A Story About Preparedness, Perspective, and Why the Little Things Matter on the Trail There are moments in the mountains that stay with you — not because of the view, but because of what they teach you. This week’s Sierra Rec Now episode opens with one of those memories. A late-afternoon descent from Cathedral Lakes … Read more
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 backcountry. The conversation begins … Read more
A season of Sierra trips with Crazy Creek’s inflatable chair and pad hybrid Last spring, we introduced Crazy Creek’s AirLounger with plans to bring it along on real Sierra adventures — from lakeside lounging to backcountry camps. Over the course of the season, it joined us on snow hikes, day trips, and a short pack … Read more
If you’ve ever spent a spring weekend wandering the wooden boardwalks of Virginia City, you know the town leans fully into its historic character — and St. Patrick’s Day might be its most spirited celebration of the year. On Saturday, March 14, the historic mining town will once again turn green for a full day … Read more
A Comfortable, Thoughtful Fit for Bigger Frames on Real Trail Days For the past five months, I’ve been putting the Gregory Arrio 22 Plus Size daypack through the kind of use most daypacks see in real life — fall hikes, moving days, travel, and quick trail escapes when a few extra layers and snacks make … Read more
After six weeks and nearly 50 trail miles per pair, FORM’s Maximum Support and Reinforced Maximum Support insoles proved to be a meaningful upgrade for comfort, alignment, and long-day durability. Why I Tested These The reason I took this gear test on was simple and personal. I deal with recurring foot and hip pain when … Read more
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 mountain towns build a sustainable future. From … Read more
A Major February Storm Delivers Deep Powder and a Midwinter Reset If it felt like winter needed a reminder of who’s in charge, the latest storm cycle at Palisades Tahoe delivered in a big way. In the past 24 hours alone, the upper mountain recorded 44 inches (3.6 feet) of new snow, with totals reaching … Read more
The Lost Sierra has long been one of California’s most quietly spectacular regions — vast forests, winding rivers, and small mountain towns that feel a world away from the crowds of Tahoe and Yosemite. In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, I sat down with Greg Williams, the visionary behind the Connected Communities initiative, to … Read more
Big snow is finally showing up in the forecast — and Caesars Rewards just rolled out a limited-time “Suite Escape” promo that fits a powder weekend perfectly. Here’s how to turn the storm cycle into a comfortable Reno + Tahoe getaway (with a few local strategy tips to actually enjoy it). The most recent storm … Read more
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 means, why it’s … Read more
We’re kicking off camping season with a hands-on setup and first look at the Napier SUV Tent 84000 with Screen Room — a versatile vehicle camping shelter designed for SUVs, Jeeps, and other adventure vehicles. In this video, we take you through the real first setup on a Jeep Wrangler in Central Oregon with family, … Read more
Car camping in the Sierra is having a moment. With lighter snowpack this year and more families looking for flexible ways to get outdoors, we’re seeing a real shift in how people approach camping across the Sierra Nevada. Campgrounds are often full. Permits can be competitive. And more and more people are looking at dispersed … Read more
Sierra Rec Now Podcast with Jim Morrison and Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger For most of us in the Sierra Nevada, a “big day” in the mountains might mean a long approach, a steep climb, or timing conditions just right. For ski mountaineers Jim Morrison and Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger, that idea scales to an entirely different level. … Read more
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 Morrison and Christina “Lusti” … Read more
