Podcast
Mind the Track
Hosted by @Pow_Bot and @trail_whisperer · EN
An adventure podcast about chasing powder on skis and snowboards in winter, hunting singletrack loam on mountain bikes in summer, profiling the “core lords” of the outdoors in the Lake Tahoe region and fostering the culture of mountain life through education and experience in the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin.
26episodes
Episodes
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Pinecone Cowboy | Stew McMorrow | E87
2w ago02:03:03Tap to summarizeSince 2016, more than two million acres of Northern California have been torched by devastating wildfires, leaving vast tracts of previously forested land nothing but black matchsticks. As the landscape recovers, efforts are being made to ensure forests regenerate so massive brush fields don’t take the place of trees. As staff chief for CalFire’s Wildfire Resilience Program, Stew McMorrow has more than 30 years experience climbing trees, falling trees, planting trees, funding agencies in reforestation, as well as working as a Registered Professional Forester (RPF). McMorrow is also an avid outdoorsman and mountain biker, and understands the value of balancing recreation with forestry, serving on the executive board of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. In Episode 87, we join McMorrow planting seedlings on Mount Hough near Quincy, California, heavily impacted by the Dixie Fire, then chat with him about forestry, pinecones, growing trees, reforestation and how recreation plays a role in all of it. We also talk with Michael Hall of Feather River Resource Conservation District and fellow RPF, Jason Moghaddas, about the recent controversial news around glyphosate – aka Round Up – being sprayed on public lands. 2:00 – Pow Bot forgets his mountain bike helmet on the Mt Hough shuttle.5:00 – Introducing Stew McMorrow – forester for CalFire leading reforestation efforts.8:15 – All the new amazing trails on Mount Hough including Upper Tollgate trail.13:20 – Stew McMorrow and Michael Hall describing reforestation on top of Mount Hough.21:50 – Stew McMorrow interview in the back of the Toyota Sunrader.23:20 – Stew’s upbringing, going to school and working as a sawyer on a fire crew.26:40 – Getting his Registered Professional Forester (RPF) license and working in Lake Tahoe.32:05 – Running the CalFire Wildfire Resilience Program and Reforestation program.37:35 – Climbing trees and collecting pine cones for tree seeds and replanting.43:10 – Dropping his phone out of a tree and getting attacked by bees.45:35 – What is the plight of the Pinecone Cowboy?50:50 – What would the landscape look like if a forest isn’t replanted?57:45 – Balancing the element of playing God with nature and letting nature do its thing.1:01:00 – Home hardening and creating defensible space around communities.1:04:30 – Millions of dollars in state money available for reforestation on federal land after fires.1:10:23 – The spraying of herbicides like glyphosate on public lands to control brush regrowth.1:18:39 – Michael Hall and Jason Moghaddas talk about glyphosate spraying on public lands.1:28:50 – Being on the board of Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship – forestry and recreation.1:42:20 – Talking about the rescinding of the Roadless Rule.1:50:40 – Being in the zone, what Stu calls the Quiet Room.1:53:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?
