PODCAST · sports
SIERRA REC NOW
by Sierra Rec
Welcome to the Sierra Rec Now Podcast. A live look at what is going on in the Sierra Mountains. Events, recreational tips and ideas plus interviews with the top explorers in the Sierra. Join us weekly as we explore an active connected lifestyle in the beloved Sierra Nevada Mountains. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sierra-rec/support
Episodes
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Keeping Women Outdoors Longer | Virginia Peterson of SWOOP
What happens when a lifelong love of the outdoors becomes the inspiration for building a business? Virginia Peterson, founder of SWOOP, joins Charlie Pankey on Sierra Rec Now for a conversation about mountain communities, outdoor adventures in Alaska, and creating clothing that helps women stay...
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What Happens When Kids Experience Yosemite for the First Time | NatureBridge
What happens when a kid who has never camped, backpacked or visited Yosemite National Park steps off a bus and sees Yosemite Valley for the first time? NatureBridge Yosemite Campus Director Corinne Dedini and Operations Manager Andrés Escalante join Sierra Rec Now host Charlie Pankey for a...
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Getting Kids Outside: Motherhood, Entrepreneurship & Building GO Deck
Getting kids outside doesn't require a national park, expensive outdoor gear or a big family vacation. Sometimes the best outdoor adventures for kids are hiding right in your own neighborhood. For Deanna Ratnikova, founder of GO Deck, that realization started during the pandemic. As a single mom...
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Camping With Kids: Family Adventures, National Parks & Raising Outdoor Kids with Natalie Vereen-Davis
Camping with kids doesn't require the perfect RV, expensive outdoor gear or a perfectly planned family adventure. Sometimes it starts with a borrowed tent, a pair of hand-me-down boots and simply deciding to get outside. Natalie Vereen-Davis is the creator of CampingKiddos, a family camping and...
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Her First Solo Tahoe Rim Trail Thru-Hike | Courtney Rosiak-Quinto
Courtney Rosiak-Quinto set out on her first solo thru-hike, following the 174-mile Tahoe Rim Trail around Lake Tahoe through high-elevation terrain, long water carries, unexpected challenges and the Sierra landscape that has helped make South Lake Tahoe feel like home. The Tahoe Rim Trail—or...
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How a Lifetime of Adventure Became 10Adventures | Richard Campbell
Richard Campbell spent decades exploring the world by foot, bicycle, ski and boat before turning that life outside into 10Adventures, a global platform for guided and self-guided hiking, cycling and active travel. Richard joins Sierra Rec host Charlie Pankey to share how summers working on his...
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Learning to See the Wild with Larry Laverty | Seeing the Sierra
What if becoming better outdoors isn't about going farther—but learning to see more? Wildlife photographer and author Larry Laverty has spent a lifetime doing exactly that. From learning to climb above Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park as a teenager to following elephants in Africa and...
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23 Years to Become an Overnight Success | Sawyer Founder Kurt Avery
How Sawyer Became an Outdoor Essential | Founder Kurt AverySawyer Products is one of the most trusted names in backpacking water filtration—but that's not where the company started. In the first story from Sierra Rec's Built Outside series, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Sawyer founder Kurt...
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Why the Mountains Keep Calling Her Back | Lisa Michelle on Sierra Backpacking
After foot surgery kept author and Sierra explorer Lisa Michelle away from the trail for nearly three months, returning to Sierra Nevada backpacking gave her a new appreciation for every hike—and a new idea for helping other women experience the mountains. Lisa returns to the Sierra Rec Now…
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Backpacking Rae Lakes: A Sierra Journey Over Kearsarge Pass
Some places are almost impossible to explain until you’ve stood in them. Juan Veruete calls the Sierra Nevada “million-word places”—landscapes where even the best photograph never quite captures the scale of what’s in front of you. In this conversation, Juan joins the Sierra Rec Podcast to take…
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12 Sierra Experiences I Hope to Share With My Grandkids
It's hard to believe our grandson is already a year old. Last weekend, we took him on his very first camping trip. We weren't sure how it would go, but watching him discover pine cones, dirt, rocks, campfires, and the outdoors for the very first time reminded me why these places and times in life...
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How to Plan a Better Sierra Weekend | Base Camps, Hidden Gems & Avoiding the Crowds
Planning a Sierra Nevada trip isn't about finding the most famous destination—it's about building a better weekend. In this solo episode, Charlie shares the planning framework he's developed after nearly two decades exploring the Sierra and 14 years publishing Sierra Rec Magazine. Instead of...
