National Park After Dark – Episode 324: Trail Tales 77

Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Danielle & Cassie

Episode Overview

In this “Trail Tales” episode, Danielle and Cassie bring together listener stories that range from hilarious mishaps in odd museums to heart-stopping encounters with nature’s fury, deeply personal moments of grief and hope, and some chilling brushes with the supernatural. Through these shared experiences, the hosts highlight not only the humor and horror that lurk in our wild places but also the beauty of connection—to the land, to each other, and sometimes to forces beyond comprehension. The episode’s tone shifts from spooky and suspenseful to deeply heartfelt, making this compilation equally chilling, uplifting, and memorable.

Key Discussion Points & Stories

1. Locked in the Bryce Canyon Taxidermy Museum

Timestamps: 01:48–09:04

• Storyteller: Lauren
  Lauren recounts being inadvertently locked inside a taxidermy museum at Bryce Canyon National Park. After snow closed most of the park, she and her fiancé decided to check out an eccentric museum where the owner proudly boasted of his collection. Soon after their arrival, he left for a “quick errand”—locking them inside for nearly an hour with no way out. What starts as a joke (“maybe he taxidermies humans next door?”) quickly morphs into genuine anxiety.

  Quote:

  • “We were locked in a motherfucking taxidermy museum.” (03:27, Lauren’s letter)
  • “That would scare me so bad if I walked into some weird taxidermy shop and the guy was like, oh, I just have to run a quick errand. I’ll be back soon. Click.” – Danielle (04:05)

• After the ordeal, the hosts agree: Always use the buddy system, and don’t be afraid to call for help in strange situations.

2. A Close Call with Lightning in the Chiricahua National Monument

Timestamps: 10:45–21:25

• Storyteller: Jordan
  Jordan describes a solo hike that almost turned deadly due to a fast-moving monsoon storm. Despite planning for an early return and checking the forecast, sudden thunderheads transformed a beautiful day into a dangerous situation. Jordan races the storm, debates whether his trusty wooden staff is a lightning rod, flees through exposed terrain, and finally receives a pin from an indifferent ranger instead of the response he’d hoped for.

  Quote:

  • “For the first time in years, I felt legitimate fear about the situation that I was in.” (15:05, Jordan’s letter)
  • “This lady completely disregarded everything I told her of the storm the hikers, the deteriorating weather conditions. I was soaked with sweat, flushed with exertion. Rain was audibly hitting the roof. I just told her of the imminent possibility of loss of life and this crazy old bat wanted to give me a pin.” (17:37, Jordan’s letter)

• The hosts emphasize the lessons: respect mountain weather, plan contingencies, don’t assume you’re safe based on a forecast, and know your evacuation routes.

3. Jenny Lake Ranger Fan Moment

Timestamps: 25:45–28:46

• Storyteller: Gwen
  In Wyoming’s Tetons, Gwen is ecstatic to meet the legendary Jenny Lake Rangers, having heard about their heroics on the podcast. She chats with Jack McConnell, a 30-year veteran, only to learn later he’s a central figure in the very rescue trail tale that first captivated her.

  Quote:

  • “I want you. You’re an og. You’ve seen some.” (27:55, Gwen’s letter)
  • “Our jaws dropped. The dude with arthritis and bow legs is truly a hero and a freakin savage.” (28:20, Gwen’s letter)

• A joyful reminder of the real-life impact these stories can have—and a bridge between fans, listeners, and the park community.

4. Eminent Doom Beneath the Safeway

Timestamps: 29:15–35:29

• Storyteller: Will
  Will shares a quirky piece of small-town lore from Nevada City, CA: the town sits atop hundreds of miles of crumbling, flooded gold mine tunnels, with the “weakest spot”—and rumored site of impending doom—right under the local Safeway. Childhood fears of sudden sinkholes and underground chaos persist into adulthood.

  Quote:

  • “It has caused many sinkholes and a few newspaper articles and studies done about this... The weakest spot was right below our local Safeway.” (30:03, Will’s letter)

• The hosts laugh about how early anxieties stick with us and agree that this definitely counts as small city lore.

