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: battling record heat in Northern California, hiking solo through Oregon’s berry-covered paths, and finding peace in Washington’s alpine wilderness. She shares how the journey reshaped her view of resilience, solitude, and community on one of America’s most legendary trails.
We talk about:
• The emotional challenge of re-entry after months on trail
• Hiking solo as a “lasher” (long-ass section hiker)
• Lessons from the burn scars of the Sierra and NorCal
• Trail magic moments and ultralight gear tips
• Why she’s already dreaming of her next big hike
🎥 Watch the full video episode on YouTube:
👉 https://youtu.be/ADD_YOUR_LINK_HERE
🎧 Brought to you by: Visit Carson Valley – Your Trailhead to the Sierra Nevada.
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 celebration such a unique addition to Yosemite’s southern gateway — from Highland athletic competitions and Celtic music to living history, family-friendly fun, and the incredible community spirit that brings it all together.
Kimberly shares how Oakhurst’s creative energy and local pride helped launch this event, plus insider tips for visiting Bass Lake, Wawona, and Yosemite National Park during one of the most beautiful times of the year.
🎟️ Learn more at YosemiteCelticFestival.com
📍 Event Dates: November 1–2, 2025
📍 Location: Oakhurst Community Center
In This Episode:
What inspired the Yosemite Celtic Festival
The story behind the Highland Games in the Sierra
Family-friendly activities, music, and cultural experiences
Fall travel tips for Oakhurst and Yosemite
How local festivals strengthen Sierra communities
🎙 Also available on:
▶️ YouTube & 🍏 Apple Podcasts
Plan Your Trip to Oakhurst and Yosemite This Fall
Visitors coming for the Celtic Festival will find plenty to explore in and around Oakhurst — from Bass Lake to Wawona, and up into Yosemite National Park itself.
Festival events will be held at the Oakhurst Community Center, with easy access from Highway 41 and shuttle service via the Visit Yosemite Madera County Trolley and Bass Lake Shuttle.
Local hotels are offering discounted rates for festival weekend, and nearby lodging ranges from rustic cabins to lakeside resorts. For those who prefer to camp or RV, both Bass Lake and Sierra National Forest provide scenic options close to the festival grounds.
Don’t forget to stop by the Visit Yosemite Madera County Visitor Center on Halloween night for the Oakhurst Scavenger Hunt, a community-wide event with prizes and family fun leading into festival weekend.
Yosemite, Oakhurst, Celtic Festival, Highland Games, Sierra Nevada, family-friendly events, outdoor festivals, fall in Yosemite, Visit Yosemite Madera County, California travel, cultural heritage, Bass Lake
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 Mountains to Topaz Lake’s quiet shoreline and Main Street Gardnerville’s fall festivals, Keith and Josh share how this community balances small-town charm with big adventure.
They also reveal details behind the first-ever Ferris Fifty Endurance Run, happening November 8 — a 50-mile, 50K, and 15K race designed to showcase Carson Valley’s open spaces and outdoor spirit.
Tune in for local insight, trail talk, and event highlights that’ll inspire your next Sierra adventure.
🎧 Listen now and plan your fall trip:
VisitCarsonValley.org | SierraRecMagazine.com
Sign up for the Ferris 50 and discover more following these links:
https://visitcarsonvalley.org/ferris-fifty-endurance-run/
https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=125798
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, Sydney has roamed Nevada’s vast open spaces — chasing dark skies at Massacre Rim, soaking in remote hot springs, hiking the Ruby Crest Trail, and documenting the Basque and Buckaroo culture that still shapes the region today. Her new book, published by Schiffer, captures the state’s wild beauty through 300 photographs and stories that challenge every misconception about Nevada being just “Vegas and desert.”
Charlie and Sydney dig into what makes this place so unforgettable — from quiet desert nights and star-filled skies to indigenous and Basque histories, and why Nevada’s freedom and solitude are unmatched anywhere in the West.
If you love exploring the Sierra, Great Basin, or high desert, this conversation will remind you why adventure often starts just beyond the familiar.
In this episode:
Discovering the real Nevada — beyond the city lights
Exploring Massacre Rim, one of the darkest skies in the world
How to find hot springs (without GPS coordinates)
Backpacking solitude on the Ruby Crest Trail
Experiencing Basque and Buckaroo culture in Elko and Gardnerville
The mysteries of Devil’s Hole and Ash Meadows
Why silence and solitude still matter in wild places
📖 Finding Nevada Wild: The Terrain, Culture, and People of the Most Mysterious State in the West
By Sydney Martinez | Schiffer Publishing, 2025
🔗 Learn more: FindingNevadaWild.com
🎙️ The Sierra Rec Now Podcast celebrates the people, places, and passions that define life in the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin.
