Conversations, stories and destinations from across the Sierra Nevada.
This weeks feature:
With a new Episode published each Tuesday on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube, discover more Sierra weekly on your favorite channels. Each week Charlie meets hosts people from around the Sierra to discuss the insights and insider tips from destinations, trips, events and passions of the Sierra.
Past Episodes
What to Do in Shaver Lake This Summer: Trails, Lakes, Fishing & Sierra Adventures
June 23, 2026
There are mountain towns that feel busy. Then there are mountain towns that feel like summer. When I first spotted Shaver Lake on a map while exploring backroads through the Sierra Nevada, it reminded me of the communities I grew up around in Central Oregon. Places built around lake days, trail adventures, campfires, and evenings
Why do the mountains keep calling us back?
June 16, 2026
What is it about the mountains that keeps calling us back? In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with backpacker, fly fisherman, and creator behind Juan Backpacks, Juan Veruete, for a conversation about the Sierra Nevada and the experiences that continue to draw us into the wilderness year after year. Juan
Why We Keep Coming Back to the Sierra: Backpacking Stories with Juan Veruete
June 16, 2026
Why do we keep coming back to the mountains? That simple question shaped one of the most thoughtful conversations we’ve had on Sierra Rec Now. This week, Charlie Pankey sits down with backpacker, fly fisherman, and creator behind Juan Backpacks, Juan Veruete, to discuss the John Muir Trail, the Tahoe Rim Trail, ultralight backpacking, and
Saving Sierra History: Restoring the 160-Year-Old Jesse Ross Cabin with HistoriCorps
June 9, 2026
This week on Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey travels into the heart of California’s Sierra National Forest to uncover the story of the Jesse Ross Cabin—a remarkable hand-hewn log cabin built around 1860 during the Gold Rush era. Joining the show is Aaron Smith of HistoriCorps, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historic places through
Help Preserve Sierra History: Join the Jesse Ross Cabin Restoration Project with HistoriCorps
June 9, 2026
Few experiences in the Sierra Nevada are as powerful as stumbling across an old cabin tucked into the forest and wondering who built it, who lived there, and what life looked like in these mountains long before modern trails and recreation. This summer, outdoor enthusiasts have a rare opportunity to do more than simply admire
How Backpacking Changes the Way You Experience National Parks | Kara Maceross, Lasting Adventures
June 2, 2026
What happens when you trade crowded viewpoints for remote lakes, star-filled skies, and unforgettable nights in the wilderness? In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with Kara Maceross of Lasting Adventures to explore some of the best backpacking experiences in Yosemite National Park, Olympic National Park, and Sequoia National Park. Kara
How to Start Backpacking in Yosemite National Park: Advice from a Yosemite Guide
June 2, 2026
For many visitors, Yosemite National Park begins and ends in Yosemite Valley. They’ll marvel at Half Dome, photograph Yosemite Falls, and spend a few unforgettable days exploring one of America’s most iconic national parks. But according to Yosemite guide Kara Maceross of Lasting Adventures, the real magic often begins when you leave the pavement behind.
Why Lassen Volcanic National Park May Be California’s Best Hidden Family Adventure
May 29, 2026
When people think about California National Parks, Yosemite, Sequoia, and Joshua Tree usually dominate the conversation. Yet tucked away in Northern California is a park many travelers have never explored—one filled with steaming geothermal features, volcanic landscapes, alpine lakes, wildlife, and surprisingly few crowds. On this week’s episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, I
Lassen Volcanic National Park Is Opening: Hidden Gems, Road Trips & Travel Tips
May 26, 2026
Discover why Lassen Volcanic National Park may be one of California’s most overlooked summer adventures. This week on Sierra Rec Now, I sit down with Sharon Roberts from St. Bernard Lodge to talk about planning a Lassen getaway, hidden road-trip stops, family travel ideas, wildlife, geothermal wonders, and why this region deserves a place on
Why Grass Valley’s Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival Has Been Bringing Families Back for 51 Years
May 19, 2026
Mountain music, pine forest camping, Gold Rush history, and one of California’s most enduring Sierra traditions. For years I’ve driven through Grass Valley on my way to Sierra adventures. Like many people, I usually thought about the historic downtown, the Gold Rush roots, maybe a stop along Highway 49, or cooling off in the Yuba
51 Years of Mountain Music: Inside Grass Valley’s Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival
May 19, 2026
For more than 50 years, one of California’s most unique mountain traditions has been quietly bringing families, musicians, campers, and outdoor travelers together in the Sierra foothills. This week on Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with Pete Ludé of the California Bluegrass Association to explore the 51st Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley,
Tioga Pass Is open: Experience a Different Yosemite
May 14, 2026
Tioga Pass is finally opening for the season, reopening one of the most incredible drives into Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada High Country. But for Sierra Rec Magazine publisher Charlie Pankey, Tioga Pass has always been more than just a road into Yosemite. It’s the gateway to a completely different version of Yosemite.
