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5 days ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
Summer is here and so is National Camping Month – the perfect time to plan an outdoor adventure with your dog in the magnificent Sierra Nevada. Camping with dogs in this region is a rewarding experience: think shimmering alpine lakes, miles of trails, and starry nights shared with your furry friend. Fortunately, most public campgrounds in California are dog-friendly, so you’ll find plenty of places to camp together .
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1 week ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec MagazineThere’s a moment in the Sierra when the light doesn’t just fade — it transforms. Long after the sun dips below the horizon, a hush falls across the granite. And then it begins: that soft blush of pink, the golden-orange whisper that climbs the peaks like a final blessing of the day. I didn’t grow up with this. Not in the Cascades, at least not that I remember. Maybe I wasn’t looking. But here in the Sierra, alpenglow found me.
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1 week ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine | Trail-Tested Stories PodcastThinking about visiting Yosemite this summer or fall? Confused by the reservation system, unsure where to stay, or want to avoid the crowds? You’re not alone—and you’re in the right place. Earlier this spring, I had the chance to drive Highway 49 through Mariposa County for the first time.
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2 weeks ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec MagazineThere’s something ancient about the sound of a fast-moving creek echoing through a canyon. It’s a sound that draws you in—pulls you toward mystery, motion, and a little bit of magic. On a warm spring morning just west of Chester, California, I found myself exploring that sound along the Deer Creek Trail off Highway 32. I expected a simple hike.
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2 weeks ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
May 20–25, 2025 | Bishop, CAIt’s that time of year again—when the rhythm of hoofbeats echoes through the Eastern Sierra and the town of Bishop throws open its doors to celebrate the legendary animals that helped build the American West.
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2 weeks ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec MagazineSome 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 reflection on the banks of Lake Almanor . In between? Beauty, heartbreak, storms, community, and a reminder that the Sierra Nevada is as complex and full of life as ever.
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3 weeks ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
My First Fishmas, a Legacy of Friendship, and the Spirit of the SierraIn Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams’s character, Mr. Keating, famously urges his students to “suck the marrow out of life.” It’s a quote borrowed from Thoreau, and in the film, it becomes a rallying cry — a call to live deliberately, to chase meaning, and to never let a day slip by without purpose. That spirit — that bold and passionate way of embracing life — came alive for me this past weekend in the Eastern Sierra.
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3 weeks ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
Another summer without the loop. What does it mean for the future of Yosemite’s most iconic backcountry experience? Yosemite National Park and Aramark have announced that the High Sierra Camps will not reopen in 2025. This marks the fifth consecutive summer the full system of camps has been closed — a once-cherished experience now caught in limbo.
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3 weeks ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
May 17, 2025 — Lake Almanor, CALooking for something reel-y exciting to do this weekend in the Sierra? Head to Lake Almanor for a splash of high-stakes action and laid-back lakeside fun as the Bass Angler Magazine (BAM) Kayak Series drops anchor for a one-day West Coast Championship Qualifier, hosted by Plumas Pines Resort, the Almanor Chamber of Commerce and Plumas County Tourism.
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3 weeks ago | 
sierrarecmagazine.com | Charlie Pankey
By Charlie Pankey, Sierra Rec MagazineThere’s a moment in every Sierra spring where you can feel the season flip—when snow starts melting fast, trailheads begin to peek through, and scenic byways open their gates to exploration. This past weekend was that moment.
