Crosscut Escapes

Introducing the Mossback podcast!

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 deepe

The Meaning of a Mountain

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 Cross

For the Love of Birds

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, fro

Flower Power

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 bushwhac

The Science of Sasquatch

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

The Fungus Among Us

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

To the Rescue!

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,

Climate Change and the Future of Outdoor Adventuring

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

Coming Soon! Crosscut Escapes, Season 2

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

The Beige Blur

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 lands

The River Rewild

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

Do You Speak Orca?

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 celebr

The Carnivore Next Door

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 — wol

Quiet Riot

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

Volcano Songs

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

Crosscut Escapes Trailer

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.