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Trail Tales and Sin Bot | E86
3w ago01:31:50Tap to summarizeSpring is in full swing and Tahoe trails are opening for business quickly. In Episode 86, as the snow vaporizes, the boys chat about a bunch of trail tales, some funny, others concerning. After an extended Rumspringa on the ebike, Pow Bot returns to the traditional “Amish” mountain bike, but will he be Sin Bot for still occasionally riding his ebike? The boys share four-wheeling stories with their in-laws, talk about new trails being built, trails north of Truckee being closed for the season and some trails in burn zones being sprayed by the Tahoe and Lassen National Forest with glyphosate, aka Roundup, known to cause cancer. Trail Whisperer asks is it dope or derp to go on a road trip when gas is $6/gallon, jokes about Breckenridge opening local trails to ebikes (only with a medical condition) and a Core Lord calls in with a rant that South Lake Tahoe doesn’t have any cool, progressive mountain bike trails. 2:40 – Everything in Tahoe is a month early – riding hero dirt and Pow Bot hanging up his snowboard.3:45 – A recap on Winter 2025-26 – Ended up at average snowfall for the season.6:15 – Pow Bot comes off the ebike Rumspringa and returns to the Amish bike community.11:20 – Early season Tahoe trail conditions – Riding the Tahoe Rim Trail and Flume Trail.12:40 – Trail Whisperer building new trail on Verdi Ridge.16:15 – Tahoe National Forest has closed trails in and around Emigrant Trail, Prosser, Boca.20:00 – Shout out to Tahoe Mountain Sports – helping TW out with a ski binding issue.20:50 – The Truckee Follies – Rated X fundraiser for Downtown Merchants Association.23:15 – Truckee Dirt Union Loam Masters Rally happening May 29-30.24:08 – Sugar Bowl is selling off all their vintage 1950s gondolas for $10k a piece.28:40 – Randy Robbins thinks snowboard beaver tail slapping is DOPE.29:45 – Parkhill has some thoughts about hallowed vs hollowed ground and gatekeeping.31:02 – Reno Tahoe tourism blowing up a sensitive hot spring on social media.33:00 – Gatekeeping – don’t blow up the spot when its firing.34:10 – Chris has a rant about public versus private property.40:30 – Jacob really enjoyed VCGP episode – big divide between motorized and non-motorized communities.44:00 – Breckenridge is finally legalizing ebikes…but you have to have a doctor’s note.45:40 – Moab allows ebikes on some trail but not all, but Jeeps and side-by-sides are all over.47:55 – Pow Bot’s story of four wheeling in Telluride in a rental Chevy Blazer with his in-laws.50:40 – Trail Whisperer’s 4x4 story of getting stuck in a Land Cruiser and spending the night in it with his ex father-in-law.58:15 – DOPE or DERP – going on a road trip when gas is $6/gallon.1:00:54 – Tahoe National Forest and Lassen National Forest spraying toxic Roundup weed killer on public lands.1:10:18 – Big Sally calls in with a trip report from Lost Cannon Loop MTB and Sonora Pass ski.1:13:20 – Chad wants to know why there aren’t more progressive MTB trails in South Lake Tahoe.1:27:20 – If you get baptized for coming back to the Amish bike, then you ride the ebike, are you a sinner?
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Mind the Braap | Virginia City Grand Prix | E85
May 401:53:12Tap to summarizeTwenty miles east of Lake Tahoe, high up in the Virginia Range at 6,500 feet elevation is one of the best preserved Old West towns in America, Virginia City. Known to locals as VC, in the 1860s, it was once the richest city in the world, home to the Comstock Lode, one of the largest silver strikes in history. In fact, the gold and silver from VC in the 1860s built all of San Francisco. Today, VC still has wooden boardwalks on C Street, ornate Victorian-era homes, two dozen saloons, a cemetery almost as large as the town itself and an Old West vibe that’s admittedly a bit touristy, but undeniably genuine. VC also has the Grand Prix, a 55-year long tradition of dirt bike racing, as wild and rugged as the town itself. Episode 85 documents this year’s Grand Prix, in the field on race day, talking with event volunteers and racers with different experience levels to really understand what this race is all about and how compares it to another legendary race on two wheels in a Gold Rush town, the Downieville Classic. 3:00 – Introducing the Virginia City Grand Prix.9:05 – Larry Sussman – getting peer pressured into racing dirt bikes.10:40 – How does the Downieville Classic differ from the VCGP?12:30 – What’s more intense, the chaos of a mountain bike race or a moto race?14:20 – Thomas Lay – growing up in Virginia City, getting into dirt bikes and organizing the event.16:50 – How long has the Virginia City Grand Prix been happening?19:00 – How many people race in the VCGP and where do they come from?23:00 – Who owns the land the event is on?27:30 – How long is the race and how are people staged at the start line?30:20 – Talking with Darcy about course design.31:20 – What’s the hardest part of this year’s course?32:55 – Moving from Truckee to Virginia City and becoming a Nevadan.34:40 – What got Darcy into riding dirt bikes?38:30 – What’s the secret to surviving the VCGP?39:31 – Talking with the local legend Josh Wilson about the moto community.44:30 – Talking with Ryan Downing about the racer who passed away on course.46:10 – What’s the secret to surviving VCGP?48:04 – How does mountain biking compare to dirt biking?49:30 – How do they stage racers at the start?52:00 – Catching up with Pow Bot and talking about the start of the race.56:10 – Reporting from Chaos Hill on course in the middle of the race.1:01:00 – Would Trail Whisperer ever do the VCGP?1:03:30 – Seth Johnson goes from last to 9th place, passing 400 racers.1:05:15 – Missing the race by a month on Seth’s first attempt.1:08:50 – Catching up with Thomas after Day 1.1:13:30 – Beginner riders biting off more than can chew attempting the VCGP.1:17:40 – How did the electric dirt bikes – a Stark Varg – do in the race?1:20:45 – Running into Tobin Ortenblad after the race.1:22:15 – How was the race course and how does it compare to bicycle racing?1:25:55 – What was the start of the race like?1:28:50 – Garmin stats: 20,000 feet of climbing!1:30:00 – How do the Downieville Classic and VCGP compare and differ?1:36:00 – Is there anything the bike community can learn from the moto community?1:44:20 – Is Tobin doing the Lost and Found Gravel Festival?