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You Can Leave the Sierra... But It Never Leaves You
Why do so many of us leave the mountains... only to spend the rest of our lives finding our way back? Raised in Portola in California's Sierra Valley, Rocci Twitchell grew up fishing alpine lakes, riding horses through Mohawk Valley, exploring the Sierra Buttes, and spending weekends around Yuba...
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Search & Rescue Volunteers Need Your Help | How One Simple Donation Could Save a Life
Search & Rescue Volunteers Need Your Help | How One Simple Donation Could Save a Life Every year, Search & Rescue volunteers head into the mountains to help hikers, backpackers, climbers, and outdoor adventurers on what may be the worst day of their lives. What many people don't realize is that...
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Hidden Sierra Nevada Adventures | Owens Valley Hiking, Kearsarge Pass & Off-Roading
Discover why people keep returning to the **Sierra Nevada** and how a lifetime of exploring creates a deeper connection with the mountains. In this episode of the **Sierra Rec Now Podcast**, Charlie Pankey sits down with outdoor adventurer, photographer, and creator **Nick Breaks Everything (Nick...
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Explore Siskiyou County: 89 Alpine Lakes, Mount Shasta & Northern California's Best Kept Secret
If you've only driven through Siskiyou County on Interstate 5, you've barely scratched the surface. In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, Charlie sits down with AJ Brown from Discover Siskiyou to explore one of California's most overlooked outdoor destinations. From the iconic slopes of...
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Discover Shaver Lake & Huntington Lake: Trails, Hiking, Fishing, Cycling & Summer Adventures in California's Sierra
What makes Shaver Lake one of California's most underrated mountain destinations? In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with Lindsey Chargin and Michelle McGee from the Shaver Lake community to explore one of the Sierra Nevada's most diverse outdoor recreation hubs. From boating,...
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Why We Keep Coming Back: Sierra Stories with Juan Veruete
What is it about the mountains that keeps calling us back? In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with backpacker, fly fisherman, and creator behind Juan Backpacks, Juan Veruete, for a conversation about the Sierra Nevada and the experiences that continue to draw us into the...
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Saving Sierra History: Restoring the 160-Year-Old Jesse Ross Cabin with HistoriCorps
This week on Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey travels into the heart of California's Sierra National Forest to uncover the story of the Jesse Ross Cabin—a remarkable hand-hewn log cabin built around 1860 during the Gold Rush era. Joining the show is Aaron Smith of HistoriCorps, a nonprofit...
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How Backpacking Changes the Way You Experience National Parks | Kara Maceross, Lasting Adventures
What happens when you trade crowded viewpoints for remote lakes, star-filled skies, and unforgettable nights in the wilderness? In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with Kara Maceross of Lasting Adventures to explore some of the best backpacking experiences in Yosemite...
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Lassen Volcanic National Park Is Opening: Hidden Gems, Road Trips & Travel Tips
Discover why Lassen Volcanic National Park may be one of California's most overlooked summer adventures. This week on Sierra Rec Now, I sit down with Sharon Roberts from St. Bernard Lodge to talk about planning a Lassen getaway, hidden road-trip stops, family travel ideas, wildlife, geothermal...
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51 Years of Mountain Music: Inside Grass Valley's Father's Day Bluegrass Festival
For more than 50 years, one of California's most unique mountain traditions has been quietly bringing families, musicians, campers, and outdoor travelers together in the Sierra foothills. This week on Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with Pete Ludé of the California Bluegrass Association to...
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Tioga Pass Is open: Experience a Different Yosemite
Tioga Pass is finally opening for the season, reopening one of the most incredible drives into Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada High Country. But for Sierra Rec Magazine publisher Charlie Pankey, Tioga Pass has always been more than just a road into Yosemite. It’s the gateway to a...
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Ebbetts Pass Is OPEN: My Favorite Spring Stops on Highway 4
Every spring, when Ebbetts Pass opens for the season, Charlie Pankey feels the pull to go. For nearly a decade, opening weekend on Highway 4 has become a personal Sierra tradition—driving through lingering snowfields, roaring seasonal waterfalls, narrow cliffside roads, alpine meadows, and hidden...
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The Sierra Is Opening… Sonora Pass Is LIVE (What to Know Right Now)
Spring in the Sierra is never predictable—and that’s exactly what makes it special. In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey breaks down what’s happening right now across the Sierra Nevada as the scenic passes begin to open… and close again. Sonora Pass is officially open, while Tioga…
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From Instant Coffee to This | Upgrading Your Camp Coffee Game
If you’ve ever woken up in the backcountry—whether it’s in Yosemite, the Emigrant Wilderness, or somewhere deep in the Sierra—you know that moment… The air is still. The light is just starting to break over the granite. And all you want is a good cup of coffee. But let’s be honest… most camp…
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Why We Push Limits: Ultra Running, Community & Outdoor Mindset with Josh Sprague
What makes someone run 100 miles—and then sign up for another one? In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud and ultra endurance athlete, to explore the deeper “why” behind pushing physical and mental limits. From Kansas dirt roads to...