Hosted by Charlie Pankey — publisher, explorer, and storyteller behind Sierra Rec Magazine.
#SierraRecNow #SierraRecMagazine #NevadaWild #NevadaTravel #DarkSkyNevada #HotSpringsNevada #RubyMountains #BasqueCulture #GreatBasin #DiscoverMoreSierra
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 conversation.
Brian shares stories of growing up in the Sierra under the influence of his Uncle Buster, who passed down a love of the mountains through generations. From early Boy Scout trips at Convict Lake to recent backpacking journeys in the Eastern Sierra, his adventures capture the heart of what makes these landscapes so special.
The discussion covers backpacking Virginia Lakes, Green Creek, Chocolate Lakes, and McCabe Lakes, as well as off-trail routes in Yosemite and Emigrant Wilderness. Charlie and Brian also reflect on Fishmas at Crowley Lake, ultralight backpacking lessons, and the importance of friendships made on the trail.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next adventure—or simply want to hear how legacy and exploration connect in the Sierra—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Brian Martz, the Water Guy
03:20 – Backpacking Virginia Lakes & Green Creek
06:00 – Ultralight Backpacking: Wants vs. Needs
10:20 – Uncle Buster & Family Legacy in the Sierra
13:00 – Childhood Sierra Adventures: Convict Lake & Lake Dorothy
16:00 – Off-Trail Yosemite Adventures: McCabe Lakes & Sawtooth Ridge
20:00 – Trail Friendships & Yosemite Sam Stories
22:40 – Must-See Sierra Destinations (Smedberg, Bernice, Granite & Thousand Island Lakes)
26:00 – High Sierra Trail Dreams & Challenges
29:00 – Emigrant Wilderness Off-Trail Struggles
32:40 – Hetch Hetchy Exploration & Cherry Lake
35:00 – The Magic of 20 Lakes Basin & McCabe Loop
37:20 – Remembering Uncle Buster & His Traditions
40:40 – Quickfire Sierra Questions (Fav Backpack Spot, Food, Gear)
44:00 – Closing: Adventure, Legacy, and Friendship
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 Energy, the Reno-based team behind Battle Born Batteries®.
They dive into:
Why lithium batteries outperform traditional lead-acid in RVs and overlanding rigs
How solar, inverters, and Dragonfly Intelligence® make off-grid power simple and safe
Real-world stories of adventure rigs powered by lithium (yes, even Jacuzzis in the desert!)
Tips for handling extreme Sierra conditions — from Death Valley heat to snowy mountain nights
If you’re an RVer, vanlifer, or off-road adventurer looking to upgrade your power system, this episode is packed with insights to keep your adventures running smoothly.
🎙️ Subscribe to Sierra Rec Now for more Sierra Nevada stories, gear insights, and outdoor inspiration.
Read more about this story at www.sierrarecmagazine.com
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
Why 430+ vendors and thousands of visitors return year after year
Insider tips for parking, lodging, and exploring Genoa’s trails, hot springs, and history
👉 Candy Dance 2025 runs September 27–28. Free to the public, $10 parking.
🔗 Watch & Read More:
▶️ [YouTube] https://youtu.be/CdMoyQLdYjE
🍏 [Apple Podcasts] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sierra-rec-now-your-guide-to-sierra-adventures/id1740191775
📖 [Blog Post] https://sierrarecmagazine.com/sierra-rec-now-soundscapes/
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, save, and share Sierra Rec Now!
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:
Off-trail adventures in the Sierra backcountry
Wilderness volunteering & trail etiquette
Backpacking routes from Emigrant to Yosemite
Paul’s wilderness-inspired book series
00:00 Introduction to Sierra Adventures
02:58 Exploring the Emigrant Wilderness
05:34 Volunteer Work in Desolation Wilderness
08:42 First Aid Experiences in the Wilderness
11:26 The Importance of Trail Etiquette
14:39 Restoration Efforts in the Sierra
20:06 Exploring Favorite Backpacking Spots
23:07 Adventures in Yosemite
27:20 Paul's Book Series and Writing Journey
34:14 Weekend Backpacking Plans and Gear Recommendations
🎙 Listen in for stories, tips, and inspiration to help you explore the Sierra Nevada more deeply — and responsibly.
