Episode
134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
1:07:01
Published: Mon Mar 13 2023
Description
There’s something special about a good old fashioned treasure hunt that never grows old, no matter when the story took place or who was involved. From finding veins of gold in Alaska to buried loot in the desert, striking it rich in this way is a fantasy. But sometimes, fantasy becomes reality, and it changes everything. When treasure in the form of 6,000 pounds of high-grade Mexican marijuana fell from the California sky during a plane crash in the winter of 1976, lives were changed and lives were lost – and legend was carved into the soul of Yosemite National Park. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website. Thank you so much to our partners, check them out! Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code NPAD for $20 off your first purchase. Zocdoc: Use our link to download the Zocdoc app for free. Hello Fresh: Use our link and code npad60 for 60% off plus free shipping. Sources Climbing Gold Podcast, Climbing, Men’s Journal, Valley Uprising, Vice, Wikipedia, LA Times
Chapters
The story of a treasure hunt in California in 1976, which resulted in both success and tragedy, is recounted, showcasing the allure of a good old-fashioned treasure hunt.
00:00 - 01:44 (01:44)
Summary
The story of a treasure hunt in California in 1976, which resulted in both success and tragedy, is recounted, showcasing the allure of a good old-fashioned treasure hunt.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
The speaker talks about the potential snow conditions in Yosemite during their visit due to the heavy snowfall in the area.
01:44 - 07:13 (05:29)
Summary
The speaker talks about the potential snow conditions in Yosemite during their visit due to the heavy snowfall in the area. They also mention having a story in mind similar to the popular "cocaine bear" story that recently made headlines.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
Yosemite National Park is a sight to behold, with its incredible landscapes, waterfalls, and diverse flora and fauna.
07:13 - 12:36 (05:22)
Summary
Yosemite National Park is a sight to behold, with its incredible landscapes, waterfalls, and diverse flora and fauna. It was once a vast ice field covered with glaciers, but has since evolved into a stunning attraction that millions of people visit each year.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
A map of previous known plane crashes within the Denali National Park helped Setnika find the location of a missing plane which caused destruction for three quarters of a mile straight in the direction of the lake and is presumed to be entombed under the lake along with its passengers.
12:36 - 17:41 (05:05)
Summary
A map of previous known plane crashes within the Denali National Park helped Setnika find the location of a missing plane which caused destruction for three quarters of a mile straight in the direction of the lake and is presumed to be entombed under the lake along with its passengers.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
A team in Alaska went on a mission to recover marijuana left behind at a park after smugglers were caught by authorities.
17:41 - 21:50 (04:08)
Summary
A team in Alaska went on a mission to recover marijuana left behind at a park after smugglers were caught by authorities. The harsh conditions and constant threat of danger made their task all the more challenging.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
A woman reaches out to her family's lawyer after a plane crash for more information as authorities remain tight-lipped.
21:50 - 28:36 (06:46)
Summary
A woman reaches out to her family's lawyer after a plane crash for more information as authorities remain tight-lipped. Also, during the Great Depression, people moved into the valley and lived out of their cars, catching their food and sleeping in the park.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
In a time where not many route maps were kept, like climbing route maps, pioneering within the sport happened in Camp 4.
28:36 - 32:06 (03:29)
Summary
In a time where not many route maps were kept, like climbing route maps, pioneering within the sport happened in Camp 4.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
In this podcast episode, the speaker talks about her experience with smoking weed and trying coke for the first time, while acknowledging the dangers of romanticizing the experience.
32:06 - 38:53 (06:47)
Summary
In this podcast episode, the speaker talks about her experience with smoking weed and trying coke for the first time, while acknowledging the dangers of romanticizing the experience.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
The Alaskan marijuana gold rush saw people spending thousands of dollars at the bar in a single night and up to 30 people out on the lake at a time, trying to get their own slice of the wealth.
38:53 - 44:00 (05:06)
Summary
The Alaskan marijuana gold rush saw people spending thousands of dollars at the bar in a single night and up to 30 people out on the lake at a time, trying to get their own slice of the wealth. However, they soon realised the mistake of leaving thousands of pounds worth of weed unguarded and had to deal with the consequences.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
After a group of people illegally created a lake in Yosemite National Park, the park service had to take extra measures like posting armed rangers to guard the area 24/7.
44:00 - 48:42 (04:41)
Summary
After a group of people illegally created a lake in Yosemite National Park, the park service had to take extra measures like posting armed rangers to guard the area 24/7.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
Discover how a person in a national park allegedly blackmailed individuals to pay up or risk having personal information disclosed.
48:42 - 54:20 (05:38)
Summary
Discover how a person in a national park allegedly blackmailed individuals to pay up or risk having personal information disclosed. The situation escalated when officials became involved and the book was disposed of in a snowbank.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
The disappearance and death of Jack Wheeler were surrounded by conspiracy theories, with many speculating foul play.
54:20 - 57:48 (03:28)
Summary
The disappearance and death of Jack Wheeler were surrounded by conspiracy theories, with many speculating foul play. However, new evidence suggests that his death may have simply been an accident caused by Wheeler's intoxication and confusion.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
While the story of the Yosemite plane crash of 1977 may seem like a happy one with money falling from the sky, the reality is that it had a darker side, including deaths and trauma.
57:48 - 1:03:02 (05:13)
Summary
While the story of the Yosemite plane crash of 1977 may seem like a happy one with money falling from the sky, the reality is that it had a darker side, including deaths and trauma. Despite the fond memories some have of the event, others remember it negatively and chose not to speak about it.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
Climbers in their late teens and early 20s were reportedly getting weed from Merced River at Yosemite National Park, which was featured in the documentary 'Valley Uprising'.
1:03:03 - 1:05:38 (02:35)
Summary
Climbers in their late teens and early 20s were reportedly getting weed from Merced River at Yosemite National Park, which was featured in the documentary 'Valley Uprising'.
Episode134: Dirtbags of Dope Lake. Yosemite National Park.
PodcastNational Park After Dark
This is the outro of the National Park After Dark podcast where they encourage listeners to send their trail tales and follow them on social media, promote Patreon and Apple subscriptions, and thank their sponsors.
1:05:38 - 1:06:48 (01:10)
Summary
This is the outro of the National Park After Dark podcast where they encourage listeners to send their trail tales and follow them on social media, promote Patreon and Apple subscriptions, and thank their sponsors.