Mind the Track

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 Crosstrek17:00 – 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!

In the wake of a Thanksgiving bomb cyclone that walloped Northern California with rain and snow, the boys celebrate reaching 50 episodes with superfan #1, Scott Kessler. In addition to recapping their personal favorite episodes and the most listened to ones, the three amigos chat about chasing pow in Mammoth and Lakes Basin, telemark skiing versus splitboarding versus pow surfing, Scott’s days as a chain installer on Interstate 80 and building his business, Truckee Overhead Door, his European mountain bike vacations and opening up about the loss of his first wife, Kathy Kessler, in the 2002 British Columbia avalanche that also took the life of Craig Kelly and five others. Also, are the BOA lacing system, fat bikes and Cody Townsend’s 50+ project Dope or Derp?2:45 – December 1 is the first day of meteorological winter.3:30 – Recording once again in the Truckee Overhead Door facility in Hirschdale with Scott Kessler. 4:40 – The packers versus the shovelers – who will win winter this year?6:30 – Recapping the first 50 episodes and suggesting some of our favorites. 8:00 – Core lord callout at the gas station in Sierraville and the old days of telemark racing.9:30 – What new sport should Trail Whisperer pick up, splitboarding or telemarking?16:00 – Recapping the series of bomb cyclone storms just before Thanksgiving. 19:00 – PowBot chases the pow down to Mammoth Mountain and meets Zak Mills.21:30 – Scott bought his first van when he had a chaining permit, chaining up cars on Interstate 80 during the winter. 29:00 – Starting Truckee Overhead Door, a garage door company in Truckee/Lake Tahoe. 34:00 – Dope or Derp? BOA. Cody Townsend’s 50+ project. Fat Biking.55:15 – Reviewing the first 50 episodes. Most popular and our personal favorites. Todd Woodward, Daron Rahlves, Episode 1, Emily Kachorek, 10 Shredmandents, Chris McNamara, Harrison Biehl, Eric Blehm, Duncan Meyers, Alenka Vrecek, Nate Greenberg, Nick Bliss, Avalanches and the Frog Lake Huts, Marco Osborne, Make Downieville Gold Again, Christina Thayer. 1:21:20 – Scott’s European mountain biking adventures in Italy and Switzerland the Alps and the Pyrenees. Aosta Valley Freeride – one of the best guiding companies, Massimo, Blake and Anna.1:34:30 – Scott opens up about the loss of his first wife, Kathy Kessler in 2002, after being involved in the British Columbia avalanche that also took the life of Craig Kelly and five others. 1:46:30 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

As daylight hours wane, leaves fall from trees, dustings of snow grace the ridges and winter jackets emerge from closets, the boys catch up on the coming ski season while recapping what’s been a warm but dry fall for riding. Are Pit Vipers, Crocs and skiing in jeans with an Ikon Pass dope or derp, what (if any) magazines do you still subscribe to in print, are ebikes really more “green” than traditional bikes and are Amish people really starting to purchase ebikes? Trail Whisperer reminisces on the early days of mountain biking in Colorado, the Fat Tire Journal TV show and Big Head Todd while Pow Bot talks about his new Sprinter van acquisition and skiing the White Ribbon of Death at Mount Rose.3:50 – Big Head Todd and the Monsters and their ties to mountain biking – Fat Tire Journal. Trail Whisperer saw Big Head Todd at Crystal Bay Club last week.10:10 – PowBot was emcee at Truckee Dirt Union year-end party at Alibi Brewery then another movie night at Schussboom Brewery.11:30 – PowBot purchased a Sprinter van. Traded in his Tacoma with a 4 Wheel Camper pop-up. Jamie Campbell of Catapult AV built the van.18:30 – Trail Whisperer working on Verdi Ridge trail project with Johnson Trails. Shout out to Corey and Brian.21:45 – Mind the Track approaching 50 episodes and 1,000 Instagram followers.24:30 – DOPE OR DERP – Roadside attractions, Donner Ski Ranch, skiing in jeans, Pit Vipers, Crocs, “locals drive Teslas too”, hair clip tendrils while skiing, IKON Pass.48:30 – What’s in your mailbox? What magazines/newspapers you still subscribe to in print?57:30 – A fly fisherman crashed his helicopter into the East Carson River and two hikers on Mt. Whitney had to be rescued with 150 pounds of gear after only hiking 2.7 miles.1:01:40 – Listener shout outs – 2NBENN – ebikes being more “green” than Amish bikes. Bruce in Stateline – Amish people are riding ebikes.1:08:40 – Gordo calls into the COR LORD hotline – ebikes and NorCal people vs SoCal people.1:14:00 – SnoopPowDogg does the weather on the Today show and an Atmospheric River is on the way to NorCal.1:21:00 – PowBot snowboards Mount Rose early season and the White Ribbon of Death.

