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 the company started.

In the first story from Sierra Rec's Built Outside series, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Sawyer founder Kurt Avery to explore the unlikely 42-year journey behind the brand.

Kurt didn't start Sawyer because he was a lifelong backpacker trying to invent better gear. He came from the corporate world with an MBA, a passion for marketing, and an obsession with solving problems. What followed was anything but an overnight success.

Kurt shares how Sawyer lost money in 23 of its first 25 years, why he refused to sell anything he didn't believe was the best solution for the job, and how listening to customers in outdoor stores helped shape a company now known by backpackers around the world.

But the Sawyer story extends far beyond the trail.

Kurt explains how the same filtration technology carried by hikers has been used in disaster response and clean-water projects around the world, why Sawyer continues investing heavily in humanitarian work, and how those experiences have changed the way he thinks about business, products and impact.

Along the way, we talk about innovation, surrounding yourself with people who think differently, the principles that haven't changed since 1984, Sawyer's future, and the philosophy Kurt traces back to growing up on a farm:

“I can give you inexpensive, but I can't give you cheap.”

Built Outside is a Sierra Rec series about the people whose lives outside taught them how to build something—and the ideas, experiences and values behind the outdoor brands and organizations we trust.

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 a new appreciation for every hike—and a new idea for helping other women experience the mountains.

Lisa returns to the Sierra Rec Now Podcast to talk with Charlie Pankey about recovery, gratitude, backcountry fishing and why the mountains keep calling her back. From Gem Lake and Glen Aulin to Young Lakes, Cathedral Lakes and the Carson Pass region, this conversation explores what happens when we slow down and rediscover experiences we sometimes take for granted.

Lisa also shares the beginnings of True Nature Girls, her effort to create personalized Sierra adventures for women in small, supportive groups. She explains why catching a first backcountry fish, seeing fall color or simply spending a quiet night outside can become a life-changing experience.

In this Seeing the Sierra conversation:

• Returning to hiking after foot surgery
• Learning to slow down and appreciate the trail
• Fly fishing in Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada
• Helping women experience their first backcountry adventures
• Managing altitude, wildfire smoke and changing conditions
• Favorite fishing and backpacking destinations
• Young Lakes, Ten Lakes Basin, Cathedral Lakes and Carson Pass

Lisa Michelle is the author of True Nature: Hidden in the High Sierra and the creator of True Nature Girls.

Learn more about Lisa, her book and True Nature Girls at LisaMichelleStories.com.

Seeing the Sierra is a Sierra Rec Now series featuring writers, photographers, artists and storytellers whose work helps us experience the mountains differently.

Discover more at SierraRecMagazine.com.

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 never quite captures the scale of what’s in front of you.

In this conversation, Juan joins the Sierra Rec Podcast to take us along on his backpacking journey from Onion Valley over Kearsarge Pass and into the Rae Lakes area of Kings Canyon National Park, sharing what actually happened when a carefully planned High Sierra backpacking trip met the reality of the mountains.

Juan lives on the East Coast, but the Sierra keeps pulling him back. For this trip, he chose Kearsarge Pass as his entry into the Rae Lakes region, climbing out of Onion Valley and connecting with the John Muir Trail before continuing deeper into the High Sierra.

The itinerary didn't go exactly as planned.

Weather changed the trip almost immediately. Acclimation became a bigger factor than expected. There were hard miles, adjustments to food and hydration, changing plans on the trail, and one of those days when even an experienced backpacker simply doesn't feel good.

One of Juan's biggest lessons came before he ever reached the trail: “Never choose luxury over preparation.” After spending his pre-trip night in Bishop rather than higher at Onion Valley, he came away with a new appreciation for acclimation, pacing, and the challenges backpackers arriving from sea level can face at Sierra elevations.

But this trip isn't a story about struggle.

Juan shares the moments that keep bringing him back across the country: climbing into golden light above Kearsarge Pass, moving through the backcountry toward Rae Lakes, fishing for trout in Paradise Valley, and experiencing the enormous scale of a landscape photographs never quite capture.

Charlie and Juan also get into the practical side of a multi-day Sierra backpack: pack weight, shelter and weather preparation, trail food, electrolytes, water, fishing gear, and some of the small systems Juan has developed through years on the trail.

