Episode 6: Getting There: Sustainable Winter Access for All 

Release date: June 4, 2026 

Winter recreation offers incredible opportunities for connection, adventure, and stewardship, but getting to the snow isn’t equally accessible for everyone.

In Trail Break Radio, Episode 6, a panel of advocates and community leaders explore what it really means to create sustainable winter access for all. While conversations about access often start with practical barriers like parking, transportation, gear, and trailhead infrastructure, this discussion quickly reveals a deeper reality: access is also about information, mentorship, belonging, and representation.

For many people, experiencing public lands in winter isn’t as simple as showing up. The cost of equipment, lack of transportation, unfamiliarity with winter conditions, language barriers, and limited access to outdoor education can all stand in the way. For Tribal communities and communities of color, those barriers are often compounded by historical exclusion and the absence of culturally relevant pathways into winter recreation.

Throughout the conversation, panelists share examples of creative solutions being developed across the West. From library programs that allow families to borrow snow park passes and winter gear, to community mentorship programs, multilingual recreation materials, and SnowSchool, the discussion highlights how access can be expanded through partnerships, innovation, and relationship-building.

Speakers:

• Cal’ Smith, Director of Winter Programming, Climbers of Color
• Megan Fiske, California Stewardship Director, Winter Wildlands Alliance
• Will Russack, Board of Directors, Cascade Backcountry Alliance 
• Anthony Cupaiuolo, Executive Director Tahoe Backcountry Alliance
• Moderator: Kerry McClay, WWA National Snowschool Program Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance
  

These panelists emphasize that increasing access is not simply about getting more people outside. Meaningful experiences on public lands help build lasting connections to place. Those connections often become the foundation for stewardship, advocacy, and conservation.

Tune in to Trail Break Radio as we dive into who gets access to winter wildlands, and what stands in the way? How do we remove barriers to winter recreation while creating the next generation of people who will care for and protect public lands?