Tahoe Trail Guide

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

February 8, 2020
| 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

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

February 4, 2020
| 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

Making an 8-Page Zine From a Single Sheet of Paper

February 4, 2020
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Zines (pronounced zeens) are self-published magazines, fanZINES, mini-books, or mini-comics that are often small in size and short in number of pages. The beauty of a zine is that you can create one with nothing more than a pen and a single sheet of paper. Then you just need a ream of paper and access…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip documenting Leave a comment

XC Skiing Explained (Part 6): Classic Cross-Country Ski Poles

February 4, 2020
| 2 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

When I hand first-time cross-country skiers their ski poles (in the rental shop where I seasonally work), I’m often met with disbelief. New customers will say something to the effect of, “these are so much longer than my alpine ski poles” or “are you sure they’re supposed to be so long?” They are a lot…

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

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 1): The Importance of Establishing a Goal for Your Backcountry Trip

January 11, 2020
| 1 Comment
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Charlotte Lake surrounded by mountains at sunset

Whether you’re planning a day-long excursion to one of Lake Tahoe’s fabled mountain peaks or a multi-day expedition into Desolation Wilderness, there are many considerations to take into account when preparing for your backcountry trip. However, the single most important element to establish during the planning phase is the purpose or goal of your backcountry…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip planning 1 Comment

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 2): SMART Goals and Your Backcountry Trip

January 11, 2020
| 2 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Hiking Trail above Bullfrog Lake with mountains in the background

Realizing your dreams of thru-hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail, embarking on an extended backcountry ski tour, or even just going on your first overnight backpacking trip can be a daunting task. However, it’s not impossible! In the first part of this Backcountry Trip Planning series I argued the importance of establishing a goal for your…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged tahoe rim trail, trip planning 2 Comments

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 3): The Decision-Making Process and Your Backcountry Trip

January 8, 2020
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Pastel sunset at Lake Tahoe viewed from the Tahoe Rim Trail

Up to this point I’ve discussed the importance of selecting a goal for your next backcountry trip, as well as how to determine whether or not it’s a SMART goal. In this installment, I provide an overview of a basic 7-step decision-making process that will enable you to appropriately plan for and execute a longer…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged tahoe rim trail, trip planning Leave a comment

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 4): Gathering Information for Your Backcountry Trip

January 8, 2020
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Echo Lake in Desolation Wilderness surrounded by trees and mountains

Gathering information is the second step in the decision-making process, and one of the most important phases of the backcountry trip planning process. Without accurate information you can’t make informed decisions, which then erodes confidence in the overall plan. Gathering information can also be one of the most enjoyable steps to planning out your trip…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged tahoe rim trail, trip planning Leave a comment

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 5): Evaluating Information and Choosing the Best Option for Your Backcountry Trip

December 11, 2019
| 2 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
A gnarled Juniper tree next to Suzie Lake

At this point in planning your next backcountry trip, you should’ve already performed the lion’s share of research for your adventure. In the example for this series of backcountry planning articles, we’re going to thru-hike the Tahoe Rim Trail. So, this research would’ve included asking and answering all of your questions regarding extended backpacking adventures…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged tahoe rim trail, trip planning 2 Comments

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 6): Planning and Preparing for Your Backcountry Trip

November 12, 2019
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Person hiking on the trail through Armstrong Pass en route to Freel Peak

So far in this series of backcountry trip planning articles we’ve established a goal for our adventure (which is to thru-hike the Tahoe Rim Trail), put it to the SMART goals test, and used the decision-making process to guide our research. We’ve gathered relevant information, evaluated it, and hopefully have chosen the best option(s) for…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip planning Leave a comment
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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
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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!

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  • 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

Waxing Your “Waxless” Cross-Country Skis: Introduction
Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used
XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings
FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis
Cross-Country Skiing in Challenging Conditions
XC Skiing Explained (Part 5): Classic Cross-Country Ski Boots
Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
XC Skiing Explained (Part 2): Geometry of Classic Cross-Country Skis
XC Skiing Explained (Part 3): Grip Zone of Classic Cross-Country Skis
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

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)

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Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • 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
  • XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings
  • Snowshoeing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • 5 Reasons to Love Snowshoeing

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

Fun Vintage Lake Tahoe Map
One of my favorite little itty bitty birds ... the One of my favorite little itty bitty birds ... the Brown Creeper ... And one that I seldom catch in good light 😍
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Check out my latest xc ski vlog (14) at YouTube.com/JaredManninen
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Today was a good day to work on becoming a better Today was a good day to work on becoming a better skier ❄😊❄
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Not a bad way to start the day ❄😊❄ . . Patr Not a bad way to start the day ❄😊❄
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You talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one here... You talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one here...
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Black-billed Magpie acting like a wiseguy 😆
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Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • 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
  • XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings
  • Snowshoeing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • 5 Reasons to Love Snowshoeing
  • Cross-Country Skiing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • Snowshoeing Basics: Overview of Modern Snowshoes

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

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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 © 2016-2020 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.”