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Why National Parks Matter More Than Ever | Yosemite, Travel Stories & The Landmark Project
In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, Charlie Pankey sits down with Matt Moreau, founder and CEO of The Landmark Project—an outdoor lifestyle brand built around art, storytelling, and a deep connection to America’s national parks and forests. With National Parks Week and Earth Day around...
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Do You Really Need New Outdoor Gear? A Different Conversation
We just released our 25th edition of Sierra Rec Magazine—our Spring Gear Guide packed with new products, innovations, and gear we genuinely love. But this episode asks a different question: Do we actually need all of it? In this conversation with Ron Donchez of Thacker NYC, we step outside our...
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Denied at Rainier and North Cascades… But Yosemite Said Yes
This year, I got denied at Mount Rainier. Then I got denied again at North Cascades. But somehow… I still landed a Yosemite permit. That didn’t make sense. In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, I break down what’s really happening with wilderness permits across the West—and why it’s not about how...
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Rae Lakes Loop Backpacking Tips | Discovering One of the Sierra Nevada’s Best Backpacking Routes with Rob Scott Author of Into the Range of Light
The Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park is one of the most iconic backpacking routes in the Sierra Nevada—and a dream trip for many hikers exploring California’s high country. In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey sits down with author Rob Scott, whose new…
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Yosemite Backpacking Permits, Outdoor Gear Trends & OMA Highlights
In this solo episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, Charlie Pankey shares updates from the trail, insights from the outdoor industry, and practical advice for planning your next Sierra adventure. Charlie recently returned from the Outdoor Media Alliance (OMA) event in Denver, where outdoor brands...
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Are You Really Trail Ready? Hiking Safety, Whitney Lessons & The Trail Ready Program
What does it really mean to be “trail ready”? In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, Charlie sits down with Liz and Paul, the founders of the Trail Ready Program, to talk about hiking preparedness, real-world mistakes, and the small decisions that can make a big difference in the...
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Trails, Towns & The Future of the Lost Sierra | Greg Williams
The Lost Sierra is one of California’s most breathtaking — and least understood — mountain regions. In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with Greg Williams, founder of the Connected Communities initiative, to explore how a bold vision for trails and recreation is helping rural...
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Car Camping 101: SUV Tents, Dispersed Camping & Sierra Vehicle Camping Trends
Car camping and dispersed camping are exploding across the Sierra Nevada — and for good reason. In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with Emma from Napier Outdoors — one of the original innovators behind truck tents and SUV tents — to break down what vehicle camping really...
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TRANGO - First Descents with Jim Morrison and Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger - Sierra Rec Now
Today’s conversation is one I’ve really been looking forward to. A few weeks ago, I watched a new North Face Documentary film called TRANGO and it stayed with me—not because of how steep or extreme it was, but because of how thoughtfully it approached the mountain. Today, I’m joined by Jim…
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Snow Has Arrived: Where to Play, Snowshoe & Explore the Sierra This Holiday Weekend
Snow has finally arrived across the Sierra Nevada, and holiday travelers are heading for the mountains. In this festive Sierra Rec Now update, Charlie Pankey shares his favorite non-ski winter adventures—from snowshoeing and sledding to quiet meadow walks and family-friendly snow play. This…
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Inside the 72-Mile Deep Dive to Clean Lake Tahoe | Clean Up the Lake
Clean Up the Lake is launching a bold new effort to clean Lake Tahoe’s deepest zones, and in this episode of Sierra Rec Now, we go underwater to understand why it matters. Host Charlie Pankey talks with Jenny Uvira, Programs Manager at Clean Up the Lake, about cold-water diving, toxic debris,...
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Discovering New Adventures: My First 30 Days in Washington’s Outdoor Paradise
Discovering New Adventures in Washington’s North Cascades | Sierra Rec Now After nearly two decades of Sierra Nevada adventures, my family has officially moved north — to Mount Vernon, Washington. In this week’s episode, I’m reflecting on what it’s like trading Tahoe blue for glacial green, sunny...