More than anything, it's a conversation about why we keep going back to the mountains. For Juan, part of that is physical—the challenge of putting one foot in front of the other and discovering what you're capable of doing. But it's also about the space backpacking creates to think, slow down, and spend a few days living differently than we do at home.

If you're considering backpacking Rae Lakes, hiking Kearsarge Pass, entering Kings Canyon National Park from Onion Valley, connecting with the John Muir Trail, or planning your own High Sierra backpacking trip, Juan's experience offers something more useful than a perfect itinerary.

It offers a real one.

About Juan VerueteJuan is a backpacker, angler and writer who regularly travels west to explore the Sierra Nevada. His adventures combine backpacking, backcountry trout fishing and storytelling.

Continue exploring with Juan:

Juan Backpacks on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@juanbackpacks

Juan's Rae Lakes Loop trip:
https://youtu.be/7yA8hXbNEGg

Rae Lakes gear loadout:
https://youtu.be/aD5AZlm8HPs

Gossamer Gear Whisper review:
https://youtu.be/g5B_jU6WAYw

Wild Trout Chronicles:
https://wildtroutchronicles.com/

Explore more from Sierra Rec Magazine:
SierraRecMagazine.com

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 it would go, but watching him discover pine cones, dirt, rocks, campfires, and the outdoors for the very first time reminded me why these places and times in life matter.

Driving home, I couldn't help but think...

If I could share just a handful of Sierra experiences with him someday, what would they be?

In this personal episode of the Sierra Rec Podcast, I share twelve places and experiences that have shaped my own life exploring the Sierra Nevada. From watching sunrise over May Lake in Yosemite to swimming in Lake Tahoe, hiking beneath giant sequoias, wandering through Carson Iceberg Wilderness, watching the stars in the Eastern Sierra, exploring Green Creek's fall colors, and driving the Sierra's iconic mountain passes on opening day, these are the moments I hope become part of his story too.

This isn't a list of the biggest attractions.

It's a conversation about memories, family, and why the places we love become even more meaningful when we get to share them with the next generation.

• May Lake, Yosemite National Park

• Eastern Sierra night skies

• Lake Tahoe

• Carson Iceberg Wilderness

• Carson Valley wild horses

• Lake Almanor

• Dispersed camping near Mammoth and Bishop

• Sequoia National Park

• East Fork Carson River

• Donner Summit

• Caples Lake

• Green Creek fall colors

• Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass & Ebbetts Pass

If you've ever dreamed about introducing your children or grandchildren to the Sierra, I hope this episode gives you a few ideas—and reminds you that the greatest adventures are often the ones we share.

Featured in this episode

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 he's developed after nearly two decades exploring the Sierra and 14 years publishing Sierra Rec Magazine. Instead of chasing one Instagram-famous location, learn how to create a weekend that balances adventure, flexibility, and discovery.

Whether you're headed to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Sonora, or one of the Sierra's lesser-known mountain towns, these principles will help you spend less time sitting in traffic and more time experiencing the mountains.

In this episode:

• Why so many Sierra weekends end in disappointment
• How to choose the right base camp
• Picking an "anchor experience" for your trip
• Adding supporting adventures that make a weekend memorable
• Planning around seasons, weather, crowds, and access
• Why leaving room for discovery creates the best mountain memories

Along the way, Charlie shares stories from years of exploring hidden lakes, back roads, mountain towns, and unexpected places that never make the travel brochures—but often become the highlights of the trip.

If you love the Sierra Nevada, mountain travel, hiking, fishing, camping, photography, road trips, or simply finding quieter places outdoors, this episode is for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Yosemite National Park
• Lake Tahoe
• Mammoth Lakes
• Bishop
• Carson Valley
• Sonora
• June Lake
• Mono Lake
• Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
• Devil's Postpile National Monument
• Mountain Loop Highway

Explore more Sierra trip ideas, destination guides, and outdoor stories at SierraRecMagazine.com.

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 Sierra Valley, Rocci Twitchell grew up fishing alpine lakes, riding horses through Mohawk Valley, exploring the Sierra Buttes, and spending weekends around Yuba Pass, Packer Lake, Gold Lake, and the Lakes Basin Recreation Area. Like so many people raised in small mountain towns, he couldn't wait to leave.

Years later, after building a career in martial arts, authoring books, raising a family, and traveling the country, he found himself drawn back to the very mountains he once couldn't wait to escape.

