First Park Impressions ft. Luke S.

First Park Impressions ft. Luke S.

People have many different reasons to leave their normal life behind and seek employment within our National Parks. From seeking a summer filled with outdoor activities, running away from something, or embracing their inner hippie. Within this episode we talk about what motivated us to take the trip to Yosemite that changed our lives and made us the park rats we are today. The highlight of this episode is sitting down with the one who showed us that park life was possible to hear about his first impressions in Yellowstone and why he went to Yosemite the next year.

  00:00 - Intro to the Park Rats Podcast and the world of national park hospitality
  01:40 - Beer of the day
  02:30 - Topic introduction, first impressions in Yosemite Valley, taking the first step into national parks
  05:05 - The dawn of the first park rat, creation of the Mass. boys, summer adventures in the Yosemite
  07:25 - West Coast travels, San Francisco, and Merced California shenanigans
  11:25 - Bus rides, Tunnel View, El Cap, and Yosemite Falls
  12:25 - Jobs and why we were able to live in the parks
  13:32 - First day, tent 69, "Frat Row", housing under firefall, climbing and bouldering, salads and bears
  18:50 - Interview with Luke, what led him to Yellowstone, a Reddit epiphany
  21:25 - Road tripping, Gardner Montana, euphoria, the first time
  24:12 - Caravan with friends
  25:35 - Finding out working at Parks is actually a thing and how people choose to go, the nostalgia factor
  30:15 - The Park Rat attitude
  33:40 - Last thoughts and advice
  42:20 - Wrap up


  Be sure to check out our website and follow us on instagram and (not this one) facebook! We will keep you up to date on new guest announcements, cool National Park photos and some straight up dumb photos of Matt, Josh and our guests.

  If you or a friend have worked in a national park and want to share your story you can reach out to us on our website or DM us on instagram. We are trying to show all aspects of working in a national park and we are looking forward to hearing more of your stories!