Entering Yosemite from the East Side | Opening Weekend on Tioga Pass
May 14, 2026
Why Tioga Pass feels like a completely different way to experience Yosemite National Park. Every year when Tioga Pass opens for the season, something shifts in the Sierra Nevada. The mountains suddenly feel connected again. Backpacking trailheads reopen. Snow-lined roads begin winding back into the high country. Tuolumne Meadows slowly wakes up after another long
Ebbetts Pass Is OPEN: My Favorite Spring Stops on Highway 4
May 6, 2026
Every spring, when Ebbetts Pass opens for the season, Charlie Pankey feels the pull to go. For nearly a decade, opening weekend on Highway 4 has become a personal Sierra tradition—driving through lingering snowfields, roaring seasonal waterfalls, narrow cliffside roads, alpine meadows, and hidden pullouts that most travelers drive right past. In this episode of
Opening Weekend on Ebbetts Pass | A Spring Drive Through the Sierra
May 6, 2026
Snowfields, hidden waterfalls, Pacific Creek, Kinney Lakes, and one of the wildest scenic drives in the Sierra Nevada. Every year when Ebbetts Pass opens for the season, I feel the pull to go. Not because I have some big objective or adventure planned. Honestly, most years it’s just a classic Sierra “dink around day.” A
The Sierra Is Opening… Sonora Pass Is LIVE (What to Know Right Now)
April 30, 2026
Spring in the Sierra is never predictable—and that’s exactly what makes it special. In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey breaks down what’s happening right now across the Sierra Nevada as the scenic passes begin to open… and close again. Sonora Pass is officially open, while Tioga Pass and Ebbetts Pass are still
Best Stops on Sonora Pass (West to East Drive Guide)
April 30, 2026
Most people don’t realize this until after they’ve driven it once: Sonora Pass Highway 108 out of Sonora California isn’t just a scenic drive… it’s a sequence of moments. The problem is, if you don’t know where those moments are, you’ll drive right past them. I did. More than once. So if you’re heading up
From Instant Coffee to This | Upgrading Your Camp Coffee Game
April 23, 2026
If you’ve ever woken up in the backcountry—whether it’s in Yosemite, the Emigrant Wilderness, or somewhere deep in the Sierra—you know that moment… The air is still.The light is just starting to break over the granite.And all you want is a good cup of coffee. But let’s be honest… most camp coffee doesn’t live up
Backpacking Coffee Done Right: A Better Way to Brew in the Sierra Backcountry
April 23, 2026
Twelve miles deep in the Emigrant Wilderness, life slows down. Morning light cracks through the trees. My tired body rolls out of the hammock. The birds are already singing. Somewhere down the trail, I can hear horses moving through camp—another group starting their day before the sun fully breaks. And for me… There’s one thing
Why We Push Limits: Ultra Running, Community & Outdoor Mindset with Josh Sprague
April 16, 2026
What makes someone run 100 miles—and then sign up for another one? In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud and ultra endurance athlete, to explore the deeper “why” behind pushing physical and mental limits. From Kansas dirt roads to 700-mile gravel races, Josh shares
- Camping with kids doesn't require the perfect RV, expensive outdoor gear or a perfectly planned family adventure. Sometimes it starts with a borrowed tent, a […]
- Courtney Rosiak-Quinto set out on her first solo thru-hike, following the 174-mile Tahoe Rim Trail around Lake Tahoe through high-elevation terrain, long water carries, unexpected […]
- Richard Campbell spent decades exploring the world by foot, bicycle, ski and boat before turning that life outside into 10Adventures, a global platform for guided […]
- What if becoming better outdoors isn't about going farther—but learning to see more?Wildlife photographer and author Larry Laverty has spent a lifetime doing exactly that. […]
- How Sawyer Became an Outdoor Essential | Founder Kurt AverySawyer Products is one of the most trusted names in backpacking water filtration—but that's not where […]
- After foot surgery kept author and Sierra explorer Lisa Michelle away from the trail for nearly three months, returning to Sierra Nevada backpacking gave her […]
- Some places are almost impossible to explain until you’ve stood in them. Juan Veruete calls the Sierra Nevada “million-word places”—landscapes where even the best photograph […]
- It's hard to believe our grandson is already a year old.Last weekend, we took him on his very first camping trip. We weren't sure how […]
- Planning a Sierra Nevada trip isn't about finding the most famous destination—it's about building a better weekend.In this solo episode, Charlie shares the planning framework […]
- Why do so many of us leave the mountains… only to spend the rest of our lives finding our way back?Raised in Portola in California's […]
- Search & Rescue Volunteers Need Your Help | How One Simple Donation Could Save a LifeEvery year, Search & Rescue volunteers head into the mountains […]
- Discover why people keep returning to the **Sierra Nevada** and how a lifetime of exploring creates a deeper connection with the mountains. In this episode […]
- If you've only driven through Siskiyou County on Interstate 5, you've barely scratched the surface.In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, Charlie sits […]
- What makes Shaver Lake one of California's most underrated mountain destinations?In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with Lindsey Chargin and Michelle […]
- What is it about the mountains that keeps calling us back?In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with backpacker, fly fisherman, […]
- This week on Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey travels into the heart of California's Sierra National Forest to uncover the story of the Jesse Ross […]
- What happens when you trade crowded viewpoints for remote lakes, star-filled skies, and unforgettable nights in the wilderness?In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie […]
- For more than 50 years, one of California's most unique mountain traditions has been quietly bringing families, musicians, campers, and outdoor travelers together in the […]
- Tioga Pass is finally opening for the season, reopening one of the most incredible drives into Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada High Country.But […]
- Every spring, when Ebbetts Pass opens for the season, Charlie Pankey feels the pull to go.For nearly a decade, opening weekend on Highway 4 has […]
🎙️ Welcome to Sierra Soundscapes: Your Gateway to Discovering more Sierra Adventures!
