Lauren Danner

Tom, you’re the best. Thank you for this very fun #ParkChat.

Oh, now, hold on a second, Zombie History Buff! #ParkChat

Naturally! #ParkChat

And now you have an excellent new nickname. Like a trail name but for national parks. #ParkChat

Oh my goodness, I’m a moody yellow-bellied marmot. Which is right on the money. Because I actually am one. #ParkChat

A10. Fort Vancouver does a living history day a few times a year, including cooking demonstrations and talks in the dining room about what would have been served and when. Really interesting. #ParkChat

Wait, what is this? And how can I get some? #ParkChat

That’s a good one. #ParkChat

I bet mine looked exactly the same! #ParkChat

A9. On a hike to Ranger Falls at Mount Rainier I had a strong sense of being watched and knew there’d been mountain lion sightings in the area. And (repeat story) I heard one scream as I was driving on the Mather Parkway at Rainier. Absolutely chilling. #ParkChat

Oh, no. No no no no no. Absolutely not. #ParkChat

A8. Nope. Not me. I’m good, thanks. #ParkChat

A7. We’ve been to Carlsbad Caverns, Wind Cave, and Jewel Cave. Only one was open, and we did get to see the bats! Does Ape Cave at Mt. St. Helens count, @mtmagog.bsky.social? #ParkChat

Yes. Same with Minidoka and the Japanese Exclusion Memorial on Bainbridge Island. #ParkChat

A6. When we visited Hampton NHS in Baltimore, we didn’t go inside the house because it was closed, but I thought a lot about the people enslaved there and what their lives might have been like. Certainly they did not enjoy the manicured grounds as we did. #ParkChat

A5. I’ve only been to three, Monocacy, Antietam, and Glorieta Pass. Antietam especially felt weighty with the sacrifices made there, although all were somber even on a beautiful fall day. #ParkChat

I always love Tom’s Qs! He’s the consummate #ParkChat host, don’t you think?

Oh my gosh. This is hilarious and kind of cringe-y too. #ParkChat

A4. I’m thinking @beckyjlomax.bsky.social, because she spends a lot of time on trail and would likely be prepared and be able to figure out a plan. #ParkChat

Fantastic. Happy anniversary! #ParkChat

There’s something about darkness that amplifies every little sound! #ParkChat

100% agree. #ParkChat

A3. Aw, none of them! #ParkChat people are the best people. But there are several I don’t think I could keep up with on a trail.

Good advice. I’m going to try to remember this next time. #ParkChat

A2. Neither. I lie awake, listening intently and scaring myself. Seriously, once I lay awake listening to a scritch-scritch sound for hours. It sounded like something pawing at the ground. Next morning I found the culprit: a branch of Western redcedar just low enough to scrape the tent. 🙄 #ParkChat

A1. @tthrash.bsky.social already a complicated Q?! We don’t celebrate Halloween per se. We follow the Wheel of the Year, which marks seasonal changes in eight-week increments. We celebrate Samhain (say SOW-hen), an ancient harvest festival that gave rise to most modern Halloween traditions.#ParkChat

My Wednesdays have been crazy, but I’m finally here for the always excellent #spookyParkChat #ParkChat!

Having just seen this, I’ve had the same experience with some folks. Not sure what it’s about, but no worries!

Thank you @babyboomersaves.bsky.social for a great #ParkChat. I couldn’t keep up!

Out here there are several ghost forests created by saltwater incursion after tsunamis caused by earthquakes. Scientists have studied them to pinpoint exact dates of historical, very destructive quakes. Fascinating stuff. #ParkChat