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What goes into a running adventure that makes people want to come back? We sat down with Michael Mazzara, CEO of Rogue Expeditions, to explore trail running in Yosemite and around the world. What emerged was a broader conversation about the people, decisions, and care behind an experience worth repeating. In this Built Outside conversation, Michael shares how his own running journey—from competitiveness and injuries to finding joy beyond racing—shapes his approach to adventure travel. Along the way, we discover a core business belief: creating memorable experiences means knowing your strengths, trusting your team, and taking responsibility for the problems nobody else can solve. That philosophy comes to life through small groups where different generations become friends, carefully scouted trails, and guides who help guests enjoy the adventure at their own pace. It also means caring enough to make something good happen when a day doesn’t go as planned. From Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra to the Dolomites and Japan, we explore how running can become a way to experience a place, connect with people, and keep discovering what’s possible. Join Sierra Rec Now host Charlie Pankey and Michael for a candid conversation about: • Running for exploration rather than race results• Creating belonging through small-group adventures• The planning and teamwork behind a memorable trip• What running teaches about progress, risk, and leadership• Building experiences people want to return to Explore Rogue Expeditions: https://www.rogueexpeditions.com Find more outdoor stories: https://sierrarecmagazine.com Built Outside explores how outdoor experiences shape the people behind outdoor businesses. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBRGm0NyyojM&si=lIIbhd4vVxr6ov6E

What does it take to build a backpacking brand that makes getting outdoors a little easier? For Scott Jensen, founder of Near Zero, the answer goes back to his childhood, when his father taught him to camp alone, cook over a fire, and make the most of whatever gear he had. Years later, Scott was exploring Oregon's trails with his own young son, carrying a 60-pound backpack assembled from garage sales and secondhand equipment. Those experiences, combined with a career in international supply chain and product engineering, eventually helped shape Near Zero. In this Built Outside conversation on Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey talks with Scott about the influence of his father, the story behind the Dean backpack, and why affordable, practical gear can make such a difference for people getting started in backpacking. They explore the challenges of ultralight backpacking, the value of keeping gear that already works, Near Zero's complete backpacking systems and rental program, and the realities of building an outdoor company while trying to find time for family adventures. There's also plenty of trail talk, from backpacking with kids and exploring the Grand Canyon to hammock camping, bear canisters, and the simple pleasure of cooking over a campfire. Because sometimes the best outdoor innovations come from people who have spent years figuring things out on the trail. Learn more about Near Zero at https://nearzero.co. Sierra Rec Now is a production of Sierra Rec Magazine, sharing the people, places, and stories that keep us exploring.

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 comfortable and spend more time outside. Virginia didn't grow up in the mountains. She discovered that passion while attending college in New Mexico, and it eventually led her into trail running, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and a life in Alaska. Along the way, she's collected stories that most of us would consider extraordinary—including encounters with bears, moose, and porcupines that are simply part of everyday outdoor life where she lives. But SWOOP didn't begin on a mountain trail. It started during Virginia's career as an emergency-room nurse, when she decided there had to be a better solution for women spending long hours on their feet. What began with a more comfortable bra eventually grew into a women's lifestyle clothing brand influenced by her years outdoors. In this Built Outside conversation, Charlie and Virginia explore the connection between mountain communities and entrepreneurship, the calculated risks involved in both backcountry adventures and business decisions, and why keeping women outside longer remains central to SWOOP's mission. Discover SWOOP: https://wearswoop.com/ Explore more with Sierra Rec: https://sierrarecmagazine.com/ Until next time... Keep Exploring. In the rugged wilderness of Alaska, Virginia Lynn Peterson discovered a profound connection to the outdoors that transformed her life and career. Join us as Virginia shares her journey from a curious trail runner to the founder of Swoop, a company that embodies her passion for outdoor adventure and community. Virginia takes us back to her first awe-inspiring encounters with the mountains, revealing how the breathtaking landscapes of New Mexico ignited a lifelong love for outdoor pursuits. She recounts exhilarating tales of trail running, skiing, and rock climbing, highlighting the unique camaraderie found within the outdoor community. "It's not just about the sports—it's about the connections we forge and the adventures we share," she emphasizes. You'll discover how Virginia's experiences shaped her understanding of resilience and teamwork, and how these values translate into her entrepreneurial journey. She shares insights on embracing challenges, the importance of mentorship, and how the spirit of adventure can drive innovation in business. What happens when you combine a passion for the outdoors with a thriving entrepreneurial spirit? Virginia’s story underscores the powerful impact of nature on personal growth and success, while also shedding light on the evolving role of women in outdoor sports. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking inspiration from the wild, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to explore how the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness shapes lives and businesses alike, and learn why Virginia's adventure is just getting started.

