Chris McNamara

El Capitan addicted Big Wall Climber, Ex-Wingsuit BASE jumper,  author of 10 books and co-founder of SuperTopo, OutdoorGearLab, TechGearLab, Ski Run Presents:, American Safe Climbing Assn, Sierra Camino, Longest Table

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Honored to be a part of the Dirt Magic podcast:

Dirt Magic

Telling the story of Dirt Magic, the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship’s mission to help build sustainable recreation-based communities throug

Greg Williams and the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship are not only building a key gap of the Sierra Camino section of the Orogenesis Trail, but they are also writing the playbook on how to connect communities with singletrack.

These guys have done so much, inspired so many, and yet it feels like the biggest wins are ahead.

Give a listen and message if you want to help us scout and make the trail even better!

Support your local trail organization. They do so much, often with so little.

Listen on:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZtGJAXKK0H5XLO5XJmh8U?si

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../dirt-magic/id1676704670...

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Finding Lost Trails: The Basics — OROGENESIS | A new way on old ground.

Lost trails, ghost trails, historic trails—whatever you call them, these relics of the golden age of trail building are an intriguing treasu

“First, Lose No Trail.”

The deeper I dive into trails, the clearer it becomes: as crucial as new trail construction is, my top priority is saving the old ones. Here’s the truth: permitting, studying, and building a brand-new trail can be up to 1,000 times more costly and time-consuming than simply finding an overgrown path and saving it from fading into obscurity.

In medicine, there’s a saying: “First, do no harm.” Maybe we need something similar in trail building—“First, lose no trail.” With that spirit, I’ve been working with Gabriel Amadeus, Executive Director of the Orogenesis Collective Trail, on a series that dives into the why and how of saving trails that are slipping away.

Our first chapter is live: Finding Lost Trails: The Basics.

Share it with anyone who loves old trails—or anyone ready to see their “trail-building power” multiplied a thousand times over by saving paths we’re already lucky to have. New chapters are coming, and I’d love your input on drafts! If you’re interested, DM me, and let’s connect on this mission. My main focus is finding a route for the Sierra Camino from Susanville to Lone Pine, but I'm happy to brainstorm how to inventory and save trails anywhere!

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The Lost Cannon Loop above Walker is one of the cooler backcountry loops you have probably never heard of. The terrain between 7000 and 9000 feet is stunning. This is a key part of the Sierra Camino Trail and Orogenesis Trail. See the loop on Trailforks. #singletrack #mtb #bikepacking #trails

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The first annual Sierra Camino Migration is complete! We used the “most singletracky” stretch of the eventual 550-mile Sierra Camino. This trail takes inspiration from the Camino de Santiago and El Camino Sierra (original name of hwy 395). The word Camino means path, trail, and way. The finished @sierra_camino will connect people with the land and the small towns the length of The Sierra.

This trail is also a key part of the much larger Orogenesis Trail, a 5000 mile multi-use trail that will eventually connect Cabo to Canada.

Our nearly 200-mile segment connected Donner Summit to Walker. We stayed in a motel one night, our homes another and then set up a fun group camp each night. You could ride the whole thing, just a few sections, or even just drop in for the camping party!

Tor and Ron rode the entire route over five days. Bad weather was forecasted for day one: but they decided to ride through the cold heavy rains anyway. On day two, the weather improved and more people joined in. Each day the riding crew and camping party expanded to include more friends- Bruce, Amy, Lisa, Marina, Sarah, Pablo, Ben, Max, and Jeff. And the support party expanded to include Carina, Colleen, Timmy, Cody, Joshua, Hilary, Penny, Leila, Mila, and Wilder.

Taking advantage of the recent rains and hero dirt, most people loved the sections of trail they had not been on before, whether it was the scenic Donner Lake Rim Trail or the challenging Charity Valley.

Everyone commented that group camping was one of the best parts. In addition, it’s fun to roll into towns along the way with a big crew and sit down for a meal. It turns out that good friends in epic locations with a shared exciting project is still among the best recipes.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s event, where we plan to extend the route and get even closer to our ultimate dream of having a group of riders and supporters migrate the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range from Susanville to Lone Pine over two weeks.

