Nevada is full of secrets — and none of them are on the Strip.
In this episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast, host Charlie Pankey talks with explorer, photographer, and author Sydney Martinez, whose new book Finding Nevada Wild uncovers the true heart of the Silver State.
For nearly 20 years, Sydney has roamed Nevada’s vast open spaces — chasing dark skies at Massacre Rim, soaking in remote hot springs, hiking the Ruby Crest Trail, and documenting the Basque and Buckaroo culture that still shapes the region today. Her new book, published by Schiffer, captures the state’s wild beauty through 300 photographs and stories that challenge every misconception about Nevada being just “Vegas and desert.”
Charlie and Sydney dig into what makes this place so unforgettable — from quiet desert nights and star-filled skies to indigenous and Basque histories, and why Nevada’s freedom and solitude are unmatched anywhere in the West.
If you love exploring the Sierra, Great Basin, or high desert, this conversation will remind you why adventure often starts just beyond the familiar.
In this episode:
Discovering the real Nevada — beyond the city lights
Exploring Massacre Rim, one of the darkest skies in the world
How to find hot springs (without GPS coordinates)
Backpacking solitude on the Ruby Crest Trail
Experiencing Basque and Buckaroo culture in Elko and Gardnerville
The mysteries of Devil’s Hole and Ash Meadows
Why silence and solitude still matter in wild places
📖 Finding Nevada Wild: The Terrain, Culture, and People of the Most Mysterious State in the West
By Sydney Martinez | Schiffer Publishing, 2025
🔗 Learn more: FindingNevadaWild.com
🎙️ The Sierra Rec Now Podcast celebrates the people, places, and passions that define life in the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin.
Hosted by Charlie Pankey — publisher, explorer, and storyteller behind Sierra Rec Magazine.
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