In this conversation, Charlie and Rocci reflect on growing up in the Sierra Nevada, the lessons learned far from home, and why certain places continue to shape us long after we've left. Along the way, they share stories of fishing hidden lakes, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, family traditions, Native American perspectives on reconnecting with the land, and preserving the communities that make the Sierra so special.

Whether you know Sierra Valley by heart or you're discovering this remarkable corner of the Sierra Nevada for the first time, this conversation is a reminder that the mountains aren't simply places we visit—they become part of who we are.

Sierra Rec explores the people, places, history, and outdoor experiences that define the Sierra Nevada. Through conversations with guides, historians, outdoor experts, conservationists, and lifelong locals, we help you experience these mountains more deeply—whether you're planning your next adventure or simply dreaming about the next time you head for the trail.

Continue exploring the Sierra at Sierrarecmagazine.com, where you'll find destination guides, trip ideas, trail stories, the latest editions of Sierra Rec Magazine, and more conversations celebrating the people and places that make the Sierra Nevada unlike anywhere else.

Search & Rescue Volunteers Need Your Help | How One Simple Donation Could Save a Life

Every year, Search & Rescue volunteers head into the mountains to help hikers, backpackers, climbers, and outdoor adventurers on what may be the worst day of their lives. What many people don't realize is that rescuers often give up their own warm clothing to protect injured patients during a rescue.

In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, Charlie Pankey sits down with Lawson Glidden, fifth-generation owner and president of Minus33 Merino Wool, to explore an inspiring nationwide program helping Search & Rescue teams across the United States.

You'll learn how gently used merino wool base layers are being repurposed into life-saving SAR kits, why merino wool remains one of the most trusted materials for mountain safety, and how every outdoor enthusiast can help support the volunteers who answer the call when emergencies happen.

• Why Search & Rescue teams sometimes give away their own clothing during rescues
• How the Minus33 SAR Kit Program is helping rescue teams nationwide
• Why merino wool remains one of the best materials for hiking, backpacking, and mountain travel
• Tips for layering in changing mountain conditions
• How you can donate used merino wool clothing to help save lives

Whether you spend your weekends hiking the Sierra Nevada, backpacking wilderness trails, camping with family, or simply love the outdoors, this conversation offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the people working to keep mountain recreation safer for everyone.

Learn more about the SAR Kit Program:
https://minus33.com/pages/sar-kits

Read Sierra Rec Magazine's original feature:
https://sierrarecmagazine.com/minus-33-sars-kits/

Visit Sierra Rec Magazine for destination guides, hiking ideas, backpacking routes, camping inspiration, road trips, fishing destinations, seasonal adventures, and outdoor stories from across the Sierra Nevada.

🌲 Website:
https://SierraRecMagazine.com

🎥 Watch full podcast episodes, destination videos, hiking adventures, and travel guides on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SierraRecMagazine

If you enjoy authentic outdoor stories, please follow the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves spending time in the mountains.

#SearchAndRescue #HikingSafety #Backpacking #MerinoWool #OutdoorSafety #SierraNevada #Camping #MountainSafety #SierraRec

