Top National Park After Dark Stories: Night of the Grizzlies, Grandma Gatewood, and Cocaine Bear (BPR #319)
Backpacker Radio
Zach Davis
4.7 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 18 August 2025
⏱️ ? minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Danielle and Cassie, the hosts of the popular podcast, National Park After Dark. In this episode, Chaunce gets the lowdown on some of the most outrageous stories from the our beloved national parks, including the infamous cocaine bear, tuberculosis huts in Mammoth Cave National Park, the tragic tale of Ishi, the last Yahi, who emerged from Lassen Park in the early 19th century, and the night there were two separate fatal grizzly attacks in Glacier National Park.
We wrap the show with an opportunity to get paid to thru-hike (and consequently why you should be on The Trek's newsletter), cheap items that double as ultralight backpacking gear, my mediocre marriage advice, the triple crown of outdoor fears, and another listener offers a PSA on why you should probably not use dry ice for your resupply.
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Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30.
Betterment: Learn more at betterment.com/trek.
[divider]
Interview with Danielle and Cassie of National Park After Dark
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:45 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:09:40 - Introducing Danielle and Cassie
00:10:24 - What trip are you on right now?
00:11:50 - How did you two meet?
00:13:35 - How did you develop your podcast?
00:15:50 - What is it that makes your podcast so popular?
00:17:45 - Have you two visited a lot of the national parks?
00:23:50 - How often are you two out hiking together and what are your favorite trails?
00:29:45 - What are your favorite solo hikes?
00:32:30 - What is your podcasting research process like?
00:36:50 - Tell us about the Night of the Grizzlies at Glacier National Park
00:43:55 - Do you ever get in touch with people involved in the cases?
00:52:40 - Tell us about the mysteries of Mammoth Cave
01:01:36 - Tell us about Ishi, the Last of His People
01:06:50 - Tell us about Crater Lake National Park
01:15:30 - Tell us about Dope Lake in Yosemite
01:17:30 - Tell us about Cocaine Bear
01:27:20 - Tell us about Grandma Gatewood
01:33:20 - Discussion about the National Park After Dark podcast
01:34:45 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors in general?
Segments
Trek Propaganda
- Get Paid to Thru-Hike The Santa Fe to Taos Trail! By the Editors
- 6 Cheap Household Items That Double As Ultralight Backpacking Gear by Katie Jackson
QOTD: What’s your most unhinged marriage hack?
Triple Crown of outdoor fears
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by the truck brought to you by Element. |
| 0:04.0 | We are joined by Danielle and Cassie, the host of the popular podcast, National Parks After Dark. |
| 0:10.7 | In this episode, Johns gets the lowdown on some of the most outrageous stories from our beloved national parks, |
| 0:16.6 | including the infamous cocaine bear, tuberculosis huts, and Mammoth Cave National Park, |
| 0:21.7 | the tragic tale of Ishi, the last Yahi will emerge from Lassen Park in the early 19th century, |
| 0:27.7 | and the night there were two separate fatal grizzly bear attacks in Glacier National Park. |
| 0:32.7 | We wrap the show with the opportunity to get paid to Thruhike, |
| 0:35.9 | and consequently why you should be on the Trek's newsletter, cheap items that double as ultralight backpacking gear, my mediocre marriage |
| 0:43.1 | advice, the triple crown of outdoor fears, and another listener offers a PSA on why you should |
| 0:48.6 | probably not use dry ice for your resupply. But first, if you've listened to this podcast for any period of time, |
| 0:56.2 | I've sounded like a broken record about the importance of supplementing with electrolytes |
| 1:00.2 | while backpacking. |
| 1:01.7 | During my first through hike, |
| 1:02.9 | drink, I landed in the hospital with a condition called hyponotremia, |
| 1:06.3 | a fancy term for low blood sodium levels. |
| 1:09.8 | Symptoms included intense headaches, dizziness, and generally |
| 1:12.9 | feeling like a bag of Richards. This happened as a result of heavy sweating, over-consuming |
| 1:17.7 | water, and under-consuming electrolytes. A couple of saline IVs and a hefty medical bill later, |
| 1:23.3 | and my energy was magically restored. In other words, electrolytes and backpacking go together like peanut butter and jelly, |
| 1:30.1 | which is why I'm thrilled to introduce today's sponsor, Element. |
| 1:33.9 | Element is a science-backed zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix |
| 1:37.5 | designed to support active hydration and a healthy lifestyle. |
... |
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