Good Day at Sierra-at-Tahoe; new trails guide

Last Friday morning at Sierra-at-Tahoe the holiday crowd hadn't arrived yet, the snow was good and the day sunny and bright.

Skiing there was a fine way to begin a weekend on the way to the Bay Area. The West Bowl was the goal after a couple of quick runs on Nob Hill, a wide slope that makes one feel like Bode Miller (if you didn't look too closely). Some nice touches at SAT; hybrid vehicles park for free in the $15 reserved section. And lift tickets are still a reasonble $65. The food is just right - big bowl of chili to keep you warm on colder days, which last Friday wasn't.

NEW HIKING TRAILS GUIDE

Nevada's trails Web site offers a central location for the best and most comprehensive information about Nevada's hiking and climbing recreational trails. The site is at www.nvtrailmaps.com.

With funding from federal Recreational Trail Program grants, administered by the Nevada Division of State Parks, the Great Basin Institute, in partnership with federal, state and local land management agencies, the site was created as an online encyclopedia of designated motorized and non-motorized recreational trails.

Site features include trails searches by location, length and use; downloadable topographical maps; trail information; driving directions; GPS locations; elevations and types of recreation allowed.

The site provides educational information from partner organizations such as Leave No Trace and the International Mountain Bicycling Association. It also recommends what to bring, and once you've arrived, how to use the trails.

Site manager Doug Braam (dbraam@greatbasininstitute.org) will add new trails and information on a regular basis. Call (775) 784-1192.

NORTHSTAR ACTION

Northstar has introduced new telemark and snowshoe clinics, tours and race events for everyone from experts to first timers .

Offering nearly 40km of groomed trails for those who want to skate, stride or snowshoe, Northstar's varying terrain is suited for all ability levels. Complete with warming huts and scenic picnic sites with views of Lake Tahoe and surrounding mountain peaks, adventurers are encouraged to pack a lunch.

Upcoming Events:

• Snowshoe Running Clinic - Saturday, focused on snowshoe running.

• Tahoe Rim Nordic Race. Sunday. This 30km event starts at North Tahoe High School in Tahoe City and finishes at Northstar. Classic wave starts at 8:30 a.m., skate and snowshoe wave at 9 a.m. Participation is $40 in advance, $60 day of, visit www.farwestnordic.org.

• Snowshoe Series for Runners, Walkers and Kids. Will include a 5K Fun Walk Run, a 10K Competitive Run, and a 1K Kid's Rising Star Rumble, Feb. 3 and March 9. Participation is $25.

• Telemark one-day camps. Participation is $119 and includes a one-day access lift ticket, four hours of instruction, video analysis, use of demo equipment. Camp will be offered on Feb. 10, March 9 and April 13.

The Cross-Country, Telemark & Snowshoe Center is at mid-mountain to the left of the Vista Express Chairlift. Visit www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com or call (530) 562-2475.

The resort has teamed up with Snow Park Technologies and Oakley to introduce a unique freestyle terrain feature.

Oakley's new feature is in the terrain park on Pinball, off of the Vista Express chairlift. The multiple option feature contains a flat bar rail slide on the top and sliding surface everywhere else on the feature. The unique shape offers an uphill rail with wall ride-type options on the sides, and includes dimensions that vary from 2 feet tall to 6 feet tall at the highest point. Oakley's signature feature is 30 feet in length, with the rail measuring in at 25 feet.

DIAMOND PEAK AUSSIES AND LAST TRAILS

G' day mate! Diamond Peak is celebrating Australia Day Saturday. It will be firing up the Barbie on the base lodge outside deck and Snowflake Lodge deck and serving Australian food. Live music will follow the barbecues at the end of the day up in the Loft Bar with Jeff Jones playing a solo show from 4 to 6 p.m. Hart Skis is making a comeback and will have a booth with demos on the base lodge deck all day. Visit www.diamondpeak.com or call 832-1177.

Incidentally, the Last Trails event takes place on Saturday evenings at the Snowflake Lodge. This is a chance to enjoy great views from the lodge deck and sample wines and all kind of finger food. You gather at the lodge after skiing the day and smooze. Then when it gets dark you join the ski patrol for a run down a nice blue run that is easy - particularly after a couple of glasses of Napa's best. For those who don't feel like skiing down, they crank up the chairlift.

SAFETY POSTER AWARDS

In celebration of National Safety Awareness Week, Diamond Peak held a special National Safety Poster Contest and has announced the winners. Serena, 9, got first place and won a Diamond Peak season pass for her NSAA Safety Poster submission through Ms. Arcaris-Weiss' class at the Lake Tahoe School. Nine-year-old Elle received second place and has won a Diamond Peak 2-day transferable mini-pass. Third place went to 8 3Ú4-year-old Ella who won a pair of Diamond Peak lift tickets.