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On Hallowed Ground | E84
Apr 2301:41:27Tap to summarizeWith five feet of new snow on the Sierra Crest in April, Tahoe is finally getting the snow we should have gotten in March. As a result, the boys are back to skiing, with a couple days at the resort and a backcountry mission to the Eastern Sierra for the annual Green Creek Chute-Out. The boys talk about the concept of hallowed ground – places with spiritual significance and importance, and how social media has led the charge in exploiting these places, resulting in “hollowed ground”. The concept of gatekeeping is also discussed, and asking, is gatekeeping actually a bad thing when you are trying to protect hallowed ground from abuse of the masses?Other topics include new ebikes launched at Sea Otter, lift line DOPE or DERPs, is AI music a plague that should be resisted, upcoming events to check out, discovering the original ice cream man song has racist affilations, and CALL US BACK, GORDO! 2:30 – Winter isn’t over yet – recapping a busy late season Palisades pow day11:25 – DOPE or DERP – The Rogue Single in the lift line16:20 – DOPE or DERP – Smacking your snowboard off the ground to remove snow18:08 – Pow Bot went wing foiling and Trail Whisperer got some hero dirt19:28 – Skiing the east side of the Sierra Nevada – Green Creek Chute-Out29:20 – The concept of hallowed ground and respecting special places35:45 – The Jackson Hole Air Force – the first JH skiers to ski out of bounds39:00 – White Man Hallowed Ground vs Native American Hallowed Ground42:40 – Gatekeeping and protecting Hallowed Ground44:50 – Hallowed Ground vs Hollowed Ground49:20 – Downhill Phil calls in – POP-CORN was the phone number, prefers the original theme52:44 – Colin says AI music is DERP. AI is a plague54:15 – Seeing the band DEVO in RENO – the importance of the band and their art1:02:50 – Discovering that the original Ice Cream Man song is super racist1:05:45 – Call back GORDO!1:08:40 – Amery wrote in about Russell, the Canadian snow Yoda, and his funny words1:11:45 – Clark wrote in about the reintroduction of grizzly bears1:16:55 – Lots of new ebikes introduced at Sea Otter Classic1:24:00 – The value of ebikes in making you a better rider in less time1:30:00 – Upcoming trail work days in the Reno/Tahoe area1:32:30 – Going to the Virginia City Grand Prix1:36:05 – May 15-17 – Spring Epic Trail Work/Ride in Quincy
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A Dog’s Breakfast | E83
Apr 201:45:04Tap to summarizeAfter two weeks of bi-polar weather in Canada chasing pow and getting rained on, aka a “dog’s breakfast”, the boys recount the trip to Ice Creek Lodge and the wisdom gained from the jedi master of snow, Russell Hulbert. Meanwhile, back home in the Sierra, a dismal March left zero inches of snow on Donner Summit, the first time in recorded history, capping off a Winter to forget. Moving on to Spring things, the boys chat about a variety of topics including DOPE or DERPs on 32” mountain bike wheels, uphill or downhill traffic having the right of way on trails and reintroducing grizzly bears into the Sierra Nevada. Other topics include introducing a new AI-generated Mind the Track theme song, Trail Whisperer almost getting maced by a hiker while logging out a trail with his chainsaw, Lost Sierra trail conditions updates, a class-action anti-trust lawsuit against Vail Resorts and Alterra and has social media ruined April Fools Day?2:10 – New intro song for Mind the Track created by AI. Maybe AI is good for something.4:30 – Recapping a wild Canada ski hut trip to Ice Creek Lodge.8:00 – Watching avalanches come down all around the crew at Ice Creek Lodge.9:00 – Russell Hulbert, owner of Ice Creek Lodge, is a jedi of snow. The snow Yoda.13:50 – Learning everything you’d ever want to know about avalanche beacons – Mammut Barryvox versus the BCA Tracker 4.17:50 – Is all the risk, variables and dangers of pow skiing worth it? Should we just ski corn only?21:50 – Shout out to the crew of Ice Creek – Benny, Brodie and Hannah.25:05 – Jerry of the Day awards from the trip.28:14 – Skiing Kicking Horse in Golden, BC and attending the “State of the Snowpack”.35:25 – March