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
Lake Almanor Adventures with Bobby Smith of High Elevation Rentals
May 21, 2025
Join Charlie Pankey of Sierra Rec Now for a conversation with Bobby Smith, the local behind High Elevation Kayak and Bike Rentals in Lake Almanor. In this episode, we explore: The incredible outdoor experiences available in Chester and Lake Almanor Bobby’s unique fleet of rental gear — including kayaks, row yaks, water bikes, and mountain
Discover Lake Almanor’s Hidden Trails and Rentals with High Elevation Owner Bobby Smith
May 20, 2025
Meet the Man Behind Lake Almanor’s Outdoor Adventures: Bobby Smith of High Elevation Rentals If you’ve ever dreamed of trading the crowds of Tahoe for a quieter alpine escape—where bald eagles glide overhead, glassy waters stretch for miles, and trails feel like they were built just for your family—Lake Almanor might just be your next
Skies, Storms, and Still Waters: A Sierra Weekend of Hope and Heartbreak
May 19, 2025
From Balloons to Bass Boats—A Sierra Weekend That Had It All By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine Some weekends remind us just how wide the emotional spectrum of adventure can be. What started as a joyful Friday morning soaring above the Carson Valley in a hot air balloon ended with still water and quiet
Inside the High Sierra Music Festival 2025: Music, Mountains & the Spirit of Quincy, CA
May 16, 2025
The High Sierra Music Festival turns 33!In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with Dave Margulies, from High Sierra Music Festival to talk all things 2025 — from the eclectic artist lineup to family-friendly vibes, late-night campsite jams, and why Quincy, CA, is the perfect place to celebrate music and community in
What to Do in the Sierra This Weekend: Balloons, Bass, and Chili
May 15, 2025
May 16–18, 2025 If spring in the Sierra had a calling card, this would be the weekend it delivered it with a stampede of color, community, and adventure. From hot air balloons rising over Carson Valley, to kayaks slicing across Lake Almanor, and the bold bite of chili cook-offs in Virginia City, there’s no shortage
Chase Balloons and Explore Carson Valley This Weekend
May 14, 2025
May 16–18, 2025 – Carson Valley, NV There’s something undeniably magical about seeing a hot air balloon rise into the early morning sky — the colors, the calm, the slow-motion lift that makes your heart float a little too. This weekend, that magic returns to the Eastern Sierra’s most peaceful front porch as the Hot
Fishing Tahoe 365: Captains Zach & Zach, From Tahoe Sport Fishing, on Big Catches, Guest Stories & the Tahoe Triple
May 13, 2025
Fishing Lake Tahoe 365: Captains Zach & Zach of Tahoe Sports Fishing Share Big Fish Stories, Local Tips & the Tahoe Triple Love the idea of reeling in a 30-pound lake trout while surrounded by snow-capped peaks? Ever wondered how it’s possible to fish, ski, and hike all in one day in Lake Tahoe? In
Chasing Giants on Lake Tahoe – Fishing with the Captains of Tahoe Sports Fishing
May 13, 2025
What It’s Like to Fish Lake Tahoe 365 Days a Year — Captains Zach & Zach Tell All “Some of the nicest days of the year are in the middle of winter. We call it ‘complete glass.’ No boat wakes, no wind—just a mirror.”— Captain Zach Gordon, Tahoe Sports Fishing Lake Tahoe isn’t just a
Inside Truckee’s Trail System: New Routes, Hidden Gems & Land Conservation | TDLT on Sierra Rec Now
May 8, 2025
Truckee’s trail network is thriving — and the Truckee Donner Land Trust is leading the charge. In this episode, we’re joined by Greyson Howard and Jesse Cassidy from the Truckee Donner Land Trust to talk about the exciting progress being made on local trails, including the long-anticipated southern section of the Donner Lake Rim Trail.
