Former Patagonia CEO lists 40

News News | Aug 6, 2023

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Set on 40 acres of pristine mountain wilderness, just 400 yards from Juniper Creek lies a tranquil cabin built by former Patagonia CEO, Dave Olsen and his wife, author Diana Dillaway. “Camp Juniper,” located at 19901 La Mirada Rd in Truckee, Calif., is now available for $2.3 million.

Olsen and Dillaway purchased the property in 1992 shortly before the Reno Patagonia Service Center first opened. According to Olsen, Patagonia’s quest to build an ecologically sustainable business comes directly from reverence for, and enjoyment of, the wild outdoors.

“Although as CEO I focused on eliminating toxins and waste, minimizing emissions and powering the company with renewable energy, the inspiration for everyone in the company comes from time spent hiking, climbing, fishing, skiing, mountain biking—all of which are immediately available outside the door of this mountain cabin and unique protected acreage,” Olsen said.

For the first 16 years of ownership, the Olsen-Dillaway family camped, hiked and skied on the property prior to building their cabin in 2008, a testament to the tranquil wilderness setting that the property affords.

“This is truly a unique mountain opportunity that is perfect for those looking for privacy, a peaceful setting, and the ability to recreate from the back door,” said listing agent Dave Westall of Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty.

Camp Juniper is about one mile from the Tahoe Rim Trail and one mile from the Mt. Rose Wilderness just across the California-Nevada border. Though the property is just 13 miles from downtown Truckee and 37 miles from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, it feels utterly remote.

“In 30 years of hiking that wilderness, I have come across another person only on one occasion—but I have often encountered bears, deer, bobcats and martens,” said Olsen.

In the summer there’s easy access to stunning hiking trails that lead to Murphy Meadows and the Tahoe Rim Trail, and in the winter months, you can backcountry ski tour from the house to the north-facing aspects of Martis Peak.

Aspen and alder trees lining the creek create a wide riparian area that attracts many species of birds and large and small mammals. Trout are sometimes visible in pools up and down the creek. Abundant wildflowers can be found throughout the property including several species of lupin, penstemon, giant hyssop, mountain pennyroyal and more.

The forest itself is among the most diverse in the entire Tahoe Basin, with red and white fir; Jeffrey pine, sugar pine and tamarack pine; cedar, aspen, alder and ancient Sierra Juniper which anchor the entire drainage from Rifle Peak above Lake Tahoe down to the Truckee River.

As for the home, Olsen said they wanted a simple and easy-to-maintain cabin, with decks and a covered lanai where they could sit and watch birds and wildlife in all weather conditions.

The cabin is approximately 2,000 square feet with three bedrooms, two baths, a loft area, and a large bonus room that could be used as a family room, music studio, fourth bedroom or artist studio. Additionally, there’s a covered porch overlooking the wilderness and a large back deck perfect for entertaining. The property also features a detached two-car garage and a greenhouse.

The cabin was built using sustainable practices with energy efficiency in mind. The Olsens utilized Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS): nine inches of foam insulation between three-quarter-inch plywood sheets for the walls, and 14 inches of foam insulation between plywood panels for the roof, all built around very large laminated wooden beams and posts.

“The result is a structurally solid and super-insulated house that stays cool even on very hot days and holds heat very well through cold winters,” Olsen said.

Cementitious siding material was used as it holds up well to the elements, has a higher fire rating than wood and requires less maintenance. All decks are composite for durability with minimal maintenance.

What makes this property truly stand out isn’t the home itself but the unparalleled panorama that it provides. The top of the property, at 7,400′, has unobstructed views of the Sierra Crest, Boca and Stampede reservoirs and, on clear days, Mt. Lassen.

“As we intended, we can see no houses, lights, roads or power lines from our house,” Olsen said.

For details, contact Dave Westall with Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty at [email protected] or 530-448-9882.

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