Tahoe Trail Guide

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

Menu
  • Summer
    • Trails Overview
    • • Best Day Hikes of Tahoe
    • North Tahoe Hiking
    • South Tahoe Hiking
    • • Short South Tahoe Hikes
    • East Tahoe Hiking
    • West Tahoe Hiking
  • Winter
    • Trails Overview
    • Jared Manninen’s Cross-Country Skiing VLOG
    • North Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • South Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • East Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • West Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
  • Skills
    • Trip Planning
    • • Backcountry Travel Considerations
    • Trip Documenting
    • XC Skiing Explained
    • • Buying XC Skis
    • • Classic XC Skiing
    • • Backcountry XC Skiing
    • • Waxing Waxless XC Skis
    • Snowshoeing Basics
  • History
    • Natural History
    • • Naturalist Resource List
    • Local History
  • Store

Category: Backcountry Skills

Deepen Your Outdoor Experience By Documenting Your Nature-Related Observations

July 26, 2023
| 1 Comment
| Backcountry Skills, Blog, Natural History
Deepen your outdoor experience by documenting your nature-related observations

For most of us, being outdoors offers two very broad but critical benefits. Nature provides relief from our daily grind. And, it can also inspire us in countless ways. Even just going outside to watch the trees sway in the wind during a ten minute break from work will provide some stress relief. And if…

Read More »

Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog, Natural History Tagged trip documenting 1 Comment

FAQs about Classic Cross-Country Ski Gear

May 1, 2023
| 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,…

Read More »

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

Considerations and Reasons for Doing a Big Year

April 27, 2023
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog, Natural History
Birder looking through binoculars in the forest

Take what I’m about to recommend in this article with a grain of salt. Don’t get me wrong. I totally recommend that you participate in at least one Big Year during your lifetime. Just know that this recommendation comes from someone who’s both obsessive and compulsive. I’m also very competitive. And I love to collect…

Read More »

Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog, Natural History Tagged Birds of Lake Tahoe, lake tahoe wildflowers, trip documenting Leave a comment

The Cross-Country Skiing Experience: Immersing Yourself in Winter

February 2, 2023
| 4 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Snow-flocked trees in the middle of winter

Without question, there are many ways in which to enjoy winter. There’s an entire snowsports industry dedicated to playing in the snow, after all. You could go downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, or sledding. Although that’s an abridged list, you get the point. You have options during the winter for dealing…

Read More »

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

Discussing the Goal of Becoming a Better Cross-Country Skier and Embracing Backcountry and Groomed Terrain in Pursuit of that Goal

November 29, 2022
| 2 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Fresh groomed cross-country ski tracks in the forest

November of 2022 marked the beginning of my ninth cross-country ski season. Now, when I talk about a season I don’t just mean skiing on the weekends. Or, only during the best possible snow conditions. I’m talking about consistently logging upwards of (and sometimes over) 100 days of xc skiing every winter in every imaginable…

Read More »

Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged backcountry xc skiing, classic xc skiing, cross-country skiing explained 2 Comments

Considerations for Cross-Country Skiing During the Fall and Early Winter

November 16, 2022
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Snow-flocked pine trees and cross-country ski trail

Whenever the first snowfall of the season hits, my excitement for the upcoming cross-country ski season usually goes through the roof. In fact, once the snow accumulates to a depth of at least 2-3 inches, I’ll often grab a set of xc skis and take a short tour around the neighborhood. Make no mistake, though,…

Read More »

Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged cross-country skiing explained, ski tour Leave a comment

Wildfires and Smoke at Lake Tahoe (Considerations for Traveling in the Tahoe Backcountry during Summer)

April 5, 2022
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Local History, Natural History, North Lake Tahoe Hiking, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, West Lake Tahoe Hiking
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Living at Lake Tahoe and being surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains is like living in a dream. There’s plenty of sunshine in the summer and powdery snow in the winter. The finest outdoor recreation is literally outside your front door. And, despite the massive influx of visitors that come to Lake Tahoe during the…

Read More »

Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Local History, Natural History, North Lake Tahoe Hiking, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, West Lake Tahoe Hiking Tagged backcountry travel considerations, east tahoe, north tahoe, south tahoe, west tahoe Leave a comment

Invest in Technique More than Gear

March 30, 2022
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Groomed cross-country ski tracks and pine trees

Gear is specific. Technique is universal. Now, I agree that your potential can be limited based on your gear’s capabilities. So, investing in quality gear is definitely worth it when diving deeper into your chosen endeavor. I also agree that buying new gear contributes to the long-term sustainability of the industry in which you’re participating….

