What happens when a lifelong love of the outdoors becomes the inspiration for building a business?

Virginia Peterson, founder of SWOOP, joins Charlie Pankey on Sierra Rec Now for a conversation about mountain communities, outdoor adventures in Alaska, and creating clothing that helps women stay comfortable and spend more time outside.

Virginia didn't grow up in the mountains. She discovered that passion while attending college in New Mexico, and it eventually led her into trail running, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and a life in Alaska. Along the way, she's collected stories that most of us would consider extraordinary—including encounters with bears, moose, and porcupines that are simply part of everyday outdoor life where she lives.

But SWOOP didn't begin on a mountain trail. It started during Virginia's career as an emergency-room nurse, when she decided there had to be a better solution for women spending long hours on their feet. What began with a more comfortable bra eventually grew into a women's lifestyle clothing brand influenced by her years outdoors.

In this Built Outside conversation, Charlie and Virginia explore the connection between mountain communities and entrepreneurship, the calculated risks involved in both backcountry adventures and business decisions, and why keeping women outside longer remains central to SWOOP's mission.

Discover SWOOP: https://wearswoop.com/

Explore more with Sierra Rec: https://sierrarecmagazine.com/

Until next time... Keep Exploring.

In the rugged wilderness of Alaska, Virginia Lynn Peterson discovered a profound connection to the outdoors that transformed her life and career. Join us as Virginia shares her journey from a curious trail runner to the founder of Swoop, a company that embodies her passion for outdoor adventure and community.

Virginia takes us back to her first awe-inspiring encounters with the mountains, revealing how the breathtaking landscapes of New Mexico ignited a lifelong love for outdoor pursuits. She recounts exhilarating tales of trail running, skiing, and rock climbing, highlighting the unique camaraderie found within the outdoor community. "It's not just about the sports—it's about the connections we forge and the adventures we share," she emphasizes.

You'll discover how Virginia's experiences shaped her understanding of resilience and teamwork, and how these values translate into her entrepreneurial journey. She shares insights on embracing challenges, the importance of mentorship, and how the spirit of adventure can drive innovation in business.

What happens when you combine a passion for the outdoors with a thriving entrepreneurial spirit? Virginia’s story underscores the powerful impact of nature on personal growth and success, while also shedding light on the evolving role of women in outdoor sports.

Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking inspiration from the wild, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to explore how the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness shapes lives and businesses alike, and learn why Virginia's adventure is just getting started.

What happens when a kid who has never camped, backpacked or visited Yosemite National Park steps off a bus and sees Yosemite Valley for the first time?

NatureBridge Yosemite Campus Director Corinne Dedini and Operations Manager Andrés Escalante join Sierra Rec Now host Charlie Pankey for a conversation about outdoor education, environmental science and the power of introducing young people to the outdoors.

NatureBridge brings thousands of students to Yosemite each year for immersive outdoor science and environmental education programs. Some arrive with years of family camping experience. Others have never slept outdoors, hiked in the wilderness or seen Yosemite despite growing up only hours away.

Andrés takes us inside WildLink, a collaborative wilderness program with NatureBridge, the National Park Service and Yosemite Conservancy that introduces young people to backpacking in Yosemite. For first-time backpackers, even the gear barrier is removed—students can be provided with boots, socks, clothing, sleeping bags and tents so they can simply show up and experience the wilderness.

But this conversation goes well beyond teaching kids how to backpack.

Corinne and Andrés talk about what happens when phones are put away, students begin noticing the small things around them and classmates who barely spoke at school suddenly spend a week hiking, learning and solving problems together.

We explore:

• Outdoor and environmental education in Yosemite National Park
• NatureBridge's Yosemite programs and WildLink
• First-time camping and backpacking experiences for young people
• Getting kids outdoors and away from screens
• Building confidence, courage and community through wilderness experiences
• Outdoor science, conservation and environmental stewardship
• Careers with the National Park Service, Forest Service and environmental sciences
• Why access and belonging matter in America's national parks

Andrés also shares the story of a quiet WildLink participant whose Yosemite experience eventually inspired a career with the Forest Service.

For Corinne, one of the most important lessons is helping young people cross what she calls the “courage line”—creating a place where they feel safe enough to take a risk, discover community and begin seeing themselves differently.

Sometimes the most memorable part of Yosemite isn't Half Dome or a giant waterfall. It might be seeing a squirrel, noticing a tree, putting your feet in the cold Merced River or realizing for the first time:

I belong here.

