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Wildlands News Podcast National Parks, Public Lands & SurvivalAuthor: National Parks & Survival Podcast
Wildlands News Podcast is an audio field guide to America's wild places, national parks, forests, monuments, and the public lands most shows overlook. Hosted by a former Army officer, Shawn Spainhour brings the discipline of someone trained where preparation was life-or-death and the curiosity of someone who explores these places for the love of it.Every marquee park gets a multi-part series: the history that shaped it, the visit that prepares you for it, and where to stay when you get there. Between parks, standalone Field Skills episodes cover the survival knowledge that keeps people alive outdoors: altitude, flash floods, navigation, bear country, and more.It's the show you put on while the trailhead is still hours away. New episodes every Thursday.Know the land before you reach it. Full guides and current conditions at WildlandsNews.com.Inside the Episodes:In-Depth National Park Guides: Deep dives into the history, hidden trails, and logistics for iconic destinations like Yosemite, Zion, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, as well as lesser-known national forests and public lands.Wilderness Survival & Safety: Practical outdoor skills and field skills covering backcountry land navigation, flash flood preparation, bear safety, altitude sickness, and wilderness first aid.Trip Planning & Gear: Expert advice on backcountry permits, seasonal weather, trail safety, where to camp, and how to avoid the crowds on BLM and public lands.Whether you are an experienced backpacker prepping for a rugged backcountry trek, a casual hiker hitting the trails for a weekend camping trip, or an overlander exploring remote wilderness, this is your ultimate audio guide. Language: en Genres: Places & Travel, Society & Culture, Sports, Wilderness Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#014 - Grand Canyon, Part 2: The Visit | South Rim vs. North Rim, Inner-Canyon Hikes & the Heat
Episode 14
Thursday, 17 September, 2026
Every year the Grand Canyon rescues hikers who made the same mistake: they went down feeling strong in the cool morning, then discovered the canyon's brutal truth on the way back up. Going down is optional. Coming up is mandatory. This is how to visit without becoming a statistic.Host Shawn Spainhour, a former Army officer, covers a park that's more in flux than it's been in years. The current realities up front: the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire that destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and left the North Rim without lodging or water, the failing Transcanyon Waterline and its conservation stages, and the North Kaibab closure that ends rim-to-rim hiking for the duration of construction. Then the trip itself: South Rim versus North Rim and who each is really for, the excellent low-risk rim experience — the Rim Trail, Desert View Drive, and Mary Colter's Watchtower — and the serious business of going below the rim. Bright Angel versus South Kaibab, why the canyon floor runs 20–30 degrees hotter than the rim, the repeating pattern behind the deaths that happen here, the water and electrolyte math, and the discipline of turning around by the clock, not by how you feel.This is Part 2 of the Wildlands Grand Canyon series. Part 1 covers the deep history; Part 3 covers where to stay.Wildlands — know the land before you reach it.