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 conversation about outdoor education, environmental science and the power of introducing young people to the outdoors. NatureBridge brings thousands of students to Yosemite each year for immersive outdoor science and environmental education programs. Some arrive with years of family camping experience. Others have never slept outdoors, hiked in the wilderness or seen Yosemite despite growing up only hours away. Andrés takes us inside WildLink, a collaborative wilderness program with NatureBridge, the National Park Service and Yosemite Conservancy that introduces young people to backpacking in Yosemite. For first-time backpackers, even the gear barrier is removed—students can be provided with boots, socks, clothing, sleeping bags and tents so they can simply show up and experience the wilderness. But this conversation goes well beyond teaching kids how to backpack. Corinne and Andrés talk about what happens when phones are put away, students begin noticing the small things around them and classmates who barely spoke at school suddenly spend a week hiking, learning and solving problems together. We explore: • Outdoor and environmental education in Yosemite National Park• NatureBridge's Yosemite programs and WildLink• First-time camping and backpacking experiences for young people• Getting kids outdoors and away from screens• Building confidence, courage and community through wilderness experiences• Outdoor science, conservation and environmental stewardship• Careers with the National Park Service, Forest Service and environmental sciences• Why access and belonging matter in America's national parks Andrés also shares the story of a quiet WildLink participant whose Yosemite experience eventually inspired a career with the Forest Service. For Corinne, one of the most important lessons is helping young people cross what she calls the “courage line”—creating a place where they feel safe enough to take a risk, discover community and begin seeing themselves differently. Sometimes the most memorable part of Yosemite isn't Half Dome or a giant waterfall. It might be seeing a squirrel, noticing a tree, putting your feet in the cold Merced River or realizing for the first time: I belong here.

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 living in downtown San Diego, Deanna suddenly found herself balancing work, motherhood and life with a three-year-old while many of the playgrounds, group activities and community spaces around them were closed. So they started walking. What began as a way to simply get outside became something different when Deanna started seeing the city through her daughter's eyes. A fallen leaf could stop them in their tracks. A short walk could become an adventure. And outdoor spaces Deanna had passed without noticing suddenly became places worth exploring. Those experiences eventually inspired GO Deck, a collection of outdoor adventure cards designed to help families discover parks, trails, waterfronts and other outdoor spaces close to home. On this Built Outside conversation, Charlie Pankey talks with Deanna about motherhood, entrepreneurship and what it takes to build an outdoor business from an idea rooted in your own life. They explore Deanna's background in running and cycling, becoming a single mom, finding community outdoors, creating and testing the first GO Deck prototypes, and learning how to build a business without a traditional entrepreneurial background. But the bigger conversation is about getting kids outside. Deanna shares why outdoor activities for families don't have to be difficult, expensive or far from home; why she includes mobility-friendly outdoor spaces in GO Deck; and how simple experiences outside have created some of her daughter's strongest childhood memories. They also talk about something even simpler: going for a walk together. Sometimes connection doesn't require a big adventure—or even a big conversation. It can simply mean being outside, moving together and being present. And meet Z (Zephyr), GO Deck's traveling character helping children turn everyday outdoor experiences into adventures as Z explores places around the world. In this conversation:• Getting kids outside in an urban environment• Outdoor activities and adventures for families• Motherhood, outdoor identity and entrepreneurship• How Deanna's pandemic walks inspired GO Deck• Running, cycling and finding community outdoors• Building an outdoor business without a business background• Accessible and mobility-friendly outdoor adventures• Creating screen-free family experiences• Building childhood memories outside• The future of GO Deck and Z's adventures around the world Built Outside is a Sierra Rec Now series about people whose lives outside taught them how to build something. Learn more about Deanna Ratnikova and GO Deck at thegodeck.com.

