Tahoe Sierra Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Guide | Winter 2019-20 by Tahoe Guide (Tahoe Weekly)

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

Tahoe Sierra

nordic ski & snowshoe guide Brian Walker Photography | Sierra-at-Tahoe

winter 2019-20

Chris Bartkowski | Tahoe Star Tours

t hese are the days we dream of dog friendly

biathlon

cat skiing

gondola

food

camping

tubing & sledding

back-country access

night skiing/ snowshoeing

back-country huts

ice skating

ropes course

mini snowmobiling

fat tire biking

snow shoeing

long boarding

downhill skiing

auburn ski club training center

Courtesy Auburn Ski Club

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

bijou community park

50 30

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

kilometers

# of trails

10 grooming

25km warming huts

Biathlon | ASC has the only Olympic distance, year-round Biathlon range in the West, with winter and summer programs, as well as group and private clinics. ASC also offers the hard-to-pass USBA Red Book Certification for biathletes.

ASC Training Center is open to the public with trail access available from Wednesday to Sunday each week. No dogs are allowed.

The Deals | Season passes are only $129 for adults and include unlimited access to the cross-country trail system, use of the Training Center facilities, five discounted guest tickets and five free nights of skiing or riding at Boreal Mountain Resort. n

Combined Alpine & Nordic | ASC Training Center is a nonprofit winter sports facility and one of the few combined venues for Alpine, Nordic, biathlon and snowboard in the United States.

warming huts

0 Centrally located in South Lake Tahoe, Bijou features 4km of marked trails that is mostly flat and great for beginners at Bijou Community Park. Free access | There is no fee for skiing or snowshoeing. No rentals or services are available on site. Fun for all | The park features a historic railroad exhibit, skateboard park and fenced dog park.

auburnskiclub.com

(530) 542-6056

camp richardson

clair tappaan lodge 60

40 0

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

# of trails

6+ grooming

10km warming huts

Courtesy Camp Richardson

kilometers

Events Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 21 & April 18 | Snowshoe Cocktail Races Camp Richardson’s Mountain Sports Center provides 10km of groomed and marked trails for beginners to experts. Several trails head out from the center looping through the open forest to the shores of Fallen Leaf Lake. Two other shorter trails meander through the grounds of the resort and along the shores of Lake Tahoe.

camprichardson.com

# of trails

7 grooming

Snowshoe Cocktail Races | Think you have what it takes to run with a full cocktail tray in hand through obstacles up and down the beach at The Beacon Bar & Grill while wearing snowshoes? There are prizes for the fastest (and cleanest) at the obstacle course finish line. n

14km warming huts

This rustic Sierra Club lodge is located near the top of Donner Summit. There are 14km of trails heading out from the back door of the lodge and up to the area near the back of Boreal Ski Resort. Guests ski free | Skiing is free for lodge guests and rentals are available. Trail passes for non-guests are $15.

clairtappaanlodge.com

Explore the back country | Clair Tappaan Lodge operates four backcountry huts – Benson, Bradley, Ludlow and Peter Grubb –for yearround recreational use. Each hut provides rustic accommodations for about 15 people and includes a sleeping loft, wood stove and outhouse. Each hut can be reached in one day or less from the nearest road by an average group with good weather. Reservations fill up fast and all huts may be difficult to locate in heavy snow years. n

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

donner memorial state park

granlibakken 75

67 20

0 NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain

kilometers

16+

7.5

# of trails

grooming

no warming huts

Donner Memorial State Park has more than 16km of trails throughout the park. Although the trails are not groomed, visitors can make his or her own route to Schallenberger Ridge, Coldstream Canyon or along the shores of Donner Lake. Free trail access | Access to the trails is free; parking is $5. Dogs are welcome but must be on leash.

