Few families in the Lake Tahoe region have had more of a positive impact on recreation than the Fish family. Ben and Amy revived the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) in 2010, and started both the 60-mile Rose to Toads epic and Corral Night Ride. Their son Max, about the same age as TAMBA, grew up alongside the organization, and as soon as he could walk, he was on two wheels in dirt, two sticks on snow and a trail tool in hand working last year as a paid employee at Bijou Bike Park, a park designed by Ben. Since November 2016, Ben and Max have skied and snowboarded every month through pow, ice, corn, sun cups, rocks, man-made snow and even the Caldor Fire, reaching 100 consecutive months in February. On Episode 60, the Fish family talks all about TAMBA, the process of their 100-month snow adventure, the importance of bike parks and adventuring together as a family.  

2:00 – It’s Corntastic! Trail Whisperer makes his first turns as a snowboarder.

4:30 – Recording at Kirkwood at the Reid household with Ben, Amy and Max Fish.

9:00 – Ben and Amy started Rose to Toad’s and Corral Night Ride.

11:45 – The history of Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA).

15:53 – Max recalls his earliest memories with TAMBA and Bijou Bike Park.

17:30 – The concept of “radical families” – not letting children slow parents down from having adventures.  

20:30 – Max talks about The Smaine Fund - created in memory of Kyle Smaine - and becoming a ski racer.

22:45 – Recounting 100 consecutive months of skiing and snowboarding, starting in November 2016. Only 6 months were not in the Sierra Nevada.

26:26 – Dave Webster - “The Daily Wavester” – surfed every day for 40 years, catching at least 3 waves each day, totaling 43,923 waves.

29:30 – What patches of snow in the Sierra Nevada hold the longest into the summer?  

31:25 – Skiing during the Caldor Fire.

33:30 – Using ebikes to access ski areas like Heavenly, Tioga Pass and Mount Lola.

35:25 – Some of Ben’s favorite memories from 100 months of skiing.

38:30 – What have they seen over the last 8 years with snowpack and climate change?

46:30 – Max’s love of the Gunbarrel 25 event at Heavenly and Kurt’s experience at the Gunbarrel.

53:00 – Max’s transition from freeriding to competitive ski racing.

54:30 – Odd mountain biking footwear – Tevas, cowboy boots, Vans and five finger shoes.

57:10 – Max working last summer as a paid employee at the Bijou Bike Park and Ben’s work as a landscape architect in designing the bike park.

1:00:00 – The importance of bike parks to a community and to developing skills.

1:03:35 – Do you feel more comfortable jumping through the air on skis or on bikes?

1:07:50 – Amy wants to learn to play drums and her long, stupid ride exploits.

1:10:45 – ON A MUSICAL NOTE – What are you listening to right now and when Ben and Amy met at a punk ska show in high school.

1:14:45 – The concept of learning a new sport and getting better and Trail Whisperer’s experience making his first turns as a snowboarder.

1:19:55 – What new sport or hobby would you like to learn? Most want to learn wing foiling, e-foiling and wake foiling.

1:23:30 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

1:26:30 – New trails TAMBA is working on to get excited about – Lost Lake, Meeks Ridge, General Creek are highlights.

BAM! KERPOW! From winter to spring in a matter of a couple days, the boys chase the change in season with an East Side pow mission and new trail construction on Mount Hough. Pow Bot laments the “get off my wave” localism culture of surfing that’s creeping into splitboarding, Trail Whisperer ASS rants about @sugarbowl opening Palisades to only elite athletes in a competition and the disdain he has for National Parks, a listener critiques Pow Bot for using “jazz hands” while snowboarding and Trail Whisperer gets his very first splitboard after being a lifelong skier. The boys chat more about wolves, public river access issues in Hirschdale, five finger shoes, DOPE OR DERP Nordic skiing and the favorite sounds snow makes when you’re slashing it.

2:40 – Spring has sprung!

3:40 – All about boots and shoes and Trail Whisperer’s love of Vibram 5 finger shoes.