Looking for wide-open spaces, hidden trails, and the freedom of dispersed camping in the Sierra Nevada? In this episode, we sit down with Chris Cordes from OnX Off-Road to dive into their new Motorized Dispersed Camping feature — a game-changer for campers, off-roaders, and outdoor adventurers.
From 17,710 miles of legal dispersed camping opportunities across California’s Sierra Nevada to navigating forest service regulations with confidence, Chris shares insider tips on how OnX is helping outdoor enthusiasts find the best spots while promoting responsible recreation.
Whether you’re planning a last-minute Labor Day getaway or your next overlanding adventure, this conversation will help you unlock the Sierra like never before.
🎧 Tune in to learn:
What dispersed camping really means and where it’s allowed
How OnX verifies and maps legal camping areas
Essential tips for exploring responsibly
Insights into shifting camping trends post-pandemic
📲 Try OnX Off-Road with a free 7-day trial and start discovering hidden camping gems today.
In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Stuart Rudolph, co-founder of Travoca, to explore how one brand is reshaping the overlanding and camping lifestyle. From the story behind Travoca’s beginnings to the innovative Rigel Electric Cooler, titanium drinkware, and off-grid power solutions, this conversation dives into the gear and mindset that enhance outdoor living.
Whether you’re a weekend camper or a dedicated overlander, you’ll hear how rugged design, practical innovation, and a passion for freedom fuel Travoca’s approach to the outdoors.
👉 Watch the full YouTube episode here: https://youtu.be/fzrXMSRxfsY
👉 Learn more about Travoca at travoca.com
👉 Explore more Sierra stories at Sierra Rec Magazine
What if we told you South Lake Tahoe will have real snow this September? And not just snow — but a snow sledding hill, rail jams, big air mountain biking, live concerts, DJs, food trucks, and activities for all ages.
In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey chats with Leslie Schultz, Marketing & Events Director for the inaugural Tahoe Games Mountain Sports Festival (Sept 27–28, 2025).
Discover how this free, high-energy festival came together, what to expect across the weekend, insider tips on where to stay, and why this could become Tahoe’s next signature fall event.
🎵 Featuring free performances by The Expendables and Jacob’s Castle.
🚵♂️ Professional & local athletes flying through the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena.
🎯 Family-friendly fun including a kids’ bike jump jam, sledding hill, yoga, and an interactive vendor zone supporting the Kyle Smeen Fund.
📅 Dates: Sept 27–28, 2025
📍 Location: Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys (Caesars Republic)
💻 Details & Registration: tahoegames.com
This week, we head to one of the richest birding regions in the Sierra Nevada — Plumas County — for a deep dive into the 2025 Grebe Festival and the incredible wildlife that calls this place home.
Liz Ramsey from the Plumas Audubon Society joins Charlie to discuss how Lake Almanor supports thousands of migratory grebes, what happens when boating and wildlife collide, and how science and community action are working to protect sensitive species like the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Intro to Plumas County’s birding culture
02:45 – The Grebe Festival: What to expect this year
06:01 – Understanding grebes and their nesting habitat
09:01 – Recreation vs. conservation: Finding balance
11:59 – New science: Artificial grebe nesting platforms
17:47 – The forgotten frog: Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog
21:10 – Underrated birding hotspots in Plumas County
24:01 – How to get involved and make a difference
Resources:
🪶 Plumas Audubon: plumasaudubon.org
🎟️ Grebe Festival: Event Info
#GrebeFestival #PlumasAudubon #LakeAlmanor #BirdingCalifornia #PacificFlyway #WildlifeConservation #SierraNevada #OutdoorStories #PlumasCounty #SierraRecNow
This week on Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with South Lake Tahoe artist and photographer Jennifer Haran to talk about the upcoming Tahoe Art League Studio Tour, happening August 1–3. From capturing wild bear cubs to telling the Sierra's story through a camera lens, Jennifer shares what it means to be a local creative in a region that inspires so many.
🎨 Topics Covered:
The beauty of Desolation Wilderness
How the Caldor Fire changed her approach to photography
Her advice to new artists (Hint: shoot what you love)
Choosing between metal, acrylic, and canvas prints
Why Bridgeport is her dream spot for a photo day
🎟️ Learn more about the art tour: tahoeartleague.org
📸 Jennifer’s site: windowontahoephotography.com
Episode Summary:
What happens when you unplug a teenager, hand them a shovel, and send them into the backcountry for five weeks? You just might help grow the next generation of forest stewards.
