End of The Road

Episode 1: Perspective, with Ben Shaine

July 11, 2020

Ben reflects on the ongoing natural cycles of catastrophe, regrowth and regeneration that he discovers as he walks through two stories from the Wrangells: an epic story of dinosaurs and deep time, and a story about the last hundred years in the McCarthy community. Ben's insights and contemplative cadence provide a much-appreciated perspective, a perspective that opens up a space for hope during times of tension and turmoil….

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In This Episode:

  • Ben Shaine: In this inaugural episode of End of The Road, we interview Ben Shaine, one of the Founders of the Wrangell Mountains Center, reflecting on a half century of living in the Wrangell Mountains

  • Jessie Sheldon: Producer and Engineer

  • Jonathan Erdman: Interviewer and Executive Director, Wrangell Mountains Center

 

The following is a 60 second visual preview of the episode. Click the audio-only link at the top of the page for the full podcast.

 

We visited Ben at his homestead in Kennicott, Alaska, on Sweet Creek. To visit Ben at his home, we biked up the four mile dirt road connecting McCarthy to Kennicott, with all our recording gear in tow, then hiked up a smaller, narrow dirt road, then scrambled up a switchbacking path through the woods until we arrived at Ben’s house, where we spent our first few minutes soaking up the view, looking out across the Kennicott Glacier towards Fireweed Peak. Then we hiked up to a tent platform, in a nice shady spot and began our conversation with Ben….

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