11:40 – Pow Bot does an east side Sierra Nevada pow hunting mission.

14:10 – The territorial “get off my wave” surfing mentality and culture creeping into backcountry skiing.

16:55 – Trail Whisperer works a 40 hour work week for the first time in years.

20:35 – New trails on Mount Hough in Quincy.

24:10 – Pow Bot is back to being a weekend warrior after a winter off from work.

27:10 – Listener feedback – more about the wolf conversation. Nevada issuing moose hunting tags for the first time in history.

37:00 – DOPE OR DERP – Jazz Hands when snowboarding. Tanner on Insta says Pow Bot uses his hands too much while snowboarding.

39:30 – Pow Bot got his love for jazz hands from some of the best surfers in the world – Tom Curren’s first wave at Jeffrey’s Bay.

41:30 – Trail Whisperer gets his first splitboard!!

50:05 – Pow Bot learns about the concept of onomatopoeia.

52:10 – Favorite sounds that snow makes when slashing pow.

56:15 – Lauren on Insta – group of fishermen in Hirschdale fighting with a private landowner over public access to the Truckee River.

58:50 – DOPE OR DERP – Nordic Skiing

1:04:30 – ASS RANT – Sugar Bowl opens Palisades for only one day, and for only elite athletes in the Silver Belt competition. Never opened to season passholders.

1:11:50 – DOPE OR DERP – Planning a vacation around a national park in 2025 and an ASS RANT about national parks.

1:21:30 – Swan John gets inducted into the Western Washington University sports Hall of Fame for rowing

1:27:57 – ON A MUSICAL NOTE – Lady Gaga is on Pow Bot’s shit list because she stole the Mayhem logo from Matt Biolos and his surfboard brand, …Lost and Mayhem.

1:34:15 – When our favorite sports like surfing, snowboarding and mountain biking go mainstream, but still keeping the identity and culture of the sport.

1:38:03 – Event calendar over the next few weeks – 10th Annual Rally for Rocker on 4/26, SBTS Spring Epic in Quincy on 5/15-18, Truckee Dirt Union Loam Masters Rally 5/23-24.

April arrives with 3 feet of new snow in Lake Tahoe, making it feel more like January than spring. PowBot recaps his best tour of the year at Lassen National Park while Trail Whisperer breaks his snowmobile. The boys give some listener shout outs and play some 888 COR LORD call-ins, diving deeper into whether or not solo backcountry skiing is dope or derp and if a van is better suited for adventures than a pickup with 4 Wheel Camper. They also discuss the show’s intro and outro songs and where all the sound bites came from, decide which of the five senses are most important to them, chat about corner crossing over private land and the controversial reintroduction of the gray wolf into northern California. The show ends with a song called RNO by Trail Whisperer’s old band, Man Downstream, paying tribute to the Biggest Little City in the World.

3:00 – Spring is here and it’s still winter! Sinter. Apriluary.

5:30 – Lots of snow up on Packer Saddle. Downieville Downhill isn’t going to melt out until late June at earliest.

6:40 – PowBot’s PowDar was firing on all cylinders and scored pow at Lassen National Park.

17:00 – Trail Whisperer breaks his snowmobile.

21:38 – Any good April Fools jokes? @powderbuoy and @tahoefund

25:55 – Listener feedback and shout outs about ebikes and west shore skin tracks.

31:00 – 888 COR LORD Call Ins – Solo Backcountry Skiing and Van Life vs 4Wheel Camper life.

50:11 – 888 COR LORD Call Ins – Gordo calls us out on season passes. You don’t buy a season pass to ski pow.

55:50 – Sammy G asks: What are the Mind the Track intro and outro songs? Who’s the artist? And what are all the soundbites at the beginning?

1:10:20 – The Five Senses – which is the most important to you and which one could you not live without?

1:21:20 – Corner Crossing between public and private land is deemed legal by U.S. District Court.