1.5 miles

Sierra history | Be sure to check out the new Visitor Center built a few years ago featuring local history and an amazing bookstore with something for all ages.

warming huts

Annual parking pass | Purchase a Tahoe Regional Parking Pass for $75 good at all of the state parks in the Tahoe region for a year – D.L. Bliss, Donner Memorial, Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point, Emerald Bay and Kings Beach State Recreation Area. n

parks.ca.gov

Events Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Party Feb. 17 | Tru Retreat May 15 | Kaia Fit Retreat Cross-country skiers and snowshoers can explore the historic resort’s 74 acres. Follow a 1.5mile trail around the property and a groomed access trail to Paige Meadows (flat-groomed, without stride-skiing tracks) when weather and snow conditions permit.

Kids sled free | Kids younger than 3 sled for free. The Deals | Unlimited sledding pass is $100; lodging guests receive halfoff sledding and lift tickets. n

granlibakken.com

Courtesy Hope Valley Outdoors

hope valley outdoors

kilometers

60 # of trails

8 grooming

30km warming huts

Events Jan. 18 & March 14 | AIARE Rescue Course Jan. 24-25 & March 13-14 | Backcountry Ski Touring Feb. 11-13 | AIARE Level 1 Avalanche course March 6-8 | AIARE Level 2 A valanche course Hope Valley Outdoors, or Hope Valley Cross Country, is a sustainable, off-the-grid, small winter resort operating out of a yurt at Pickett’s Junction in Hope Valley offering guests great outdoor winter recreational opportunities.

Owner Joyce Coker launched the yurt to offer her cross-country skills and back-country knowledge to help visitors explore the outdoors and improve his or her skills. Hope Valley Outdoors offers cross-country skiing, back-country skiing, snowshoeing, rentals and guided tours. Hope Valley maintains a limited number of trails around the Yurt. Trails are skier packed and easily accessed, along with limited grooming for classic cross-country skiing. Free trail access | Trail access is free, but donations are needed to maintain operations. Services are provided by check or cash only; there’s no cell service. n

hopevalleycrosscountry.com

TAHOE’S

BEST XC

TAHOE DONNER CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER CONSISTENTLY VOTED ONE OF NORTH AMERICA’S

BEST XC SKI AREAS

BY USA TODAY

Over 100km of trails across 2,800 acres of world-class terrain

Professional ski school offering lessons, programs and clinics

Pristine grooming for skating and classic skiing

State-of-the-art lodge including cafe and bar

VISIT TAHOEDONNER.COM/XC FOR MORE INFO

kirkwood’s cross country &

ltcc nordic center country

snowshoe center

Courtesy LTCC

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

60 20

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

Courtesy Kirkwood

% of terrain kilometers

60 # of trails

18 grooming

60km warming huts

Events Jan. 10-11, Feb. 8-9, & March 8-9 | Moon Light Snowshoe Trek Jan. 11-12 | Learn to Ski Month half-price weekend Feb. 14 | Scott Hudson Relay Race March 7-8 | Operation Rebound: A Winter Sports Clinic for Veteran Athletes Jan. 18, 25; Feb. 1, 15, 22, 29; March 14, 21, 28 | Sunset Snowshoe Trek Kirkwood’s Cross Country & Snowshoe Center offers 60km of groomed trails at 7,800 feet featuring spectacular scenery and three interconnected trail systems nestled in a beautiful alpine valley.

Fat Bikes | Rent a fat bike or bring your own to explore three interconnected trail systems.

kilometers

5-7 # of trails

5 grooming

Guided tours | Along with daily lessons, Kirkwood offers guided cross-country and snowshoe tours.

