This week we have a special preview of Mossback, a companion podcast to the popular Mossback’s Northwest video series that airs on KCTS 9. The Mossback podcast digs deeper into the topics that fans want to know more about from the current seaso

The Meaning of a Mountain

Oct 5th, 2021 25m 55s

Peter Rainier never set foot on this continent. Some tribal members suggest giving a more fitting name for Washington’s tallest peak.For the very first episode of Crosscut Escapes, we told a story about a mountain. Not just any mountain — the

For the Love of Birds

Sep 28th, 2021 23m 50s

Ted Alvarez thinks birding is boring. But with so much interest in it now, he decides to investigate.The Pacific Northwest is a haven for thousands of bird species, from sage grouse to bald eagles to common finches. Many impressive migrations

Flower Power

Sep 21st, 2021 22m 48s

Professor Steven Clark is on an ongoing quest to find a rare daisy that helps us understand the intricacies of evolution.Professor Steven Clark spends his days bushwhacking brushy trails until they turn into rocky scrambles, then vertical clif

The Science of Sasquatch

Sep 14th, 2021 28m 47s

To find the mythical beast, members of the Olympic Project first analyze the evidence.Bigfoot, Sasquatch or whatever your favorite nickname; this giant, apelike cryptid is cemented in the minds of many Americans — and nowhere is that more true

The Fungus Among Us

Sep 7th, 2021 19m 57s

Wild mushroom foraging can be deadly. But in a region crammed with thousands of edible species, it’s fiercely beloved.With its plentiful moisture and forest cover, the Pacific Northwest is home to some of the greatest proliferations of wild mu

To the Rescue!

Aug 31st, 2021 24m 57s

For outdoor adventurers, search and rescue teams provide a critical service, often for free — and it all started in Seattle.For outdoor adventurers in Washington state, potential trouble can be just a few steps away. The combination of topogra

Bonus

Climate Change and the Future of Outdoor Adventuring

Aug 26th, 2021 53m 24s

In this special episode, we speak with the director of the UW Climate Impacts Group about the ways that outdoor recreation is changing and what can still be saved.For a long time, climate change was more of a theoretical threat for many people

Trailer

Coming Soon! Crosscut Escapes, Season 2

Aug 19th, 2021 1m 17s

The adventure begins August 31, 2021. Host Ted Alvarez returns with six new episodes that will take you to the wildest places in the Pacific Northwest with the people who know them best.

The Beige Blur

Feb 9th, 2021 22m 47s

The shrub-steppe ecosystem may seem boring, but it is essential to the survival of grouse, orcas and people.When people think about Washington’s beautiful natural landscapes, most envision serrated mountain ranges, dense forests or perhaps th

The River Rewild

Feb 2nd, 2021 18m 15s

Few rivers define a region like the Columbia, where tribal scientists are making headway in bringing back its most important species: salmon.Since time immemorial, the Columbia River ha been a food source, a dividing line and a driver of cultu

Do You Speak Orca?

Jan 26th, 2021 14m 56s

Oceanographer Scott Veirs shows us how to listen for whales in Puget Sound, identify their signature sounds and maybe help save them.If Puget Sound has an animal celebrity, it’s the orca — specifically, the southern resident population of

The Carnivore Next Door

Jan 18th, 2021 16m 32s

During the pandemic, more people are spotting animals slinking around the neighborhood.It’s no secret that Washington state is home to many charismatic carnivores — wolverines, bobcats, cougars and bears (oh my!). But it might come as a surpri

Quiet Riot

Jan 12th, 2021 18m 52s

In 2005, Gordon Hempton made a single spot within the Hoh Rain Forest famous for its serenity. But now it’s noisier than ever.For outdoor enthusiasts, Olympic National Park offers a smorgasbord of ecosystems: rocky peaks, driftwood-strewn beac

Volcano Songs

Jan 4th, 2021 18m 24s

Mt. Rainier’s roiling innards make constant noise — and by listening, geologists can tell what kind of mood it's in.Looming on the horizon like a holographic ice cream cone (when we can see it), Mt. Rainier draws eyes skyward everywhere in Pug

Trailer

Crosscut Escapes Trailer

Dec 17th, 2020 1m 1s

Coming January 5, 2021. Crosscut Escapes asks big questions about what makes the region tick — and visits the wildest, most unique places to find answers.