In this episode:Explore the Sierra year-round

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 of the **Sierra Rec Now Podcast**, Charlie Pankey sits down with outdoor adventurer, photographer, and creator **Nick Breaks Everything (Nick Valdovinos)** to talk about **Sierra Nevada hiking**, **Pacific Crest Trail adventures**, **Kearsarge Pass**, **Owens Valley**, **Death Valley**, **California off-roading**, mountain photography, backpacking, and the mindset that keeps drawing us back into the mountains.Whether you're planning your next **California hiking trip**, searching for **hidden Sierra Nevada destinations**, looking for **off-road adventures in the Eastern Sierra**, or simply love hearing stories from people who live for the outdoors, this conversation is packed with inspiration, practical insight, and a genuine love for exploring beyond the famous viewpoints. From technical mountain bike trails to remote desert canyons, Nick shares what it means to chase challenge, curiosity, and adventure throughout the Sierra Nevada.If you enjoy stories about backpacking, hiking, mountain photography, overlanding, off-roading, the Pacific Crest Trail, or discovering lesser-known places across California's mountains, be sure to subscribe for new Sierra stories every week.⛰️ **In this episode you'll discover:**00:00 Introduction01:05 Meet Nick Breaks Everything03:20 How mountain biking shaped a lifetime of adventure05:10 Favorite off-road destinations and why canyons matter07:10 Kearsarge Pass and combining backpacking with off-roading09:00 Why Owens Valley is one of California's greatest adventure regions11:00 Planning multi-sport Sierra Nevada weekends12:50 Hiking for the trail—not just the destination15:10 Building mountain bike trails and understanding trail design17:20 Photography as storytelling in the outdoors20:30 Why the Sierra Nevada and Death Valley inspire creativity22:30 Learning to appreciate different landscapes24:00 Seeking challenge through outdoor adventure26:00 The Rubicon Trail story and overcoming setbacks27:30 Why the mountains keep calling us back29:30 Authentic outdoor storytelling and social media32:00 Favorite trails, hidden places, and the Inyo Mountains35:00 Rapid-fire Sierra Rec questions39:00 Final thoughts🌲 **Featured Topics**• Sierra Nevada hiking• Pacific Crest Trail• Kearsarge Pass• Owens Valley• Eastern Sierra• Inyo Mountains• Death Valley National Park• California backpacking• California off-roading• Mountain biking• Mountain photography• Outdoor adventure• Overlanding• Hidden California destinations• Sierra travel inspiration📍 **Learn more from Sierra Rec Magazine**Explore destination guides, hiking articles, backpacking stories, campground reviews, road trips, podcasts, and travel inspiration from across the Sierra Nevada:https://www.sierrarecmagazine.com🎙️ **Guest**Nick ValdovinosInstagram: @nickbreakseverythingPhotography: https://vxposure.com👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and Share. Every subscription helps us continue telling authentic stories from the Sierra Nevada and introducing you to remarkable people who inspire others to get outside.#SierraNevada #HikingCalifornia #Backpacking #PacificCrestTrail #OwensValley #KearsargePass #DeathValley #MountainPhotography #Overlanding #OffRoading #CaliforniaAdventure #EasternSierra #SierraRec #OutdoorAdventure #ExploreCalifornia

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 down with AJ Brown from Discover Siskiyou to explore one of California's most overlooked outdoor destinations.

From the iconic slopes of Mount Shasta to 89 alpine lakes, hidden waterfalls, scenic byways, mountain communities, and uncrowded adventures, discover why more travelers are beginning to look north for their next Sierra escape.

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or searching for somewhere beyond the crowds, this conversation is packed with practical travel ideas and local insight.

🏔️ Why locals compare Siskiyou to a less crowded Tahoe

💧 Come for the mountains. Stay for the water.

🥾 Hiking, backpacking and the Pacific Crest Trail

🚗 Scenic drives and hidden mountain communities

🏕️ Camping, alpine lakes and outdoor adventures

🌋 Mount Shasta's history, mystery and outdoor recreation

🌄 Why Siskiyou County deserves a place on your California bucket list

Guest:
AJ Brown
Discover Siskiyou

🎧 New episodes every Tuesday.

Until next time...

Keep Exploring.

In this episode

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 McGee from the Shaver Lake community to explore one of the Sierra Nevada's most diverse outdoor recreation hubs.

From boating, fishing, and sailing on Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake to mountain biking, backpacking, rock climbing, and the growing Shaver Lake Recreational Trail project, this conversation highlights why so many visitors return to the area year after year.

We discuss:

• Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake recreation opportunities
• The new Shaver Lake Recreational Trail system
• Family-friendly outdoor experiences and lake access
• McKinley Grove's giant sequoias
• Kaiser Wilderness backpacking and hiking destinations
• Rancheria Falls, Ely Mountain, Potter Pass, Twin Lakes, and the San Joaquin River Trail
• Climb to Kaiser and the area's growing cycling culture
• Summer events, camping, fishing, and local businesses

Whether you're planning a Sierra Nevada road trip, searching for a new camping destination, looking for great hiking trails, or simply dreaming about your next mountain getaway, this episode offers local insight into one of California's classic mountain communities.

Subscribe to Sierra Rec Now for destination guides, outdoor stories, travel tips, and conversations that help you discover more of the Sierra Nevada.

#ShaverLake #HuntingtonLake #SierraNevada #CaliforniaTravel #Camping #Hiking #Fishing #MountainBiking #Backpacking #KaiserWilderness