Behind the Scenes: Arches & Canyonlands National Park Superintendent Interview

HAPPY TUESDAY PARK PEOPLE! Today our conversation with Lena Pace, Arches & Canyonlands National Park Superintendent, is LIVE. This episode is unique because we get an inside view into what it is like to acclimate to a new role. Lena became superintendent in April, so we get a front row seat to all the things she is doing to learn about both Arches and Canyonlands, and my gosh she has been busy these last couple months. I am so impressed by her already extensive knowledge of both parks. I also can guarantee this episode will make you want to go to Canyonlands (I have been to Arches but not Canyonlands). Listen NOW on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts 🪩🎉

Exciting update: We have VIDEO!! You can view the video version of this episode on YouTube and Spotify. Let me know what you all think — we should be producing video going forward so very exciting!!

Keep reading to hear my favorite moment from the interview, a new thing I learned and an interesting fact about Arches & Canyonlands National Park, all from my interview with Arches & Canyonlands Superintendent, Lena Pace!

Favorite Moment from Interview with Lena — Listen here 

• Tribal Engagement: Arches & Canyonlands have 29 associated tribes with history in the two parks, with a lot of them having come down to the river corridor. The week before our interview, Lena got to spend four days, three nights out on the river with tribal partners and it was soo cool hearing about it from her. Not only did she get to build and deepen relationships with the tribal partners, but she also got to see what the river rangers are doing (as they talk with visitors, check on campsites, etc) and got to visit archaeological sites, including panels with pictographs and petroglyphs. Lena will continue to do these types of trips, especially as they are building out a new comprehensive river management plan, making sure they are taking the tribal perspectives into account as they figure out a new use plan for the park.

One Thing I Learned Interviewing Lena

• Plant Poaching: Lena served as a law enforcement ranger for 21 years across a variety of parks, so we talked about the unique types of things law enforcement rangers deal with across the park service. One challenge she brought up was plant poaching in the Smoky Mountains, which is essentially organized crime. Amidst all the hiking and outdoor time in national parks, it is always interesting to be reminded of the crazy crimes and such that happen in our revered national parks (check out National Park After Dark to really get a sense for this).

Interesting Fact About Canyonlands National Park

• Jeep & Bronco Camping: Canyonlands is less popular than Arches (as it is a bit harder to get to) but has a raw and rugged wilderness. Talking to Lena has me itching to make a trip to Canyonlands. There are a ton of unique experiences and some really challenging remote backpacking to be had in this park. One unique experience is backcountry four-wheel trails. To do these trails you need both technical driving skills and a car that can handle the 4WD terrain (I don’t have either of those things, ha). It allows people to get really deep into the backcountry when they couldn’t otherwise from just hiking. Another interesting fact is that you can’t just dig a hole to go to the bathroom in the backcountry because the park gets so little rain, so you have to carry out your waste (having a car with a portable toilet of sorts is a nice plus).

Maddie’s Outdoor Obsessions

This section will always highlight my favorite picks from the past week in the outdoor & adventure world

• Trail Crew Stories: A project to document the culture, techniques, and history of trail work — I came across this a few weeks ago and met with Joe, the founder, last week. Joe has a ton of experience working on trail crews and does a fantastic job highlighting the craftsmanship and culture of trail work across a variety of organizations. Reading these stories will 100% make you more appreciative and in awe of trails you come across in both the front and backcountry.

• Hiker Trash Radio: I came across this publication when learning more about Tim Beissinger and Renee Miller, thruhikers, as known on thier social media and instantly became a fan of Hiker Trash Radio the minute I read their podcast slogan “embrace the suck”. Doc, the host, says it best: “Tune in for tales of blistered feet, helicopter evacuations, and Type II Fun that will make you appreciate the comforts of home” Yay for Type II fun :D

This episode was chock full of fun conversations and interesting facts — listen to (or watch!!!) the full episode to also learn about Arches & Canyonland’s partnership with the Mongolian government, Lena’s experience growing up in rural Alaska, the first dark sky designation in the National Park Service, etc.

Thanks for making it this far — you a real one — see you all for our next episode release July 30th!!

Maddie

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