What’s it really like to hike from Mexico to Canada—alone, for six months?
In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey welcomes back Audrey Payne, the first participant in the Capital to Canada Quest, who became the only hiker to complete the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in 2024.

Audrey shares the full story of her 2,650-mile journey—starting at the Mexican border, trekking through the Sierra Nevada, and finishing in the remote wilds of Washington State. From icy creek crossings and desert blooms to wildfire scars and trail magic, she opens up about the emotional highs, quiet moments, and lessons learned along the way.

💬 Highlights include:

• Hiking 700 miles through the Southern California desert

• Rediscovering joy in the Sierra after a terrifying 2023 JMT season

• Stopping in Carson City, Nevada, to hike the new Cap to Tahoe Trail

• Facing burnout and beauty across Northern California & Oregon

• Finding solitude and meaning in Washington’s Glacier Peak Wilderness

• Her must-have trail gear and the tent that failed (then redeemed itself)

📍 Destinations featured: Carson City, Desolation Wilderness, Tahoe Rim Trail, Goat Rocks, Glacier Peak, Bend, and more.

🔗 Learn more:
Read Audrey’s story and others at SierraRecMagazine.com
Watch the full YouTube interview → [link]
Listen to past Capital to Canada Quest episodes with Julianne Mahoney and Lydia Beck.

🎙️ Sierra Rec Now is the voice of the Sierra Nevada—where adventure meets storytelling.

Carson City is having a moment.

Not only is it one of the most accessible winter basecamps in the Sierra — where you can ski Tahoe by day and come back to clear trails and small-town holiday magic at night — it’s also now stamped into PCT lore as the launch point of one of the most unique long-distance campaigns the Sierra saw this year.

Today, Lydia Beck of Visit Carson City returns to Sierra Rec Now to unpack both:

• What winter and early holiday season in Carson City actually feels like (Silver & Snowflake Festival, Kit Carson Trail, Polar Express + Santa Train, quiet winter dirt, dramatic cottonwoods along the Carson River)

• And a debrief of the Capital to Canada Quest — how this two-year idea became a real thru-hike launch from the steps of the Capitol, and how that “Carson Lasso” addition on the Tahoe Rim Trail is now becoming a trail legend on its own

If you want to experience winter in the Sierra — without winter congestion — this episode matters.
If you want to understand how the Sierra trail network is evolving in real time — this episode matters.

Carson City is no longer just where the PCT passes somewhere out there in the far distance.
Carson City is part of the long-trail story now — and the winter basecamp most people have been overlooking.

This week on the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Julianne Mahoney, the first hiker to complete the Capital to Canada Quest — a 1,600-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail starting in Carson City, Nevada.

Julianne opens up about the highs and lows of trail life: battling record heat in Northern California, hiking solo through Oregon’s berry-covered paths, and finding peace in Washington’s alpine wilderness. She shares how the journey reshaped her view of resilience, solitude, and community on one of America’s most legendary trails.

We talk about:
• The emotional challenge of re-entry after months on trail
• Hiking solo as a “lasher” (long-ass section hiker)
• Lessons from the burn scars of the Sierra and NorCal
• Trail magic moments and ultralight gear tips
• Why she’s already dreaming of her next big hike

🎥 Watch the full video episode on YouTube:
👉 https://youtu.be/ADD_YOUR_LINK_HERE

🎧 Brought to you by: Visit Carson Valley – Your Trailhead to the Sierra Nevada.

Fall meets Celtic heritage in the Sierra foothills!
Join host Charlie Pankey as he welcomes Kimberly Vaughan, director of the first-ever Yosemite Celtic Festival & Highland Games, coming to Oakhurst, California, on November 1–2, 2025.

Together, they explore what makes this new cultural celebration such a unique addition to Yosemite’s southern gateway — from Highland athletic competitions and Celtic music to living history, family-friendly fun, and the incredible community spirit that brings it all together.

Kimberly shares how Oakhurst’s creative energy and local pride helped launch this event, plus insider tips for visiting Bass Lake, Wawona, and Yosemite National Park during one of the most beautiful times of the year.

🎟️ Learn more at YosemiteCelticFestival.com
📍 Event Dates: November 1–2, 2025
📍 Location: Oakhurst Community Center

In This Episode:

• What inspired the Yosemite Celtic Festival

• The story behind the Highland Games in the Sierra

• Family-friendly activities, music, and cultural experiences

• Fall travel tips for Oakhurst and Yosemite

• How local festivals strengthen Sierra communities

🎙 Also available on:
▶️ YouTube & 🍏 Apple Podcasts

Plan Your Trip to Oakhurst and Yosemite This Fall

Visitors coming for the Celtic Festival will find plenty to explore in and around Oakhurst — from Bass Lake to Wawona, and up into Yosemite National Park itself.

