S13 - Episode #02 - Micah

🌋 Geysers, Wolves & the Stories Beneath Our Boots with Micah 🐺🏔️

In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Micah — geologist, educator, and Museum Manager for the City of Farmington, New Mexico — for a powerful, story-rich conversation about geology, wildlife, public lands, and what it truly means to understand the landscapes we hike through.

Micah shares how his love of the outdoors began in Washington State, bivy camping on summits in the Olympics and Cascades with his father, planting the seeds for a lifelong passion that eventually carried him to Yellowstone National Park. Over eight summers and two winters, Micah immersed himself in one of the most geologically dynamic places on Earth, becoming part of the legendary world of geyser gazing — and eventually serving as President of the Geyser Observation and Study Association (GOSA), helping preserve over a century of geothermal data.

We dive into unforgettable Yellowstone moments, including chasing the rare, explosive Fan & Mortar geyser system at sunset with his tight-knit crew, the “Sput Brigade,” and guiding a young girl to her first real-life wolves, when the Wapiti Lake Pack erupted into a valley-wide howl that brought everyone to tears. From there, Micah reflects on his time at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park and how learning to tell stories — not just share facts — led him to his current role blending science, conservation, and community through museum and park education in New Mexico.

We also talk about Micah’s viral wolf-pack Instagram reel, the magic of shared discovery through a spotting scope, and why geology, wildlife, and public-lands education are deeply intertwined.

🎧 This episode is a reminder that hiking isn’t just about reaching a destination — it’s about understanding the world beneath our boots, the life around us, and the stories written into every landscape.

Episode Links:
Micah on Instagram
The Geyser Observation and Study Association
Fan and Mortar Geysers 8/12/2014 Eruption 

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

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