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Ep. 45 - Chris McNamara - Outdoor Gear Lab | Tahoe TAP

The highlight of today's show will be our in-depth interview with Lake Tahoe's Local Legend, Chris McNamara. "Chris Mac" is a name synonymou

Psyched to talk about local dreams, Ski Run, big trails, and raising a family in Tahoe on the Tahoe Tap Podcast

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“It’s Halloween on the Summer Solstice with your best friends.”

The Longest Table started as an effort to create the longest dinner table out there. While that is still a goal, it has become even better: a night when much of South Tahoe sits together on Ski Run Blvd, looking fabulous and hilarious.

But there is more; not only do we raise money for a local non-profit, but we shine a spotlight on their work. This year, we raised $20,000 for FEET Fund, which helps ensure South Tahoe students have access to overnight field trips. These trips are standards-based and are also some of the experiences you remember decades later. 

We supported this crucial program for a year, but ongoing support is needed. Learn more at  feetfund.org.

Also, a big shout out to a local favorite (and a personal favorite) band, Mescalito, which crushed it. And the dream team that put this together: Darcie Collins, Katy Jo Caringer and Tor McNamara

Mark your calendars for June 17 next year. We will make the table a little longer to eventually invite everyone in our community to sit down for one night for dinner and celebrate.

Photo gallery at  - longestdinnertabletahoe.com/gallery

Photos by Pablo Durana and Katy Jo Caringer

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Mind the Track Podcast and Charity Valley Ride

Very excited to be on the Mind The Track Podcast.

>> Listen on Apple Podcasts >> Carson Pass to Markleeville on Charity Valley Trail >> Lost Cannon Trail to Mill Creek Loop

I talk with @trail_whisperer and @powbot about connecting people through trails, revitalizing small towns, and having heaps of fun in the process.

Mind the Track combines local Tahoe news and commentary with a guest list stacked with low-key badasses (Core Lords). It also transcends the Tahoe area and just celebrates living in the mountains. In-person interviews only.

Before we recorded, we rode Carson Pass to Markleeville via the Charity Valley Trail, which is a key part of the Sierra Camino section of the Orogenesis Trail. Charity Valley is raw. It takes you from the most vibrant Alpine environment to an almost equally vibrant fire recovery zone with thick ferns growing out of dirt that can’t decide if it wants to be sand or charcoal. It ends in Grover Hot Springs and a short pedal takes you to Markleeville and Cutthroat and/or Stonefly. These spots are excellent on a normal day but superlative after a four-hour adventure ride.

We then took the Mind the Track studio up to Monitor Pass and settled in for a quick BushwhackNamara scout. From the looks on Kurt and Tom’s faces, I almost took the exploring too far before we retreated back to the beer-stocked cooler and trailer-fired pizza.

The next morning, after recording the podcast, we headed out to my favorite loop in the Eastern Sierra - Lost Canon into Mill Creek. Another raw Trail that combines more different scenery in 14 miles than seems possible. It goes from the high desert into lush Aspen groves and into what I think of Walkers Cold Creek Trail. A magical weekend of riding wild terrain to small towns and dreaming up how to build this key section of a 5000-mile trail from Cabo to Canada… and have a lot of fun in the process.

PS: if you live in Alpine County and love trails, Alpine County Trails would love to have you as a member/volunteer.

#alpinetrails #alpinecounty #orogenesis #trails

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Join us June 4 in Tahoe for Connected Communities

>> Free Tickets HERE

I couldn't be more pumped about the June 4th Connected Communities presentation with Greg Williams for at least three reasons: This marks the 10th anniversary of Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association collaboration on Corral. That marked a major step in TAMBA's progression with the Forest Service to build an amazing singletrack.

Ben Fish and Amy Kadelski Fish and TAMBA will be there to commemorate that significant anniversary.

Connected Communities is set to create a staggering 600 miles of singletrack, linking 15 towns together. Yes, you read that right- 600 miles of interconnected trails are a testament to our commitment to community development and trail stewardship. But that's not all. The impact of Connected Communities extends far beyond its own impressive scope. It has served as a catalyst, inspiring and shaping numerous Other Projects. From the Orogenesis Collective's ambitious 5000-mile trail from Cabo to Canada to the Sierra Camino's 550-mile section that connects Lone Pine to Susanville and the Towns to Trails Plan that links towns along 395-all, these initiatives bear the mark of Connected Communities. Please join us and spread the word!