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 outdoor travel resource helping parents explore campgrounds, state parks, national parks and road trips with their kids. She joins Sierra Rec Now host Charlie Pankey as part of the Built Outside series—conversations with people whose lives outdoors helped shape what they built—to talk about family camping, RV travel, raising adventurous kids and turning a lifelong connection to the outdoors into a growing family travel business. Natalie's own camping story started young. She grew up traveling in her grandparents' old Grumman motorhome before eventually becoming a tent camper, pop-up camper owner and RV traveler with a family of her own. Some of her strongest childhood memories came from a trip to California when she was six, including Yosemite National Park, Big Sur and the giant sequoias. Decades later, her son's fascination with seeing the biggest trees in the world brought Natalie back to California for a family road trip through Pinnacles National Park, Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park. But this conversation isn't just about where to take kids camping. Natalie and Charlie explore what children can teach adults about experiencing the outdoors, why the best family travel memories aren't always the ones parents planned, and how camping can teach kids to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. They also talk about Natalie's journey from English professor and part-time travel blogger to taking CampingKiddos full time, the realities of creating outdoor content while protecting the family experience, and why she believes families should start small instead of comparing themselves to the polished version of outdoor life they see online. Her advice for families wanting to start camping with kids is refreshingly simple: take baby steps. Try a nearby state park. Spend a night at a campground. Let the kids help set up camp. Learn outdoor skills together. Build confidence one adventure at a time. 00:00 Childhood Camping, Sea Oats & an Old Grumman RV02:10 Learning to Camp With Whatever You Have06:51 Childhood Memories of Yosemite and California10:24 How Camping Shapes Adventurous Kids15:02 The Western Road Trip That Changed Everything18:37 From English Professor to CampingKiddos25:10 Making the Outdoors More Approachable for Families33:33 What Family Camping Really Looks Like36:14 Protecting the Family Experience as a Content Creator40:15 How to Start Camping With Kids44:20 Building CampingKiddos Around Community46:16 Family-Friendly National & State Parks Worth Exploring Learn more about Natalie Vereen-Davis and CampingKiddos at CampingKiddos.com. Sierra Rec Now — Built OutsideConversations with people whose lives outside taught them how to build something. Chapters

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 TRT—travels through California and Nevada, connecting sections near Echo Lake, Big Meadow, Kingsbury Grade, Spooner Summit, the Carson Range and Desolation Wilderness. Because the trail offers frequent access points and occasional cell service, Courtney believed it could be a practical place to attempt her first long-distance thru-hike. But accessible does not mean easy. The journey came during a major transition in her life. After leaving the corporate world, Courtney saw the trail as more than another backpacking goal. It became an opportunity to trust her preparation, test her independence and discover whether she could solve problems when the original plan stopped working. Courtney joins Sierra Rec host Charlie Pankey to discuss the difference between solo backpacking and solo thru-hiking, preparing physically and mentally for a long-distance trail, and the strength required to keep moving when the body is exhausted. She recounts an unexpected 25-mile day when she became so focused on reaching camp that the final four miles seemed to disappear. She also explains why she chose not to cross Dick’s Pass near the end of the trip. After traveling from Barker Pass toward Desolation Wilderness through dry conditions, deadfall and accumulating fatigue, Courtney no longer felt safe continuing. Rather than allowing the desire to claim a completed loop to overrule her judgment, she listened to her instincts and left approximately six or seven miles for another trip. The conversation explores: Planning and training for a first Tahoe Rim Trail thru-hikeSolo backpacking and backpacking safety for womenWater availability and dry conditions along the TRTThe mental challenge of consecutive long-distance hiking daysEcho Lake, Big Meadow, Barker Pass and Desolation WildernessKnowing when to change a backpacking planPaper maps, FarOut and backcountry navigationMoving from corporate life into adventure travel coachingBuilding confidence through outdoor experiencesGiving yourself permission to pursue something difficultCourtney Rosiak-Quinto is the founder of Wildly Becoming Collective, where she helps women plan meaningful adventures, reconnect with themselves and develop the confidence to step beyond familiar limits. This conversation is part of What Brings You Back, a Sierra Rec series exploring the places, experiences and personal transformations that continue calling people outside. Hosted by Charlie Pankey of Sierra Rec Magazine.

