National Parks Traveler Episode 80: Pandemics And The National Parks

By Kurt Repanshek - August 23rd, 2020

In this week’s show, we’re focusing on the current coronavirus pandemic as well as the 1918 flu pandemic and how those diseases impacted national park visitation. After discussing those two pandemics with Professor Terence Young from California Polytechnic State University, we visit with contributing writer Rita Beamish, who tried to escape the current pandemic by taking to the John Muir Trail for nine days. She found that many other hikers were being careful by keeping their distance and wearing face masks when necessary, while others were more cavalier.

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:34 Escalante - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons
1:49 A discussion with Professor Terrence Young on how pandemics impacted national park visitation.
14:52 Flamingo - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of the Everglades
15:04 National Parks Traveler promotion
15:19 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation promotion
15:43 Friends of Acadia promotion
16:12 Grand Teton National Park Foundation promotion
16:49 Pandemics and national park visitation continues
29:47 The Road Scholar - Bill Mize - The Spirit of South Dakota
30:19 North Cascades Institute promotion
30:43 Washington’s National Park Fund promotion
31:20 On The Covid Trail: Rita Beamish discusses her John Muir Trail trek
40:39 Amaranth - Bill Mize - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
41:03 Episode Closing
41:50 Orange Tree Productions promotion
42:26 Splitbeard Productions
42:41 National Parks Traveler footer

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