To most of America, October 31 is synonymous with Halloween, but in Nevada, it signifies statehood and one of the greatest parades ever. Nevada became a state on October 31, 1864, at the height of the Civil War, hence its status as the “Battleborn State”. On this Nevada Day, we sit down with the authoritative expert on all things Nevada, @sydneymmartinez . For more than a decade, Sydney and her husband have explored every square mile of Nevada, using her writing and photography skills to document a vibrant and ecologically diverse state most mistake as nothing but desert. Her website, findingnevadawild.com, is loaded with history and interesting stories, all about Nevada. She’s also a rock hound, and has started her own jewelry business called Song Dog Silver. This episode covers a lot of topics including ghost towns, hot springs, geology, the Clampers, cowboy poetry, Mark Twain, UFOs and Bob Lazar. 2:00 – Happy Nevada Day! October 31.4:15 – October, 31 1864 – Nevada became a state.6:00 – Nevada Day Parade is the last Saturday of October.11:15 – Sound bites from Carson City locals: “What does Nevada Day mean to you?”18:40 – Introducing Sydney Martinez – A resident expert on Nevada.22:15 – Who is Bob Lazar? Area 51 – Reverse Engineering alien spacecraft25:00 – Timber Caldera – super volcano inside Area 51.24:35 – Pow Bot’s UFO sighting in Nevada after seeing the Grateful Dead.30:00 – Rock hounding turned into Song Dog Silver – Sydney’s jewelry brand. Coyotes and Nevada are universally misunderstood.35:00 – Exploring interior Nevada in a pickup truck. Hotel accommodations in rural Nevada like Hotel Nevada, Mizpah Hotel.38:30 – Goldfield, about 20 minutes south of Tonopah. It was one of the biggest gold booms in the west, and it was once Nevada’s biggest town. Vanishing Point the movie featured the Goldfield Hotel. Nevada is one of the biggest gold producers in the world.  47:00 – Highway 50 and Highway 93 are favorite roads with Great Basin National Park, Ward Charcoal Ovens, Pioche and more.49:30 – Sydney worked for a decade at Travel Nevada, and became a location expert, helping film crews and photographers find cool parts of the state to film.51:20 – What are the three most frequented places Sydney returns to? Central Nevada – Toiyabe Range, Toquima Range and Monitor Valley. Northwest Nevada – Denio – and Jarbidge.57:15 – Sydney’s adventures exploring all the hot springs in Nevada and the steam geysers that remain.1:02:20 – The etiquette of visiting and using hot springs and the brain eating amoeba.1:07:30 – What kinds of things do you pack in your truck going out into the middle of nowhere?1:10:45 – Lucky Boy Pass road from Hawthorne to Bridgeport, Walker River, Barron Hilton and Steve Fossett.1:14:00 – Mark Twain, Roughing It and Virginia City.1:19:30 – All about the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV.1:28:30 – Nevada Day Parade –1:31:30 – All about E Clampus Vitus – ECV.1:37:00 – The feud over the state of Nevada, Nevada City and Nevada County, California.

