Palisades Tahoe Buried in Snow: 76 Inches in 72 Hours Resets the Sierra
A Major February Storm Delivers Deep Powder and a Midwinter Reset If it felt like winter needed a...
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Posted by Charlie Pankey | Feb 18, 2026 | Palisades, Ski resorts, Skiing, Winter REC |
A Major February Storm Delivers Deep Powder and a Midwinter Reset If it felt like winter needed a...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Feb 18, 2026 | Feather River Scenic By-way, Hiking/Backpacking, Mountain Bike, Northern Sierra, Podcasts, Scenic Routes |
The Lost Sierra has long been one of California’s most quietly spectacular regions — vast forests,...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Feb 13, 2026 | News and Events |
Big snow is finally showing up in the forecast — and Caesars Rewards just rolled out a...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Feb 11, 2026 | News and Events |
We’re kicking off camping season with a hands-on setup and first look at the Napier SUV Tent 84000...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Feb 11, 2026 | Camping, News and Events, Podcasts |
Car camping in the Sierra is having a moment. With lighter snowpack this year and more families...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Feb 5, 2026 | Backcountry Skiing, Climbing, Podcasts |
Sierra Rec Now Podcast with Jim Morrison and Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger For most of us in the...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 29, 2026 | Hiking/Backpacking, Lifestyle |
By Charlie Pankey, Sierra Rec Magazine A funny thing happens somewhere in your late 30s and early...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 28, 2026 | Hiking/Backpacking |
How Great Sierra Seasons Begin I used to hear the phrase “conquering the Sierra” a lot.Ten or...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 27, 2026 | Destinations, Lake Almanor |
Lake Almanor sits in a volcanic basin at 4,500 feet elevation in Northern California’s...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 26, 2026 |
The Sierra Nevada draws people in again and again. Its granite ridges, alpine lakes, and long trails make the area feel both vast and comforting. For many, the Sierra is more than a destination. It’s where you test your limits,...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 26, 2026 | Hiking/Backpacking |
Beyond Post-Trip RestBy Charlie Pankey, Sierra Rec Magazine Most outdoor enthusiasts think about...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 26, 2026 | Hiking/Backpacking |
Plan by region, plan backwards, and build a summer you don’t waste January and February are when my Sierra year actually begins. Not because summer is close—it isn’t. Not because the snow is gone—it’s not. But because this is...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 25, 2026 |
Trails, Lakes, and the Spaces Between Somewhere in my house there’s a drawer that tells the truth about how I plan.It’s not sleek. It’s not efficient. It doesn’t look like a “system.” It’s a collection of folded paper...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 23, 2026 | Field Tested Gear, Gear Reviews & Guides, Hiking Gear |
One of the best parts of summer trade events like OMA is getting your hands on next season’s gear...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 22, 2026 | Community Events, Events, Sierra County, Sierra Events |
TICKETS ON SALE FOR 51st FATHER’S DAY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Four Days of Music, Jamming, and Family...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 13, 2026 | Gear Guides & Industry News, Gear Reviews & Guides |
Napier Outdoors, the leading innovator in vehicle camping tents, is proud to announce the launch...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 13, 2026 | Business, Conservation, Trails |
2025 projects repaired 30+ trails, recruited 400+ volunteers MISSOULA, Mont. – Building...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 8, 2026 | Lassen National Forest, National Forest, Plumas National Forest, Wildlife |
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is beginning a new round of winter wildlife...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Jan 5, 2026 | Ski resorts, Skiing, Winter REC |
January is officially Learn to Ski Month, and this year the timing couldn’t be better. After a...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 29, 2025 | Backcountry Skiing, Skiing, Winter REC |
From my perspective, this winter feels pretty standard for the Sierra. Every few years, the range...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 24, 2025 | Podcasts, Recreation, Snowshoeing |
Snow has finally arrived across the Sierra Nevada—and for many holiday travelers, that first fresh...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 24, 2025 | Ski resorts, Skiing |
As Christmas week arrives, winter is settling in across the Sierra in a meaningful way. After a...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 18, 2025 | Conservation, Lake Tahoe, Podcasts |
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine Lake Tahoe is often described as impossibly clear,...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 17, 2025 | Affiliate & Sponsored Gear, Camping, Gear Guides & Industry News, Gear Reviews & Guides |
A Practical Guide for Cold-Weather Trips in the Sierra Nevada Winter camping in the Sierra Nevada...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 17, 2025 | Camping, Camping Death Valley, Death Valley, Eastern Sierra, Winter REC |
I’ve never chased winter camping. I don’t sleep well cold. I never have. And no amount of romantic...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 16, 2025 | Affiliate & Sponsored Gear, Field Tested Gear, Gear Reviews & Guides, Hiking Gear |
Nearly every piece of gear in this guide earned its place in the Sierra Nevada. High-elevation...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 16, 2025 | Affiliate & Sponsored Gear, Field Tested Gear, Gear Reviews & Guides, Hiking Gear |
Getting outside with a newborn can feel intimidating — especially in the mountains — but the right...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 16, 2025 | Lifestyle, Snowshoeing, Travel, Winter REC |
By Charlie Pankey After 18 years of exploring the Sierra Nevada, I’ve come to see winter not as a...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 16, 2025 | Heavenly Resort, Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe |
Celebrations kick off Dec. 20 with a headlining DJ set with Foster the People SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 12, 2025 | Gear Guides & Industry News, Gear Reviews & Guides, Ski Gear, Ski resorts, Skiing |
A Sierra Skier’s Guide to Heavy Snow, Big Terrain, and Real-World Tradeoffs Skiing in the Sierra...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 11, 2025 | Conservation, Lake Tahoe, News and Events |
Clean Up The Lake sets out on their second lap of Lake Tahoe – “The 72 Mile Deep Clean”...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 9, 2025 | Central Sierra, Eastern Sierra, Podcasts, Sierra People, Winter REC |
Sierra Rec Now Podcast — Episode Feature By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine A New Mountain...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 9, 2025 | Lake Tahoe, North Lake Tahoe, Palisades, Tahoe Events |
Zeds Dead, Porter Robinson, Alison Wonderland, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), LSDREAM x...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 5, 2025 | Conservation, Yosemite National Park |
Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation Gains Ownership of Critical Watershed Lands Near Yosemite Behind...
Read MorePosted by Charlie Pankey | Dec 4, 2025 | Affiliate & Sponsored Gear, Field Tested Gear, Gear Reviews & Guides |
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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