closes out with zero inches of snow on Donner Summit all month – the first time in recorded history.38:20 – Has social media ruined April Fools?40:45 – A few LOST and FOUND stories – leave it where you found it.43:10 – Anti-trust lawsuit against Alterra and Vail Resorts regarding a duopoly and inflating the price of day pass tickets.49:50 – Update on the Downieville mountain biker getting lost. It’s way dumber than expected.52:20 - DOPE or DERP from Stu – 32” wheels on a mountain biker.54:30 – DOPE or DERP/RANT from Lee – Uphill traffic has the right of way.1:02:45 – TW almost gets bear sprayed by a hiker while cutting out a log with a chainsaw.1:04:55 – DOPE or DERP – reintroduction of grizzly bears into California.1:12:55 – Update on the Ruby Mountains ski resort near Lamoille Canyon.1:16:35 – Listener feedback about the Frog Lake avalanche accident.1:18:40 – The Durand Glacier accident in 2003 changed guiding in Canada.1:23:50 – Spring corn skiing missions to Shasta and Lassen.1:25:55 – Calling 311 to complain about the Ice Cream Man1:28:30 – Trail Whisperer’s story about being a cold calling headhunter machine. 1:35:15 – Lost Sierra trail conditions update – Mount Hough completely open!1:39:10 – Weather forecasters calling for Godzilla El Nino!
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Looking Inward | E82
Mar 601:35:19Tap to summarizeOn February 17, nine backcountry skiers were taken by an avalanche at Frog Lake, in the Northern Sierra Nevada near Truckee, California. Since then, the sense of loss and confusion over what happened has been overwhelming. This accident has impacted everyone in the Truckee and Lake Tahoe community on some level. Because of pending investigations, there are so many unanswered questions that will remain unanswered for a long time.As the community struggles to understand, people around the world continue to die in avalanches, including our friend, Stratton Matteson, who was taken by an avalanche in British Columbia a week after the Frog Lake accident. A gut punch made worse by finding out only minutes after we recorded the recap of our trip to Frog Lake. A trip to Frog Lake ending only 48 hours before the accident. Losing Stratton as we recorded made us realize it was too early to share. We needed more time to look inward and reflect.This episode is our second attempt, focused on the realizations we’ve had in the 18 days since the incident, and what we can all personally do to honor the lives lost, as well as move forward with compassion and a commitment to being safe and making smart decisions every time we step into the backcountry.We send our deepest sympathies to everyone involved in this tragic accident, and we encourage you to consider making a contribution to Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue. We also urge you to not forget the names of those lost: Carrie Atkin, Lizabeth Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, Katherine Vitt, Nicole Choo, Andrew Alissandratos, Michael Henry. 2:10 – 75 percent of this winter’s snow came from 2 storms.8:00 – Reflecting on the moments leading up to the avalanche near Frog Lake on February 17.9:00 – Being pulled into the media frenzy in the hours after the avalanche.10:20 – Why we decided to speak up to the media about the avalanche.11:30 – The major red flag: the snowfall forecast.15:35 – Trail Whisperer issues an apology to families of the victims regarding our story in the New York Times.18:50 – The 8 Cs of dealing with a community tragedy.22:30 – The culture of judgement of avalanche accidents in the U.S.27:00 – Tom’s sobering realization skiing on the Tuesday of the avalanche.32:15 – It’s ok to not travel on high avalanche danger days.35:00 – Pow Bot shares his revelations from soul searching after the accident.37:20 – The Normalization of Deviance42:45 – Reviewing the Sierra Avalanche Center report of the avalanche below Perry’s Peak.49:45 – Reviewing the human factor in avalanches from Bruce Tremper’s book, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain.53:50 – Accountability – know what you’re stepping out into, even if you are with a guide, and don’t be afraid to speak up.55:40 – Planning around safety and implementing