Mind the Track

On 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 Deviance
42:45 – 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.

Amidst 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.

In 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!!

As 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.

In 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?