National Park After Dark — Trail Tales 78 (Ep. 336)

Airdate: November 20, 2025
Hosts: Danielle & Cassie

Overview of Episode

This Trail Tales episode of National Park After Dark features a diverse blend of listener-submitted stories that explore the eerie, adventurous, and sometimes unsettling moments people have experienced in wild places and on public lands—ranging from urban legends and brushes with danger, to rites of passage and wildlife encounters. True to the show’s spirit, Danielle and Cassie not only highlight the darker, “what can go wrong” side of nature but also reflect on the importance of digging beyond legends, respecting indigenous history, and trusting one's instincts—especially as women in the outdoors.

Key Discussion Points & Story Summaries

1. Third Bridge: A Haunting in Colorado

Timestamps: 00:49 – 13:11
Storyteller: Ethan

• Urban Legend & Firsthand Experience:
  Ethan recounts his teenage adventure to the so-called haunted Third Bridge near Denver known for ghostly drumming, apparitions, and a curse tied to indigenous massacres.
• Paranormal Encounter:
  While exploring the bridge at 3 a.m., Ethan has an alarming bat encounter under the bridge, followed by a group experience hearing mysterious drumming and a piercing, inhuman shriek, leaving the group terrified and fleeing.
• Historical Investigation:
  Ethan connects the legend to the real Sand Creek Massacre and uncovers a tragic history of both indigenous suffering and more recent local tragedies (car wrecks, murder). He discovers logical explanations for some phenomena (e.g., nearby oil rigs causing thumping noises) but admits the source of the shriek remains unknown.
• Message:
  Urges respect for tragic historical sites and warns thrill-seekers to avoid mocking spirits (or inviting trouble).

“Haunted or not, the location of Third Bridge in Colorado has seen more than its fair share of human tragedy over the years and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.” — Ethan [12:47]

Hosts’ Reactions:
Danielle and Cassie appreciate Ethan’s balanced approach—respecting both the history and the role of myth, with Cassie suggesting a fox’s scream might explain the terrifying sound.

2. 13 for 13: A Rite of Passage

Timestamps: 16:53 – 25:50
Storyteller: Tori

• Rite of Passage Gone Awry:
  For her son’s 13th birthday, Tori organizes a 13-mile overnight backpacking trip, complete with emotional letters for him from loved ones. The journey devolves into what she describes as “tough but transformative, spoiler—it was mostly just tough.”
• Comedy of Errors:
  Mishaps include her husband’s digestive emergency (loss of toilet paper and underwear), difficult trail conditions, a severe overnight thunderstorm flooding the tent, a leaky sleeping pad, and an unexpected, heavy period.
• Reflection:
  Trauma and challenge become an unforgettable coming-of-age memory—“in a mildly traumatizing way.” She urges hikers to define their “rite of passage” with clarity and to always keep shoes inside the tent.

“Moral of the story: if you ask the universe for a rite of passage, be very specific—or else you’ll get dysentery, emotional collapse, a thunderstorm, floating shoes, and a surprise period.” — Tori [25:28]

3. Roombas, Coils, and Clusters

Timestamps: 26:55 – 33:09
Storyteller: Dale

• Growing up Navajo:
  Dale shares two vivid stories from federally protected tribal land. The first details a morning run interrupted by an awe-inspiring migration of tarantulas up red rock cliffs, leading to a palm-sized spider cozying up in his hand.
• Brother’s Harrowing Hitchhike:
  His brother’s story includes hiking and hitching on the infamous Highway 666, surrounded by coyote calls, and encountering an apparent “river” of writhing rattlesnakes across the road—ultimately requiring rescue by a passerby.
• Wisdom & Respect:
  Dale concludes with indigenous wisdom: humans are not inherently more important than the earth and must share and care for what surrounds us.

“We humans cannot live without the earth and all it provides us, but the earth can survive without us. We must share and care for all that is around us… Walk in beauty.” — Dale [32:37]

Hosts’ Reactions:
Danielle and Cassie are captivated by Dale’s cultural perspective and unique childhood experiences with wildlife, reflecting on their own (less dramatic) wild animal encounters.

4. I Still Wonder If He Wanted to Kill Me

Timestamps: 37:50 – 47:53
Storyteller: LJ

• Red Flags in the Shenandoah Foothills:
  LJ recounts an unnerving post-breakup hike with a volatile ex, who lures her far into the mountains, comments ominously about hiding bodies, and brandishes a knife “for practical reasons.” She maneuvers the situation by signaling to him and subtly referencing others knowing her whereabouts.
• Advice for Listeners:
  Emphasizes listening to one’s gut and being wary of the company you keep on outdoor adventures, especially as a woman.