processes to eliminate group think.59:50 – Knowing your team, their specialties and how you can leverage them.1:02:20 – “Stick with the plan” versus “sick with the plan” and establishing the leader.1:04:35 – The importance of the debrief at the end of the day.1:06:10 – Matteo – East Coast Matt – calls in on the COR LORD hotline.1:08:20 – DOPE OR DERP – East coast backcountry skiing.1:09:30 – The importance of hiring a guide to help you learn the backcountry.1:12:00 – The assumption of risk and respecting people’s differing levels of risk.1:13:50 – The boys get fired up for their trip to Ice Creek Lodge in British Columbia, Canada.1:18:00 – Honoring the life of Stratton Matteson – a legend taken way too early.1:22:50 – The funny story of Pow Bot’s incident command rescuing a family member.
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Return to Winter | Sky Tavern | E81
Feb 1701:38:44Tap to summarizeAmidst a sudden return to winter with 5 to 8 feet of new snow after a 5 week dry spell, on this two-part episode, in the first half the boys cover the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics, seeing a Lake Tahoe Knight Monsters hockey game and field some listener calls on the COR LORD hotline. With big avalanches a near certainty, Pow Bot advises people to be smart during this stormy period, give the snowpack time to heal and abide the F.A.C.E.T.S. snow safety acronym. The second half is a discussion with Christopher Brown and Rick Reed of Sky Tavern, talking about the history of the largest and longest-running community non-profit ski program in America, why the operation recently implemented a no uphill access policy and some exciting news coming for the 2026 mountain bike season. 2:50 – PB drives to Santa Barbara for a surf/mountain bike trip, TW goes to Santa Cruz.5:50 – Hasn’t snowed in a month but a huge storm is incoming.7:30 – Skiing on dirt across the American West – one of the worst winters ever on record.9:30 – Recording at Sky Tavern – discussing uphill policy – no uphill ski access currently.11:30 – Going to see the Lake Tahoe Knight Monsters in South Lake Tahoe.13:50 – Going roller skating in Santa Cruz.15:00 – The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Milano Cortina.16:12 – Ryan Wedding – Parallel Giant Slalom Olympian who turns Mexican drug cartel kingpin.19:40 – Breezy Johnson got checkers in the downhill and Lindsey Vonn went wreckers.20:40 – Czech Republic is now known as Czechia.21:15 – Nordic skier wins bronze in Nordic skiing then confesses to cheating on his girlfriend.22:00 – Weinergate – Olympic long jumpers injecting their dongs with fluid for more surface area.24:30 – Downhill Phil is angry about the ICE CREAM MAN!26:40 – Boyerman calls in with a report about wolves, localism, volunteering and the Olympics.29:00 – Localism and giving back to the community – a true requirement of a local.29:50 – Confirmed report of a gray wolf spotted in Truckee.32:20 – Gordo talks about localism and people who brag about how local they are.35:50 – Gordo calls in again – buy Indy Pass or buy the Mt Rose Double Down pass.39:25 – On a Musical Note – PB recommends songwriter Josh Ritter and Royal City Band.41:15 – PSA – 17 people have died in avalanches in Europe this season. Slow down and be careful during this next incoming storm cycle.45:05 – Human factors with avalanches, abide the acronym FACETS – Familiarity, Acceptance, Commitment, Expert Halo, Tracks, Social Proof.50:00 – Chatting with Christopher “Toph” Brown and Rick Reed about Sky Tavern.50:45 – Toph grew up skiing Brian Head ski resort in Utah.53:50 – New man-made snowmaking systems implemented in the last year.55:45 – Sky Tavern Learn to Ski and Ride Program – longest running youth ski program in the country.58:55 – Working to get more people involved, reduce costs for members and offer more programs.59:30 – Is there a season pass that adults can purchase to ski at Sky Tavern?1:06:35 – Why there is currently no uphill ski access allowed at Sky Tavern.1:16:45 – Operational season at Sky Tavern is mid-December to mid-March.1:18:25 – Is there avalanche terrain at Sky Tavern?1:23:50 – What’s coming up for the summer mountain bike program at Sky Tavern.