Getting kids outside doesn't require a national park, expensive outdoor gear or a big family vacation. Sometimes the best outdoor adventures for kids are hiding right in your own neighborhood.

For Deanna Ratnikova, founder of GO Deck, that realization started during the pandemic. As a single mom living in downtown San Diego, Deanna suddenly found herself balancing work, motherhood and life with a three-year-old while many of the playgrounds, group activities and community spaces around them were closed.

So they started walking.

What began as a way to simply get outside became something different when Deanna started seeing the city through her daughter's eyes. A fallen leaf could stop them in their tracks. A short walk could become an adventure. And outdoor spaces Deanna had passed without noticing suddenly became places worth exploring.

Those experiences eventually inspired GO Deck, a collection of outdoor adventure cards designed to help families discover parks, trails, waterfronts and other outdoor spaces close to home.

On this Built Outside conversation, Charlie Pankey talks with Deanna about motherhood, entrepreneurship and what it takes to build an outdoor business from an idea rooted in your own life.

They explore Deanna's background in running and cycling, becoming a single mom, finding community outdoors, creating and testing the first GO Deck prototypes, and learning how to build a business without a traditional entrepreneurial background.

But the bigger conversation is about getting kids outside.

Deanna shares why outdoor activities for families don't have to be difficult, expensive or far from home; why she includes mobility-friendly outdoor spaces in GO Deck; and how simple experiences outside have created some of her daughter's strongest childhood memories.

They also talk about something even simpler: going for a walk together. Sometimes connection doesn't require a big adventure—or even a big conversation. It can simply mean being outside, moving together and being present.

And meet Z (Zephyr), GO Deck's traveling character helping children turn everyday outdoor experiences into adventures as Z explores places around the world.

In this conversation:
• Getting kids outside in an urban environment
• Outdoor activities and adventures for families
• Motherhood, outdoor identity and entrepreneurship
• How Deanna's pandemic walks inspired GO Deck
• Running, cycling and finding community outdoors
• Building an outdoor business without a business background
• Accessible and mobility-friendly outdoor adventures
• Creating screen-free family experiences
• Building childhood memories outside
• The future of GO Deck and Z's adventures around the world

Built Outside is a Sierra Rec Now series about people whose lives outside taught them how to build something.

Learn more about Deanna Ratnikova and GO Deck at thegodeck.com.

Courtney Rosiak-Quinto set out on her first solo thru-hike, following the 174-mile Tahoe Rim Trail around Lake Tahoe through high-elevation terrain, long water carries, unexpected challenges and the Sierra landscape that has helped make South Lake Tahoe feel like home.

The Tahoe Rim Trail—or TRT—travels through California and Nevada, connecting sections near Echo Lake, Big Meadow, Kingsbury Grade, Spooner Summit, the Carson Range and Desolation Wilderness. Because the trail offers frequent access points and occasional cell service, Courtney believed it could be a practical place to attempt her first long-distance thru-hike. But accessible does not mean easy.

The journey came during a major transition in her life. After leaving the corporate world, Courtney saw the trail as more than another backpacking goal. It became an opportunity to trust her preparation, test her independence and discover whether she could solve problems when the original plan stopped working.

Courtney joins Sierra Rec host Charlie Pankey to discuss the difference between solo backpacking and solo thru-hiking, preparing physically and mentally for a long-distance trail, and the strength required to keep moving when the body is exhausted. She recounts an unexpected 25-mile day when she became so focused on reaching camp that the final four miles seemed to disappear.

She also explains why she chose not to cross Dick’s Pass near the end of the trip. After traveling from Barker Pass toward Desolation Wilderness through dry conditions, deadfall and accumulating fatigue, Courtney no longer felt safe continuing. Rather than allowing the desire to claim a completed loop to overrule her judgment, she listened to her instincts and left approximately six or seven miles for another trip.

The conversation explores:

• Planning and training for a first Tahoe Rim Trail thru-hike
• Solo backpacking and backpacking safety for women
• Water availability and dry conditions along the TRT
• The mental challenge of consecutive long-distance hiking days
• Echo Lake, Big Meadow, Barker Pass and Desolation Wilderness
• Knowing when to change a backpacking plan
• Paper maps, FarOut and backcountry navigation
• Moving from corporate life into adventure travel coaching
• Building confidence through outdoor experiences
• Giving yourself permission to pursue something difficult

Courtney Rosiak-Quinto is the founder of Wildly Becoming Collective, where she helps women plan meaningful adventures, reconnect with themselves and develop the confidence to step beyond familiar limits.

