armstrong

This episode of Big Blend Radio's Nature Connection show features Denise Alonzo who shares what there is to experience in Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument in Central California. Featuring 33 groves of Giant Sequoia Trees (the world’s largest tree by volume), the Sequoia National Forest is home to the biggest concentration of giant sequoia groves. These groves are protected within the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and managed by the US Forest Service. More: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/sequoia-national-forest/

Visiting Sequoia National Forest - Denise Alonzo on Big Blend Radio

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, English teacher and author Jefferson Marshall talks about his Texas State Park Adventures book series for kids including “The Creatures of Caprock Canyons” and “The Palo Duro Lighthouse Race.” More: https://texasstateparkadventures.com/

Texas State Park Adventures kids Books - Jefferson Marshall on Big Blend Radio

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, travel writer Debbie Stone shares her adventures in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Located in central California, Sequoia and neighboring Kings Canyon are treasured gems in our country’s national parks system. Extending from the San Joaquin Valley foothills to the eastern crest of the Sierra Nevada, these parks are testament to nature’s size, diversity and beauty. They are home to alpine peaks, deep canyons, vast caverns and tree monarchs. Read Debbie’s article: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/pay-homage-to-natures-royalty-at-sequoia-and-kings-canyon/Featured music is “Hey, Hey, California” by Everett Coast.

Debbie Stone Explores Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

This episode of Big Blend Radio features acclaimed astrophotographer and photojournalist Stan Honda who discusses his one-month National Parks Arts Foundation artist residency at Fort Union National Monument in Northern New Mexico. Park Superintendent Lorenzo Vigil joins in the discussion to share the history of the Fort as well as the visitor experience. Music is "Into Starlight" by Todd Mosby. More at:https://www.stanhonda.com/https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/https://www.nps.gov/foun/index.htmhttps://www.toddmosby.band/

Astrophotographer Stan Honda in Fort Union on Big Blend Radio

This episode of BIg Blend Radio features travel writer Debbie Stone who shares her adventures in Great Basin National Park on the Nevada-Utah border. One of the most remote national parks in the system, Great Basin offers everything from lakes and forests to towering peaks and even limestone caverns. It’s a veritable desert mountain island with a variety of natural features and ecosystems that will surprise first time visitors. Read Debbie's story: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/great-basin-is-grand/Featured music is “Taking it Out West” by the Walk-A-Bout Band. www.WalkAboutBand.com

Great Basin National Park - Debbie Stone on Big Blend Radio

Big Blend Radio travel spotlight on fall and winter in Tulare County in Central California with representatives from the Sequoia Tourism Council: Sintia Kawasaki-Yee - Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks, Katie Wightman - Sequoia Parks Conservancy, Sandy Blankenship - Exeter Chamber of Commerce, Donnette Silva Carter - Tulare Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Brackeen - Porterville Chamber of Commerce. https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/Featured music: "California Days" by Josh Pfeiffer.

Fall and Winter in California's Sequoia Country - Sequoia Tourism Council on Big Blend Radio

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, travel writer Debbie Stone shares how there’s “Plenty Good with North Dakota’s Badlands!” Hear about her adventures in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the old west town of Medora that's home to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, De Mores State Historic Site, Bully Pulpit Golf Course, “The Teddy Roosevelt Show,” and the Medora Fudge and Ice Cream Depot. Read Debbie's story: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/theres-plenty-good-about-the-badlands/Featured music is “Great Blue Sky” from the album “As Things Could Be” by Evren Ozan.

North Dakota Badlands - Travel Writer Debbie Stone on Big Blend Radio

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, travel writer Debbie Stone shares her adventures In Northwest Nebraska, where she explored important landmarks for pioneers making their way out west during the mid-1800s, including Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff, Legacy of the Plains Museum, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, and even Carhenge. Tens of thousands of people traveled through this area, attracted to the forgiving terrain along the Platte River. The Oregon, California and Mormon Trails, and the Pony Express all used this passageway, making the route the “Main Street of America.” Read her story: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/surprises-await-in-northwest-nebraska/Featured music is “Ford F-150” by guitarist Micha Schellhaas. http://michamusic.com/

Exploring Historic Northwest Nebraska - Debbie Stone on Big Blend Radio

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, South Florida artists Carl Stoveland and Shannon Torrence, aka Flying Tortuga Brothers, discuss their art careers, and upcoming National Parks Arts Foundation artist residency where they will spend the month of September 2020 living and working off-grid, on Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park. https://www.flyingtortugabrothers.com/More about the National Parks Arts Foundation at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/Featured music on the show "Rail Till We Need It" by South Florida band The Cravens https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

The Flying Tortuga Brothers on Big Blend Radio

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, travel writer Debbie Stone shares her adventures in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Mesa Verde National Park, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Read her story here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/southwest-colorados-national-parks-shine/Featured music is "The Climb" by Evren Ozan.

Southwest Colorado National Parks - Debbie Stone on Big Blend Radio

This episode of Big Blend Radio features Lowell Perry Jr., Executive Director of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, who discusses what there is to see and do this summer in Yuma, Arizona. The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area runs along the lower Colorado River and encompasses the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, Colorado River State Historic Park, the restored East and West Wetlands that boast birding, nature and outdoor opportunities, as well as Yuma’s Historic Downtown District that includes historic buildings, museums, shops, restaurants, theatres, galleries, and public art. More: https://www.yumaheritage.com/ Music is "Travel Song" by guitarist Micha Schellhaas. http://michamusic.com/

Summer in the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area - Lowell Perry Jr. on Big Blend Radio

Kristin Sanderson, Park Interpreter at Fort Churchill and Buckland Station Nevada State Park, gives a brief overview of the park’s history and nature trail.

Carson River Nature Walk - Kristin Sanderson on Big Blend Radio

Mother-daughter artist/writer team Beth Tockey Williams and Hailey Morgan Williams discuss their National Parks Arts Foundation residency in Dry Tortugas National Park in the Florida Keys. Beth is an award-winning artist and Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America. Hailey is a Scholastic award-winning poet, nonfiction, and fiction writer, as well as a self-published screenwriter. Featured music on this episode is "Ocean of Stars" by Dave Kerzner.More:https://www.bethwilliamspastels.com/https://pellwrites.com/ https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/http://davekerzner.com/

Dry Tortugas Artists-in-Residence - Beth and Hailey Williams on Big Blend Radio

Interviews on National Park units and their gateway community destinations. Hosts are Nancy J. Reid & Lisa D. Smith, mother-daughter travel team on the Big Blend Spirit of America Tour of all 411 National Park units, and publishers of Spirit of America Magazine. See www.NationalParkPlanner.com