January Is Learn to Ski Month in the Sierra: Where to Start, What to Book, and How to Plan It Right
January is officially Learn to Ski Month, and this year the timing couldn’t be better. After a...
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Author: Charlie Pankey
Watching the Sierra Win from Afar
From my perspective, this winter feels pretty standard for the Sierra. Every few years, the range...
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Snow Has Arrived in the Sierra: Where to Snowshoe, Sled, and Play This Holiday Season
Snow has finally arrived across the Sierra Nevada—and for many holiday travelers, that first fresh...
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Holiday Storms Are Finally Unlocking the Sierra Ski Season
As Christmas week arrives, winter is settling in across the Sierra in a meaningful way. After a...
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Diving Deep to Protect Lake Tahoe: Inside Clean Up the Lake’s Cold-Water Mission
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine Lake Tahoe is often described as impossibly clear,...
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Sierra Winter Camping Checklist
A Practical Guide for Cold-Weather Trips in the Sierra Nevada Winter camping in the Sierra Nevada...
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Winter Camping, on Purpose (Not by Accident)
I’ve never chased winter camping. I don’t sleep well cold. I never have. And no amount of romantic...
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Our Favorite Gear of 2025
Nearly every piece of gear in this guide earned its place in the Sierra Nevada. High-elevation...
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Osprey Poco Soft Child Carrier Review: Hiking the Sierra with a Newborn
Getting outside with a newborn can feel intimidating — especially in the mountains — but the right...
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Winter Is the Sierra’s Most Honest Season—Here’s How I’ve Learned to Experience It Safely
By Charlie Pankey After 18 years of exploring the Sierra Nevada, I’ve come to see winter not as a...
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Heavenly Mountain Resort Celebrates 70th Anniversary with Jam-Packed Lineup of High-Energy Events and Music All Season Long
Celebrations kick off Dec. 20 with a headlining DJ set with Foster the People SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,...
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The Best Skis for Sierra Nevada Conditions
A Sierra Skier’s Guide to Heavy Snow, Big Terrain, and Real-World Tradeoffs Skiing in the Sierra...
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TAHOE DIVE TEAM BEGINS 72 MILE DEEP CLEAN
Clean Up The Lake sets out on their second lap of Lake Tahoe – “The 72 Mile Deep Clean”...
Read MoreDiscovering New Adventures: My First Month Living in Washington’s Outdoor Paradise
Sierra Rec Now Podcast — Episode Feature By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine A New Mountain...
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TAHOE LIVE RETURNS WITH THREE-DAY EXPANSION AND BIGGEST LINEUP YET AT PALISADES TAHOE
Zeds Dead, Porter Robinson, Alison Wonderland, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), LSDREAM x...
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What Tribal Stewardship Means for the South Fork Merced River’s Future
Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation Gains Ownership of Critical Watershed Lands Near Yosemite Behind...
Read MoreGear Tested: Outdoor Master Merino Wool Ski Socks for Sierra Winters
When winter blankets the Sierra in snow, the right gear can turn cold, wet days into your best outdoor memories. One piece of gear I found myself wearing nearly every winter adventure last season—whether on the trail or around...
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Christmas in the Sierra: Your 2025 Guide to Holiday Magic Across Carson City, Carson Valley, Lake Tahoe & Truckee
December arrives quietly in the Sierra.A hard frost on the pastures.The soft glow of lights in...
Read MoreHeavenly Mountain Resort Celebrates 70 Years of Fun in Tahoe
A Legacy of Views, Adventure, and Sierra Community Heavenly Mountain Resort is turning 70 this winter, and Lake Tahoe’s most iconic ski destination isn’t slowing down. Since opening in December 1955 with a single chairlift and...
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A New Mountain Home and Sierra Winter Update
A New Mountain Home and Sierra Winter Update By Charlie Pankey, Sierra Rec Magazine In this week’s...
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A Winter Weekend Getaway Along the Sierra Foothills: Auburn, Grass Valley, Nevada City & the Yuba River
A Cozy, History-Rich, Easy Winter Escape Just Off I-80 Winter travel in the Sierra doesn’t always...
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SCARPA launches award-winning 4-Quattro GT, earns accolades across ski boot line
Building on the success of the highly acclaimed 4-Quattro Pro, the new GT brings enhanced comfort,...
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Arcade Belts Gives Back Again This Holiday Season—And Why I Believe in This Brand
For more than a decade, Arcade has gone a different direction during the holiday rush. While most...
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Winter Getaways in the Sierra & Beyond: Hyatt Vacation Club Resorts for Snow Season and Spring Travel
Book Early, Embrace Winter: Your Guide to Sierra & California Hyatt Vacation Club Getaways...
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Topaz Time: Carson Valley’s Quiet Winter Fishing Gem
On most winter mornings along Highway 395, the story is simple—skiers chasing storms at Lake Tahoe...
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Ski Season Begins: Mt. Rose Opens Tomorrow with 1,000 Feet of Vertical and Lake Tahoe’s Highest Base
Ski season in the Sierra officially starts tomorrow, and Mt. Rose is leading the charge. Thanks to...
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Believe again during Virginia City’s annual Christmas on the Comstock celebration
Special holiday events include The Grinch Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl, Parade of Lights, holiday...
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Audrey Payne’s Pacific Crest Trail Journey
Audrey Payne’s 2,650-Mile Pacific Crest Trail Journey: From Carson City to Canada on the Capital...
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Field-Tested Review: Danner Octa Hoodie in Yosemite’s Backcountry
When you’re packing for a five-night, 40-mile backpacking trip in Yosemite’s high country, every...
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Carson City: The Sierra’s Most Underrated Winter Basecamp
When most travelers picture winter in the Sierra Nevada, they picture Tahoe. Deep snow. Packed...
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Celebrate Culture, Community, and Carson Valley Adventure
Nevada Day Weekend and Día de los Muertos Followed by The Ferris 50 The Sierra is showing off this...
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Halloween & Nevada Day: A Perfect Sierra Weekend
In the Sierra, we don’t just celebrate one season at a time — we chase them both. This weekend,...
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Capital to Canada Quest: Inside Julianne Mahoney’s 1,600-Mile Pacific Crest Trail Adventure
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine – Sierra Rec Now Podcast A Journey That Began in Carson...
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Honor and Adventure: Free Admission to Sierra Nevada State Parks on Veterans Day
Sierra Nevada, CA — October 28, 2025This Veterans Day, California State Parks invites all U.S....
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Trail Tested Review: KUIU Kutana Hybrid Pant – From High Sierra Granite to Carson Valley Scrub
When I first spotted KUIU’s new Kutana Stretch Woven Hybrid Pant at the OMA Show in Denver this...
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