Fire, Ice and the Avalanche of 2026: Castle Peak and Basin Peak, CA
This episode explores the Sierra crest — a landscape built by volcanic fire, shaped by glacial ice, and transformed every winter by storms that remake the terrain. We look closely at Castle Peak and Basin Peak, two volcanic summits whose geology explains the bowls, couloirs, and wind‑loaded faces that define the area today.
We follow the wildlife that moves through this terrain in summer and retreats when winter arrives. We visit Peter Grubb Hut, a small backcountry refuge built in memory and carried forward by generations of winter travelers. And we trace the history of the transcontinental…
The skinny
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