5-7km

Historic eats | Finish the day with a scrumptious meal at the historic Kirkwood Inn, opened in 1864. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com; click on Local Flavor to read about Tahoe Weekly’s recent visit to the Kirkwood Inn.

warming huts

The Nordic Center on the campus of Lake Tahoe Community College provides up to 7km of trails for classic and skate skiing. The trails provide views of Freel Peak and Job’s Sister. The center is operated by volunteers, and trails are groomed several times a week. Dogs are welcome; dogs must be leashed at trailheads and in parking lots. The center offers a variety of day and season passes. n

Dogs welcome | Dogs are allowed on the High Trail located behind the Kirkwood Inn and the Outer Loop on the meadow for only $5. n

kirkwood.com

ltccnordiccenter.weebly.com

nevada nordic

northstar cross country telemark & 47

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

# of trails

2+ grooming

2km+ warming huts

Courtesy Tim Hauserman

kilometers

Nevada Nordic is a nonprofit organization bringing a groomed cross-country ski presence back to the state of Nevada. Trails are offered at several locations in the region and are groomed and open depending on conditions.

# of trails

18 grooming

Trails are operated at Tahoe Meadows near the Mount Rose summit off Highway 431 with 2km of groomed skate trails (plans are in the works for classic trails), and at Spooner State Park on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. Future plans are for a trail to be offered in the Incline Meadows area. Check for updates and grooming reports at facebook.com/inclinemeadowsxc. n

35km warming huts

Aaron Rosen | Northstar California

snowshoe center

Events Dec. 28, Jan. 18 & 25, Feb. 15 & 29 | Stargazing Snowshoe Tours Dec. 29, Jan. 19, Feb. 16 | Family Snowshoe Tours Dec. 29, Jan. 19, Feb. 23, March 9 | S’moresapalooza Jan. 4 & 11; Feb. 1, 8 & 22; March 7 | Twilight Snowshoe Tours Northstar California provides 32.5km of Nordic terrain right in the middle of a world-class downhill ski resort. Telemark skiers welcome | Northstar is one of the few resorts offering a full line of downhill telemark equipment and instruction. Family friendly | Northstar offers an optimal place where families can

nevadanordic.org

northstarcalifornia.com

enjoy all of their favorite activities such as cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, fat tire biking, ice skating and more. Kids ski free | Kids 4 and younger ski free. Fat tire biking for everyone | Northstar offers fat tire bike rentals, as well as rentals for pedal assist e-bikes. Stargazing Snowshoe Tours | All ages can join in an easy to moderate snowshoe walk with an unobstructed view of the cosmos. Stargazing Snowshoe Tours end at The RitzCarlton, Lake Tahoe with telescope viewing and hot beverages. n

north tahoe regional park 45

plumas-eureka state park

Daphne Hougard | North Tahoe Regional Park

5 NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

11 grooming

11km

Free access | Trail access is free, but parking is $5. No rentals are available on site.

warming huts

Snowshoe tours | Guided snowshoe tours are offered through Tahoe Adventure Company including full moon, sunset and star tours. Visit tahoeadventurecompany.com for upcoming dates. Sled hills | North Tahoe Winter Adventures operates the main groomed sled hill and a sled is included with a sled hill ticket. A children’s sled hill is located at the entrance of the park and is not groomed; bring your own sled or tube.

kilometers

12 # of trails

Snowmobile track | The park boasts a snowmobile track for those wanting to try out a snowmobile; personal snowmobiles are not permitted.

Events Jan. 19, Feb. 16 & March 15 | Longboard Revival Races

grooming

12km

Ropes course | Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park consists of 70 tree platforms connected by a variety of bridges and/or ziplines open on select dates in the winter. Visit tahoetreetop.com for details.

warming huts

Grooming | The trails are groomed about three times a week and has a new snowcat/groomer for this season. Check the North Tahoe Regional Park Facebook page every Friday for weekend park updates. n

northtahoeparks.com

Plumas-Eureka State Park in the Lost Sierra offers 12km of groomed trails for skating and classis skiers, along with three designated snowshoe trails that are snowmobile groomed. The trail system is managed by Plumas-Eureka State Park Association volunteers and trail maps are available at each trailhead. Visit plumas-eureka.org for grooming reports and information on the trails.

