Dirt Magic Trails Report - November 14th, 2025 Preciptiation has been warm, so no snow...yet. Look out for trees and debris on trails. Yuba is now in their winter schedule with some epic shuttle days ahead. Could be last chance for the upper Downieville & Mills Peak trails. Dirt Magic-The Podcast, Hosted by Martin Scheel

Dirt Magic Trails Report - November 7th, 2025 Continued hero dirt and excellent trail conditions. Look out for trees and debris on trails. Yuba is now in in their winter schedule. Could be last chance for the higher elevation trails. Dirt Magic-The Podcast, Hosted by Martin Scheel

Dirt Magic - S3E4 - Stories of the SBTS - Dain Zaffke On this episode of Dirt Magic we explore the story of long time friend of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, Dain Zaffke. In the two decades that Dain has been part of the SBTS family, we’ve seen him wear many hats from racer to bike industry executive to a founding father of Grinduro. Dain’s life and his identity have clearly been shaped by the inspiring landscape of the Lost Sierra. He met his future wife at an SBTS event, got hi...

On this episode of Dirt Magic we join the Orogenesis Collective and their mission to boldly go where no mountain bike trail has gone before. We will explore the vision of “a new way on old ground,” born from Bike Packing Roots and dreamed about over pints in small mountain towns. A vibrant community of people growing their relationship with backcountry landscapes, each other, and themselves along an uninterrupted ribbon of singletrack trails that bridge borders throughout the western ranges o...

On this episode of Dirt Magic we delve into the world of ladies in cycling. From recreational rolling to world class competition, we will explore the successes and challenges that young girls to seasoned pros must navigate from everyday riding to standing on the podium. Our guests today collectively are a multiple time Olympian, world cup cyclocross champions, gravel champions, mountain bike champions, barrier breakers, a former Bike Magazine editor-in-chief, a World Class events director, a ...

On this episode of Dirt Magic we take a virtual stroll through a historic recreation area, the Lakes Basin, located in the Plumas National Forest of Northern California. With over 20 small lakes, impressive peaks, 30+ miles of trails, waterfalls, picturesque campgrounds and historic lodges, the Lakes Basin Recreation Area is a crown jewel in the Plumas National Forest. And now it is ever more important to talk about keeping these epic trails open for all of us to enjoy. Joining me on this epi...

On this episode of Dirt Magic, we invite the SBTS pro trail crew in for a casual conversation about digging in the dirt, high flying river jumps and exploding trees, yep, exploding trees. The SBTS pro trail crew creates the most public interface of the stewardship and is literally where the dollars meet the dirt. Since the birth of the stewardship, the pro trail crew has built over 215 miles of brand new trail, maintained over 2,700 miles of trail and helped manage over 9,300 volunteers...

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 &a...

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 r...

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. Dirt Magic-Th...

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 wi...

Today’s guests are what you may call OG’s of the SBTS. Collectively they have nearly 80 years of experience with the stewardship in one form or another. Over 100 years if you bring in guiding in the Lost Sierra, Yuba Expeditions and the Downievile Classic. From side gigs like working on and sailing America’s Cup boats, kicking butt in Downhill Junior National Championships, announcing & interviewing an LPGA winner live on ESPN(without knowing it), to running the day to day operations of w...

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 SBT...

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 littl...

Carl Decker began his cycling career out climbing seasoned mountain bike racers on his modified 3 speed BMX bike. He wasn’t even a teenager yet. With a family instilled love of cycling, little did he know, an exceptional career was being born. From there, the list of accolades grew exponentially. He even has a world land driveway speed record. Eventually the lure of Downieville would infect his blood and kick off a viral need to be crowned the All Mountain World Champion. The cure for this pr...

Nathan Lloyd started his path to Downieville fame in the saddle of a BMX bike at the age of four. As both his skill and age increased, a local bike shop gave him a nudge to try out mountain bike racing and that nudge set in motion events that would land him at the top of the DVC podium. On his journey to a feat that only he has accomplished at the Downieville Classic, he took some time to become a bunny hop champion and even challenged a world record. Today he continues to be a fo...

The Fishes hail from a land of steady habits, nutmeg and Mark Twain. And although punk rock may have fired their engines early on, it would soon give way to their steady habit of mountain biking. That newfound love brought them out west searching for the epic land of trails and mountainous beauty aka, The Lost Sierra. As they settled into their new promised land, a new mission arose. A mission of resurrecting a steward of the trails and thus began their journey into a world of trail bui...

Kelli Emmett began her rise to Downieville stardom smoking cigarettes, drinking self made cider, spinning thousands of caramel apples and getting kicked out of gym class. With a short stint purveying exquisite mixologies in the land of Kokomo, you’re welcome for that song stuck in your head now, she returned for a December mountain bike ride in the warmth of a Michigan winter, and that propelled her toward her true calling, as Bike Mag once penned, "the accidental racer," to becoming a ...

Steve Fong has been getting dirty in Downieville for more than a decade. Wherever and whenever there was trail work to be done or an event needing volunteers, you will find him. He hails from strange lands on the east coast and from where if you don’t like spicy food, you’re likely to starve. He loves a good conversation, and maybe a constructive argument, even more. His modus operandi for travel is his bicycle, he’s a detective novelist and the urban jungle is his daily playground. This, is ...

Paul Price started his pursuit of perfection in junior high. He made quality, handmade products for a fringe crowd. You know, skaters. His skateboards were masterfully hand crafted from oak, right out of his parents’ garage. You know the type of kid I’m speaking of. The one spawned from an artist and engineer. The one always taking things apart. Well, just a few decades later, his passion for art and engineering continues through his company, Paul Component Engineering. He i...