Emma Garrard/Sierra Sun
While conditions for downhill skiing haven't been great recently, they've been ideal for cross country, a sport that's picking up in popularity.
The good conditions are the result of freezing temperatures at night said Kevin Murnane, director of Tahoe Cross Country.
"Skating-wise, it's as good as it gets," Murnane said. "It's holding up really well, that is a hard pack, sugary snow, but not icy, so it's very edgeable. You can cover a lot of ground and it's great for beginners."
Since conditions got thinner at Alpine resorts, Murnane said he has seen a considerable number of skiers and snowboarders hitting the trails in recent weeks.
"There's been a huge peak in interest," Murnane said. "It's great to see so many people trying (cross country skiing.)"
Downhill skiers are not the only cross-over athletes. Murnane said he's also seen more mountain bikers and runners cross country skiing in the winter, noting that the current economy and affordability of cross country skiing may also be an influence.
"There's been a huge draw from endurance sports," Murnane said. "People want to ski on the trails they bike and run on in the summer."
Truckee Tahoe has more than 750 groomed cross country trails. Combine that with 300 days of sunshine a year, races almost every winter weekend, and Tahoe emerges as a Mecca of sorts for the nordic sect.
Whether it's the lake views at Tahoe Cross Country, the 300k of groomed trails at Royal Gorge, the vistas of Spooner Summit, the challenging downhills and open valleys of Tahoe Donner, or the array of races at Auburn Ski Club " there is no limit to choice.
"It's the best," Laurie Stevenson said after a morning ski at Tahoe Cross Country last week. "You have so many choices: Tahoe Cross Country, Tahoe Donner, Royal Gorge, Spooner, Kirkwood, Squaw Valley. The best places to go are where there's a community following."
Unlike downhill ski resorts where powder is king, cross country skiing is at its best when snow gets old and firm.
"It's the opposite," Stevenson said. "When it's not good downhill skiing the skate skiing's great."
Tahoe Donner Cross Country
Size: 4,800 acres, 51 trails over 100 km
Rentals: Yes
Details: www.tahoedonner.com
Phone: 530-587-9484
Highlights: Night skiing Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m., local atmosphere, variety of terrain from challenging ascents and descents to beautiful beginner terrain in Euer Valley.
Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort
Size: 9,000 acres, 300 kilometers of trails, 88 trails, six trail systems
Rentals: Yes
Details: www.royalgorge.com
Phone: 800-500-3871
Note: Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Highlights: Good snow coverage, largest trail system in Tahoe, biggest grooming fleet, great views
Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area
Size: 65 kilometers, 19 trails
Rentals: Yes
Details: www.tahoexc.org
Phone: 530-583-5475
Highlights: Bring the dog all day Monday-Friday and from 3-5 p.m. on weekends, spectacular Lake Tahoe views
Spooner Lake Cross Country
Size: 9,000 acres, 80 kilometers of trails
Rentals: Yes
Details: www.spoonerlake.com
Phone: 775-749-5349
Highlights: Overnighting at one of the backcountry cabins, great Lake Tahoe views
Kirkwood Cross County & Snowshoe Center
Size: 80 kilometers
Rentals: Yes
Details: www.kirkwood.com
Phone: 209-258-7248
Highlights: Remote feeling on trails bordering wilderness area, 60% intermediate terrain, great for cross country skiing/alpine skiing couples or families
Auburn Ski Club
Rentals: No
Size: 15 kilometers of trails
Details: www.auburnskiclub.org
Phone: (530) 426-3313
Highlights: Usually the first cross country center to open and the last to close, great youth, junior and adult ski programs, hosts many races throughout the season including the 2009 Junior Olympics this March
Northstar-at-Tahoe Cross Country, Telemark and Snowshoe Center
Size: 50 kilometers of trails
Rentals: Yes
Details: www.northstarattahoe.com/info/ski/explore-xcountry.asp
Phone: 1-800-GO-NORTH
Highlights: Good for the cross country/alpine skiing family or friends, challenging terrain, $99 season pass price, free hot drinks at the warming huts, rarely crowded.
