Tahoe Trail Guide

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

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Category: Backcountry Skills

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….

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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…

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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 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 ……

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip documenting, trip planning 4 Comments

Share Your Story: Tips for Documenting and Sharing Your Backcountry Experience (Introduction)

March 5, 2020
| 1 Comment
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Pileated Woodpecker flying out of a tree

In a time where “it didn’t happen if you didn’t get a picture,” there’s pressure to constantly be documenting. We’ve all seen that yahoo stuck behind their camera or device trying desperately to capture an experience at its zenith. But, in their mania, they wind up missing the actual moment. They were either too busy…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip documenting 1 Comment

Share Your Story: Is the Creation or Capture of a Perfect Image a Worthwhile Pursuit?

February 12, 2020
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

All artists struggle with definitively completing a piece of art, whether it be a written work, movie, sculpture, painting, or photograph. The challenge stems from not knowing when to stop working or editing the piece in question. We all believe that if we just added a few more highlights or brushstrokes over here or cut…

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

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

February 4, 2020
| 2 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 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
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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
    • West 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

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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

Making an 8-Page Zine From a Single Sheet of Paper
Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe
Overview of Off-Track and Backcountry Cross-Country Ski Gear
FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis
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?
Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings
Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis: Step-By-Step Tutorial
Donner Party History: Series Introduction
Hiking Frog Lake (via Carson Pass 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)

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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

  • Tahoe Trails Overview
  • All Summer Tahoe Trails
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      • Short South Tahoe Hikes
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  • 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

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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.