1:28:30 – Sierra County issues state of emergency for the California Gray Wolf.

1:45:00 – DOPE OR DERP – skinning up the face you are going to ski back down.

1:48:48 – Outro – RNO by Man Downstream

Recapping a polarizing winter that has been “clear and still” – either literally clear with no snow and still with no wind, or snow clear up to your ass and still snowing, the boys catch up on a number of topics including PowBot’s surf trip to Costa Rica, Trail Whisperer’s Death Valley four wheeling adventure and helicopter skiing, the sketchy last month of avalanches and the lack of stoke for resort skiing. The boys DERP local ski resorts for their season pass money grab of selling next years pass in March, they also DERP @palisadestahoe for leaning on local law enforcement to bust ski pass poachers. The ASS rants about social media and the unnecessary steepness of West Shore skin tracks and ponder why skins haven’t improved that much in the last 10 years. The boys also play some 888 COR LORD call-ins from listeners.

2:00 – Recording from the Tahoe City Transit Center in PowBot’s new van.

4:20 – Recapping a banger couple of days skiing the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.

10:20 – PowBot witnesses public hate for the Tesla Cybertruck.

14:20 – Trail Whisperer takes the Land Cruiser four wheeling in Death Valley then goes to Tonopah to stay at the Mizpah Hotel.

21:20 – Trail Whisperer goes helicopter skiing.

25:40 – Skiing in the Toiyabe.

26:25 – PowBot goes surfing in Costa Rica

34:55 – The boys have been down on the ski resort experience this year, too busy everywhere.

39:20 – DOPE OR DERP – Do you buy next year’s ski pass now in March?

46:00 – ASS rant about the state of social media and podcasting.

55:40 – Tom has an encounter on his flight home from Costa Rica related to the podcast.

58:45 – ASS rant about the unnecessary steepness of West Shore skin tracks.

1:01:40 – Why have skins not improved that much in the last decade?

1:05:20 – DOPE OR DERP – Alterra and Vail leaning on local law enforcement to prosecute ski pass poachers.

1:13:05 – ebiker gets stranded for 30 hours in rural Texas after her ebike battery died and PowBot’s story of his ebike dying in Downieville.

1:16:00 – Listeners call into the 888 COR LORD hotline, talking about attainable, approachable backyard adventures.

1:23:55 – Shout out to Alenka Vrecek – new article in Adventure Sports Journal about her Tahoe to Baja ride.

1:25:10 – Trail Whisperer restores a vintage road bike and takes it for a ride.

1:33:34 – The recent rash of avalanche incidents and fatalities since early February.

With a focus on simplicity, minimalism and human-powered adventure, Nick Russell embodies what it is to be a free-spirited, big line splitboarder while making a living at it. Russell has eschewed guidebooks for true adventure, hunting for big lines and pow based more on a feeling than a calculation. This organic approach to becoming an expert in the backcountry takes years and more than a couple sandbag missions, but in the process creates a deeper connection with the land and with his comrades. Russell’s most recent mission, captured in the Patagonia Films feature Papsura – Peak of Evil, along with his partner Jerry Mark and filmers Morgan Shields and Blake Gordon, claimed a first splitboard descent on an iconic line in the Indian Himalaya, a month-long mission that exceeded all expectations – a rare occurrence PowBot refers to as “The Jerry Effect”, related to the late Jerry Garcia. The boys also chat about the state of public lands in the midst of an onslaught against government agencies, with Russell encouraging listeners to call (202) 224 3121 and tell your local elected officials what you think about the drastic cuts against the Forest Service, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.

4:45 – Introducing Nick Russell – core lord big mountain splitboarder.

8:30 – Follow up to the butt vest discussion – Nick endorses the concept of the butt vest.

15:15 – A little more about who Nick Russell is. Redefining big mountain splitboard freeriding.

18:00 – Starting out in Utah’s Wasatch and the organic process of getting into splitboarding.

