On this episode of Dirt Magic we will be discussing forest stewardship and how looking to the past may help protect the future of our forested public lands.

Our guests today have a combined dossier of experience that would rival any renowned institution of learning.

Together they are a visionary that collected the right ingredients to create a 20 plus year trail stewardship organization, a self-funded professional mountain bike adventurer who for over 25 years has dabbled in forestry & fire to pay for his bikes and parts, and a registered professional forester with decades of experience in resource management, fire ecology, environmental policy and still had time to author more than 20 scientific papers. You might call this group the “Dream Team” of our forested public lands.

Introducing SBTS executive director Greg Williams, firefighter and registered professional forester Stew McMorrow and Co-director of the Natural Hazards Team and Operations Manager at Spatial Informatics Group Jason Moghaddas.

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Our show today features a panel discussion from the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force regional meeting in South Lake Tahoe. The meeting was attended by 800 in-person and virtual guests.

SBTS’ Michelle Abramson was a featured speaker on the Focus on Recreation panel, discussing how SBTS is promoting recreation and rural economic stimulation through our Connected Communities project.

She also addressed the challenges with the post-wildfire recovery process, from restoring the trails to restoring communities, and how trails can bring back an economic resource in small communities, as well as future protection and resilience through the SBTS Fire Hardened Trails Prescription Program.

You will also hear from Stew McMorrow, with Cal Fire and SBTS executive board member, about Fire Hardened Trails. And stay tuned for an upcoming episode as Stew joins SBTS Executive Director Greg Williams, taking a deeper dive into how the SBTS is working on our Fire Hardened Trail Prescription Program.

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This Episode focuses on the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship's mission to produce world class events. A brief history of how it all began, where we’ve been and where we are going. We will also discuss an upcoming event in Quincy, CA and a grand purple homecoming in 2025. Our guests today consist of a seasoned event producer, manager, director and a rookie that has made his way to big leagues. Introducing SBTS executive director Greg Williams and SBTS events director Kyle Stone.

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Our guests today could be labeled as prospectors of Dirt Magic. From digging deep into virtual trails to digging dirt on the trails and exploring a bit deeper to search for that ever elusive vein of gold. Maybe not gold in its traditional sense, but just as valuable nonetheless. They have a plan. It could even be called a master plan. And after a long day of prospecting and planning, these two good people of the SBTS take the time to educate folks on how to survive an encounter with quick sand. Yep, quick sand.

I would like to introduce SBTS Director of Grant Management , Michelle Abramson & SBTS Charitable Giving Coordinator Gina Achilles.

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Garen Becker hails from a town where you used to be able to attend college naked, which brings a whole new meaning to Banana Slugs. He is making a name for himself as theTrail Bear Whisperer, not to be confused with the cocaine bear. And while he prefers veterinarians and trail side medics for his many suture procedures, he still isn’t afraid to shred the Downieville Trail system on two wheels. Calling him a partner or sponsor would be a disservice, as his DNA bleeds Downieville and SBTS, both literally and figuratively. He attempted a side career in cart racing, but quickly found out that mixing it up with your host was not a good track decision. All kidding aside, Garen is a super rad dude and family member of the DVC and SBTS. This, is Garen’s Classic story.

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Paul Hart started rolling dirt back on a midwestern farm and quickly found a passion for building trails. His trail travels took him to the land of the alligator, the Florida everglades, the high desert mecca of Sedona AZ and finally to his destination, the Tahoe National Forest and Downieville CA. With his backyard, playground and office all located in the outdoor epicness of the Lost Sierra, never a day goes by where he isn’t building, maintaining or riding the trails. Paul also has a little side hustle of iron manning the Baja 1,000 on a motorized steed, that’s right, Iron Man…..cue Ozzy! This, is Paul’s Classic Story.

Episode Art Photo Credit: Patrick Cavendar

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