Tahoe Trail Guide

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

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Category: Backcountry Skills

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

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

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

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

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 7): Executing Your Backcountry Trip Plan

November 12, 2019
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Tahoe Rim Trail above Marlette Lake with Lake Tahoe in the distance

Congratulations! You’re about to embark on the backcountry trip you’ve been planning for months or possibly years. Keep in mind that, for better or worse, you’re about to go on a roller coaster ride. Getting off of that ride can be very challenging depending on the circumstances, so it’s usually best just to see the…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip planning

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 8): Returning Home and Post-Backcountry Trip Analysis

November 12, 2019
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Sunset at Lake Tahoe viewed from Logan Shoals Vista Point

In this final installment of my 8-part series of articles about planning your next backcountry trip, I’ll share with you my thoughts on returning home from a backcountry adventure. Undoubtedly, the first thing you’ll want to do is jump in the shower to wash off that trail grime. Then, you’ll probably want to eat a…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip planning

Companionship in Desolation Wilderness (6-Page Comic)

November 11, 2019
| 2 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog, West Lake Tahoe Hiking
Copyright © 2012 Jared Manninen

Presented here is a short black and white comic I created about an overnight backpacking trip I took into Desolation Wilderness with a former girlfriend back in 2012. Although our relationship did not last and the backpacking trip was only two days, the experience was rewarding. One of the reasons I enjoyed the trip was…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog, West Lake Tahoe Hiking Tagged desolation wilderness, trail journal, trip documenting, west tahoe 2 Comments
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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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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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  • All Winter Tahoe Trails
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Top Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis
Waxing Your “Waxless” Cross-Country Skis: Introduction
XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings
XC Skiing Explained (Part 5): Classic Cross-Country Ski Boots
Discussing the Goal of Becoming a Better Cross-Country Skier and Embracing Backcountry and Groomed Terrain in Pursuit of that Goal
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
XC Skiing Explained (Part 3): Grip Zone of Classic Cross-Country Skis
Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
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?

Backcountry Skills Articles

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

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Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • The Cross-Country Skiing Experience: Immersing Yourself in Winter
  • Discussing the Goal of Becoming a Better Cross-Country Skier and Embracing Backcountry and Groomed Terrain in Pursuit of that Goal
  • Considerations for Cross-Country Skiing During the Fall and Early Winter
  • Donner Party History: Series Introduction
  • Hiking Emerald Point (via north side of Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
The next storm is starting to roll in ❄️😍❄️
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #tahoenorth #tahome #crosscountryski #dailyadventure #discovertahoe #outdooradventure #exploretahoe #mountainliving #exploretahoedonner #landscapephotography #naturephotography #tdxc #nordicskiing #crosscountryskiing #xcskiing #xcski #optoutside #lovewhereyoulive #activelifestyle #wildernessadventure #truckeelove #adventurelife #outdoorculture
A light dusting today to freshen things up ❄️😍❄️
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #tahoenorth #tahome #crosscountryski #dailyadventure #discovertahoe #outdooradventure #exploretahoe #mountainliving #exploretahoedonner #landscapephotography #naturephotography #tdxc #nordicskiing #crosscountryskiing #xcskiing #xcski #optoutside #lovewhereyoulive #activelifestyle #wildernessadventure #truckeelove #adventurelife #outdoorculture
Slow going, but it's worth the effort 😊 . . Wat Slow going, but it's worth the effort 😊
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Watch my latest XC Ski VLOG (43) to see more of today's beautiful scenery on YouTube.com/@JaredManninen
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Another stunner today ❄️😍❄️ . . YouTube Another stunner today ❄️😍❄️
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PayPal.me/JaredManninen
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #tahoenorth #tahome #crosscountryski #dailyadventure #discovertahoe #outdooradventure #exploretahoe #mountainliving #exploretahoedonner #landscapephotography #naturephotography #tdxc #nordicskiing #crosscountryskiing #xcskiing #xcski #optoutside #lovewhereyoulive #activelifestyle #wildernessadventure #truckeelove #adventurelife #outdoorculture
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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.

Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • The Cross-Country Skiing Experience: Immersing Yourself in Winter
  • Discussing the Goal of Becoming a Better Cross-Country Skier and Embracing Backcountry and Groomed Terrain in Pursuit of that Goal
  • Considerations for Cross-Country Skiing During the Fall and Early Winter
  • Donner Party History: Series Introduction
  • Hiking Emerald Point (via north side of Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
  • 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 Trails

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  • All Summer Tahoe Trails
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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.