As fall colors hit their peak in the Sierra Nevada, the guys chat about a variety of topics, highlighted by sharing some new must-ride trail beta on Buzzards Roost Ridge and Mill Canyon/Lost Cannon loop, news of the Forest Service not hiring seasonal employees in 2025 and what it means for the public, the ups and downs of Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) with traffic, congestion and a lack of emergency evacuation planning in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the announcement of Homewood Resort not opening this winter after TRPA called out mega-billionaires trying to privatize the resort and a mountain bike pilot program on Mount Tam being squashed by eco zealots. Listeners also call into the 888 COR LORD hotline with some observational rants, the guys share their opinion of what a “core lord” actually is and the boys introduce a new segment on the show – Dope or Derp?  2:50 – Can you say “Indian Summer” to describe warm and calm fall conditions? Bumper crop of pine nuts in the Toiyabe this fall.6:40 – Clearing Marysville Canyon trail, a feeder trail up to the Toiyabe Crest Trail.10:00 – “Forest Bathing” – nothing beats being in an aspen grove in fall colors.12:00 – Conway Summit on 395 is the Los Angeles/Bay Area tourist border line.14:30 – Driving to Lundy Lake and hiking up to the May Lundy Mine.15:45 – Driving over Lucky Boy Pass from Hawthorne, NV to Bridgeport, CA.17:30 – Riding the resurrected Buzzards Roost Ridge trail near Quincy.22:00 – Riding the 14-mile Lost Cannon-Mill Canyon trail loop near Walker, CA, part of the Orogenesis and Sierra Camino trail route.25:30 – The summer of close call fires in Reno/Tahoe. Mill Fire, Bear Fire, Davis Fire, Quilici Fire.30:50 – US Forest Service will not be hiring any season employees for 2025, except fire personnel. This will have huge impacts on campgrounds, trails and all avalanche centers.35:00 – US public lands are an international draw for tourists around the world and our public lands are woefully underfunded.37:00 – Playing some calls from the COR LORD hotline. Wing foiling, ebike rant, sharing more detail when describing locations of trails and backcountry skiing lines.1:02:30 – Marin County debacle. Pilot mountain bike trail program on Mount Tam was about to go live when a group of eco zealots sued to suspend the program.1:08:00 – Lake Tahoe is the third oldest freshwater lake in the world. 2.5 million years old. Hurricane Helene dropped an equivalent of all the water in Lake Tahoe on the Southeast.1:12:00 – Tahoe Regional Planning Agency – TRPA – accused of perpetuating negative impacts from recreation when they are tasked with minimizing negative impacts. The construction of the East Shore trail and the impacts from increased tourism.1:15:00 – East Shore trail from Incline Village to Sand Harbor has become overrun with tourists.1:18:00 – There is no emergency evacuation plan from the Tahoe Basin in the event of a wildfire. How do you evacuate millions of tourists from the Tahoe Basin in an emergency?1:23:30 – The other side of TRPA – Homewood Resort announced they are not operating winter of 2024-25 because of a conflict between public and private access to the resort.1:32:00 – COR LORD CALL-IN questions: What is the definition of a Core Lord? If you had a suffer a natural disaster loss, would you rather lose everything in a fire or flood?1:38:30 – A new segment for Mind the Track – Dope or Derp? Oakley goggle glasses. Skinning up a ski resort for exercise. A ski resort in Ruby Mountains near Elko.1:52:00 – A closing comment about Artificial Intelligence – AI.  

Recorded at 7,250 feet elevation atop Mount Hough near Quincy, California, in Episode 46 the boys talk to Emily Kachorek about her first summer as a fire lookout for the Plumas National Forest. Sitting in the three-story tower for 10 hours a day, 10 days in a row, Emily talks about spending time alone and the inspiration for creativity that comes from solitude. She also talks about her background in biology and conservation and her new gig spotting fires. Prior to being a lookout, Emily raced bikes professionally, was a co-founder of Squid Bikes and her love of cycling, art and creativity blended with a punk rock vibe fostered the vibrant cyclocross scene in Sacramento, along with some of the raddest paint jobs ever rattle-canned onto a bicycle. The boys also do a few listener shout outs and answer questions related to encountering bears on the trail and whether or not you should listen to music while riding.3:00 – Recording from Mountains to Meadows at Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy.6:10 – Recording up on Mount Hough with Emily Kachorek as a fire lookout.7:10 – What are the biggest solo adventures Trail Whisperer and PowBot have ever done?10:10 – The importance of solitude and being introverted.11:10 – Listener shout outs. How do you handle a close bear encounter? Is it socially acceptable to listen to music with earbuds while riding?26:00 – Fires going off all around Tahoe over the last few weeks – Davis Fire, Bear Fire, Verdi Fire.28:30 – Emily Kachorek interview in the Mount Hough fire lookout at 7,250 feet elevation.31:50 – How did Emily end up becoming a fire lookout?37:30 – Mount Hough lookout – a three-story lookout with control room level, kitchen level, lookout level, complete with an Osborne Fire Finder41:03 – Living in a metal box on top of a mountain during a lightning storm and standing on the lightning stool.44:30 – Sunsets in the fire tower are much like sunsets on the ocean, you’re watching it set over the horizon. The pod was recorded on the cardinal sunset day, September 21.48:00 – Emily’s youth growing up in San Diego and finding bikes in Davis during college.53:10 – Emily’s daily routine as a fire lookout – 8 hour day, 10 days on, 4 days off.1:00:30 – What do you do when you see smoke in the forest?1:08:45 – The history of fire lookout towers in the United States, the Lost Sierra is known as “the land of the lookouts”.1:12:15 – Emily’s introduction to cycling while attending UC Davis as an undergrad studying Environmental Biology and Management, then later a Graduate degree from Sacramento State in Conservation Biology, then spent a summer in Guyana in the Amazon studying conservation and native populations.1:18:00 – Started racing road bikes right after grad school, then got a contract to race professionally, and was on the national team racing in Europe.1:23:30 – Transitioning from road racing to racing cyclocross, and fostering a culture of bikes in Sacramento with GHETO and Squid Bikes.1:29:50 – Tom sees a shooting star, and the angled glass panels of the Mount Hough tower.1:33:00 – Emily’s creativity and artistry channeled through the birth of Squid Bikes.1:41:00 – Trail Whisperer’s experience with spray painting his own Falconer bike using Spray.Bike paint.1:46:30 – Painting bikes as a blank canvas and a creative outlet, and finding a new outlet after leaving Squid, working on print making and carving.1:49:10 – The Southern Arizona landscape in Patagonia, Arizona and its inspiration for Emily’s art and the process for creativity through working at it every day.1:58:00 – Hiking the Arizona Trail and stewarding for the Arizona Trail Association.2:04:30 – Is Emily going to be a fire lookout again next year?2:08:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