Read More »

Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged backcountry xc skiing, cross-country skiing explained Leave a comment

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…

Read More »

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 Leave a comment

Cultivating Adventure in Your Daily Life

May 17, 2020
| 4 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Mountains with snow and shrubs in the foreground

Many people equate “adventure” with adrenaline-producing activities involving high risk and steep terrain. Or, they believe adventure can only be found through extended world travel and exposure to exotic locales. This is simply not true. It’s like saying that the cosmos is more expansive than the subatomic level of life. As above, so below ……

Read More »

Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip documenting, trip planning 4 Comments
  • 3 of 5
  • « Previous
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next »

Support Tahoe Trail Guide with a Financial Contribution via PayPal (once) or Patreon (reoccurring)

Support Tahoe Trail Guide
Become a Patron!

Subscribe to Tahoe Trail Guide

The mission of Tahoe Trail Guide is to provide information, education, and inspiration to all people seeking to recreate outdoors.

  • All Summer Tahoe Trails
    • Trails Overview
    • North Lake Tahoe Hiking
    • South Lake Tahoe Hiking
      • Short South Tahoe Hikes
    • East Lake Tahoe Hiking
    • West Lake Tahoe Hiking
Tahoe Nordic Expo

Jared Manninen (Tahoe Trail Guide) Wins Sierra Nevada Alliance’s 2020 Frank Wells Last Best Place Award

2020 Frank Wells Last Best Place Award - Jared Manninen

In Recognition For Your Exhibited Stewardship As An Individual On Behalf Of The Sierra!

ORDER JARED MANNINEN'S “COLOR THE TAHOE RIM TRAIL” COLORING BOOK

Copyright © 2016 Jared Manninen
  • All Winter Tahoe Trails
    • Trails Overview
    • North Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • South Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • East Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • West Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing

Top Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe
Hiking Rubicon Trail (via Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Hiking Lam Watah Historic Trail (via Rabe Meadows at Stateline, NV)
Kokanee Salmon at Taylor Creek (via SR 89 in South Tahoe)
Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
Hiking Emerald Point (north side of Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Hiking Freel Peak (via Forest Service RD 051 near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)
Making an 8-Page Zine From a Single Sheet of Paper
Birds of Lake Tahoe: The Tree Cleaving Pileated Woodpecker
Hiking Maggies South Peak (via Bayview Trailhead near Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)

Backcountry Skills Articles

  • All Backcountry Skills Articles
    • Trip Planninng
    • Trip Documenting
    • XC Skiing Explained
    • Snowshoeing Basics
    • Gear Maintenance
  • History
    • Natural History
    • Local History
  • All Tahoe Trail Guide Articles (published chronologically)

Order a “Hike Lake Tahoe” Sticker ($3.00+$.99 shipping, 5×3.3 inches)

Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Cross-Country Skiing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis
  • Overview of Off-Track and Backcountry Cross-Country Ski Gear
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 2): How Much Gear to Acquire, Evaluating Your Commitment, and the Value of Taking XC Ski Lessons

Order Prints of Jared Manninen’s “Faux Vintage Map of Lake Tahoe”

Fun Vintage Lake Tahoe Map
Self-portrait of Jared Manninen
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.
iNaturalist
View jaredmanninen's observations »

Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Cross-Country Skiing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis
  • Overview of Off-Track and Backcountry Cross-Country Ski Gear
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 2): How Much Gear to Acquire, Evaluating Your Commitment, and the Value of Taking XC Ski Lessons
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 3): Can One Set of Classic Cross-Country Skis Work for Groomed and Off-Track XC Skiing?
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 4): Can I Use One Set of XC Ski Boots for All of My Cross-Country Skiing Needs?

Lake Tahoe Trails

  • Tahoe Trails Overview
  • All Summer Tahoe Trails
    • North Lake Tahoe Hiking
    • South Lake Tahoe Hiking
      • Short South Tahoe Hikes
    • East Lake Tahoe Hiking
    • West Lake Tahoe Hiking
  • All Winter Tahoe Trails
    • North Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • South Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • East Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • West Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing

Tahoe Trail Guide Info

  • Home
  • Backcountry Skills
  • History
    • Natural History
    • Local History
  • Store
    • Tahoe Swag (external link)
  • Randomly Asked Questions
  • About Jared Manninen
  • JaredManninen.com (external link)
  • Contact Tahoe Trail Guide

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 © 2016-2023 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.