🏞️ Discover the Diversity of Sierra Soundscapes:
At Sierra Rec Now Podcast, we pride ourselves on offering a diverse range of podcasts that cater to every adventurer’s taste. As we step into 2024, our podcast series has evolved to cover an array of thrilling topics, ensuring there’s something for every Sierra enthusiast.
🥾 Hiking in the Sierra: Lace up your boots and join us on the trails through our “Hiking in the Sierra” series. From expert tips to immersive trail tales, this podcast is your companion for exploring the Sierra one step at a time.
🌲 Sierra Rec Now: Stay updated on the latest and greatest in Sierra recreation with “Sierra Rec Now.” Dive into engaging episodes, insightful guides, and expert advice, guiding you to the heart of the Sierra’s outdoor wonders.
🤔 Out of My Mind in the Sierra: Embrace spontaneity and join the ramblings of a Sierra explorer with “Out of My Mind in the Sierra.” Unfiltered, unpredictable, and always entertaining, this series captures the joy of embracing the unexpected.
🎒 Backpacking the Sierra: For those who seek adventure beyond the beaten path, “Backpacking the Sierra” is your passport to uncharted territories. Let our podcast be your guide to epic backpacking tales and expert advice.
⛺ Base Camp Sierra Exploration: Transform your vacations into unforgettable experiences with “Base Camp Sierra Exploration.” From lodging insights to small town treasures, this series unveils the perfect base camps for your Sierra getaways.
🌐 Experience the Sierra, Episode by Episode:
Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to Sierra exploration, our podcast categories cater to all levels of interest and expertise. Each episode is a portal to a new facet of Sierra beauty, offering insights, stories, and insider knowledge that bring the region to life.
🎧 Tune In, Explore, Connect:
Sierra Soundscapes is more than just a collection of podcasts – it’s a community of kindred spirits passionate about the Sierra. Join us in celebrating the diversity of this incredible region, one episode at a time. Tune in, explore the Sierra, and connect with fellow enthusiasts who share your love for adventure and discovery.
Ready to dive into the symphony of the Sierra ? Explore our podcast categories, choose your adventure, and let the Sierra captivate your senses. Welcome to the ultimate auditory gateway to the Sierra – where every episode is a journey waiting to unfold! 🏞️🎧🌲
Latest Podcast Episode
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Experience Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort
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Explore Ansel Adams Wilderness
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Explore Devils Postpile National Monument
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Explore John Muir Wilderness
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Sierra Rec Now Podcast Categories
Explore different interests in our Soundscape library.
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Publisher Charlie Pankey Loves Exploring the Sierra
Out of my mind in the Sierra
13 Episode
🎙️ Welcome to “Out of My Mind in the Sierra”: Unfiltered Ramblings of a Sierra Explorer!…
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Snow Season in the Sierra
4 Episode
Snow Season brings a whole different adventure lifestyle in the Sierra. For Publisher Charlie Pankey, it…
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Hiking Season in the Sierra
2 Episode
🎙️ Welcome to Sierra Rec Now Podcast: Unleashing the Beauty of Hiking Season in the Sierra!…
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backpackers on trail in Mokelumne Wilderness
Backpacking Adventures
1 Episode
Welcome to Backpacking Adventures: Your Passport to Thrilling Tales and Wilderness Wonders! 🎙️ Welcome to Backpacking…
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Sierra Rec Now
17 Episode
The Sierra Rec Now Podcast is a weekly podcast on Spotify covering Sierra Nevada recreation and…
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Base Camp Sierra Exploration
2 Episode
Welcome to Base Camp Sierra Exploration – Your Gateway to Unforgettable Recreation Getaways! Embark on a…