25:00 – Living simply, minimalism to reduce expense and maximize free time….filming their Alaska adventure, a film called “Free” on Vimeo.

28:40 – Finding pow based “on a feeling” and the resulting Fun scale – Type 1, Type 2, Type 3.

37:30 – All about the Papsura film mission, spending a month in India to ski one line.

41:20 – The added complexity of having a film crew while accomplishing such a huge mission.

46:30 – “The Jerry Effect” – Not just with the Grateful Dead, but also in Nick and Jerry’s Papsura mission – everything went perfectly and according to plan.

58:00 – Reviewing the last week of avalanche conditions in Lake Tahoe and how Nick navigates dangerous snowpack and staying out of avalanche terrain when it’s high risk.

1:07:30 – Becoming more conservative in the wake of a serious injury falling into a crevasse in Alaska on Mount Saint Elias.

1:12:45 – How does a line that’s so difficult to ever ski make the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America?

1:17:10 – Coping with the loss of friends in the backcountry over the years and the draw of social media FOMO feeding into dangerous situations.

1:23:35 –Nick’s take with the state of public lands and current federal workforce firings and budget freezes. Call 202 224 3121 – tell your local elected representatives what you think about what’s happening to our public lands.

1:33:00 – The potential silver lining in the recent attacks against our government and public lands.

1:37:25 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

1:39:30 – Trail Whisperer and PowBot recap the discussion with Nick Russell.

1:42:00 – Recapping the recent four-day trip to Frog Lake Huts.

1:48:40 – PowBot encounters the Zoa Engineering Backcountry Tow Rope on the West Shore.

1:59:40 – Shout out to HeavyDSparks and the Diesel Brothers for recovering the plane wreckage and the victim’s body from Mount Jefferson with their Blackhawk helicopter.

After a weeks-long dry spell in January, the first day of February bring a week-long series of atmospheric river storms to the Lake Tahoe region, with a foot of rain, multiple feet of snow and hurricane force winds. PowBot recaps his Canadian hut trip, giving kudos to Big Sky resort and reminisces on atmospheric river storms of the past while Trail Whisperer rants about tire chains and the evil empire of Amazon. Al Powcino makes his return with another Powderiffic Snow Report, the boys are compared to Statler and Waldorf from the Muppet Show, TW raves about a George Carlin documentary, lots of listener shout outs and a few Dope or Derps including the Butt Vest, electric snow bikes and wearing hunting gear for skiing.

3:00 – PowBot returns from his Canada Powder Highway trip.

4:30 – Recording right during the arrival of a big Atmospheric River event in the Sierra Nevada, after an extended period of very dry weather.

6:00 – Recapping PowBot’s ski hut trip to Golden Alpine Holidays in British Columbia.

8:40 – The five most important things to know about preparing for a Canada ski hut trip.

19:45 – The incoming Atmospheric River and huge amounts of rain.

21:50 – Going to the birthplace of Mind the Track, Frog Lake Huts near Donner Summit.

23:40 – Al Powcino’s Powderiffic Snow Report.

26:45 – ASS rant about chained up cars and semis on the freeway.

28:45 – The current storm is reminiscent of the 2016-2017 winter when there was terrible flooding on Donner Summit and at Donner Lake.

34:45 – Listener Shout Outs! And PowBot shouts out his experience at Big Sky in Montana.

42:38 – Stavros asks “What avalanche course would you recommend taking?”

46:04 – Jed loves reggae music and Stick Figure, Mount Bachelor getting bought by ski bums and Truckee in the Wall Street Journal.

49:50 – Nate said the boys are the old men on the Muppet Show, Waldorf and Statler.

53:30 – Carl turned us onto @powderbuoy on Instagram – weather buoys in the Pacific and correlation to winter storms.

55:05 – Matt sent us a link to a recent plane crash in the Toquima Range on Mount Jefferson.

58:35 – J.T. Robinson – Backcountry Etiquette and Mentorship video about 10 Shredmandments - youtube.com/watch?v=ubGHAb3Y_VM

1:01:50 – DOPE OR DERP? – The Buttvest.

