By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine

There’s something magical about standing on a trail, looking north, and knowing it stretches all the way to Canada. For most Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers, that journey begins months earlier in the rugged deserts of Southern California, with the goal of reaching the High Sierra—and places like Lake Tahoe—by late June or early July, when the snow finally yields to the sun and the trail opens up.

But this year, thanks to a bold new initiative out of Carson City, two pioneering women will be reaching Tahoe a little early—and they’ll be arriving for a whole new challenge.

Hobart Res.

Visit Carson City has officially named the first two hikers selected for its Carson City to Canada Quest , a new 1,600-mile long-distance challenge that begins at the Nevada State Capitol and ends at the northern terminus monument at the U.S.-Canada border. The journey starts via the newly completed Capital to Tahoe Trail, connecting directly to the Tahoe Rim Trail, then northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail all the way to Canada.

Let that sink in for a moment: From the historic downtown of Nevada’s capital city to the pine forests and glacial valleys of British Columbia, all on foot.

Meet The Trailblazers

Julianne Mahoney
Audrey Payne

This summer, Julianne Mahoney, 28, and Audrey Payne, 40, will be lacing up their boots, shouldering their packs, and setting out as the first official participants of this brand-new quest. They were selected out of more than 350 applicants worldwide, chosen for both their backcountry experience and their ability to share the journey through storytelling and content creation.

Julianne will be hiking with her Great Pyrenees mix, Indy—just the two of them, embracing the solitude and serendipity that only a solo hike can bring. Audrey is no stranger to the long trail life either, having completed the Appalachian Trail and now turning west to experience the big skies and granite ridgelines of the PCT.

“I’m honored to be selected as one of the first to mint this new Pacific Crest Trail, and will ensure I’m protecting and caring for it along the route,” said Mahoney. “I’m excited to get outside–just my dog Indy, a Great Pyrenees mix, and me. The most magical moments happen when you’re embarking solo and really focusing on what’s going on around you, and the incredible wildlife sightings that don’t come with a big group.”

“As a lifelong hiker, I’m looking forward to following up my last adventure–hiking the Appalachian Trail,” Payne said. “Many people don’t realize the depth of the friendships you make along the trail, which is one of my favorite parts of a thru-hike. It’s also a personal mission of mine to leave as little impact as possible, while leaving a good impression on the local communities.”

We’ll be following both of their adventures closely here at Sierra Rec—and yes, we’re already working on getting both hikers (and the Visit Carson City team) on the podcast this summer to talk about the deeper story behind the trail.

A Trail Years in the Making

The Capital to Tahoe Trail has quietly become one of the most exciting trail projects in the Sierra region. Eight years in the making, this non-motorized singletrack connects Carson City directly to the Tahoe Rim Trail—providing hikers and dreamers with a new launching point into the vast Sierra and beyond. From the Capitol steps, a person can now walk all the way to Mexico or Canada. That’s not just a trail—it’s a legacy.

“This trail is special to us and the many committed individuals that helped make it happen,” said David Peterson, executive director of Visit Carson City. “This was not an overnight execution–getting the Cap to Tahoe trail carved out and ready for hikers has been eight years in the making, and we can’t wait for our two adventurers to break it in!”

The project, built with help from Muscle Powered, Nevada State Parks, the USDA Forest Service, and private landowners, received national recognition earlier this year in Washington D.C.—and for good reason. It’s reshaping the idea of where a thru-hike can begin and end.

Skyline above Carson City

Why This Matters Locally

Here at Sierra Rec Magazine, we’ve walked stretches of this new trail ourselves—especially the portions as it climbs out of Carson City into the Sierra foothills, brushing the Tahoe Basin. We’ve logged hours on the Tahoe Rim Trail and have met countless PCT hikers pushing north in the Summer season. But we’ve never truly imagined what it might feel like to start such a grand journey right from Carson City’s downtown corridor.

It’s one thing to day hike these trails and quite another to point yourself north and just… keep going.

That’s the kind of audacious, inspiring spirit this challenge brings to life. And it adds another layer to the story of the Eastern Sierra, where trails are more than recreation—they’re the threads that tie together adventure, conservation, and connection.

What’s Next

Mahoney and Payne will begin their journey sometime in June 2025, ahead of the usual wave of PCT hikers who typically arrive in the Tahoe area around early July. This early start gives them a unique window to experience solitude in the Sierra before the trail becomes crowded with the thru-hiker bubble.

You can follow their journey on Instagram via @visitcarsoncity, and we’ll also be highlighting their progress and insights as they head north as we get reports. Celebrating along with the city as these two brave travelers conquer this challenge and bring a focus on the home trails we love.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, a long-trail dreamer, or just someone who loves to see what’s possible in the Sierra, the Carson City to Canada Quest is one of the most exciting stories of the 2025 season.

And we can’t wait to see where it leads.

🎧 Stay tuned: Subscribe to the Sierra Rec Now podcast as we bring Julianne, Audrey, and the team from Visit Carson City onto the show to dive deeper into this journey, the trail’s creation, and what it takes to go the distance.