Episode 73: Tia Shoemaker: Raised in the Alaska Bush – The Lost Art of Wilderness Skills

The Lost Art of Wilderness Skills

Episode 73

Raised in the Alaska Bush

   “Hard work, low pay.” So read a classified ad that Phil’s dad handed him years ago. Phil somehow passed the interview process and found himself employed as a packer on the Alaska Peninsula. There he met our guest, Tia Shoemaker for the first time. Tia joins us to talk about growing up in Bush Alaska, twice-yearly trips to the grocery store, jammed rifles, smoking airplane engines, thoughts on pink camo and three clean jokes.  

Are the skills required to live and move in wild places deteriorating? Tia talks about map reading, reliance on communication devices and mental fortitude.

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Episode 72: Tia Shoemaker: Raised in the Alaska Bush – Wild Encounters

Wild Encounters

Episode 72

Raised in the Alaska Bush

   “Hard work, low pay.” So read a classified ad that Phil’s dad handed him years ago. Phil somehow passed the interview process and found himself employed as a packer on the Alaska Peninsula. There he met our guest, Tia Shoemaker for the first time. Tia joins us to talk about growing up in Bush Alaska, twice-yearly trips to the grocery store, jammed rifles, smoking airplane engines, thoughts on pink camo and three clean jokes.  

Good things come in threes. Tia shares a top three of bear interactions that had a positive outcome. A gentle reminder to always take a long stroke and keep your powder dry. 

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Episode 71: Tia Shoemaker: Raised in the Alaska Bush – Hardships, Peculiarities and Dangers of the Bush Lifestyle

Hardships, Peculiarities and Dangers of the Bush Lifestyle

Episode 71

Raised in the Alaska Bush

   “Hard work, low pay.” So read a classified ad that Phil’s dad handed him years ago. Phil somehow passed the interview process and found himself employed as a packer on the Alaska Peninsula. There he met our guest, Tia Shoemaker for the first time. Tia joins us to talk about growing up in Bush Alaska, twice-yearly trips to the grocery store, jammed rifles, smoking airplane engines, thoughts on pink camo and three clean jokes.  

Tia and her brother spent an inordinate amount of time with adults. Her parents operated a hunting lodge so during the season, guides and packers (people hired to lug heavy items over uneven terrain, not football players) served as tutors and mentors. The clients, often very successful in their fields of expertise but out of their element in the Bush, provided a different set of lessons.

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Episode 69: Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas – From Fruit to Fire Ants

From Fruit to Fire Ants

Episode 69

Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas

   Shane and Phil chat about “The Pearl of Africa.” While flying helicopters in Botswana, Shane got in the habit of asking the well-traveled people he met, “What’s the one place you think is a must-see?”

The answer that came up most often was, “You must go see the gorillas.” Shane shares the research and the reason he chose Uganda as the country from which to see the Mountain Gorillas.

We’re taught not to anthropomorphize animals but Shane says that’s difficult while watching a silverback pick his nose just like your Uncle Billy sometimes does at the dinner table. You’ll get to trek along on two different days with two very different family groups and Shane will share the darker side of harems.

Take a trip up the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls to watch bird nerds get epic shots of a life-lister and ignore the hippos, crocs and elephants. A myriad of bananas and crowded towns round out the observations in this land-locked country the size of Iowa with over fifty recognized languages.

In this episode, Shane talks about traveling around Uganda, handy things to have, and a side safari. 

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Episode 68: Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas – The Logistics of a Gorilla Safari

The Logistics of a Gorilla Safari

Episode 68

Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas

   Shane and Phil chat about “The Pearl of Africa.” While flying helicopters in Botswana, Shane got in the habit of asking the well-traveled people he met, “What’s the one place you think is a must-see?”

The answer that came up most often was, “You must go see the gorillas.” Shane shares the research and the reason he chose Uganda as the country from which to see the Mountain Gorillas.

We’re taught not to anthropomorphize animals but Shane says that’s difficult while watching a silverback pick his nose just like your Uncle Billy sometimes does at the dinner table. You’ll get to trek along on two different days with two very different family groups and Shane will share the darker side of harems.

Take a trip up the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls to watch bird nerds get epic shots of a life-lister and ignore the hippos, crocs and elephants. A myriad of bananas and crowded towns round out the observations in this land-locked country the size of Iowa with over fifty recognized languages.