5. Ghost of a Royal Park & Serial Killer Family Lore

Timestamps: 37:37–45:09

• Storyteller: Sarah
  Sarah recounts a supernatural encounter while hiking alone in Bellingham, WA—an apparition of an Indigenous woman glowing pale green in the pre-dawn woods, followed by getting mysteriously “stuck” looping back to the same spot on the trail. She then shares the family lore of her birth: her midwife, Martha, was tragically murdered by a serial killer the night she was born, a story that later intertwined with her partner’s family in a chilling twist of fate.

  Quotes:

  • “I saw the silhouette of a human form just a few feet away from me... seemed like an indigenous woman wearing a dress and her outline was giving off a pale green light.” (41:13, Sarah’s letter)
  • “The night I was born, the midwife named Martha... became the victim of the serial killer known as Caesar Barron.” (42:37, Sarah’s letter)

• The hosts express awe and sympathy, reflecting on life’s strange, sometimes haunting connections.

6. My Star-Crossed Lover is Trolling Me from the Afterlife as a Blue Butterfly

Timestamps: 46:42–59:15

• Storyteller: Emily
  Emily shares an epic, poignant love story with Grant—a dear friend turned possible soulmate, whose passion for wilderness led to his death climbing in Glacier National Park. She recounts the profound grief that followed—and the flood of symbolic blue butterflies (from literal mountainside sightings to urban murals and even lingerie ads) that began appearing after his passing, often when she most needed reassurance or guidance.

  Quotes:

  • “He was kind, but not so kind that he wouldn’t ruthlessly roast you for your double chin in a photo. He flew by the seat of his pants...” (51:45, Emily’s letter)
  • “A blue butterfly came and landed on my arm and just stayed there. Paige and I burst into hysterical tears and laughs.” (52:45, Emily’s letter)

• Emily describes how these encounters, from summits to survival situations, continue to shape her healing and motivate her adventures, culminating in a remembrance pilgrimage to Glacier.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Danielle on being locked in:
  “I’d be like, I’m being kidnapped. I am in a taxidermy museum. I don’t like closed in spaces. Don’t lock me in.” (04:19)
• Cassie reflecting on danger:
  “Now I’m scared. We’ve scared ourselves for sure.” (21:54)
• On lightning safety:
  “You just don’t want to be the tallest thing around. And also, if you’re outdoors and there’s really nowhere to shelter, to stand on your backpack and curl up and wait it out, because you’re creating a gap between you.” – Danielle (22:31)

Thematic Highlights

• Respect for Nature’s Power:
  Repeated stories urge listeners to never underestimate weather, wildlife, or the environment’s unpredictability.
• Human Connections—Living & Beyond:
  From fan-meets to ghostly visions, the ties between people (and to those no longer with us) run deep.
• Lore & Laughter:
  Local legends about collapsing Safeways, weird museum trips, and nostalgic nods to supermarket games bring levity to the episode.
• Loss & Healing:
  Emily’s butterfly tale rounds out the show with a stunning reminder of grief’s persistence—and the unexpected beauty that can follow.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Locked in a Taxidermy Museum: 01:48–09:04
• Lightning Storm in Chiricahua National Monument: 10:45–21:25
• Jenny Lake Ranger Encounter: 25:45–28:46
• Safeway Sinkhole Lore: 29:15–35:29
• Ghost of a Royal Park / Serial Killer Lore: 37:37–45:09
• Blue Butterfly Star-Crossed Lover: 46:42–59:15

Final Thoughts

The hosts encourage all listeners to share their own wild, weird, and heartfelt stories by submitting them through the podcast website. With a reminder to adventure thoughtfully and remember the occasional “buddy system” (even in taxidermy museums), Danielle and Cassie sign off with warmth, humor, and a bit of awe for the haunting magic of nature—and the stories it creates.

[Next episode teased: Alien abduction and cryptid tales—available for subscribers!]