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 grandparents’ farm, family camping trips in the Canadian Rockies and an unexpected week in Chamonix helped shape his priorities. Rather than following a conventional career path, Richard repeatedly stepped away from work to explore the Alps, Pyrenees, Africa, Bolivia and other parts of the world. Those experiences were not always easy. Richard was once left by a guide at 5,000 meters in Bolivia, where the group reached a junction without knowing which direction to go. On the final night, the guiding operation arranged to rob the group. Other budget trips brought food poisoning, dirty water and difficult lessons about local knowledge and trust. But those travel disasters are only part of Richard’s story. His larger journey is about building a life around meaningful experiences—and creating a company that helps other people do the same. Richard founded 10Adventures in 2016 as a collection of detailed hiking guides. When readers began asking for help planning trips to places such as Yosemite and the Dolomites, he recognized an opportunity to connect travelers with trusted local experts and thoughtfully planned adventures. Richard and Charlie discuss: How a lifetime of travel became 10AdventuresChoosing meaningful experiences over a conventional career pathWhy local knowledge can transform a tripGuided versus self-guided hiking and cycling toursWhy travelers value freedom and flexibilityHow AI and online travel lists concentrate visitors in the same destinationsFinding quieter places beyond the standard itinerariesCamino de Santiago routes and the meaning of pilgrimageAdventure travel in Japan, Europe and South AmericaTeaching children curiosity, leadership and problem-solving through travelCreating lasting memories with familyThe difficult reality of working as a professional guideWhy spending a week outside can change a person’s lifeFor Richard, adventure travel is not simply about checking destinations off a list. It is an opportunity to reconnect with the people we love, understand other cultures and experience the physical and mental benefits of time outside. As Richard explains, the best time to take that meaningful trip may have been yesterday—but the second-best time is right now. Explore 10Adventures:https://www.10adventures.com/ Browse guided and self-guid guided adventure tours:https://www.10adventures.com/tours/ Connect with Richard Campbell:https://ca.linkedin.com/in/richard-campbell-yyc This conversation is part of Built Outside, a Sierra Rec series featuring people whose lives outside taught them how to build something. Hosted by Charlie Pankey of Sierra Rec Magazine.

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 photographing the wild buffalo of Yellowstone, Larry's adventures have shaped how he moves through wild places—and what he notices once he's there. In this Seeing the Sierra conversation, Larry shares something every hiker, photographer and outdoor traveler can use: slow down enough to match the tempo of what you're trying to see. His years in street photography taught him that his pulse and mind needed to move at the speed of his subject. Today, even with a 600mm lens, he shoots handheld so he can move with wildlife rather than force the moment. We also talk about how climbing and going off trail changed the way Larry sees landscapes. Learning to navigate Yosemite's vertical terrain gave him the confidence to cross rivers, travel cross-country and find photographic perspectives that aren't available from the obvious viewpoint. But perhaps his best advice is even simpler: spend more time outside. Larry believes repeated trips don't make nature ordinary—they make us more aware. Walk the same trail tomorrow and something will be different. The light changes. Wildlife moves. Seasons shift. And the more closely we pay attention, the more there is to see. That philosophy eventually led Larry deep into wildlife storytelling. His book Land of the Buffalo grew from decades of encounters with Yellowstone's American bison and a desire to show people there's far more happening than what we see through a car window. We talk about photographing wildlife responsibly, giving animals space, understanding that national parks are their habitat—not simply our playground—and why getting the photograph should never come before respecting the animal. And Larry isn't finished. After books and photography projects focused on elephants and buffalo, his curiosity has turned toward an overlooked animal that helped build and still supports communities around the world: the donkey. In this conversation:Yosemite Mountaineering School • climbing above Tenaya Lake • learning to travel off trail • becoming a better outdoor photographer • slowing down and observing nature • photographing wildlife safely • Yellowstone National Park • American buffalo and bison • Land of the Buffalo • elephants in Africa • nature writing • Larry's next book and the story of donkeys Seeing the Sierra explores the writers, photographers, artists and storytellers whose work can change the way we experience the mountains and the outdoors. Because sometimes the next great outdoor experience isn't about discovering a new place. It's about learning to see the wild that's already in front of us.