In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey speaks with Jonathan Kusel and Ariana Bernstein from the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, a powerful nonprofit based in Taylorsville, CA. The Sierra Institute has spent more than 25 years linking healthy forests to healthy rural communities.
From post-Dixie Fire restoration to innovative wood utilization projects and landscape-wide partnerships, they’re helping rethink how we manage our public lands.
But the heart of this conversation is their transformative P-CREW Youth Corps—a wilderness-based summer program that takes 16–18-year-olds from across California and immerses them in real-world conservation. The teens live off-grid, work with Forest Service biologists, partner with tribal mentors, and come home changed.
Charlie and his guests explore the deeper impacts of wildfire, the importance of clean headwaters like the Feather River, and why collaborative land stewardship is more urgent than ever.
In this episode:
What the P-CREW Youth Program actually looks like
How teens gain confidence, job skills, and forest wisdom
The legacy of the Dixie Fire and how the Sierra Institute is responding
Tribal partnerships and cultural restoration in the Northern Sierra
Why healthy forests = healthy communities
How to support or get involved with Sierra Institute’s work
🟢 Learn more & support their work: https://sierrainstitute.us
📬 Subscribe to Sierra Rec Now for more trail-tested stories, local insights, and outdoor voices from the Sierra Nevada.
#ForestRestoration #YouthCorps #WildfireRecovery #DixieFire #P-CREW #FeatherRiver #RuralCommunities #SierraNevada #SierraRecNow #EnvironmentalEducation #TribalPartnerships #OutdoorYouthPrograms #ClimateResilience #ForestHealth
This summer, 653 volunteers removed 1,375 pounds of trash from Lake Tahoe’s beaches — and that’s something to celebrate. But should it be?
In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Marilee Movius, longtime stewardship leader at Keep Tahoe Blue, to explore what’s really happening behind the scenes of Tahoe’s largest cleanup event — and why a 27% drop in post-Fourth of July litter is more than just a statistic.
We talk about:
How families and visitors are turning beach cleanup into a Tahoe tradition
The rise of the Tahoe Blue Crew — and how you can adopt your favorite beach or trail
New tools like beach-cleaning robots and smart signage that are reshaping visitor behavior
What the Tahoe Blue Beach Program is doing to make "the right choice the easy choice"
And how a simple water bottle ban in South Lake Tahoe sparked a nationwide conversation
Whether you're a local, a weekend paddler, or a summer visitor, this conversation will open your eyes to the grassroots magic keeping Lake Tahoe clean, blue, and beloved.
Learn more or get involved: https://www.keeptahoeblue.org
Brought to you by Sierra Rec Magazine | https://sierrarecmagazine.com
00:00 – Intro: Can 1,300 pounds of trash be good news?
01:15 – A 12-Year Cleanup Legacy: Celebrating 27% less litter
02:50 – 665 Volunteers and Growing: Tahoe shows up
04:20 – Strange finds and single-use plastics: What we’re still picking up
06:00 – Families making cleanup part of their Tahoe tradition
07:30 – The art of messaging: Behavioral signage and testing awareness
09:30 – Introducing the Tahoe Blue Crew: Adopt your beach or trail
11:45 – The power of data: How litter leads to policy change
13:00 – Zephyr Shoals transformation: TRPA's Blue Crew impact
15:30 – The Tahoe Blue Beach Program: Engineering clean habits
18:15 – Education, infrastructure, and enforcement: The 3 E’s of Blue Beaches
20:00 – Responding to extreme weather and environmental events
22:00 – Invasive species: Keeping Tahoe waters safe and clean
24:00 – Stewardship for paddlers, hikers, and backcountry explorers
26:30 – Marilee’s favorite place in the Sierra: Desolation Wilderness
27:30 – Post-hike hunger: Burritos over burgers?
28:15 – Must-have gear: Why she never hikes without a solar light
29:00 – Final thoughts: Protect where you play
In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, we sit down with Captain Rob Ayers to uncover Lake Almanor’s fishing secrets, light tackle strategies, and inspiring community stories. After losing everything in the Camp Fire, Captain Rob rebuilt his life around Lake Almanor’s legendary brown trout and salmon fishery, sharing how the lake’s 365-day feeding cycle and diverse hatch patterns make it a year-round angler’s paradise.
Discover light tackle fishing techniques like the “naked crawler,” seasonal hatch insights, and tips for fishing Lake Almanor’s clear waters. Rob shares why “the tug is a drug” and how fishing becomes more than a hobby when it connects you with local businesses, veterans’ fishing days, and a supportive mountain community.