Free trail access | The use of the trails is free, but donations are requested to maintain the trails for $5 per day or $20 for the season. Longboard races | The Plumas Ski Club hosts the Historic Longboard Revival Races each year at the Plumas Eureka Ski Bowl at Johnsville in the park. The races are open to everyone. Visit plumasskiclub.org for details. Skiing with Fido | Dogs are not allowed on the main trails, but a separate dog trail is groomed and accessible across from the Jamison Trailhead, a beginner, 1 mile out and back trail. n

parks.ca.gov

resort at squaw creek 70 20

Courtesy Resort at Squaw Creek

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

18 # of trails

8 grooming

18km warming huts

Events Until Jan. 1 | Magical Memories Dec. 27 | Holiday Mixology Craft Cocktail Dec. 27 | Glow Golf Dec. 28 | Sunset Snowshoe Tour Dec. 29 | Disco Skate Dec. 30 | Sled Races Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Bash Venture onto the 18km of groomed trails at Resort at Squaw Creek for a quiet refuge from the crowds of Olympic Valley where the views of the mountains are spectacular. The trails are just outside the door of the resort to enjoy between spa appointments, a visit to the skating rink and dining at one of the restaurants.

squawcreek.com

Sledding | Enjoy a day of sledding on the designated hill beyond the Squaw Creek chairlift. Sleds and snow boots can be rented at the Nordic Center. Ice skating | Glide around the resort’s outdoor ice rink with a view of Squaw Valley’s six peaks. Rentals for figure and hockey skates, as well as helmets, are available. n

TAMARACK CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER Kick your winter up a notch and explore the Mammoth Lakes Basin on cross-country skis or snowshoes for some scenic family adventures or butt-kicking fun across 19+ miles (30+ km) of secluded, groomed, world-class trails. Rentals, lessons, guided tours and season passes are available from the Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Center, located at Tamarack Lodge.

Courtesy Johnsville Ski Bowl

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

Waxing your skate skis

royal gorge

S T O R Y B Y T I M H A U S E R M A N | P H O T O S B Y A LY S S A G A N O N G

Tim Hauserman irons wax that has been crayoned on, then scrapes it after it has cooled.

It is not that complicated to wax your skate skis, but sometimes waxing gurus make the process seem so complicated and arduous that many folks say screw it and don’t bother. But a simple wax can be completed quickly with the most timeconsuming part being twiddling your thumbs waiting for the wax to cool. Waxing does require a financial commitment: you need to acquire a waxing iron, a device to hold the ski while you wax, several different types of wax, a plastic scraper, a groove scraper, both rough and smooth brush, and a structure tool. This will set you back several hundred bucks. If you are already waxing downhill skis though, some of the tools will work on both.

THE PROCESS 1. Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area. 2. Clamp the ski into its holder. 3. Set the iron temperature hot enough to melt the wax, but not so hot to make it smoke. This might take a bit of adjustment as you go. 4. Get some wax on the ski. You can crayon it or drip it. If you crayon it on, you take the wax and touch it to the iron then rub it along the ski like a crayon. Dripping just means taking a corner of the wax, touching the iron and rolling the drips down the ski. Crayoning uses less wax and spreads the wax evenly. Dripping is faster. You want enough wax to create a thin layer, but not too much because you are just going to scrape it all off anyway. 5. Take the iron smoothly down the length of the ski several times. Keep the iron moving or it will burn the ski. Once it looks like you have a good even coat, lay this ski aside and do the same thing on the other ski. 6. Now, go grab a cup of coffee, check your e-mails or chat with friends while you wait for it to cool. Or, put the wax on a second pair of skis.

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

140+ # of trails

92 grooming

140km+ warming huts

CLEANING If your skis are dirty or haven’t been waxed in a while, do a hot clean before the normal wax. To clean, iron wax onto the skis and scrape the wax off right away while it is still warm. Then brush and start the regular waxing process.

STRUCTURE When the snow gets older and wetter, it’s time to structure your skis. One or two passes down the ski with a structure tool after you have waxed, scraped and brushed does the trick. When completed, your ski should have grooves like you see on the freeway and the concept is the same: Get the water away from your ski — or tires.