Resort at Squaw Creek
Size: 18k over 400 acres
Rentals: yes
Details: (530) 583-6300
Highlights: Best for beginners as 70% of trails are flat, good multi-activity hub with dogsledding and sleigh ride tours offered through the winter at the Nordic Center
Groomed Trails
Clair Tapaan Lodge
Size: 10 kilometers of groomed trails for striding and snowshoes
Rentals: Yes
Details: ctl.sierraclub.org
Phone: (530) 426-3632
Highlights: Overnight wilderness huts available, shuttle to Soda Springs & Sugar Bowl
Granlibakken Ski Area
Size: two trails over 7.5 kilometers
Rentals: Yes
Details: www.granlibakken.com
Phone: (800) 543-3221
Highlights: No trail fee,
North Tahoe Regional Park
Size: 40 kilometers of groomed trails over 6,500 acres
Rentals: No
Details: (530) 546-5043
Highlights: $3 parking fee and no trail pass required, sledding hill and snowplay area
Sugar Pine Point State Park
Size: Two groomed trails covering 10 kilometers, 5 kilometers of ungroomed trails
Rentals: No
Details: (530) 525-7982
Highlights: Interpretative presentations offered on weekends January through March, skiing along Lake Tahoe
Donner Memorial State Park
Size: Five miles of marked cross country skiing and snowshoe trails
Rentals: No
Details: (530) 582-7892
Highlights: skiing along Donner Lake
Hope Valley Outdoor Center
Size: 60 miles of groomed and ungroomed trails
Rentals: Yes
Details: (530) 694-2266
Highlights: Full moon snowshoe tours, no trail fee (donations accepted), scenic meadow
Camp Richardson Resort
Size: 35 kilometers of marked and groomed trails
Rentals: Yes
Details: (530) 542-6584
Highlights: Ski or snowshoe along the Lake Tahoe shoreline, full moon cross country ski parties
Alpenglow Freestyle 20k
Feb. 1 at Tahoe XC
Tahoe Donner Night Race
Feb. 4 and 18
Auburn Ski Club Freestyle Sprint
Feb. 15 at ASC
Paco's XC Presidents Cup
15k skate at Tahoe Donner Cross Country
Sierra Nordic Tahoe Donner XC Relays
3x5km relay, first leg classic
The Great Ski Race
March 1
30k freestyle point-to-point race from Tahoe XC to Truckee
The California Gold Rush/Silver Rush/Bronze Rush
March 22
42/21/10k freestyle races at Royal Gorge XC
Billy Dutton Uphill
April 12
XC ski, run or snowshoe 3.2 miles up Squaw Valley USA
10th Mountain Division Biathlon Race
April 19
Auburn Ski Club
For more information go to farwestnordic.org
Clinics
Clinics at Tahoe Donner XC
Feb. 5 10 a.m.
Women's Beginning Skate Clinic - Taught by PSIA level III JoJo Toeppner. Cost: $35. Part of Women's Month at Tahoe Donner Cross Country.
Feb. 7 9 a.m.
Intermediate to Advanced Classic Clinic - Taught by Olympian Glenn Jobe. Cost: $35.
Feb. 7 9 a.m.
Skate Clinic V-2 Uphill - Taught by PSIA level III Gary Schmitt. Cost: $35.
Feb. 12 10 a.m.
Women's Intermediate Skate Clinic - Taught by PSIA level III JoJo Toeppner. Cost: $35. Part of Women's Month at Tahoe Donner Cross Country.
Feb. 14
Women's Intermediate to Advanced Skate Clinic - Taught by Olympian Katerina Nash. Cost: $35.
Feb. 14
Intermediate to Advanced Skate Clinic - Taught by Great Race Winner and former Fischer Factory Team Member Dave McLaughlin. Cost: $35.
Feb. 14 2 p.m.
Swix Waxing Clinic - This is a free clinic that will be held in the Locker Room.
Feb. 19 10 a.m.
Women's Beginning Skate Clinic - Taught by PSIA level III JoJo Toeppner. Cost: $35. Part of Women's Month at Tahoe Donner Cross Country.
Feb. 26 10 a.m.
Women's Intermediate Skate Clinic - Taught by PSIA level III JoJo Toeppner. Cost: $35. Part of Women's Month at Tahoe Donner Cross Country.
For more information go to tdxc.com