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How to Set Up a Splitboard | E80
Feb 600:47:10Tap to summarizeIn this how-to episode, the Professori of the Pow, Mr. Dr. Pow Bot teaches Trail Whisperer how to set up his new Jones splitboard. Never having snowboarded in the backcountry before, Trail Whisperer learns a lot about proper body positioning, stance, and the finer details of making sure your split board is dialed. So if you’re new to the backcountry and wondering if your split board is set up correctly, this episode is 100 percent for you! We will return next week with our somewhat-regularly scheduled programming, but in the meantime, enjoy this tutorial on proper split board setup. AND PRAY FOR SOME DAMN SNOW!!
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Ridged for Your Displeasure | E79
Jan 2601:41:33Tap to summarizeAs a dirty high pressure ridge sits over the West, sending all the cold and snow to the east coast, the boys recount the past month and how it feels like an entire ski season has transpired. A grab bag of topics is covered this week including a Downieville mountain biker somehow getting lost on an out-and-back, the dying dream of the ski bum and instead take up wind sports in Florida, I-80 from San Francisco to Nevada ranking as the 8th most deadly highway in America and the ski patrol strike in Telluride ending with a whimper. Pow Bot asks, how long do you have to live somewhere to be considered a local? Core lords call in with some finders keepers stories and aggro locals in the lift line. A few DOPE or DERPs including drop bars on mountain bikes, Leadville 100, driving to the trailhead in ski boots, waxing your split board in one piece and poaching backcountry freshies at Sky Tavern. Also, Pow Bot pays tribute to the passing of Bobby Weir with the story of his very first Grateful Dead show at 16 years old. 3:00 – The last 25 days feels like the entirety of a full winter ski season, base build, pow, corn, melting and thinking about bikes again.5:30 – Colorado off to its worst winter snowpack in recorded history. Crazy dry across the American West.7:30 – Lack of Colorado River runoff could be devastating to the Southwest. Lake Powell and Lake Mead could go below minimum power pool, aka dead pool.11:45 – Mountain biker in Downieville gets lost riding and has to get helicopter rescued by CHP.13:00 – Pow Bot gets lost on an epic mountain bike ride in Montana.15:30 – Search and Rescue is getting overwhelmed by ill-prepared people who get lost.17:25 – Pow Bot’s Florida Man adventure – don’t move to an expensive ski town, move to an affordable place like Florida and get into wind sports.22:00 – The ski bum dream is dying, and season ski passes have become DERP.24:25 – Sugar Bowl mid-mountain lodge catches on fire.25:35 – Telluride ski patrol strike is over and patrollers did not get what they wanted.29:05 – Interstate 80 from San Francisco to Nevada is 8th most deadly highway in America.31:30 – Forest Service in Lake Tahoe legalizes 110-miles of non-motorized trail for Class 1 ebikes.32:50 – Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead passes. Tom tells his first Grateful Dead show story.45:45 – Core Lord Call-ins – Lee recommends Bridger Watches – Tom recommends OutMap.50:22 – More Finders Keepers in the backcountry.54:30 – Aggro local yelling at people in the lift line at Heavenly.57:00 – How long do you have to live in a place before you are considered a local?1:02:15 – Fritz comments on Sugar Bowl.1:06:20 – DOPE OR DERP – a packable backcountry rescue sled the size of a camping hammock.1:12:20 – DOPE OR DERP – waxing your split board in one piece.1:19:15 – DOPE OR DERP – driving to the trailhead in ski boots or snowboard boots.1:23:40 – DOPE OR DERP – poaching backcountry freshies at Sky Tavern.1:28:30 – DOPE OR DERP – drop bars on mountain bikes.1:36:30 – Making sure your feet are dialed in your ski boots on big hut trips.1:38:00 – How to set up a split board special mini-episode coming next week.