CLASSIC SKIS What about classic cross-country skis? For waxless skis, the process is the same as waxing skate skis, except you only wax the tips and tails of the skis. Just be sure and don’t get wax on the fish scales in the middle. When classic skiing it’s a good idea to bring along a universal rub on wax while you ski that you can apply on the ski if things start getting sticky. n

Events Dec. 28, Jan. 4, 11 & 18 | Demo Days Dec. 28 & Feb. 29 | Intermediate Skate Clinic Jan. 10 & Feb. 8 | Full Moon Ski & Snowshoe Tour Feb. 15 | Advanced Skate Clinic Feb. 22 | Women’s Skate Clinic The largest cross-country ski area in North America, Royal Gorge is known for its sweeping views of the Northern Sierra and eight distinct trail systems. Featuring 92 trails with more than 140km of groomed, tracked trails for human-powered outdoor recreation spread across 6,000 acres, guests of all ages and ability levels are invited to try classic cross-country skiing, skate skiing and snowshoeing.

Nine warming huts offer respite from the elements and a chance to take a break and soak in the peaceful tranquility of the mountains. Kids ski free | Kids 12 and younger ski free, and ages 13 to 22 receive one free trail pass with every paid adult trail pass. The Royal Gorge | One of the most breathtaking experiences in the Tahoe Sierra is skiing to The Royal Gorge. The Gorge is one of the natural wonders of the Sierra – a 4,417-foot deep gorge that is the namesake for the ski area. n

royalgorge.com

sugar pine point state park

WAX CHOICE There are a lot of different wax choices for snow conditions. Colder waxes are harder and last longer and take a warmer temperature to apply. Warmer waxes are softer, melt quicker and don’t last as long on your skis. Recently, some good universal waxes have become available for a wider range of temperatures. In general, right after a cold storm early- to mid-winter, you use blue wax, which then moves into the purple middle range and red for the warm spring conditions. It is best to error on the colder wax. You can use the less expensive hydrocarbon waxes, which are fine in most situations or spring for the extra bucks (and extra danger to your lungs) of the fluorocarbon waxes. Most folks for everyday skiing are fine with the hydrocarbon waxes.

Courtesy Royal Gorge

7. Once the skis are cool, you can scrape the wax off. Personally, I feel that the more time the ski sits with the wax on it the better — I’m not sure there is any scientific basis for that theory, however. First, take your groove scraper and run a few passes down the groove. You do this first so that if the scraper jumps out of the groove it will land on wax instead of a freshly scraped ski. Then, scrape starting at the tip of the skis and with even pressure firmly scrape the wax off the ski down to the tail. It will take several passes down the ski to get most of the wax off. Once you are only getting a teensy bit of wax with your scrapes, it is time to go to the brush. 8. Start with a more aggressive, copper brush and work your way down the ski. You are trying to get the wax the scraper didn’t get. The goal is to have a bit of wax that adheres to the base. Then follow it up with the smoother nylon brush to get the last vestiges of flecks of white and make that surface smooth and black — so your skis are fast. 9. If this all seems like to much work, drop off your skis for waxing at a local shop.

Courtesy California State Parks

kate skiing is an excellent form of exercise and a great way to enjoy Tahoe in the winter away from the crowds at the downhill resorts. After waxing skis at Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area for nearly 20 years, I can say unequivocally that most people don’t wax their skis enough — or in some cases, at all. It’s time to wax those puppies yourself or have someone else do it. Either way, you will be glad you did.

kilometers

20 # of trails

5 grooming

no warming huts

Events Jan. 11, Feb. 8 & March 7 | Full Moon Tours

Free trail access | Use of the trails is free; it is $5 to park. No dogs are allowed.

The Ed Z’berg/Sugar Pine Point State Park is a spectacular spot to crosscountry ski and snowshoe along the dense forests of the West Shore or along Lake Tahoe’s shores. The park offers more than 20km of marked cross-country ski trails for all levels.

