A 13-Year Father-Son Legacy: Grant & John on National Parks, Cowboy Hats & Growing Up on the Trail
A 13-Year Father-Son Legacy: Grant & John on National Parks, Cowboy Hats & Growing Up on the Trail  
Podcast: Hikes and Mics Podcast
Published On: Mon Nov 03 2025
Description: Send us Fan Mail🎙️ Chasing National Parks: A Father–Son Quest 🥾🌄Grant returns to the podcast for a special first — joined by his dad John for the very first time. Recorded live at a snow-dusted overlook on Washington Pass in North Cascades National Park, this conversation traces 13 years of father-son national park trips that started when Grant was a senior in high school and have since taken them everywhere from Glacier to the Tetons to Zion.John shares his old-school system of laminated, hand-written trail notes ("John Trails," as Grant calls them) that saved the day when unexpected snow derailed their plans, and the two look back on standout moments — a windswept pass at Glacier where Grant's cowboy hat blew into a canyon, a champagne toast at the Grand Canyon's North Rim honoring Grant's late grandmother, and a 16-hour pandemic-era road trip to the Grand Tetons. We also get into how their roles have shifted over the years, John's youngest son Spencer and the joy of introducing him to local hikes, Grant's own podcast Grateful Galavanters, and a full round of season "this or that" questions — switchbacks or straight up, sunrise or sunset, loop or out-and-back.A heartfelt reminder that the best views are the ones you share, and that it's never too late to start a family hiking tradition.🎧 Tune in for a beautiful reminder that the best views are the ones you share — and that it’s never too late to start a family hiking tradition.Episode Links:Grant on InstagramGrant's LinktreeJohn on InstagramThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.