National Park After Dark

351: Trail Tales 86

Jan 29, 2026
Chilling travel tales and near-miss adventures from Arctic tour scares to a flight emergency that left a passenger queasy and worried. Altitude sickness and a stranded hiker in Peru collide with a ski-lodge misjudgment. Missing time in the Smokies prompts alien and drug theories. A New Year’s cemetery find turns into an unexpected police response.
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ANECDOTE

Northern Lights Tour That Went Wrong

  • Allison recounted a harrowing solo northern lights tour in Tromsø that felt increasingly sketchy and surreal.
  • She questioned whether the eccentric guide was benign or if something more sinister occurred when she nearly dozed off in the car.
INSIGHT

Desire Can Blind Travelers To Red Flags

  • Desire and pursuit of rare experiences often make travelers ignore red flags and unreliable providers.
  • Hosts emphasize checking credentials and trusting instincts when a tour seems off.
ADVICE

Confirm Fuel And Preflight Details

  • Verify fuel and preflight details and confirm reserve fuel procedures before small aircraft trips.
  • Speak up and inspect rental plane paperwork rather than assuming the tank is full.
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