This conversation is part of What Brings You Back, a Sierra Rec series exploring the places, experiences and personal transformations that continue calling people outside.

Hosted by Charlie Pankey of Sierra Rec Magazine.

Camping with kids doesn't require the perfect RV, expensive outdoor gear or a perfectly planned family adventure. Sometimes it starts with a borrowed tent, a pair of hand-me-down boots and simply deciding to get outside.

Natalie Vereen-Davis is the creator of CampingKiddos, a family camping and outdoor travel resource helping parents explore campgrounds, state parks, national parks and road trips with their kids. She joins Sierra Rec Now host Charlie Pankey as part of the Built Outside series—conversations with people whose lives outdoors helped shape what they built—to talk about family camping, RV travel, raising adventurous kids and turning a lifelong connection to the outdoors into a growing family travel business.

Natalie's own camping story started young. She grew up traveling in her grandparents' old Grumman motorhome before eventually becoming a tent camper, pop-up camper owner and RV traveler with a family of her own.

Some of her strongest childhood memories came from a trip to California when she was six, including Yosemite National Park, Big Sur and the giant sequoias. Decades later, her son's fascination with seeing the biggest trees in the world brought Natalie back to California for a family road trip through Pinnacles National Park, Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park.

But this conversation isn't just about where to take kids camping.

Natalie and Charlie explore what children can teach adults about experiencing the outdoors, why the best family travel memories aren't always the ones parents planned, and how camping can teach kids to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

They also talk about Natalie's journey from English professor and part-time travel blogger to taking CampingKiddos full time, the realities of creating outdoor content while protecting the family experience, and why she believes families should start small instead of comparing themselves to the polished version of outdoor life they see online.

Her advice for families wanting to start camping with kids is refreshingly simple: take baby steps. Try a nearby state park. Spend a night at a campground. Let the kids help set up camp. Learn outdoor skills together. Build confidence one adventure at a time.

00:00 Childhood Camping, Sea Oats & an Old Grumman RV
02:10 Learning to Camp With Whatever You Have
06:51 Childhood Memories of Yosemite and California
10:24 How Camping Shapes Adventurous Kids
15:02 The Western Road Trip That Changed Everything
18:37 From English Professor to CampingKiddos
25:10 Making the Outdoors More Approachable for Families
33:33 What Family Camping Really Looks Like
36:14 Protecting the Family Experience as a Content Creator
40:15 How to Start Camping With Kids
44:20 Building CampingKiddos Around Community
46:16 Family-Friendly National & State Parks Worth Exploring

Learn more about Natalie Vereen-Davis and CampingKiddos at CampingKiddos.com.

Sierra Rec Now — Built Outside
Conversations with people whose lives outside taught them how to build something.

Chapters

Richard Campbell spent decades exploring the world by foot, bicycle, ski and boat before turning that life outside into 10Adventures, a global platform for guided and self-guided hiking, cycling and active travel.

Richard joins Sierra Rec host Charlie Pankey to share how summers working on his grandparents’ farm, family camping trips in the Canadian Rockies and an unexpected week in Chamonix helped shape his priorities. Rather than following a conventional career path, Richard repeatedly stepped away from work to explore the Alps, Pyrenees, Africa, Bolivia and other parts of the world.

Those experiences were not always easy. Richard was once left by a guide at 5,000 meters in Bolivia, where the group reached a junction without knowing which direction to go. On the final night, the guiding operation arranged to rob the group. Other budget trips brought food poisoning, dirty water and difficult lessons about local knowledge and trust.

But those travel disasters are only part of Richard’s story. His larger journey is about building a life around meaningful experiences—and creating a company that helps other people do the same.

Richard founded 10Adventures in 2016 as a collection of detailed hiking guides. When readers began asking for help planning trips to places such as Yosemite and the Dolomites, he recognized an opportunity to connect travelers with trusted local experts and thoughtfully planned adventures.

Richard and Charlie discuss:

• How a lifetime of travel became 10Adventures
• Choosing meaningful experiences over a conventional career path
• Why local knowledge can transform a trip
• Guided versus self-guided hiking and cycling tours
• Why travelers value freedom and flexibility
• How AI and online travel lists concentrate visitors in the same destinations
• Finding quieter places beyond the standard itineraries
• Camino de Santiago routes and the meaning of pilgrimage
• Adventure travel in Japan, Europe and South America
• Teaching children curiosity, leadership and problem-solving through travel
• Creating lasting memories with family
• The difficult reality of working as a professional guide
• Why spending a week outside can change a person’s life

For Richard, adventure travel is not simply about checking destinations off a list. It is an opportunity to reconnect with the people we love, understand other cultures and experience the physical and mental benefits of time outside.