Festival events will be held at the Oakhurst Community Center, with easy access from Highway 41 and shuttle service via the Visit Yosemite Madera County Trolley and Bass Lake Shuttle.

Local hotels are offering discounted rates for festival weekend, and nearby lodging ranges from rustic cabins to lakeside resorts. For those who prefer to camp or RV, both Bass Lake and Sierra National Forest provide scenic options close to the festival grounds.

Don’t forget to stop by the Visit Yosemite Madera County Visitor Center on Halloween night for the Oakhurst Scavenger Hunt, a community-wide event with prizes and family fun leading into festival weekend.

Yosemite, Oakhurst, Celtic Festival, Highland Games, Sierra Nevada, family-friendly events, outdoor festivals, fall in Yosemite, Visit Yosemite Madera County, California travel, cultural heritage, Bass Lake

This week on Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Keith Lewis, Director of Visit Carson Valley, and Josh Rudelbach, endurance runner and community voice, to dive into what makes fall in Carson Valley one of the Sierra’s best-kept secrets.

From the Genoa Loop Trail and Pine Nut Mountains to Topaz Lake’s quiet shoreline and Main Street Gardnerville’s fall festivals, Keith and Josh share how this community balances small-town charm with big adventure.

They also reveal details behind the first-ever Ferris Fifty Endurance Run, happening November 8 — a 50-mile, 50K, and 15K race designed to showcase Carson Valley’s open spaces and outdoor spirit.

Tune in for local insight, trail talk, and event highlights that’ll inspire your next Sierra adventure.

🎧 Listen now and plan your fall trip:
VisitCarsonValley.org | SierraRecMagazine.com

Sign up for the Ferris 50 and discover more following these links:

https://visitcarsonvalley.org/ferris-fifty-endurance-run/

https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=125798

Nevada is full of secrets — and none of them are on the Strip.

In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey talks with explorer, photographer, and author Sydney Martinez, whose new book Finding Nevada Wild uncovers the true heart of the Silver State.

For nearly 20 years, Sydney has roamed Nevada’s vast open spaces — chasing dark skies at Massacre Rim, soaking in remote hot springs, hiking the Ruby Crest Trail, and documenting the Basque and Buckaroo culture that still shapes the region today. Her new book, published by Schiffer, captures the state’s wild beauty through 300 photographs and stories that challenge every misconception about Nevada being just “Vegas and desert.”

Charlie and Sydney dig into what makes this place so unforgettable — from quiet desert nights and star-filled skies to indigenous and Basque histories, and why Nevada’s freedom and solitude are unmatched anywhere in the West.

If you love exploring the Sierra, Great Basin, or high desert, this conversation will remind you why adventure often starts just beyond the familiar.

In this episode:

• Discovering the real Nevada — beyond the city lights

• Exploring Massacre Rim, one of the darkest skies in the world

• How to find hot springs (without GPS coordinates)

• Backpacking solitude on the Ruby Crest Trail

• Experiencing Basque and Buckaroo culture in Elko and Gardnerville

• The mysteries of Devil’s Hole and Ash Meadows

• Why silence and solitude still matter in wild places

📖 Finding Nevada Wild: The Terrain, Culture, and People of the Most Mysterious State in the West
By Sydney Martinez | Schiffer Publishing, 2025
🔗 Learn more: FindingNevadaWild.com

🎙️ The Sierra Rec Now Podcast celebrates the people, places, and passions that define life in the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin.
Hosted by Charlie Pankey — publisher, explorer, and storyteller behind Sierra Rec Magazine.

#SierraRecNow #SierraRecMagazine #NevadaWild #NevadaTravel #DarkSkyNevada #HotSpringsNevada #RubyMountains #BasqueCulture #GreatBasin #DiscoverMoreSierra

In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey welcomes explorer and lifelong Sierra adventurer Brian Martz. Known to many as the “Water Guy” in Southern California, Brian brings a unique mix of family tradition, personal exploration, and trail-tested wisdom to the conversation.

Brian shares stories of growing up in the Sierra under the influence of his Uncle Buster, who passed down a love of the mountains through generations. From early Boy Scout trips at Convict Lake to recent backpacking journeys in the Eastern Sierra, his adventures capture the heart of what makes these landscapes so special.

