Sierra Rec Now Podcast — Episode Feature

By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine

A New Mountain Home — But the Same Spirit of Adventure

After 18 years beneath the peaks of Lake Tahoe and the High Sierra, my family has officially begun a new chapter in Washington State. We now call Mount Vernon home — a small community along the Salish Sea, where Mt. Baker and the rugged North Cascades rise above us the same way Heavenly and the Carson Range once filled our daily view.

It’s been just over a month — 30 days of discovering new terrain, adapting to wet weather, and realizing that while the mountains look different, the desire to explore remains exactly the same.

🎧 Listen to the Episode

From Tahoe Blue to Cascades Green

When you think of the Sierra — you think granite, sunshine, and the iconic deep-blue clarity of Lake Tahoe .

Here? Water changes everything.

Diablo Lake glows emerald green, fed by glaciers that grind minerals into flour-fine sediment. Waterfalls tumble down every valley. Every river is alive with movement.

The Baker Lake region surprised me with some of the clearest glacial runoff I’ve ever seen — Tahoe-level clarity, but framed by moss and ferns instead of lodgepole pine and granite slabs.

This is mountain country fully shaped by water — and it shows.

Holiday Traditions in a Rainforest

One of my lifetime traditions is heading into the forest to cut a Christmas tree — a $10 Forest Service permit and a full day of adventure.

Up here?
Let’s just say the Cascades laughed at my Sierra confidence.

We tried Mount Baker Recreation Area.
We stepped 15 feet off the road…
…and we were soaked through every layer.

Rain jackets helped, but water finds every crack. Moss, ferns, and slick logs make off-trail exploration a full-body sport. Noble firs exist here — but far higher in elevation than our rookie scouting attempt allowed.

After 2–3 hours of mud, laughter, and zero good trees:

🎄 Big Lake Tree Farm saved Christmas.
(And our grandson still got the full tree-cutting experience!)

A new tradition begins… and next year, we’ll scout high and dry.

Trails, Weather, and a New Learning Curve

The first thing people told me here:
“You’re going to get wet.”

They weren’t kidding.

In the Sierra, stepping off-trail usually means rock-hopping and dusty boots. In the Cascades, stepping off-trail means:

  • Hidden holes beneath fallen logs
  • Wet brush head-to-toe
  • Shoes soaked in seconds

Even well-built trails — and they are very well-built — have clay, bark, and soft soil that holds water.

But the passion?
The trail community here is loud, local, and deeply engaged. My first short video on North Cascades NP became my most-viewed video ever — Washington loves its mountains.

What I Miss from the Sierra

I used to reach snowshoe terrain in 30–40 minutes from Carson Valley — Hope Valley, Red Lake, Carson Pass.

Here, early-season snow sits far higher.
Mt. Baker Ski Area may be open, but it’s a drive.

And yes — I miss the simplicity of finding a wild Christmas tree in Alpine County.

But it’s a good reminder:
Every mountain range demands its own respect, knowledge, and time.

Looking Ahead: Sierra + Cascades = New Horizons

As part of the expanding Authentic Mountains Network, Sierra Rec content will now include:

  • Pacific Northwest hiking & backpacking
  • Mt. Baker & North Cascades adventures
  • Coastal exploration along the Salish Sea
  • Trips into Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park

And the Sierra? Still home.
Still our primary heartbeat.
Still full of stories we’ll continue to tell every week.

Snowshoe crew heads out from Carson Pass highway

A Final Word to Sierra Adventurers

While the snow is slow to arrive this December, winter isn’t canceled. If I were back home today, I’d be exploring:

There are still hidden gems waiting — even in a dry start.

Listen to the Full Episode

🚩 Sierra Rec Now Podcast
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IPjZi6SaDl93sDFb5oFpX
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discovering-new-adventures-my-first-30-days-in-washingtons/id1740191775?i=1000740488516
▶️ YouTube (Watch the episode): https://www.youtube.com/@SierraRectoday