As Richard explains, the best time to take that meaningful trip may have been yesterday—but the second-best time is right now.

Explore 10Adventures:
https://www.10adventures.com/

Browse guided and self-guid guided adventure tours:
https://www.10adventures.com/tours/

Connect with Richard Campbell:
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/richard-campbell-yyc

This conversation is part of Built Outside, a Sierra Rec series featuring people whose lives outside taught them how to build something.

Hosted by Charlie Pankey of Sierra Rec Magazine.

What if becoming better outdoors isn't about going farther—but learning to see more?

Wildlife photographer and author Larry Laverty has spent a lifetime doing exactly that. From learning to climb above Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park as a teenager to following elephants in Africa and photographing the wild buffalo of Yellowstone, Larry's adventures have shaped how he moves through wild places—and what he notices once he's there.

In this Seeing the Sierra conversation, Larry shares something every hiker, photographer and outdoor traveler can use: slow down enough to match the tempo of what you're trying to see. His years in street photography taught him that his pulse and mind needed to move at the speed of his subject. Today, even with a 600mm lens, he shoots handheld so he can move with wildlife rather than force the moment.

We also talk about how climbing and going off trail changed the way Larry sees landscapes. Learning to navigate Yosemite's vertical terrain gave him the confidence to cross rivers, travel cross-country and find photographic perspectives that aren't available from the obvious viewpoint.

But perhaps his best advice is even simpler: spend more time outside. Larry believes repeated trips don't make nature ordinary—they make us more aware. Walk the same trail tomorrow and something will be different. The light changes. Wildlife moves. Seasons shift. And the more closely we pay attention, the more there is to see.

That philosophy eventually led Larry deep into wildlife storytelling. His book Land of the Buffalo grew from decades of encounters with Yellowstone's American bison and a desire to show people there's far more happening than what we see through a car window. We talk about photographing wildlife responsibly, giving animals space, understanding that national parks are their habitat—not simply our playground—and why getting the photograph should never come before respecting the animal.

And Larry isn't finished. After books and photography projects focused on elephants and buffalo, his curiosity has turned toward an overlooked animal that helped build and still supports communities around the world: the donkey.

In this conversation:
Yosemite Mountaineering School • climbing above Tenaya Lake • learning to travel off trail • becoming a better outdoor photographer • slowing down and observing nature • photographing wildlife safely • Yellowstone National Park • American buffalo and bison • Land of the Buffalo • elephants in Africa • nature writing • Larry's next book and the story of donkeys

Seeing the Sierra explores the writers, photographers, artists and storytellers whose work can change the way we experience the mountains and the outdoors.

Because sometimes the next great outdoor experience isn't about discovering a new place.

It's about learning to see the wild that's already in front of us.

How Sawyer Became an Outdoor Essential | Founder Kurt AverySawyer Products is one of the most trusted names in backpacking water filtration—but that's not where the company started.

In the first story from Sierra Rec's Built Outside series, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Sawyer founder Kurt Avery to explore the unlikely 42-year journey behind the brand.

Kurt didn't start Sawyer because he was a lifelong backpacker trying to invent better gear. He came from the corporate world with an MBA, a passion for marketing, and an obsession with solving problems. What followed was anything but an overnight success.

Kurt shares how Sawyer lost money in 23 of its first 25 years, why he refused to sell anything he didn't believe was the best solution for the job, and how listening to customers in outdoor stores helped shape a company now known by backpackers around the world.

But the Sawyer story extends far beyond the trail.

Kurt explains how the same filtration technology carried by hikers has been used in disaster response and clean-water projects around the world, why Sawyer continues investing heavily in humanitarian work, and how those experiences have changed the way he thinks about business, products and impact.

Along the way, we talk about innovation, surrounding yourself with people who think differently, the principles that haven't changed since 1984, Sawyer's future, and the philosophy Kurt traces back to growing up on a farm:

“I can give you inexpensive, but I can't give you cheap.”

Built Outside is a Sierra Rec series about the people whose lives outside taught them how to build something—and the ideas, experiences and values behind the outdoor brands and organizations we trust.