Whether you’re planning your first Lake Almanor fishing trip, looking to refine your light tackle skills, or seeking inspiration from Rob’s story of resilience and outdoor passion, this episode is packed with insights for your next Sierra adventure.
Why Lake Almanor offers year-round fishing opportunities with brown trout and salmon.
Captain Rob’s light tackle philosophy for more rewarding fishing.
Seasonal hatch patterns and how to match your technique.
How the Lake Almanor fishing community supports veterans and local businesses.
The best times and places to fish Lake Almanor for your next trip.
🎧 Listen now and discover why Lake Almanor is a fisherman’s paradise and a place of healing, adventure, and connection.
#LakeAlmanor #FishingLakeAlmanor #CaptainRob #LightTackleFishing #SierraRecNow #OutdoorAdventures #CaliforniaFishing #FlyFishing
Discover more Sierra at sierrarecmagazine.com
What does it mean to truly find your true nature in the Sierra Nevada? In this conversation, author Lisa Michelle joins Charlie on the Sierra Rec Now Podcast to share her journey from rodeo cowgirl to wilderness writer and the lessons learned along the way in the High Sierra.
Lisa’s new book, True Nature, blends memoir, adventure, and the emotional tug-of-war of sharing hidden places in a landscape that both challenges and heals. We explore what it’s like to paddleboard around Lake Tahoe, how encounters with strangers can change our paths, and why the Sierra continues to shape who we are.
From stories of connection on the trail to lessons about risk and safety, Lisa’s insights will resonate with hikers, writers, and anyone who has ever felt the quiet pull of the mountains. If you love the Sierra, this episode will inspire you to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover the power of wild places to transform your life.
Lisa’s journey from rodeo to wilderness writing
Paddleboarding solo around Lake Tahoe
The challenges of sharing sacred Sierra places
Connection and community on the trail
Safety and lessons from close calls in the wilderness
Finding self-discovery through nature and quiet moments
Hidden gems and bucket-list dreams in the Sierra
Why the Sierra matters for future generations
🔗 Get True Nature by Lisa Michelle: LisaMichelleStories.com
🔗 Discover more Sierra adventures: SierraRecMagazine.com
If you enjoy Sierra stories, please follow, rate, and share this episode to help us grow our community of outdoor adventurers and storytellers.
What do legends, eagles, and climbing dreams all have in common? They converge at Lover’s Leap near Lake Tahoe.
This week, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Petch, a longtime climber and guide who lives just steps from the base of this iconic Sierra cliff. Together, they explore:
The history and mythology behind Lover’s Leap (Did they jump?)
Climbing for beginners and advanced climbers alike
The unique geology that makes the Leap feel like “climbing a ladder”
Tales of guiding first-timers and watching them soar
Stewardship and wildlife, including peregrine falcons and golden eagles
Other climbing gems in the area like Phantom Spires, Sugarloaf, and Calaveras Dome
What to expect at this summer’s Lover’s Leap Festival
And the joy of sharing climbing with community
Whether you're a climber, hiker, or Sierra explorer, this episode delivers a rare inside look at a place where adventure and story meet.
🧗♂️ Learn more or book a guided climb: https://www.loversleap.net
🎧 Subscribe to hear more Sierra stories: Sierra Rec Now Podcast
Spotify Chapters:
[00:00] Welcome + “Did They Jump?”
[02:59] Petch’s Climbing Origins
[05:44] Lover’s Leap Routes & Ratings
[08:55] Phantom Spires, Sugarloaf, Calaveras Dome
[12:01] Wildlife & Falcon Conservation
[15:40] First-Time Climbers & Guiding Joy
[17:30] The Climbing Community
[20:23] History: Pony Express to Present
[22:37] Exploring the Area Around the Leap
[25:28] Guide Services + Lover’s Leap Festival
[28:12] Popcorn, Gear, & Where Petch Climbs When He’s Off Duty
What does it take to turn a high school dream into a national nonprofit? Hanna Beth Bryce, founder of Dare to Be a Cowboy, joins us on the Sierra Rec Now Podcast to share how she started her mission at just 16 years old—and why helping others find purpose is at the heart of everything she does.
From breaking barriers as a first-generation cowgirl to organizing rodeo camps and youth clinics across the West, Hanna Beth’s journey is equal parts inspiring, emotional, and deeply grounded in community values. Whether you're a rodeo fan, nonprofit leader, or just someone chasing a dream—you’ll take away something powerful from this episode.