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Spinning Yarns with Sugar Bowl CEO Bridget Legnavsky | E78
Jan 1202:00:18Tap to summarizeIn today’s world of the mega pass like Epic and Ikon, small independent ski resorts are struggling to survive. But one of the oldest ski resorts in America – in one of the snowiest places on Earth – is thriving. Founded in 1939 by Hannes Schroll and funded by Walt Disney, Sugar Bowl Resort on Donner Summit has welcomed both families and hardcore skiers for generations, offering a friendly, laid back vibe and expert terrain. In Episode 78, we spin yarns with Sugar Bowl CEO, Bridget Legnavsky – a CEO who absolutely shreds on skis – discussing a recent $100 million investment, helping “The Bowl” stay competitive against Epic and Ikon resorts while honoring its blend of European and American traditions. We also chat about why Bridget thinks Sugar Bowl is one of the most unique resorts in the world, the differences between her home country of New Zealand and America, the future sustainability of skiing, why Lake Tahoe isn’t more of an international ski destination, and if Summit Chair will spin more than 3 days this year. 2:30 – Recording from Sugar Bowl Resort.4:30 – Last episode, zero snow. This episode, 10+ feet of snow. Instant winter.7:00 – Dangerous snow conditions – lots of avalanches. Inspecting a slide at Latopie Lake near Sonora Pass with Bridgeport Avalanche Center.11:30 – Fatal snowmobile-triggered avalanche on Castle Peak. Reel the program back.14:25 – Ski Patrol fatality at Mammoth Mountain during the post-Christmas storm.15:20 – Telluride ski patrol went on strike and are still on strike.17:30 – Interviewing Bridget Legnavsky, CEO of Sugar Bowl Resort.19:50 – If you’re a snowmobiler – get educated. Understand the risks of the backcountry.21:40 – New amenities at Sugar Bowl – new deck, locker room, restaurant and Ratskeller area.25:13 – What are some of Bridget’s favorite Kiwi slang words?26:05 – What words do New Zealanders use to describe snow conditions?27:30 – Sugar Bowl community is heavily into performing music.29:20 – Bridget’s first winter was the winter of 2022-23, one of the biggest in Sierra history.30:45 – Working as a ski instructor in Japan, Europe, Breckenridge and Aspen, Colorado.33:50 – What makes Sugar Bowl unique in the ski industry?35:30 – How did Bridget find Sugar Bowl?37:30 – The unique structure of Sugar Bowl – owned by homeowners.43:30 – Replacing the village gondola – a $50 million project. 48:30 – Misconceptions about mountain operations and ski patrol.54:04 – The rising operational cost of running a ski resort.58:20 – Are the Vail Epic Pass and Alterra Ikon Pass the biggest threats to the future of Sugar Bowl?1:05:45 – What’s the difference between Kiwis and Aussies?1:07:45 – How has the family adapted to American life?1:09:00 – Are there things Americans can take from New Zealand culture and vice versa?1:12:30 – Are you a shoveler or a packer?1:14:30 – What is the vision for the future of Sugar Bowl?1:19:00 – Listener questions: What’s up with Summit chair lift?1:21:20 – What is Sugar Bowl doing to keep skiing affordable for families?1:23:30 – Paying more for a season pass but getting a lesser experience.1:25:40 – Why is Lake Tahoe not an international destination ski market? 1:32:00 – Ease of access to skiing in the Tahoe region is second to none.1:35:15 – Where do you see Sugar Bowl in 20 years?1:39:40 – Dope or Derp Sugar Bowl report card.1:48:30 – Why has the season pass purchase turned into a March thing instead of fall?1:50:40 – Does Sugar Bowl have plans to expand mountain bike trails in the summer?1:54:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?
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