1:08:00 – DOPE OR DERP? – Wearing hunting apparel for skiing.

1:13:00 – DOPE OR DERP? – Moonbike Motors electric snow bike.

1:16:55 – DOPE OR DERP? – Tire chains.

1:22:45 – Keith recommends the film “Camera Corner” about Wende Cragge – on YouTube by The Radavist.

1:23:55 – Ben asks, what’s the best quiver beater mountain bike? The 130mm rear travel trail bike. Specialized Epic Evo and Stumpjumper Evo, Pivot Trail 429, Ibis Ripley, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Yeti SB120.

1:32:00 – ON A MUSICAL NOTE – Keith recommended RadioParadise.com – live streaming of music 24/7, KEXP.org in Seattle and KOTO in Telluride.

1:37:50 – Trail Whisperer recommends watching George Carlin’s American Dream.

1:41:30 – Trail Whisperer recommends Buy Now – The Amazon Shopping Conspiracy.

1:44:10 – The federal funding freeze and how it will affect recreation.

1:45:40 – Two thumbs up for the new Reno Vista trail on Peavine Mountain. Super fun!

Two weeks into his Powder Highway road trip, PowBot calls in from Revelstoke, British Columbia to chat about life on the road in the new van, the differences between the U.S. and Canada when it comes to snow and ski culture, hiring a ski guide in Whistler to go big in the Blackcomb backcountry and interviewing “Trailhead Tim” Gibson, who PowBot met at the trailhead and suddenly became his backcountry partner in bagging the Aussie Couloir in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. Also, the boys Dope or Derp snow stake cams, backcountry skiing solo, the magnetic Snow Strip product and reggae music.

3:00 – Catching up with PowBot on his road trip to the Powder Highway of Canada, calling from the Revelstoke Rec Center parking lot.

8:30 – Trail Whisperer in Downieville.

10:00 – Avalanche Canada is saying “it’s time to consider getting into bigger terrain” – it’s GO TIME in the alpine! Favorable clear high pressure weather all week.

13:00 – Pow Bot’s road trip so far – Mount Bachelor, Stevens Pass, Whistler, Duffey Lakes.

18:45 – Vail Resorts is having a PR nightmare. Youtube Peak Rankings financial breakdown of Vail Resorts. Park City Mountain Resort Ski Patrol is on strike and Vail wouldn’t give them a $2/hr pay raise.

21:40 – PowBot arrives in Whistler/Blackcomb and stays at Riverside RV park. PowBot hires a ski guide from Altus Mountain Guides, Tim Ross, to take him touring off the Blackcomb glaciers.

25:00 – How does Canada differ from United States when it comes to skiing culture?

28:35 – What is Pow Bot’s boondock overnight parking plan?

29:30 – Parking and skiing at Joffre Lakes area, a Canadian Provincial Park. PowBot helped unstuck the local plow truck driver, Danny, a backcountry skier who plows the lots for skiers.

33:00 – PowBot meets Trailhead Tim and skis the Aussie Couloir with him.

37:55 – How do you know when you meet a stranger that they will be a good ski partner?

39:35 – Dope or Derp? Skiing solo. PowBot skied the Seven Steps to Paradise on Rogers Pass by himself and it was the dopest tour of his life.

49:24 – In order to ski parts of Rogers Pass you have to take a backcountry travel test.

52:45 – New iPhones have a text to satellite feature, eliminating the need to have something like a Spot or Garmin InReach.

54:45 – Dope or Derp? The Snowstrip - A magnetic rack that goes on the side of your vehicle so your skis/board doesn’t fall and hit the ground.

57:55 – Dope or Derp? Reggae Music – Tom’s been listening to a bunch of reggae. Stick Figure, Arise Roots, John Brown’s Body and 10 Foot Ganja Plant. David Lee Scales and Chaz Smith of The Grit podcast think reggae is derp. Bob Marley is The Legend for a reason.

