Trail Tales 101: Arm Funerals, Scottish Fairies & Coins from the Beyond
Hosted by Cassandra Yahnian and Danielle LaRock
- 55m
- Transcript
Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This special Trail Tales edition of the podcast features listener-submitted stories blending outdoor adventure, the supernatural, and survival. The hosts read gripping accounts, including a survivor of a horrific car crash who amputated her arm and legally buried it in a historic Richmond cemetery, a traveler on Canada's Highway of Tears who narrowly escaped a stalker with the help of her pit bull, and a backpacker who witnessed an unexplained glowing light illuminating an entire mountain basin in Colorado. Other tales cover ghostly encounters with a beloved grandmother and a bizarre mishap involving Scottish fairies and spotty GPS signals in the Isle of Skye.
- Equip yourself with a reliable vehicle and safety features when traveling remotely to protect against unexpected hazards. 5:05
- Always trust your instincts and remove yourself immediately from threatening situations in isolated areas. 23:09
- Research route conditions and service availability thoroughly before embarking on cross-country or wilderness road trips. 19:47
- Find meaningful ways to process grief and remember loved ones through personal rituals and connections to nature. 42:06
Chapters
- 0:00Podcast Introduction and Advertisements
Hosts open the episode with a brief intro and sponsor messages.
- 1:47Hosts Welcome and Listener Stories
Danielle and Cassandra greet listeners and explain how to submit stories.
- 2:36Amber Shares Her Historic Cemetery Tale
Amber introduces her story about burying her own arm in a cemetery.
- 3:48Amber’s Accident and Disability Journey
Amber recounts the car crash that led to her arm injury and amputation.
- 4:38Coventry’s Highway of Tears Narrative
Coventry tells a harrowing tale of near-miss encounters on a dangerous highway.
- 6:42Amber’s Decision to Keep Her Arm
She explains why she chose to keep her amputated arm as a memorial.
- 7:36Amber’s Cemetery Plot and Burial Process
Amber details how she purchased a plot at Hollywood Cemetery and buried her arm.
- 9:38Amber Reflects on Grief and Nature
Amber discusses how the podcast helped her cope with loss and chronic pain.
- 34:13Blue Lake Mystery and Light Phenomenon
A listener describes a mysterious glowing light experienced while camping.
- 40:33Dimes Story of Healing and Gratitude
A grieving mother shares how finding dimes brings comfort and connection.
- 44:18Scottish Fairies Adventure
A fan recounts a trip to Scotland where fairies supposedly guided their journey.
- 50:16Cairngorms Rewilding Experience
Hosts recount a falconry adventure and beaver walk at a rewilding project in the Scottish Highlands.
Highlights
- 6:28
After losing her arm in a severe accident, the speaker decided to keep it, eventually purchasing a plot in Richmond's historic Hollywood Cemetery and holding a funeral.
- 23:32
Escaping Highway of Tears Attackersstory
While driving through remote British Columbia, a traveler was chased by men on a quad and dirt bike, escaping only after her young pit bull fought one of them off.
- 34:32
Mysterious Glowing Mountain Basininsight
A backpacker camping alone at Blue Lake in Colorado woke up at night to find the entire valley illuminated by an inexplicable, shadow-casting cold white light.
- 41:37
A grieving mother shares how dimes repeatedly appeared in unbelievable places after her son passed away, including a specific instance on a trail in Yosemite.
- 48:10
Escaping Scottish Fairiesstory
A traveler in the Isle of Skye describes a frantic hike out of a bog as wind and fog closed in, followed by a GPS error sending them back to a castle.
- 54:15
Grandmother's Spirit Seen by Childstory
A listener recounts how her young toddler interacted with the farmhouse spirit of his late great-grandmother, who loved national parks and travel.
Quotes
“I was so lucky to have been in the car I was in because it saved my life.”
Danielle LaRock · 5:05 “I truly believe we were either pranked or protected by the Scottish fairies at the Fairy Pools, and I will leave it up to you two to pick which one.”
Danielle LaRock · 51:11 “The owners had been fighting for decades to protect the beavers and their importance to the ecosystem.”
Danielle LaRock · 50:43 “I do believe she's with me all the time. I feel her when I travel and every time I see a hummingbird, I know it's her coming to say hi.”
Cassandra Yahnian · 55:24 “I really hope one day I can join you on one of your group trips.”
Danielle LaRock · 51:21
Sponsored segments
- Designer Shoe Warehouse 0:00–0:29
- Subaru 13:16–14:16
- Simply Safe 14:29–15:40
- Article 15:59–17:04
- Nutrafol 38:26–39:26
- Jones Road Beauty 39:31–40:23
- Patreon or Apple subscriptions 57:22–57:57
- Progressive 59:01–59:16
About this episode
Today’s stories include being stalked on the Highway of Tears, lights over the lake, ghost grammies, arm funerals, Scottish fairies & coins from the beyond. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! COME SEE US ON TOUR - LIMITED TICKETS LEFT! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page! Thank you to this week’s sponsors! Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shippingwhen you visit nutrafol.com enter promo code NPAD. Alloy: Try the original M4 skincare from Alloy. Visit http://myalloy.com and use code NPAD for 20% off your first order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
10,463 words · 8 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- All Trails
- Fairy Pools
- Bear Brook
- Cairngorms
- Isle of Skye
- Apple
- New Hampshire Public Radio
- Private Matter
- National Park After Dark
- npadpodcast.com
Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated