Tahoe Trail Guide

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

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Category: Backcountry Skills

Cross-Country Skiing in Challenging Conditions

October 1, 2023
| 5 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
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

The mountaineering adage of “there’s no bad weather, only bad gear” holds true in many ways in cross-country skiing. But you could take that statement even further. Not only does choosing the correct cross country gear to run in challenging conditions help. But, modifying your attitude and technique will surely contribute toward having a quality…

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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 Tagged advanced, backcountry travel considerations, backcountry xc skiing, beginner, cross-country skiing explained, intermediate, ski tour, trip planning 5 Comments

Cross-Country Skiing Technique: Using the Side-Step and Herringbone Techniques in the Backcountry

September 29, 2023
| 2 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Backcountry Cross-Country Skiing Technique: Side-Step and Herringbone Technique

Safety is paramount when traveling in the backcountry no matter your mode of winter adventure. This is especially true for cross-country skiing in mountainous landscapes. Due to their long and lightweight design, cross-country skis are ideal for flat and rolling terrain. Unfortunately, they can be difficult to control when it comes to dealing with the…

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

Considerations for Winter Adventure in Lake Tahoe’s Backcountry

September 23, 2023
| 4 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
Copyright © 2016 Jared Manninen

Traveling through Lake Tahoe’s backcountry is always rewarding. The experience never fails to offer stunning views and plenty of character building opportunities. However, winter adventuring in the Lake Tahoe region presents additional obstacles you must overcome in order to return home safely. And, these obstacles come in the literal and figurative variety. The following considerations…

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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 advanced, backcountry travel considerations, backcountry xc skiing, beginner, cross-country skiing explained, intermediate, ski tour, snowshoeing basics, trip planning 4 Comments

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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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
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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
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Copyright © 2016 Jared Manninen
  • All Winter Tahoe Trails
    • Trails Overview
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    • 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

Making an 8-Page Zine From a Single Sheet of Paper
Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe
Hiking Freel Peak (via Forest Service RD 051 near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)
Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
Hiking Rubicon Trail (via Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Trees of the Sierra Nevada: The Gentle Jeffrey Pine
Naturalist Resources for Sierra Nevada Plant, Bird, and Wildlife Identification
Vikingsholm: A Brief History (Nordic Castle at Emerald Bay)
Hiking Fallen Leaf Lake (on its East Side via SR 89)
Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used

Backcountry Skills Articles

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    • XC Skiing Explained
    • Snowshoeing Basics
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  • History
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  • All Tahoe Trail Guide Articles (published chronologically)

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Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • My First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 3): Experience, Results, and Concluding Thoughts about My Trail Running Summer
  • First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 2): My Goals and Methods of a Trail Running Summer
  • First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 1): My History of Dabbling in Endurance Sports
  • Cross-Country Skiing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis

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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.
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Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • My First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 3): Experience, Results, and Concluding Thoughts about My Trail Running Summer
  • First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 2): My Goals and Methods of a Trail Running Summer
  • First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 1): My History of Dabbling in Endurance Sports
  • 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

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 © 2016-2023 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.