1:04:55 – ON A MUSICAL NOTE – Ross – listener recommending Tycho and Khruangbin.

1:09:20 – Dope or Derp? – a listener Derek wants to know what’s up with snow stake cams.

1:16:25 – Last Saturday, tail end of the holiday, one of the busiest days of skiing in Tahoe ever due to the snow stake cam.

1:20:25 – The sleeper pow days are the best days – the snow stake cam isn’t always accurate.

1:21:40 – PowBot recorded a conversation with Trailhead Tim after their adventure on Aussie Couloir and the concept of “risk shaming”.

1:30:50 – A conversation with Tim Gibson at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park – living van life and skiing in Canada.

1:36:20 – Quitting the corporate life, retiring and living the ski bum van life full time.

1:40:45 – Partnering up with Tim to ski Joffre Peak and Aussie Couloir.

1:48:24 – Moved to Chile in 2004 and got into backcountry skiing, fully self-taught through trial and error. Close calls with cornices, glaciers and crevasses.

1:54:00 – The American ski culture of not reporting avalanche accidents, opposite from Canada. The concept of “risk shaming” and how risky behavior is frowned upon in skiing in the US.

1:59:00 – Living in Seattle and skiing in Washington state – Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Snoqualmie Pass.

2:07:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

In the final episode of 2024, the boys catch up on a variety of topics just before PowBot hits the road for a month-long ski adventure on the Powder Highway of Canada, including Trail Whisperer’s story of driving the Powder Highway right as COVID hit in early 2020. The new snow reporter, Al Powcino, makes his debut with a wet and soggy forecast, Trail Whisperer presents the most compelling evidence yet that the Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption is linked to the last two years of record-breaking global warming, the boys discuss the 2024 word of the year, “Brain Rot”, and Trail Whisperer recounts his recent visit to San Diego chasing the massive surf swell. Pepper in a few Dope or Derps and 2024 is complete. Thanks to all our listeners for an awesome second season of Mind the Track!

3:00 – Artificial Intelligence and snow forecasting.

5:50 – Christmas Day – Pow Day at Sugar Bowl, death cookies at Mount Rose and holiday traffic.

8:20 – PowBot gets Trail Whisperer a Christmas gift – a bicycling book from Japan.

11:00 – Dope or Derp? eSkimo – the ebike of backcountry skiing.

15:50 – Dope or Derp? Christmas gifts and Christmas trees.

21:10 – Sam and Trail Whisperer went to San Diego before Christmas to surf the big swell.

27:30 – PowBot is about to embark on a road trip to the Powder Highway of Canada and going to the Meadow Hut with Golden Alpine Holidays.

29:25 – Driving the Powder Highway, Trans-Canada Highway, Revelstoke, Kelowna, Golden.

32:45 – Revelstoke and Kicking Horse – awesome mountains but no chairlift infrastructure.

35:10 – Crystal Mountain in Washington.

36:00 – Chairlift evacuation malfunctions at Heavenly, Telluride, Winter Park and France. What’s the longest you’ve ever spent on a broken chairlift?

41:00 – Golden Alpine Holidays and Meadow Hut in the Esplanade Range north of Golden.

42:00 – Banff National Park – Amazing winter campground with 110V power and heated showers.

44:10 – Dope or Derp? Driving and passing someone on a double yellow.

48:20 – Oxford University Press Word of the Year – “Brain Rot”.

50:15 – The Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption and it’s effect on recent climate change. Scientists are beginning to acknowledge its effects on the suddenly warming climate.

52:10 – Dr. Javier Vinos – author of Climate of the Past, Present and Future, a Scientific Debate, summarizes Hunga Tonga’s effect on the rapid warming of the climate.

58:10 – Mind the Track introduces the new Powderiffic Snow Report correspondent – Al Powcino!

1:02:30 – Low tide snow conditions in Tahoe and Shasta Avalanche Center employees rescue a lost and frozen duck at 10,000 feet elevation and released it at a creek in town.

