Outdoors with Hiking Bob

On this week's podcast, the topic is Artificial Intelligence generated photography, and images that are produced that are falsely labelled as being of specific places, such as the Garden of the Gods or other scenic attractions. In the first part of the podcast, Bob chats with Colorado Springs-based photographers Jason Fazio, Daniel Forster and Jae Jarratt. They discuss what "AI photography" is, if...

On episode 432 of the podcast, Bob chats with Todd Marts, Director of the El Paso County Parks and Community Services Department. They discuss what the department did in 2024, and plans for 2025. Topics include newly completed and updated master plans for Paint Mines Interpretive Park and Jones Park, a new trail in Pineries Open Space, continuted work towards building a nature center in Fox Run Re...

Bob talks with Alicia Filley, a/k/a "The Healthy Hiker" about hiking and building and maintaining balance and why it's important for hiker fitness. They discuss the proper use of hiking poles for balance, how to evaluate your balance, and what kinds of exercises help increase balance. The Healthy Hiker website: https://www.thehealthyhiker.com/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Vis...

On episode 430 of the podcast, Bob chats with Britt Haley, Director of the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. They discuss some of the accomplishments of department in 2024, and plans for 2025. Topics include Blodgett and Fishers Canyon Open Spaces, e-bikes, a comprehensive managment plan for Pikes Peak and the Ring the Peak Trail, the 2025 budget, and more. Pleas...

It's the first ever New Years Day podcast (it just worked out that way) for Bob and Kevin! They discuss how 2024 went for them and reveal if Bob reached his yearly goal of 800 hiking miles, and also review Bob's recent newspaper column on outdoor recreation New Year's resolution. Along with other topics, Kevin also discusses what drove him to switch to a new GPS smartwatch and he compares his new...

Bob's co-host Kevin "Wild" Westendorf returns. After catching up on recent adventures, they discuss last minute holiday buying, setting resolutions, Bob's progress on getting to his yearly goal of 800 miles, donating during the Give campaign and much more. Give Pikes Peak website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/...

On this week's episode, Bob talks with Susan Davies, the Executive Director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC), on her upcoming retirement. They talk about her fifteen-year tenure at the helm of the organization, including the biggest accomplishments - and disappointments - of TOSC during that time. They also discuss how the political climate regarding outdoor recreation has changed in...

2024 Give Pikes Peak campaign participant Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) is the guest. Hear about what they do and why you should donate to them during the 2024 campaign. RMFI website: https://www.rmfi.org/ Give Pikes Peak website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob w...

2024 Give Pikes Peak campaign participant Garden of the Gods Foundation is the guest. Hear about what they do and why you should donate to them during the 2024 campaign. Garden of the Gods Foundation website: https://gardenofgods.com/ Give Pikes Peak website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more inf...

2024 Give Pikes Peak campaign participant Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates is the guest. Hear about what they do and why you should donate to them during the 2024 campaign. Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates website: https://medwheel.org/ Give Pikes Peak website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more infor...

2024 Give Pikes Peak campaign participant Code 4 Outdoor is the guest. Hear about what they do and why you should donate to them during the 2024 campaign. Code 4 Outdoor website: https://www.code4outdoor.org/ Give Pikes Peak website: https://campaign.givepikespeak.org/ Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob websit...

Bob starts off November with an interview with Matt Meister, the Chief Meteorologist for Colorado Springs' Fox 21 TV station. They talk about the complexity of predicting the weather in Colorado, and what makes Colorado's weather - especially in the Pikes Peak region - so unique. Meister talks about the difference between a La Nina and El Nino winter, which one we're having this year, and what it...

On this week's podcast, Bob sits down with Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. He and Mayor Yemi discuss the 2025 budget process that is underway, and how it will affect the city's parks and trails. They also discuss public safety in the city in general and parks in particular, and ballot measure 2C, which asks voters to renew the special sales tax used for paving the city's roads. If approved,...