“Ladies, go on your adventures. Thrive in the reasonable danger. Don’t let fear control your life, but watch the people at your back. There’s a reason we choose the bear.” — LJ [43:18]

Hosts’ Reactions:
The hosts discuss the “friend zone” dynamic, women’s social conditioning to be polite even when uncomfortable, and the importance of asserting boundaries and believing in one's own instincts.

5. Maybe an Axe Murderer Encounter Along the PCT

Timestamps: 47:55 – 59:26
Storyteller: Ana

• PCT Solo Hiker’s Creepy Encounter:
  Ana, an experienced solo thru-hiker, details a chilling episode with a man on Washington’s section of the Pacific Crest Trail. After persistently asking if she’s alone, he follows her closely, referencing missing women and how “bodies could just disappear.” His behavior (jogging to keep up, over-sharing, fleeing when seeing her male hiking companion) deeply unnerves her.
• Her Takeaway:
  Don’t be afraid to trust and act on your gut—don’t let rare creepy encounters dissuade you from solo hiking, but always be prepared and set boundaries.

“Trust your instincts… Maybe consider carrying some type of spray if it brings you peace of mind. And always watch your back—you never know who might be chasing it, smelling your stinky hiking hair.” — Ana [59:01]

Hosts’ Reactions:
Cassie and Danielle reaffirm the importance of not ignoring survival instincts and discuss the societal pressure on women to be “nice” even when it threatens their personal safety.

6. Small Town Legends, Small Town Serial Killer

Timestamps: 64:31 – 73:02
Storyteller: Essie (telling her mom’s story)

• Colonial Parkway Murders (Virginia):
  Recounts her mother’s near miss with a suspected 1980s serial killer impersonating law enforcement. Pulled over late at night by an unmarked car, the situation escalates until a hidden passenger in the back seat (the car’s owner) sits up and interrupts, abruptly diffusing the encounter.
• Aftermath:
  The experience leaves Essie’s mom with a lifelong aversion to driving back roads at night and a hard lesson about trusting your instincts and verifying authority (“ask for the badge”).

“Sometimes there are monsters in the dark.” — Essie’s Mother [69:48]

Hosts’ Reactions:
Danielle and Cassie stress safety protocols when pulled over by unmarked vehicles, and the importance of asking for law enforcement credentials—even if it feels awkward.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On respect and research:
  “I really love that you almost debunked the myth… while still honoring the history that happened there.” — Cassie [13:11]
• On classic horror movies:
  “I did that in basements of my friends’ homes—scaring the shit out of each other… The Exorcist, to this day I can’t watch it.” — Danielle [03:16]
• On women and outdoor safety:
  “There’s this pressure to not feel… But if your survival and safety depends on you having these defenses up… Don’t shove those away. Stay on high alert.” — Cassie [61:17]
• Humor in hardship:
  “Did I nail the memories that last a lifetime part? You bet I did. Possibly in a mildly traumatizing way. But hey, it still counts.” — Tori [25:28]

Additional Themes

• Indigenous history & myth-busting:
  Listeners and hosts highlight the nuance between honoring local legends and verifying the cultural or historical truths behind them.
• Wildlife awe and respect:
  From clusters of tarantulas to “rivers” of snakes, the stories celebrate and respect the surprising ways wildlife shapes outdoor experiences.
• Solo female hikers’ wisdom:
  Emphasis on trusting instincts, advocating for safety measures (like bear spray), and not letting fear keep women from exploring wild spaces.
• Authority and caution:
  Recurrent theme of verifying law enforcement in isolated areas and advocating for safe practices when encountering suspicious situations (e.g., asking for a badge).

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|----------------| | Third Bridge, CO (Ethan) | 00:49 – 13:11 | | Rite of Passage Gone Awry (Tori) | 16:53 – 25:50 | | Navajo Wildlife Wonders (Dale) | 26:55 – 33:09 | | Red Flag Hike in Shenandoah (LJ) | 37:50 – 47:53 | | Creep on the PCT (Ana) | 47:55 – 59:26 | | Colonial Parkway Murders (Essie’s Mom) | 64:31 – 73:02 |

Tone & Language

Danielle and Cassie maintain their conversational, down-to-earth, and slightly irreverent style—mixing genuine awe, critical reflection, gallows humor, and advocacy for both personal safety and the deeper appreciation of place and history. Listeners are treated to both laughs and sober lessons, always with care and community at the heart.

Conclusion

This episode of Trail Tales is a microcosm of the National Park After Dark ethos: finding meaning, humor, and growth in both the terrifying and the beautiful moments on public lands, learning from personal accounts, and always, always watching your back (for bats, for bears, for humans, and for the stories that linger in the landscape).

Curious for more stories (including "Mama Bear vs Mini Bear" & "A Mysterious Melody in the Redwoods")? Listen in on the NPAD subscription platforms!