1:05:00 – News – EXPLORE Act passed by Congress – legislation focused on improving outdoor recreation access, including BOLT Act - Bicycling on Long Distance Trails.

1:08:50 – Outdoor recreation is a $1.2 trillion industry supporting 5 million jobs in the U.S.

1:10:30 – Toyota takes every spot in vehicles most likely to last 250,000 miles or more, including the Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner and Highlander Hybrid.

1:13:35 – New study shows staggering number of spinal cord injuries with mountain bikers.

1:15:20 – Hoot Trail in Nevada City – continued drama about its future.

1:23:25 – Trail Whisperer’s story about driving the Powder Highway at the beginning of COVID.

1:29:40 – On a musical note - @facemelts – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Osees, Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees, Mark Lanegan.

1:35:45 – Do you listen to music when you ski or ride your bike?

1:39:30 – Thanks to all our listeners for an awesome 2024. Growing fast!

In the last couple years of record-breaking snowfalls, budget shortfalls, staffing shortages and lack of affordable housing for CalTrans road crew workers, plowed parking areas for backcountry access are no longer a given. The Tahoe Backcountry Alliance is working with community leaders to help address these issues, focused on expanding winter access for all non-motorized users. Since 2015, TBA has expanded access for motorized and non-motorized use in Johnson Canyon, created a plowed parking lot on the west end of Donner Lake, is about to open a new lot for Tallac access and created a free SnoPark pass system for local residents. We sit down with TBA Executive Director Anthony Cupaiuolo to chat about the importance of access for winter recreation in and around Lake Tahoe, the ongoing parking issues on the West Shore, its impacts on the local recreation economy and what the protocol is for backcountry users when parking areas haven’t been plowed.

3:00 – PowBot rides a legit snowmobile for the first time and actually liked it.

5:00 – Bumping into the Tahoe backcountry legend Otto on the skintrack in Ward Canyon.

7:00 – Palisades Tahoe can’t manage to get their mountain open…again.

7:45 – On a Musical Note: Trail Whisperer is loving listening to The Black Keys and The White Stripes and Pow Bot is watching No Good Deed.

10:15 – Listener shout outs and Dope or Derp? Subaru Crosstrek

17:00 – Introducing Anthony Cupaiuolo of Tahoe Backcountry Alliance and First Tracks Productions.

22:00 – Backcountry “carpooling” with three people using one snowmobile and PowBot’s skijouring harness.

24:50 – Blowing up the secret spots. Cody Townsend’s new The 50+ episode about the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.

26:50 – Anthony got invited by Sierra Academy to the Hutchinson Lodge at Donner Summit for a photo and video presentation to kids about skiing.

28:30 – Mount Rose aka Mount Surprise and skiing the Bronco Chutes near Relay Peak.

33:20 – Anthony featured in a short film about Mount Rose called “A Rose for All”, and the importance of public access to the outdoors in Mount Rose Meadows.

40:00 – Collaborating with Lake Tahoe Snowmobilers on safety and awareness and gaining access in Johnson Canyon thanks to help from Truckee Donner Land Trust.

43:20 – Brief history of the Tahoe Backcountry Alliance – came to be when parking was going to be eliminated for the Jake’s Peak area on the West Shore in 2015.

48:30 – Issues on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe – lack of plowing and challenges with CalTrans plow crews can have a negative impact on the local tourism economy when plowing isn’t done.

57:00 – The etiquette of parking in a snow storm before an area has been plowed and cleared.

1:04:50 – When did Anthony get involved with Tahoe Backcountry Alliance?

1:06:50 – The Lake Run parking lot success story at the west side of Donner Lake.

1:11:30 – TBA founded a recreation-specific, grant-funded micro transit program to help alleviate trailhead traffic and raise awareness around the need for Lake Tahoe public transit.

1:17:40 – The California State Parks SnoPark system – is it working? Meiss Meadows parking to access into Kirkwood when Highway 88 closes.