On this week's podcast, co-host Kevin takes the reins and interviews Bernie Schmeits, Project Manager of Hearing, Vision and Dental Programming for the Colorado Gerontological Society (CGS). They talk about CGS's work to provide hearing aids to older adults with hearing impairments, and how this enables them to get out of the house and improve their quality of life. The non-profit relies on grants...

On a special bonus episode, Bob and Cory Sutela, the Executive Director of the Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates (MWTA), discuss Colorado Springs' proposed e-bike policy. Bob first corrects and clarifies some comments he made on the topic in episode 418, while still of the opinion that it is a generally good policy. Sutela then gives his organizations views and opinions on the policy. The main thrust...

On this week's episode, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss the newly unveiled proposed e-bike policy for Colorado Springs parks, trails and open spaces. They discuss some of the nuances of the policy, how the process of adopting the policy will go forward, and did Bob's opinion how e-bikes should be adopted into the city's open spaces change? As of this recording, there was no direct web link to the pr...

On this week's episode, Bob talks with Randi Minetor, the author of "Death in...", a series of books about accidents and deaths that have occurred at some of the United States' national parks. With some of the incidents detailed in her books going back more than 100 years, they compare and contrast hiking, mountain climbing and other activities over the years and how modern technology has affected...

Bob welcomes Wild Westendorf back to the podcast. They discuss what they have been doing since the last time Kevin on the show. Bob talks about the end of his term on the TOPS Working Committee, his experiences there and his plans moving forward. Also, Bob talks about his conversation with a person who thinks Colorado Springs voters aren't "smart enough" to vote on changes to the TOPS program, whi...

On this week's episode, Bob interviews Derick Lugo, author of "The Unlikely Through Hiker". They discuss how Derick, having grown up in Brooklyn, Queens and Harlem in New York City became a through hiker, tackling the Appalachian Trail with no prior experience. Derick tells of the impact on his outlook on life and interpersonal relations the experience had on him, and of writing a book about the h...

On this week's episode, Bob chats with author and thru-hiker Christine Woodside about her book, "Going Over the Mountain: One Woman's Journey from Follower to Solo Hiker and Back". In this entertaining hour, they discuss her experiences as a day and thru-hiker, and the experiences that led to the writing of this book. Book website: https://tinyurl.com/459rvkpa Please consider becoming a patron of...

With July having a 5th Wednesday, and not wanting to go too long between podcasts with our new twice-a- month schedule, I had Kevin "Wild" Westendorf come in for a short episode to catch up on things. We discuss what we've both been doing for the past few weeks, find out more about Kevin's recent health scare, new trails he's visited and any plans he has for the fall. We also discuss a few hikes t...

On episode 412, Bob chats with local author PJ Anderson about "Cheyenne Mountain - Here's Looking at You" an exhaustively researched book about the history of Colorado Springs' nearest mountain. They discuss Anderson's history in developing Cheyenne Mountain State Park at the base of the peak, the history of the early discovery and then mining and ranching on the mountain, and also of the many tra...

On this episode, Bob chats with Hector Estevez, the CEO of Centum Research and Technology. Calling from his company's headquarters in Spain, he and Bob talk about the "Lifeseeker" technology and devices that have been used in Europe and are now being introduced in the United States. The devices, which can locate a missing hiker in minutes, work alongside other forms of emergency technology, such a...

On this week's podcast, Bob goes solo as he talks about his trip hiking and photographing waterfalls in North Carolina. He discusses the scenery, the trails and the people he's encountered. Also, a short discussion on when you should go with a tour group and when you should make your own arrangements. Also, Colorado Springs E-bike survey and El Paso County's Paint Mines Park Master Plan. E-bike Su...

On this week's podcast, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss big changes coming to the podcast, and ask the listeners to voice their thoughts on the changes. Also, water safety and Kevin went to the Outdoor Magazine event in Denver 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...