🎯 Topics Covered:
What it means to be a first-generation cowgirl
How Dare to Be a Cowboy began at 16
The connection between kids and horses
Using rodeo to teach responsibility and resilience
Building confidence in young girls through mentorship
The emotional bond with her horse, Moonshine
Tips for getting involved or supporting this mission
📍 Learn more or support Hanna’s mission: https://www.dtbac.com
🎟️ Barrel Racing & Rodeo Camp Info: https://www.dtbac.com/events
#DareToBeACowboy #HannaBethBryce #WesternYouth #WomenInRodeo #SierraRecNow #NonprofitLeadership #BarrelRacing #RodeoCulture #RenoRodeo #FirstGenCowgirl #SmallTownDreams
00:00 – Welcome + How We First Met Hanna Beth
01:57 – What is Dare to Be a Cowboy and Why It Matters
03:38 – Starting Rodeo as a First-Gen Cowgirl
04:33 – Helping a Friend Sparked a Movement
06:21 – Barrel Racing Series + Upcoming Events
08:06 – Lucy’s Rookie Roundup Rodeo Camp
09:08 – Why Mentorship is the Heart of This Work
11:37 – Social Media, Authenticity, and Impact
14:39 – Journals, Goal Planners & Entrepreneurial Drive
16:44 – Sponsoring the Reno Rodeo Mutton Bustin’
18:01 – Where to Watch Rodeo in the Sierra
19:20 – What It Takes to Be a Barrel Racer
23:52 – The Emotional Bond Between Rider and Horse
26:02 – Summer Events and How to Get Involved
27:45 – What is Mutton Bustin’ and Why It’s a Crowd Favorite
29:31 – Sierra Fast Three: Favorite Spot, Gear, and Grub
If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping the summer crowds and heading into a wild, off-the-radar Sierra paradise, this episode of *Sierra Rec Now* is your insider guide. Host Charlie Pankey welcomes Owen White from Visit Alpine County to the show for a deep dive into one of California’s most pristine and underappreciated mountain destinations.
From volcanic peaks and alpine lakes to secret waterfalls and quiet trails, Alpine County is a place where solitude meets adventure—and in this episode, you’ll hear exactly why it’s a favorite local escape for seasoned Sierra adventurers.
Topics Covered:
• The Alps of the Eastern Sierra – is Alpine County really that dramatic?
• Trail updates for Charity Valley, Thornburg, and Grover Hot Springs
• Hidden waterfalls and how to find the “second” fall at Grover’s
• Rebuilding after the Tamarack Fire – and how you can get involved
• Wildlife on the rise – bobcats, bears, and the surprise return of beavers
• Scenic drives, Death Ride prep, and dispersed camping secrets
• Alpine’s volcanic past—and the geologic features that still shape it
💬 Connect: Tell us your favorite hidden spot in Alpine County
🌐 Read more: https://sierrarecmagazine.com
Hashtags: #SierraSummers #BackroadAdventure #AlpineCounty
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome to Alpine County: Sierra’s Hidden Playground
01:35 – Prepping for the Death Ride: What You Need to Know
02:30 – Is Alpine the Alps of the Eastern Sierra?
03:25 – Hope Valley Wildlife, Wildflowers, and River Time
05:20 – Trail Work & Updates: Charity, Burnside, Thornburg
06:45 – Hiking Fire-Kissed Terrain and Granite Slabs
08:00 – Volcanic Arches, Old Flows & Geological Storytelling
09:45 – Secret Soaks & Waterfalls: Grover and Silver Creek
11:34 – Post-Fire Recovery: Tree Planting and Wildlife Return
13:05 – Beaver Comeback: Natural Engineers in the Sierra
16:00 – Which Campgrounds Are Open Right Now?
18:20 – Lake Alpine Thaw Watch & Dispersed Camping
19:00 – Entering the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
22:00 – Thornburg Canyon Trail & Golden Trout Secrets
23:42 – The Death Ride: Five Passes. One Day.
27:30 – Scenic Routes to Alpine: Highway 4 and 88 Tips
28:50 – How to Prep for Remote Travel in Alpine County
30:57 – Owen’s Favorite Peak: The Jagged Beauty of Raymond
32:24 – Best Post-Hike Food in Markleeville
33:25 – Owen’s #1 Gear Pick: First Aid + Water Filter
34:00 – Final Thoughts: Alpine’s Power to Help You Disappear
