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Your Online Resource for Hiking, Backpacking, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing at Lake Tahoe

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Category: Backcountry Skills

XC Skiing Explained (Part 5): Classic Cross-Country Ski Boots

October 18, 2021
| 17 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

There are countless variations of classic cross-country ski boots in circulation. The styles range from vintage patent leather shoes designed for use with the 3-pin binding system (NN) and will most likely be found in a thrift store or at a garage sale to high-tech and high-top styles of backcountry boots that feature ankle support…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged classic xc skiing, cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance 17 Comments

XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings

October 16, 2021
| 30 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Ski bindings, whether they be for Nordic skis, Alpine skis, Telemark skis, or Randonee skis (Alpine Touring), are the unsung heroes of the world of skiing. Without bindings, skis are rendered useless for they’re the direct interface between human and technology (skis). Their purpose is to enable us to exert control over the skis. Pretty…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged classic xc skiing, cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance 30 Comments

XC Skiing Explained (Part 3): Grip Zone of Classic Cross-Country Skis

October 14, 2021
| 4 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

There are many design features that make a classic cross-country ski unique. But, arguably, the most distinct is the grip zone. This area directly underfoot accommodates grip wax or features a textured pattern such as fish scales or a skin-based technology. Occasionally you’ll find grip zones made with surfaces that are designed to be roughened…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged classic xc skiing, cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance 4 Comments

XC Skiing Explained (Part 2): Geometry of Classic Cross-Country Skis

October 12, 2021
| 18 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

From an outward appearance, classic cross-country skis look simple in their design. They’re long, skinny, lightweight, and feature a graceful arc that (mostly) spans the length of the ski. However, the reality is that their shape, as well as the techniques used to run them are deceptively complex. That’s why an understanding of their geometry…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged classic xc skiing, cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance 18 Comments

XC Skiing Explained (Part 1): Introduction to Classic Cross-Country Skis

October 10, 2021
| 5 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

Skis were created, as you might expect, to be a mode of transportation over snowy terrain. For example, people used them to travel from one place to another and to chase down wild game during the winter. So, skis were (and still are!) designed to provide the fastest and most efficient means of travel across…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged classic xc skiing, cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance 5 Comments

FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis

October 8, 2021
| 8 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Snow-flocked trees along a groomed cross-country ski trail

This article about waxing your waxless cross-country skis is, as you might imagine, the result of me being frequently asked the same questions about waxing waxless cross-country skis! Technique and gear form an integrated whole when it comes to cross-country skiing. So, although I provide relatively short answers to common questions here, I do encourage…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance, waxing waxless xc skis 8 Comments

Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis: Step-By-Step Tutorial

October 4, 2021
| 4 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

Presented to you in this article and collection of videos are some basic lessons on waxing your waxless cross-country skis. I prefer to use the term “functional” when describing my style of waxing. This is because I aim for function rather than high-performance results. I cross-country ski for enjoyment, exploration, and exercise (not racing), so…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance, waxing waxless xc skis 4 Comments

Waxing Your “Waxless” Cross-Country Skis: Introduction

October 1, 2021
| 15 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Recreational cross-country skiers rejoiced many years ago thanks to the introduction of “waxless” cross-country skis. No more sticky kick wax to deal with, particularly of the klister variety! And, no more trial and error to achieve the ideal grip for diagonal striding! These waxless cross-country skis featured a fish scale-looking pattern in the grip zone/wax…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance, waxing waxless xc skis 15 Comments

FAQs about Classic Cross-Country Ski Gear

May 1, 2021
| 19 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Snow covered mountains with evergreen trees

This article featuring frequently asked questions about classic cross-country ski gear is a “greatest hits” list I’ve compiled about classic xc ski gear. I’ve been asked these questions (and more) frequently enough to warrant collecting them in one convenient article. Please note, however, that the answers I provide are succinct and abridged. Like any art,…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged backcountry xc skiing, buying xc skis, cross-country skiing explained, gear maintenance 19 Comments

5 Reasons to Love Snowshoeing

December 6, 2020
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog, East Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, North Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, West Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails

Snowshoeing isn’t necessarily as dynamic as cross-country skiing or other winter snow sports. But that doesn’t make snowshoeing any less enjoyable. Snowshoes simply provide a different type of fun! They also provide a wide range of benefits that other modes of winter travel and snow play don’t. In this article, I highlight the five reasons…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog, East Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, North Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, West Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged snowshoeing basics
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The mission of Tahoe Trail Guide is to provide information, education, and inspiration to all people seeking to recreate outdoors.