Despite a hot, dry and smoky September, Trail Whisperer and Pow Bot reunite after a month off to compare living in Colorado against Lake Tahoe and how much better we have it in the Sierra Nevada than in the Rockies. Not only weather and snowpack-wise, but also fewer people, less busy trailheads, more affordable cost of living and a wider range of recreational options. The boys also talk about the new sport of wing foiling, running the Rim to Reno trail, e-biking the Rubicon Trail, remembering Mammoth weatherman Howard Sheckter, getting fired up for the inaugural Mountains to Meadows trail festival in Quincy, CA and experiencing a rare snowfall in August in the Sierra. On the topic of snowfall, what indicators are you seeing right now that tells you a big – or not so big – winter is coming to Tahoe? Call 888 COR LORD, leave us a voicemail and let us know! 3:30 – Rock Shox Flight Attendant – mountain bike suspension powered by AI5:00 – All about wing foiling and foil boards.12:20 - @misterbennetts – foiling in the Molokai Challenge in Hawaii.19:30 – Trail Whisperer is a little down on mountain biking right now. Hot, dry and dusty.21:45 – It snowed in Lake Tahoe in August.25:45 – Trail Whisperer and Swan John went for a trail run on Rim to Reno trail in Mount Rose Wilderness.30:20 – Remembering Howard Sheckter – The Dweeb Report – Mammoth Weather page – Mammoth’s legendary weatherman and ski addict.34:35 – What is a haboob?36:20 – Riding e-bikes on the Rubicon Trail for a Tahoe Quarterly story.43:00 – The history of Rubicon Trail, Rubicon Springs and the trail’s status as a county road.48:45 – Pow Bot’s Ice Creek Lodge barrel of sewage story.53:30 – Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is having their inaugural Mountains to Meadows trail festival at Plumas County Fairgrounds – Sept 19-22. Buy a trail building pass for Friday or Saturday for $50 and get a full weekend festival pass. Quincymountainstomeadows.com for more info.1:00:20 – September 28 – Buzzards Roost Ridge trail day – resurrecting a historic trail.1:05:00 – Call 888 COR LORD and tell us what you’re seeing to indicate a big winter coming!1:07:00 – Comparing living in Colorado to living in Lake Tahoe. Pros and cons of both.1:27:45 – Breckenridge, Colorado is anti e-bike, the complete opposite of Lake Tahoe. The benefits of allowing pedal assist electric mountain bikes on trails.1:36:45 – Tahoe season ski passes, Ikon Pass gains access for passholders to Sierra-at-Tahoe.

In Episode 44, the second and final installment of coverage from the Breck Epic six-day mountain bike stage race in Breckenridge, Colorado, Trail Whisperer and Adam Mahomed document a week of suffering, random shenanigans and high elevation hypoxia. They also document the trajectory of their good friend James Adamson, who ended up finishing second overall in the Men’s 40+ category as well as second in the Enduro category. James’ big day was Stage 5 on Wheeler, the most feared day because of its grueling hike-a-bike up to 12,500 feet, then a technical and treacherous descent all the way back to Breckenridge. James was down 20 minutes on the leader, and in that one stage, he reeled back 17 minutes, going out of his own body, unleashing a performance that astonished everyone. Everyone seemingly, except himself. This episode is randomness mixed with purpose, insight and inspiration. And suffering. A lot of suffering.

In Episode 43, Trail Whisperer is on assignment in Breckenridge, Colorado with a special edition of Mind the Track covering the Breck Epic, a six-day mountain bike stage race featuring some of the most amazing high alpine singletrack in North America. But unfortunately, for the first time, the pod is without Pow Bot this week. Avid listener and an old friend of Kurt’s who’s been coming to Breckenridge for 25 years, Adam Mahomed co-hosts this Breck Epic course preview episode where they chat about what to expect over the six days, suffering at high elevation, preparing for unpredictable weather, and getting some inside knowledge on the six stages from local resident James Adamson, who used to be a Tahoe core lord back in the day before moving to Breck in 2018.