Discover the Trails of Truckee: Behind the Scenes with the Truckee Donner Land Trust
May 8, 2025
🎙 New Episode of Sierra Rec Now Podcast If you’ve ever hiked a scenic trail near Truckee and paused to take in the views of meadows, lakes, or peaks, there’s a good chance the Truckee Donner Land Trust (TDLT) had something to do with it. In our latest Sierra Rec Now Podcast, I sat down
Up, Up & Inspired! Hot Air For Hope Balloon Festival Returns to Carson Valley – 2025 Preview with Amanda Johnson
May 6, 2025
Hot Air for Hope 2025 is taking flight!In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey welcomes back Amanda Johnson, co-founder and director of the Hot Air for Hope Balloon Festival in Carson Valley, Nevada. Set for May 16–18, 2025, this free, family-friendly festival continues to grow—this year featuring over 30 hot air balloons,
Hot Air for Hope Takes Flight in Carson Valley
May 6, 2025
Podcast Feature with Amanda Johnson Carson Valley’s skies are ready to light up again as the Hot Air for Hope Balloon Festival returns for its third year, May 16–18, 2025. And we’re thrilled to bring you a brand-new episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast featuring Amanda Johnson, one of the event’s passionate co-founders and
Take the Plunge: Clean Up The Lake Hosts Inaugural Polar Plunge Fundraiser at Lakeside Beach
May 6, 2025
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA — Just when you thought spring in the Sierra was warming up, Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) is here to remind us that the waters of Lake Tahoe haven’t gotten the memo yet. This Saturday, May 10th, brave souls from around the basin will gather at Lakeside Beach for a chilly
Capital to Canada Quest Ep. 3: Julianne Mahoney on Ultralight Hiking, Trail Joy & Slowing Down
May 2, 2025
Capital to Canada Quest Series | Episode 3 – Julianne Mahoney: Ultralight Thru-Hiker, Artist, and Joyful Lollygagger In the final episode of our three-part Capital to Canada Quest series, we meet the one-of-a-kind Julianne Mahoney — ultralight backpacker, ultra-marathoner, trail artist, and a proud representative of Carson City, Nevada on her Pacific Crest Trail journey.
Episode 3: Julianne Mahoney – Embracing the Art of Lollygagging on the PCT
May 2, 2025
By Charlie Pankey – Sierra Rec Magazine | May 3, 2025 The final installment of our Capital to Canada Quest podcast series is here — and it’s filled with laughter, wisdom, and a powerful reminder to slow down and savor the trail. In Episode 3, we meet Julianne Mahoney, a uniquely joyful and soulful adventurer
Capital to Canada Quest Series | Episode 2: Meet Audrey “Glowstick” Payne – Thru-Hiker, Storyteller, and Quest Ambassador
April 30, 2025
Capital to Canada Quest Series | Episode 2: Meet Audrey “Glowstick” Payne – Thru-Hiker, Storyteller, and Quest Ambassador In this second episode of our Capital to Canada Quest podcast series, we meet one of the incredible hikers selected to take on the 1,600-mile challenge from Carson City, Nevada to the Canadian border along the Pacific
Capital to Canada: Audrey Payne on the Trail
April 30, 2025
Episode 2 – Meet Audrey “Glowstick” Payne — Thru-Hiker, Storyteller & Capital to Canada Quest Ambassador By Charlie Pankey – Sierra Rec Magazine | April 30, 2025 This week on the Sierra Rec Now podcast, we continue our Capital to Canada Quest Series by introducing one of the two bold hikers chosen to take on
Capital to Canada Quest Series | Episode 1: The Trail Begins in Carson City with Lydia Beck of Visit Carson City
April 29, 2025
Welcome to the kickoff of a very special three-part podcast series on the Capital to Canada Quest, an exciting new 1,600-mile hiking challenge that follows the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Carson City, Nevada all the way to the Canadian border! 🌲🥾 In today’s episode, we sit down with Lydia Beck from Visit Carson City
Spice Up Your Sierra Weekend: 42nd Annual Chili on the Comstock Heats Up Virginia City
April 28, 2025
Plan a Perfect Sierra Weekend East of Lake Tahoe Looking for a fiery and flavorful detour during your Sierra travels this May? Mark your calendar for a sizzling weekend as Virginia City brings the heat with the 42nd Annual Chili on the Comstock, taking place Saturday and Sunday, May 17–18, 2025. If you’re planning a
What Makes Carson Valley a Must-Visit Summer Destination? | Live Music, Great Food & Outdoor Fun
April 22, 2025
What makes Carson Valley one of the best-kept summer secrets in the Sierra Nevada? Join Sierra Rec Now host Charlie Pankey as he interviews Maggi Vandenburg from the Carson Valley Inn, and uncover why this scenic valley is becoming a favorite summer escape. 🎶 From outdoor concerts at TJ Corral to the valley’s rising food
- 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…