The discussion covers backpacking Virginia Lakes, Green Creek, Chocolate Lakes, and McCabe Lakes, as well as off-trail routes in Yosemite and Emigrant Wilderness. Charlie and Brian also reflect on Fishmas at Crowley Lake, ultralight backpacking lessons, and the importance of friendships made on the trail.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your next adventure—or simply want to hear how legacy and exploration connect in the Sierra—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Brian Martz, the Water Guy
03:20 – Backpacking Virginia Lakes & Green Creek
06:00 – Ultralight Backpacking: Wants vs. Needs
10:20 – Uncle Buster & Family Legacy in the Sierra
13:00 – Childhood Sierra Adventures: Convict Lake & Lake Dorothy
16:00 – Off-Trail Yosemite Adventures: McCabe Lakes & Sawtooth Ridge
20:00 – Trail Friendships & Yosemite Sam Stories
22:40 – Must-See Sierra Destinations (Smedberg, Bernice, Granite & Thousand Island Lakes)
26:00 – High Sierra Trail Dreams & Challenges
29:00 – Emigrant Wilderness Off-Trail Struggles
32:40 – Hetch Hetchy Exploration & Cherry Lake
35:00 – The Magic of 20 Lakes Basin & McCabe Loop
37:20 – Remembering Uncle Buster & His Traditions
40:40 – Quickfire Sierra Questions (Fav Backpack Spot, Food, Gear)
44:00 – Closing: Adventure, Legacy, and Friendship

Powering Adventure: Off-Grid RV & Overlanding with Dragonfly Energy

How do you keep your RV, van, or overland rig powered up in the Sierra Nevada without relying on noisy generators? In this week’s episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie sits down with Jesse Asay and Tyler Bourns from Dragonfly Energy, the Reno-based team behind Battle Born Batteries®.

They dive into:

• Why lithium batteries outperform traditional lead-acid in RVs and overlanding rigs

• How solar, inverters, and Dragonfly Intelligence® make off-grid power simple and safe

• Real-world stories of adventure rigs powered by lithium (yes, even Jacuzzis in the desert!)

• Tips for handling extreme Sierra conditions — from Death Valley heat to snowy mountain nights

If you’re an RVer, vanlifer, or off-road adventurer looking to upgrade your power system, this episode is packed with insights to keep your adventures running smoothly.

🎙️ Subscribe to Sierra Rec Now for more Sierra Nevada stories, gear insights, and outdoor inspiration.

Read more about this story at www.sierrarecmagazine.com

Every fall, a town of 225 swells to 40,000 for one of Nevada’s most unique traditions—the Candy Dance in Genoa.

This week on Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey talks with Town Manager Jody Brunz about:

• The 106-year-old history of the Candy Dance

• How this small-town event funds Genoa’s survival

• Why 430+ vendors and thousands of visitors return year after year

• Insider tips for parking, lodging, and exploring Genoa’s trails, hot springs, and history

👉 Candy Dance 2025 runs September 27–28. Free to the public, $10 parking.

🔗 Watch & Read More:

• ▶️ [YouTube] https://youtu.be/CdMoyQLdYjE

• 🍏 [Apple Podcasts] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sierra-rec-now-your-guide-to-sierra-adventures/id1740191775

• 📖 [Blog Post] https://sierrarecmagazine.com/sierra-rec-now-soundscapes/

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, save, and share Sierra Rec Now!

Author, blogger, and wilderness volunteer Paul Wagner (BackpackingSierra.com) returns to the Sierra Rec Now Podcast! Paul and Charlie swap stories of hidden lakes, off-trail challenges, volunteering in Desolation & Emigrant Wilderness, and gear insights from the trail.

👉 Highlights include:

• Off-trail adventures in the Sierra backcountry

• Wilderness volunteering & trail etiquette

• Backpacking routes from Emigrant to Yosemite

• Paul’s wilderness-inspired book series

  
  

  00:00 Introduction to Sierra Adventures

  02:58 Exploring the Emigrant Wilderness

  05:34 Volunteer Work in Desolation Wilderness

  08:42 First Aid Experiences in the Wilderness

  11:26 The Importance of Trail Etiquette

  14:39 Restoration Efforts in the Sierra

  20:06 Exploring Favorite Backpacking Spots

  23:07 Adventures in Yosemite

  27:20 Paul's Book Series and Writing Journey

  34:14 Weekend Backpacking Plans and Gear Recommendations

  
  

🎙 Listen in for stories, tips, and inspiration to help you explore the Sierra Nevada more deeply — and responsibly.