1:24:40 – The headwaters of the Truckee River is Meiss Meadows, and the Meiss hut was the cabin Snowshoe Thompson used in the 1860s. Floating the Upper Truckee River in South Lake.

1:27:50 – All about the challenges of Mount Tallac parking in Spring Creek and the new parking lot for Tallac access.

1:38:15 – How do people get involved and support Tahoe Backcountry Alliance? Donate at tahoebackcountryalliance.org.

1:44:30 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

1:52:45 – Pow Bot Scraper – the first Mind the Track swag coming soon!

Pull up any social media feed on big line skiing and there’s a good chance you’ll see Molly Armanino stomping a serious cliff drop. There’s also a good chance you’ll see her tomahawking. In her rookie year on the 2023 Freeride World Tour, Molly’s checkers or wreckers approach – skiing lines no other woman dare ski – landed her a 2nd place finish. Perfecting her art of the send at Kirkwood amidst its treacherous volcanic “death rocks”, Molly’s fearless approach has inspired all skiers, regardless of gender. Equally inspiring is Molly’s perseverance in the face of unimaginable loss, opening up about the accident that took her brother Sam’s life just as she was finding closure after losing her best friend in a car accident. Molly talks about the therapeutic healing the outdoors brings her and also shares the story of losing her big toe to frostbite while skiing in Montana. Lots of laughs mixed with heavy emotion in this episode. See an advance screening of her first feature film, “Slopes of Change”, at 8PM on December 19 at Alibi Ale Works in Truckee!

2:30 – Recording this week at Gear Lab in South Lake Tahoe amidst dry weather and no snow.

5:30 – Riding brown pow on Harmony Ridge and Hoot Trail in Nevada City. Shared use trails versus segregated use trails.

8:00 – Dope or Derp? Collectibles like baseball cards, Garbage Pail Kids and wine.

20:45 – Print magazines to subscribe to – Nicholas on Insta – Mountain Gazette.

21:50 – Dope or Derp? Giving up on skiing in the winter when weather isn’t delivering.

25:10 – Introducing Molly Armanino – South Lake Tahoe core lord skier and her film Slopes of Change.

31:15 – Molly Armanino talks about her new hat, turkey feathers found on the family property and feeding wild animals.

35:15 – Molly’s upbringing in Sutter Creek and Placerville and hated skiing as a kid.

38:00 – Skiing at Kirkwood, its “death rocks” and the core underground vibe it’s kept despite being a Vail-owned resort. Home of Squid and Friends, Sam Armanino’s creation.

47:30 – Being good at tomahawking and training to tomahawk down the mountain.

48:40 – Getting into backcountry skiing after always being a resort skier.

50:30 – Missing the shot on the big line when being filmed.

54:05 – What’s more pressure – skiing for a film shoot or Freeride World Tour?

56:30 – Molly’s backcountry mentor McKenna Peterson and developing a close relationship.

1:03:45 – Pushing yourself and pushing the sport even if you risk serious injury and getting hurt.

1:11:30 – Getting into the Freeride World Tour.

1:14:00 – Molly losing her big toe to frostbite during an excursion in Cooke City, Montana and then getting 2ndin her rookie year on the Freeride World Tour.

1:22:50 – She seems to have Raynaud’s Syndrome now after getting frostbite, using boot warmers and glove warmers and dressing the core warmer to prevent Raynaud’s.

1:30:00 – Exploring and skiing the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

1:36:10 – PowBot and Molly going on a big backcountry mission in Desolation Wilderness during the early days of COVID after the loss of PowBot’s dad and how big missions help with coping.

1:42:30 – Being distracted by being hyper focused on a mission as a tool for coping with loss.

1:45:30 – Molly opening up about the loss of her brother Sam and a tragic car accident she was involved in with one of her best friends who didn’t survive.

1:53:10 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

1:55:00 – December 19 in Truckee at Alibi Aleworks – Go see Slopes of Change!