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 Avery to explore the unlikely 42-year journey behind the brand. Kurt didn't start Sawyer because he was a lifelong backpacker trying to invent better gear. He came from the corporate world with an MBA, a passion for marketing, and an obsession with solving problems. What followed was anything but an overnight success. Kurt shares how Sawyer lost money in 23 of its first 25 years, why he refused to sell anything he didn't believe was the best solution for the job, and how listening to customers in outdoor stores helped shape a company now known by backpackers around the world. But the Sawyer story extends far beyond the trail. Kurt explains how the same filtration technology carried by hikers has been used in disaster response and clean-water projects around the world, why Sawyer continues investing heavily in humanitarian work, and how those experiences have changed the way he thinks about business, products and impact. Along the way, we talk about innovation, surrounding yourself with people who think differently, the principles that haven't changed since 1984, Sawyer's future, and the philosophy Kurt traces back to growing up on a farm: “I can give you inexpensive, but I can't give you cheap.” Built Outside is a Sierra Rec series about the people whose lives outside taught them how to build something—and the ideas, experiences and values behind the outdoor brands and organizations we trust.

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 Podcast to talk with Charlie Pankey about recovery, gratitude, backcountry fishing and why the mountains keep calling her back. From Gem Lake and Glen Aulin to Young Lakes, Cathedral Lakes and the Carson Pass region, this conversation explores what happens when we slow down and rediscover experiences we sometimes take for granted. Lisa also shares the beginnings of True Nature Girls, her effort to create personalized Sierra adventures for women in small, supportive groups. She explains why catching a first backcountry fish, seeing fall color or simply spending a quiet night outside can become a life-changing experience. In this Seeing the Sierra conversation: • Returning to hiking after foot surgery• Learning to slow down and appreciate the trail• Fly fishing in Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada• Helping women experience their first backcountry adventures• Managing altitude, wildfire smoke and changing conditions• Favorite fishing and backpacking destinations• Young Lakes, Ten Lakes Basin, Cathedral Lakes and Carson Pass Lisa Michelle is the author of True Nature: Hidden in the High Sierra and the creator of True Nature Girls. Learn more about Lisa, her book and True Nature Girls at LisaMichelleStories.com. Seeing the Sierra is a Sierra Rec Now series featuring writers, photographers, artists and storytellers whose work helps us experience the mountains differently. Discover more at SierraRecMagazine.com.

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 us along on his backpacking journey from Onion Valley over Kearsarge Pass and into the Rae Lakes area of Kings Canyon National Park, sharing what actually happened when a carefully planned High Sierra backpacking trip met the reality of the mountains. Juan lives on the East Coast, but the Sierra keeps pulling him back. For this trip, he chose Kearsarge Pass as his entry into the Rae Lakes region, climbing out of Onion Valley and connecting with the John Muir Trail before continuing deeper into the High Sierra. The itinerary didn't go exactly as planned. Weather changed the trip almost immediately. Acclimation became a bigger factor than expected. There were hard miles, adjustments to food and hydration, changing plans on the trail, and one of those days when even an experienced backpacker simply doesn't feel good. One of Juan's biggest lessons came before he ever reached the trail: “Never choose luxury over preparation.” After spending his pre-trip night in Bishop rather than higher at Onion Valley, he came away with a new appreciation for acclimation, pacing, and the challenges backpackers arriving from sea level can face at Sierra elevations. But this trip isn't a story about struggle. Juan shares the moments that keep bringing him back across the country: climbing into golden light above Kearsarge Pass, moving through the backcountry toward Rae Lakes, fishing for trout in Paradise Valley, and experiencing the enormous scale of a landscape photographs never quite capture. Charlie and Juan also get into the practical side of a multi-day Sierra backpack: pack weight, shelter and weather preparation, trail food, electrolytes, water, fishing gear, and some of the small systems Juan has developed through years on the trail. More than anything, it's a conversation about why we keep going back to the mountains. For Juan, part of that is physical—the challenge of putting one foot in front of the other and discovering what you're capable of doing. But it's also about the space backpacking creates to think, slow down, and spend a few days living differently than we do at home. If you're considering backpacking Rae Lakes, hiking Kearsarge Pass, entering Kings Canyon National Park from Onion Valley, connecting with the John Muir Trail, or planning your own High Sierra backpacking trip, Juan's experience offers something more useful than a perfect itinerary. It offers a real one. About Juan VerueteJuan is a backpacker, angler and writer who regularly travels west to explore the Sierra Nevada. His adventures combine backpacking, backcountry trout fishing and storytelling. Continue exploring with Juan: Juan Backpacks on YouTube:https://youtube.com/@juanbackpacks Juan's Rae Lakes Loop trip:https://youtu.be/7yA8hXbNEGg Rae Lakes gear loadout:https://youtu.be/aD5AZlm8HPs Gossamer Gear Whisper review:https://youtu.be/g5B_jU6WAYw Wild Trout Chronicles:https://wildtroutchronicles.com/ Explore more from Sierra Rec Magazine:SierraRecMagazine.com

