The History of Adventure

Theodore Roosevelt's American Pioneer Heroes - Better Hiker Podcast

Theodore Roosevelt— the man, the myth, the legend— served as the 26th Presdident of the United States from 1901 to 1909. As a public figure, he was defined by his robust masculinity and exuberant personality. He was a man who wrote the book on being a manly man, he was a man of virtue, of intelligence, a man who embraced the strenuous life, bettering himself through the trials and tribulations he faced.  In today’s episode of the Better Hiker Podcast we’re going to be taking a look at Hero Tales from American History, a book Theodore Roosevelt co-authored with Henry Cabot Lodge. In Hero Tales from American History, Roosevelt identified a couple dozen men he claimed were American heroes. Some were politicians, some pioneers, and many were warriors,  American soldiers.  We’re going to focus on three men who helped colonize America. Three pioneers who moved west, conquering the land and people in their path-- Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Francis Parkman.

Jerusalem to Petra with Gertrude Bell - Better Hiker Podcast

Gertrude Bell was a world traveler remembered for her superior intellect, unrivaled enthusiasm, and thirst for adventure— Bell befriended many of the individuals she encountered in her travels, but she was also thought to be stubborn and unwavering in the face of adversity, never allowing another to cross her without a fight. In this episode we follow Gertrude Bell on an archaeological journey from Jerusalem to the ruins of Petra, a once capital city in what is now southern Jordan originally built sometime around 9000 B.C. which is famous for its rock-cut architecture. You’re probably most familiar with its portrayal in the third Indiana Jones movie, The Last Crusade. One of Petra’s remaining rock-carved structures was used as the entrance to the temple which housed the Holy Grail. In The Letters of Gertrude Bell which were selected and edited by her stepmother, Lady Florence Bell, of which you will hear a few of on this podcast episode, Lady Bell says of

Springtime with Henry David Thoreau - Better Hiker Podcast

Henry David Thoreau was a transcendentalist author who believed in the inherent goodness of people and nature. Best known for his guide to outdoor-living and self-reliance that is Walden, or perhaps his essay on Civil Disobedience, Thoreau praised the power of the individual while condeming the corruption of societal institutions. In this episode we read through the springtime entires of Thoreau's personal journals, delving into the three themes he loved to write about the most: his observations of nature, his transcendental philosophies, and his opinions on writing. He's also a big goofball, by the way. Just listen and you'll hear about all of the wild rodents he liked to play with. Much like how Henry David Thoreau used the passage of the four season in Walden to symbolize human development, so too are we going to look at Thoreau himself through the seasons. In future episodes we will explore Henry David Thoreau's summer, autumn, and winter entries to se

John Muir's Letters - Better Hiker Podcast

John Muir has had a lot named after him, everything from Mountain Passes to streets and libraries. He’s also found all over social media. The man simply loved nature. He loved the hell out of it. His political and conservational efforts earned him the nickname “Father of the National Parks” and still today we can see the effects of his passion. Borders have been shaped by this man. Trails have been scraped in his name. Millions of acres of preserved natural forest owe at least a small part of their conservation to the one and only John Muir. But as we explore some of his personal letters in this episode, we'll see that he wasn't perfect. Muir suffered from loneliness during his years in Yosemite. He poured his heart out to his friend, Mrs. Jeanne Carr, in these letters, pleading for her time and time again to come and visit. The mountains were his true love, yet he ached for someone to share them with, someone who was intelligent and passionate enough to f