Episode 27 - John Goodwin - Echoes of the Badge (3000x3000)

Episode Guest

John Goodwin, Retired NPS Ranger
Echoes of the Badge

John’s Stats

Speed Round

What is your earliest park memory?

Great Sand Dunes National Park

What made you love the parks?

Going there (Great Sand Dunes National Park) every summer with my family. Just smelling the pinon pines, the sagebrush just listening to nothing. Listening to silence.

What is your favorite thing about parks?

 It’s a place you can go and get rid of all the stuff that is we carry, the baggage. I know I said that before, but letting go of the baggage and living life.

What is your favorite thing to do in a park?

 Hike

What park have you yet to visit but is on your bucket list and why?

  Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. I’m okay with twisty turns, but my my wife and my son aren’t. I should be selfish and just go by myself. I don’t wanna put them through the misery of going, but I so want to.

What are three must-haves you pack for a park visit?

 Besides the 10 essentials, which your readers can look up,  toilet paper and paper towels. You’re gonna need them. Ziploc baggies and trash bags and a external power bank and cords,  because a lot of people don’t bring their cords, so bring a cord for whatever you’re gonna charge.

What is your favorite campfire activity?

 S’mores

Tent, camper, or cabin?

  When I was younger, a tent. Sleeping pads are getting better. But my back loves having a nice mattress, so probably a camper or a cabin. I still love to backpack though.

Hiking with or without trekking poles?

 With trekking poles

And what is your favorite trail snack?

Anything chocolate.

What is the favorite animal sighting that you’ve had?

 Oh, always bears.

What is your favorite sound in the parks?

  I know it sounds silly, but silence. I love, so it is so underrated. Silence.

What is the greatest gift the parks give to us?

 Oh my gosh. You know what? It gives to us what we all have still inside of us, that primal need for nature. All of us have that within us. Some people may be afraid to be out there in nature and stuff like that, and it maybe it’s possible they need to get out there and enjoy it on their level. And enjoy just gradual, just exposure to to the outdoors. The outdoors, it can be unforgiving. It can also be beautiful. There’s no good or bad with Mother Nature. It just is. And I think all that resonates within each of us. It truly does. And when you’re out there, that’s why I was saying at the very beginning give yourself that data.

Just let go. And then the rest of the time that you’re there in that National Park, just let it happen. Feel that little bit of anxiety creeping out. It’s “Oh, I’m on this trail. I’m a little bit further away than I should be. Oh, do I have enough water? Do I have enough snacks with me?” That’s actually a good thing, to feel that again, because we just have so much. Comfort in living in the cities, right? We do, we have everything at our beck and call, the mocha, for me is a block away in Starbucks. Costco is, I can see it from my back window.

So getting away from that and feeling a bit uncomfortable is actually a good feeling.

Show Notes & Links