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Free Electric Bikes are a Thing. Maybe. I just wrote an article on GearLab arguing that if you factor in the costs of a car and you replace your car miles with an electric bike, buying is essentially free. Well sorta. You can read more in my story Free Electric Bike? Why a $1500 eBike is Practically Free - One of my goals in life is to get more people on bikes. Why? There are a lot of reasons, but mainly it just makes it a lot more fun to get around. And it is a great for of "accidental exercise."

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Comment on the Lake Tahoe Trails Plan

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Bucket-list trip from Cairns to Cape York, The northernmost point in Australia.

Highlights:

DEEP water crossings, crocs (from a distance), rain forest one minute, wide open sun-baked zones with 10-20 foot ant sand castles (gotta be the ant capital of the world), 2nd most venomous snake in the world, shenanigans, the ultimate mobile 4WD camp support with the biggest camp griddle I’ve ever seen, more shenanigans, a little too much dirt road on day 3, bottomless cooler of beer and rum/cola mixes (aka Sweeties). Bonfires, REMOTE pubs, eating green ants, sketchiest car bridge and moto bridge I’ve seen, carrying bikes across rivers with sticks, maching through sand in the middle of the bush and along the ocean. Red dust that made me tan briefly, and I’ll be cleaning for a month: hidden waterfalls and swimming holes. The spectacular finish on a white sand beach (with a croc), then whisked away in a helicopter. Many thanks to Wade, Jeff and Great Northern Motorbike Adventures adventures for the most dialed support possible and the whole crew. Legends, all of ya.

The trip's inspiration was to ride bikes with Andrew Chino (who got me into dirt biking a decade ago) and his friends in a location few Australians visit.

But I had another motivation. While working mainly on the The Sierra Camino section of Orogenesis Collective, the first day hiking and MTB trail the length of the Sierra; I’ve been dreaming up a Moto alternative mostly east of 395 from Susanville to Lone Pine that will include a bunch of the terrain from Connected Communities. I am now confident Sierra Camino Moto will be one of the all-time bucket list 4—7 day moto rides. Hit me up for the rough draft now and if you want to be in on creating it. Thank you Viktoria McNamara for holding it down at home - next adventure will be with the whole family.

more photos and videos

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Friday at GearLab - more details here

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One night only in South Lake Tahoe! Get all the details here

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Sierra Camino Fall 2023 Update

Check out the Sierra Camino Fall Update #sierracamino

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In the 1997 rock climbing film Masters of Stone IV, Dan Osman scrambles, sans ropes, 400 feet up the sheer cliff face of Lover’s Leap in jus

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Well that was a party to remember. Thank you everyone who came out to celebrate our awesome Tahoe Community on Ski Run. Most Tahoe locals come for the lake and mountains but make this a home because of the incredible people. That was on full display as 80 table connected 480 people over two blocks. 

We raised over 10K for Yea Camps, a program of Gateway Mountain center serve under-resourced youth through outdoor adventure and healing from the inside out through inspiring outdoor experiences Incredible music by Bread and Butter, Timmy O was in Fine form on the Mic as our MC and big donations from Desolation Hotel to make this one of the best Ski Run events yet. 

Congrats to the best table winners, Alice in Wonderland. They raised the bar and many people have already pledged to raise their game for next year - 

A big thanks to my Partners in Dine… darcie, torlow and the Katy who poured in hundreds of hours. 

The energy was on Ski Run. Let’s keep it coming. Message me if you want more info on how easy it is to host events on the street and close up to 8 blocks!

Mark your calendars for Summer Solstice 2024 by following @longesttable and messaging that account to be on the email list.

#longesttable #laketahoe @longesttable

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Teaching our kids the importance of…Ramen

Story here

Al Fresco Dining - Edible Reno-Tahoe

Big-wall climber Chris McNamara prefers eating on summits. When it comes to food, Chris McNamara is what he likes to call “an opportunivore.