Tahoe Backcountry Alliance | Anthony Cupaiuolo | E52

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 Crosstrek

17:00 – 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!