Winter camping | Sugar Pine Point is one of the only winter campgrounds open year-round in the Tahoe area, offering 16 campsites on a first-come, first-served basis.

Follow the path of the Nordic events of the 1960 Winter Olympics in what is now Sugar Pine Point State Park. Starting at the Blue Trailhead, visitors will come across a series of interpretive panels that share the region’s Olympic and Nordic skiing history found at the park. For trail conditions, call the snow phone at (530) 525-9528.

parks.ca.gov

Full Moon Snowshoe Tours | Explore the forests and shoreline at night during a guided Full Moon Tour. Book at sierrastateparks.org. Annual parking pass | Purchase a Tahoe Regional Parking Pass for $75 good at all of the state parks in the Tahoe region for a year – D.L. Bliss, Donner Memorial, Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point, Emerald Bay and Kings Beach State Recreation Area. n

tahoe city winter sports park

tahoe cross country 50

Courtesy Tahoe Cross Country

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

65 Courtesy TCPUD

kilometers

# of trails

2 grooming

The Tahoe City Winter Sports Park offers ice skating, sledding, crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing and is a great spot for family fun. Enjoy the on-site restaurant Café Zenon for a bite to eat or a warm drink. The park provides 4km for both skating and striding, as well as a snowshoe loop/walking trail.

warming huts

Take it to the ice | Take advantage of the youth hockey clinics and the adult Broomball League.

65km

SnowFest! fireworks | The Winter Sports Park will be the site of the annual SnowFest! fireworks in early March. n

warming huts

The park is an inexpensive way to entertain the kids and enjoy family time together. Spring for all-access season passes for the entire family; it’s inexpensive and great fun.

Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Area celebrates 20 years of operating as a nonprofit ski area in Tahoe during the 2019-20 winter season. Stunning lake views along the trails at Tahoe Cross Country make it one of the area’s best spots for cross-country skiing. The ski area offers lessons and equipment rentals for crosscountry, skate skis and demos.

wintersportspark.com

tahoexc.org

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

# of trails

79 grooming

100km+ 4

Ski free | Youth ages 18 and younger and seniors ages 70+ ski for free. Track your progress | Track yourself on the new interactive trail map from tahoexc.org while you ski or snowshoe. Details online. New trail cam | A new web camera has been installed at the trailhead on Yellow Trail. Navigate to all the web cams, weather and snow gauge by clicking the camera icon on the top corner of the website. Carpooling program | Sign up with staff to get your Carpool Punch Card. Claim a punch every time you carpool with two or more adults in one car and claim incentives for every five punches. n

Tahoe Donner | Tahoe Donner

100+

Free lessons | Try the free beginner cross-county lessons on Mondays with free beginner skate skiing lessons every Wednesday during non-holidays.

Connect with Family

tahoe donner cross country

warming huts

22 grooming

4km+

# of trails

Events Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Snowshoe Tour Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 21 | Wax Clinic Feb. 9 | Tahoe Donner Challenge Feb. 23 | Captain Nordic’s Dress-Up Day March 22 | Sierra Skogsloppet Race Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center offers more than 100km of world-class trails open to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire biking.

Skills clinics | Try out 4-Week Skills programs that include Learn to Skate, Sisters in Skating, Seniors Learn to Ski, Weekend Clinics and Technique and Fitness. Expanded grooming | Grooming conditions are at the peak as a result of expanded grooming with new PistenBully machines last year and trail and road work over the summer.

Kids ski free | Youth ages 6 and younger ski for free.

Expanded snowmaking | Preparations have begun to expand snowmaking at the Cross Country Ski Center in 2020.

Dinner time | Alder Creek Café and Trailside Bar at the Cross Country Ski Center will be open nightly for dinner serving a mountain casual menu with beer and wine options.

The Deals | Tahoe Donner is including Bonus Days at partner resorts for passholders including four days at Diamond Peak and two days at Homewood Mountain Resort. n

tahoedonner.com

www.tahoexc.org

925 Country Club Drive, Tahoe City, CA 96145 530.583.5475