201. What the Shutdown Really Means for our National Parks and Gateway Communities
Outdoor Minimalist20 Okt

201. What the Shutdown Really Means for our National Parks and Gateway Communities

In this episode, we visit Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Sequoia–Kings Canyon to understand how the 2025 government shutdown is affecting park staff, local economies, and conservation efforts across the National Park System.

While some parks, like Joshua Tree, appear to be operating almost normally, others are showing the strain. Visitor centers are shuttered, maintenance is delayed, and some rangers are working without pay or support.

Behind the scenes, nearly two-thirds of National Park Service employees — around 9,300 people — are furloughed or working without pay, and local communities are losing millions in visitor spending each day.

We talked with local business owners and visitors about how the shutdown is shaping their experiences — including Seth Zaharias, co-owner of Cliffhanger Guides in Joshua Tree, and Juan, a visitor from Ecuador whose U.S. park tour now looks very different under these conditions.

Featured Guests:

  • Emily Douce, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association (https://www.npca.org/people/emily-douce)

  • Seth Zaharias, co-owner of Cliffhanger Guides, Joshua Tree (https://cliffhangerguides.com/)

  • Juan Morales, visitor from Ecuador and founder of Biomas Adventures (https://www.biomasadventures.com/)

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    Episode Sources

    https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6382796929112

    https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/doi-nps-lapse-plan2025930508.pdf

    https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/park-status-during-2025-lapse.htm

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/16/yosemite-government-shutdown-national-parks

    https://www.npca.org/articles/11003-parks-group-warns-shutdown-leaves-national-parks-open-and-unprotected-while

    https://www.npr.org/2025/10/04/nx-s1-5562507/national-parks-government-shutdown

    https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/yosemite-national-park-shutdown-illegal-activities-21093093.php

    • Episoder(257)

    3. How to Identify Sustainable Product Materials with Mary Swanson

    3. How to Identify Sustainable Product Materials with Mary Swanson

    In episode 3 of the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast, I will be discussing how consumers and brands can take steps to identify more sustainable product materials. This is a big topic that I felt was best discussed with an industry expert like Mary Swanson. Mary is the CEO and a co-founder of Lava Linens. Together, she, her mom, Sheila, and sister, Caitlin, create durable, luxurious adventure towels powered by flax and hemp - two of Earth's most impressive fibers. Lava Linens' aim is to be as sustainable and responsible as possible - not succumbing to the pressures of fast fashion nor to the norms of the outdoor industry while still creating high-performing, valuable pieces of outdoor gear. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ---------------------------------- Get 15% off Lava Linens towels with the discount code OUTDOORMINIMALIST LAVA LINENS WEBSITE: https://shoplavalinens.com/ LAVA LINENS INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lavalinens/

    4 Okt 202147min

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