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From Sierra Roots to Skagit Valley: Winter Sierra Updates and a New Mountain Chapter
This week on Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey brings listeners into a new personal chapter: a move from the Carson Valley to Washington’s Skagit Valley. Charlie reflects on nearly a decade documenting the Sierra Nevada and shares what this transition means for the podcast, the digital…
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Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Audrey Payne’s Story from Carson City to Canada | Sierra Rec Now Podcast
What’s it really like to hike from Mexico to Canada—alone, for six months? In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey welcomes back Audrey Payne, the first participant in the Capital to Canada Quest, who became the only hiker to complete the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in 2024....
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Carson City Winter Basecamp + Capital-to-Canada Quest Debrief with Visit Carson City
Carson City is having a moment. Not only is it one of the most accessible winter basecamps in the Sierra — where you can ski Tahoe by day and come back to clear trails and small-town holiday magic at night — it’s also now stamped into PCT lore as the launch point of one of the most unique...
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Capital to Canada Quest: Inside Julianne Mahoney’s 1,600-Mile Pacific Crest Trail Adventure
This week on the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Julianne Mahoney, the first hiker to complete the Capital to Canada Quest — a 1,600-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail starting in Carson City, Nevada. Julianne opens up about the highs and lows of trail life…
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Get Your Celt On: Inside the First-Ever Yosemite Celtic Festival & Highland Games in Oakhurst, CA
Fall meets Celtic heritage in the Sierra foothills! Join host Charlie Pankey as he welcomes Kimberly Vaughan, director of the first-ever Yosemite Celtic Festival & Highland Games, coming to Oakhurst, California, on November 1–2, 2025. Together, they explore what makes this new cultural…
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Fall in Carson Valley – Trails, Festivals & the Ferris Fifty Endurance Run
This week on Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Keith Lewis, Director of Visit Carson Valley, and Josh Rudelbach, endurance runner and community voice, to dive into what makes fall in Carson Valley one of the Sierra’s best-kept secrets. From the Genoa Loop Trail and Pine Nut...
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Finding Nevada Wild: Hidden Hot Springs, Dark Skies & Desert Secrets with Sydney Martinez
Nevada is full of secrets — and none of them are on the Strip. In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey talks with explorer, photographer, and author Sydney Martinez, whose new book Finding Nevada Wild uncovers the true heart of the Silver State. For nearly 20 years,...
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Backpacking Sierra Secrets: Fishmas, Hidden Lakes & Family Legacy with Brian Martz
In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey welcomes explorer and lifelong Sierra adventurer Brian Martz. Known to many as the “Water Guy” in Southern California, Brian brings a unique mix of family tradition, personal exploration, and trail-tested wisdom to the…
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Powering Adventure: Off-Grid RV & Overlanding with Dragonfly Energy
Powering Adventure: Off-Grid RV & Overlanding with Dragonfly Energy How do you keep your RV, van, or overland rig powered up in the Sierra Nevada without relying on noisy generators? In this week’s episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with Jesse Asay and Tyler Bourns from Dragonfly…
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Candy Dance 2025: Genoa’s Sweetest Tradition & Sierra Weekend Guide
Every fall, a town of 225 swells to 40,000 for one of Nevada’s most unique traditions—the Candy Dance in Genoa. This week on Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey talks with Town Manager Jody Brunz about: The 106-year-old history of the Candy Dance How this small-town event funds Genoa’s survival…
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Secrets of the Sierra: Backpacking Stories & Trail Stewardship with Paul Wagner
Author, blogger, and wilderness volunteer Paul Wagner (BackpackingSierra.com) returns to the Sierra Rec Now Podcast! Paul and Charlie swap stories of hidden lakes, off-trail challenges, volunteering in Desolation & Emigrant Wilderness, and gear insights from the trail. 👉 Highlights include:...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to the Sierra Rec Now Podcast. A live look at what is going on in the Sierra Mountains. Events, recreational tips and ideas plus interviews with the top explorers in the Sierra. Join us weekly as we explore an active connected lifestyle in the beloved Sierra Nevada Mountains. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sierra-rec/support
HOSTED BY
Sierra Rec
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does SIERRA REC NOW have?
SIERRA REC NOW currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is SIERRA REC NOW about?
Welcome to the Sierra Rec Now Podcast. A live look at what is going on in the Sierra Mountains. Events, recreational tips and ideas plus interviews with the top explorers in the Sierra. Join us weekly as we explore an active connected lifestyle in the beloved Sierra Nevada Mountains. Support this...
How often does SIERRA REC NOW release new episodes?
SIERRA REC NOW has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to SIERRA REC NOW?
You can listen to SIERRA REC NOW on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts SIERRA REC NOW?
SIERRA REC NOW is created and hosted by Sierra Rec.
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