20 Years of Adventure, Community, and Giving Back: The Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series
For the past 20 years, the Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series has been one of the most meaningful community traditions in North Lake Tahoe.
As a longtime supporter, sponsor, attendee, and photographer, I've had the privilege of watching the series grow from its early years into one of the premier outdoor storytelling events in the country. Since first attending around 2005, I've seen firsthand how these evenings inspire people not only to pursue adventure, but also to invest in the community that makes those adventures possible.
The 20th annual season concluded with a fitting finale featuring local climbing legend Dave Nettle and the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association (TCCSEA).
Dave's presentation offered a unique "then and now" perspective on his climbing life, comparing adventures from 2005 and 2025. While the objectives, gear, and circumstances may have changed, one thing remained constant: his passion for the mountains and the experiences they provide.
His message was simple and powerful:
Follow the path that excites your heart all the way to the end.
It's a message that resonated deeply with me.
Nearly 25 years ago, I moved to Tahoe chasing a dream. I came here for college, but I was also pursuing something bigger—a lifestyle built around snowboarding, mountains, community, and personal growth. What began as a pursuit of adventure eventually became a pursuit of family, purpose, stewardship, and building a meaningful life in the place I love.
Dave's presentation served as a reminder that while our goals and priorities evolve over time, the things that matter most often remain the same.
A Community That Shows Up
While the storytelling was inspiring, the true highlight of the evening was once again the generosity of our community.
Together, attendees, sponsors, donors, and supporters helped raise more than $130,000 for Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association.
The evening generated:
$12,037 through the event bar and raffle
$8,000 through a matching donation from the Tahoe Fund
$10,000 through the online giveaway
More than $120,000 through the annual Donor Party
The event also welcomed:
600 in-person attendees
375 online registrations
7,516 online giveaway tickets purchased or earned
More than 1,000 direct participants overall
The result was more than $130,000 raised to support youth programs, outdoor education, community access, and the future of cross-country skiing in North Lake Tahoe.
The Power of the Donor Party
A major driver of the Speaker Series' impact is the annual Donor Party, which has become one of the most effective community fundraising efforts in the Tahoe-Truckee region.
This year's Donor Party raised more than $520,000, with approximately $120,000 directly benefiting TCCSEA. Combined with fundraising efforts throughout the season, the 20th annual Winter Speaker Series generated more than $800,000 for local causes—the most successful fundraising season in the 20-year history of the series.
Those numbers are remarkable, but they only tell part of the story.
The real success of the Speaker Series is its ability to bring people together. It reminds us that adventure is about more than personal achievement. It's about community, connection, stewardship, and creating opportunities for future generations to experience the same mountains, trails, rivers, and wild places that have shaped so many of our lives.
Supporting Organizations That Strengthen Our Community
One of the things that makes the Winter Speaker Series so special is that the impact extends far beyond a single evening of storytelling.
The nonprofit beneficiaries for the 2025-26 season included:
Truckee Dirt Union
Truckee Roundhouse
Lake Tahoe Waterman Association
Headwaters Science Institute
Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association
While each organization serves the community in a unique way, they share a common mission: expanding access.
From creating and maintaining world-class mountain biking trails, to increasing access to science education, arts, technology, and skilled trades programs, to providing adaptive paddling opportunities, youth development programs, and year-round outdoor recreation, these organizations help ensure that more people can experience the benefits of living, learning, and recreating in the Tahoe Basin.
Accessibility is the common thread that ties them all together.
These programs create opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to connect with the outdoors, learn new skills, build confidence, and become active members of the community. For many participants, those experiences can be truly life-changing.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the Winter Speaker Series is the opportunity to meet the passionate individuals behind these organizations, learn about their work firsthand, and see the direct impact community support can have throughout the region.
Missed a Show?
One of the best things about the Winter Speaker Series is that the inspiration doesn't end when the evening is over.
If you missed a presentation—or simply want to revisit some of the incredible stories, lessons, and adventures shared over the years—you can watch and re-watch many of the Speaker Series presentations on Alpenglow Sports' YouTube channel:
Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series YouTube Channel
Whether you're looking for inspiration for your next adventure, insights from world-class athletes and explorers, or simply a reminder of what makes the Tahoe community so special, it's a fantastic resource and worth exploring.
Keeping the Momentum Going
Our 20th season was our best yet, and none of it would have been possible without the incredible support of our community. Every attendee, donor, sponsor, volunteer, raffle participant, and online supporter helped make this historic season possible.
The challenge now is keeping that momentum going.
One of the most impactful ways to support the future of the Winter Speaker Series and the organizations it benefits is through the annual Donor Party. By joining a dedicated group of local families and supporters, donors help provide the foundation that allows the series to continue growing its impact year after year.
No commitment is too small. Every contribution helps build momentum, expand community impact, and move us closer to our fundraising goals.
While the Alpenglow team is an optimistic bunch, they believe they are always just one commitment away from reaching the next level of impact.
If you'd like to learn more about the Donor Party or support future community initiatives throughout the Tahoe-Truckee region, please consider contributing here:
Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation Donor Party Fund
Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, spoke, sponsored, purchased raffle tickets, participated in the online giveaway, or supported the series in any way.
The Winter Speaker Series has become much more than an event. It is a celebration of adventure, community, generosity, and the outdoor lifestyle that makes Tahoe such a special place to call home.
Here's to another 20 years of storytelling, inspiration, community, and giving back.
See you next winter.