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Top Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe
Hiking Mount Rose (via Mount Rose HWY/SR 431 near Incline Village, NV)
Hiking Winnemucca Lake (via Carson Pass in South Tahoe)
Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
Hiking Freel Peak (via Forest Service RD 051 near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)
Hiking Rubicon Trail (via Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used
Hiking Castle Rock (via Kingsbury Grade/SR 207 near Stateline, NV)
Hiking Meeks Creek Falls (via SR 89 at Meeks Creek in West Tahoe)

Backcountry Skills Articles

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    • Gear Maintenance
  • History
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  • All Tahoe Trail Guide Articles (published chronologically)

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Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Considerations and Reasons for Doing a Big Year
  • Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Big Yellow Wildflowers with Big Green Leaves called Woolly Mule’s Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot
  • Considerations for Spring Hiking and Backpacking at Lake Tahoe
  • Tips for Spring Hiking in the Mountains at Lake Tahoe
Mosquitoes be damned, I'm finding all the wildflow Mosquitoes be damned, I'm finding all the wildflowers after work 🤣
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Four of the species I uploaded today (from last week's excursion to Round Top/Carson Pass) for the 2022 Tahoe Wildflower Big Year didn't count as they aren't included in the project list (because they're too rare, I guess). Regardless, I still managed to officially log my 500th plant species for the year. That said, there's always the chance that I've incorrectly ID'd something (i.e. it ends up being a duplicate of one I already have). But I still have a number of unknown species to ID and upload (my photo backlog is getting bigger!). And there are plenty more wildflowers left to find this summer. So I'm feeling confident that I'll retain (and actually surpass) my 500 species goal for 2022 😊
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #southlaketahoe #tahome #tahoesouth #tahoesnaps #dailyadventure #outdooradventure #getoutside #mountainliving #optoutside #naturephotography #sierranevada #hiking #hike #mountainlife #lifeofadventure #lovewhereyoulive #livelifeoutside #wildernessadventure #outdoorphotography #adventurelife #mountainculture #wildernessculture #sierranevadamountains
Not too shabby out there today 😊 . But now I ha Not too shabby out there today 😊
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But now I have 1,000 more photos and well over a dozen new wildflower species to sort through and upload to iNaturalist. And that doesn't include the 100s of photos that I took during the past few days. So, yeah, I might get to them in the next week or two. Fortunately, it doesn't really matter when I upload them so long as they get submitted before December 31, 2022 😂 
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The bottom line is that these Big Years are big time sucks 🤣
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Felt a little like hiking on Mars last night 😗 Felt a little like hiking on Mars last night 😗
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View from the other day's high altitude wildflower View from the other day's high altitude wildflower hunt (Freel Peak - 10,881ft).
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Pacific Hulsea (Hulsea algida) near the summit 🤗
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Jared Manninen has been a Tahoe local since 2005. He began building Tahoe Trail Guide (c. 2017) in order to inspire people to embrace the outdoors as a place in which to learn and play.

Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Considerations and Reasons for Doing a Big Year
  • Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Big Yellow Wildflowers with Big Green Leaves called Woolly Mule’s Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot
  • Considerations for Spring Hiking and Backpacking at Lake Tahoe
  • Tips for Spring Hiking in the Mountains at Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Tips for Finding Wildflowers at Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Two Major Factors that Determine Peak Bloom Times for Wildflowers at Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Trails

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Although I encourage you to venture out of your comfort zone, you need to know your limits and when to turn back. Tahoe Trail Guide and its contributors are not liable for property loss or damage, personal injury, or death. Always consult multiple sources when venturing into the backcountry. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Your safety is your responsibility. Tahoe Trail Guide copyright © 2016-2021 by Jared Manninen. All rights reserved.  This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Per the Associates Program Operating Agreement I must disclose the following statement: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases” when you buy something via an Amazon.com advertisement.