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 matter. Driving home, I couldn't help but think... If I could share just a handful of Sierra experiences with him someday, what would they be? In this personal episode of the Sierra Rec Podcast, I share twelve places and experiences that have shaped my own life exploring the Sierra Nevada. From watching sunrise over May Lake in Yosemite to swimming in Lake Tahoe, hiking beneath giant sequoias, wandering through Carson Iceberg Wilderness, watching the stars in the Eastern Sierra, exploring Green Creek's fall colors, and driving the Sierra's iconic mountain passes on opening day, these are the moments I hope become part of his story too. This isn't a list of the biggest attractions. It's a conversation about memories, family, and why the places we love become even more meaningful when we get to share them with the next generation. • May Lake, Yosemite National Park • Eastern Sierra night skies • Lake Tahoe • Carson Iceberg Wilderness • Carson Valley wild horses • Lake Almanor • Dispersed camping near Mammoth and Bishop • Sequoia National Park • East Fork Carson River • Donner Summit • Caples Lake • Green Creek fall colors • Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass & Ebbetts Pass If you've ever dreamed about introducing your children or grandchildren to the Sierra, I hope this episode gives you a few ideas—and reminds you that the greatest adventures are often the ones we share. Featured in this episode

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 chasing one Instagram-famous location, learn how to create a weekend that balances adventure, flexibility, and discovery. Whether you're headed to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Sonora, or one of the Sierra's lesser-known mountain towns, these principles will help you spend less time sitting in traffic and more time experiencing the mountains. In this episode: Why so many Sierra weekends end in disappointmentHow to choose the right base campPicking an "anchor experience" for your tripAdding supporting adventures that make a weekend memorablePlanning around seasons, weather, crowds, and accessWhy leaving room for discovery creates the best mountain memoriesAlong the way, Charlie shares stories from years of exploring hidden lakes, back roads, mountain towns, and unexpected places that never make the travel brochures—but often become the highlights of the trip. If you love the Sierra Nevada, mountain travel, hiking, fishing, camping, photography, road trips, or simply finding quieter places outdoors, this episode is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Yosemite National ParkLake TahoeMammoth LakesBishopCarson ValleySonoraJune LakeMono LakeAncient Bristlecone Pine ForestDevil's Postpile National MonumentMountain Loop HighwayExplore more Sierra trip ideas, destination guides, and outdoor stories at SierraRecMagazine.com.

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 Pass, Packer Lake, Gold Lake, and the Lakes Basin Recreation Area. Like so many people raised in small mountain towns, he couldn't wait to leave. Years later, after building a career in martial arts, authoring books, raising a family, and traveling the country, he found himself drawn back to the very mountains he once couldn't wait to escape. In this conversation, Charlie and Rocci reflect on growing up in the Sierra Nevada, the lessons learned far from home, and why certain places continue to shape us long after we've left. Along the way, they share stories of fishing hidden lakes, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, family traditions, Native American perspectives on reconnecting with the land, and preserving the communities that make the Sierra so special. Whether you know Sierra Valley by heart or you're discovering this remarkable corner of the Sierra Nevada for the first time, this conversation is a reminder that the mountains aren't simply places we visit—they become part of who we are. Sierra Rec explores the people, places, history, and outdoor experiences that define the Sierra Nevada. Through conversations with guides, historians, outdoor experts, conservationists, and lifelong locals, we help you experience these mountains more deeply—whether you're planning your next adventure or simply dreaming about the next time you head for the trail. Continue exploring the Sierra at Sierrarecmagazine.com, where you'll find destination guides, trip ideas, trail stories, the latest editions of Sierra Rec Magazine, and more conversations celebrating the people and places that make the Sierra Nevada unlike anywhere else.