In this episode, Shane talks about his second day of the safari, and the logistics of getting to and from Uganda.

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Episode 67: Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas – Brutal Family Dynamics

Brutal Family Dynamics

Episode 67

Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas

   Shane and Phil chat about “The Pearl of Africa.” While flying helicopters in Botswana, Shane got in the habit of asking the well-traveled people he met, “What’s the one place you think is a must-see?”

The answer that came up most often was, “You must go see the gorillas.” Shane shares the research and the reason he chose Uganda as the country from which to see the Mountain Gorillas.

We’re taught not to anthropomorphize animals but Shane says that’s difficult while watching a silverback pick his nose just like your Uncle Billy sometimes does at the dinner table. You’ll get to trek along on two different days with two very different family groups and Shane will share the darker side of harems.

Take a trip up the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls to watch bird nerds get epic shots of a life-lister and ignore the hippos, crocs and elephants. A myriad of bananas and crowded towns round out the observations in this land-locked country the size of Iowa with over fifty recognized languages.

In this episode, Shane talks about the group dynamics, and brutal dangers of being a Mountain Gorilla. 

*This may be disturbing to those who are not familiar with how savage nature can be. You have been warned.  

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Episode 66: Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas – Gorilla 101

Gorilla 101

Episode 66

Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas

   Shane and Phil chat about “The Pearl of Africa.” While flying helicopters in Botswana, Shane got in the habit of asking the well-traveled people he met, “What’s the one place you think is a must-see?”

The answer that came up most often was, “You must go see the gorillas.” Shane shares the research and the reason he chose Uganda as the country from which to see the Mountain Gorillas.

We’re taught not to anthropomorphize animals but Shane says that’s difficult while watching a silverback pick his nose just like your Uncle Billy sometimes does at the dinner table. You’ll get to trek along on two different days with two very different family groups and Shane will share the darker side of harems.

Take a trip up the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls to watch bird nerds get epic shots of a life-lister and ignore the hippos, crocs and elephants. A myriad of bananas and crowded towns round out the observations in this land-locked country the size of Iowa with over fifty recognized languages.

In this episode, Shane talks about the rules of engagement with these giants of the cloud forest. 

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Episode 65: Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas – An African Dream

An African Dream

Episode 65

Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas

   Shane and Phil chat about “The Pearl of Africa.” While flying helicopters in Botswana, Shane got in the habit of asking the well-traveled people he met, “What’s the one place you think is a must-see?”

The answer that came up most often was, “You must go see the gorillas.” Shane shares the research and the reason he chose Uganda as the country from which to see the Mountain Gorillas.

We’re taught not to anthropomorphize animals but Shane says that’s difficult while watching a silverback pick his nose just like your Uncle Billy sometimes does at the dinner table. You’ll get to trek along on two different days with two very different family groups and Shane will share the darker side of harems.

Take a trip up the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls to watch bird nerds get epic shots of a life-lister and ignore the hippos, crocs and elephants. A myriad of bananas and crowded towns round out the observations in this land-locked country the size of Iowa with over fifty recognized languages.

In this Episode, Shane talks about the inception of a safari of a lifetime. 

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Episode 59: Iditarod Musher Emily Maxwell – Stopping the Race, What it Takes to Mush

The Grit of a Musher

Episode 59

Emily Maxwell

Iditarod Musher

Lots of people visit Alaska and say they want to live there. Some of them actually do move to the 49th State. A few of them do some interesting things in the Last Frontier. One of them moved from Iowa City and ran the Iditarod, the Last Great Race on Earth. Her name is Emily Maxwell.
Emily shares the weight of responsibility, decisions and dog psychology. And things to consider before you consider changing your life to do something straight up magical.

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Episode 58: Iditarod Musher Emily Maxwell – Dogs stop on the Iditarod Trail

Stopped on the Trail

Episode 58

Emily Maxwell

Iditarod Musher

Lots of people visit Alaska and say they want to live there. Some of them actually do move to the 49th State. A few of them do some interesting things in the Last Frontier. One of them moved from Iowa City and ran the Iditarod, the Last Great Race on Earth. Her name is Emily Maxwell.
Emily and the dogs encounter tussocks- an Old English word that closely translates to walking on basketballs. Tired mushers, tired dogs and big red buttons.

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