Tahoe Trail Guide

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

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Category: South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

10 Tips for Spring Cross-Country Skiing in the Backcountry

March 3, 2020
| No Comments
| 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
Snow-covered trail to Winnemucca Lake with Round Top in the distance and blue skies overhead

People call me weird and bizarre. Some even say possessed. They look at me as if I’d lost all connection with reality as I sit eating my lunch at the local sandwich shop while still wearing my cross-country ski boots. Later in the day I call my best friend to tell him about the morning’s…

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Posted in 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, beginner, cross-country skiing explained, intermediate, ski tour Leave a comment

5 Reasons to Love Spring Cross-Country Skiing

March 2, 2020
| 2 Comments
| 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
Snow-flocked trees and cross-country ski tracks near Hope Valley

When springtime rolls around and normal people are tending gardens, cleaning garages, and planning summer hikes, we mountain folk are still out cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. “How can that be?” you ask. “Aren’t all the Lake Tahoe ski resorts closed by March or April?” Many groomed ski areas at Lake Tahoe do,…

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Posted in 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, beginner, cross-country skiing explained, intermediate, ski tour 2 Comments

An Ode to Cross-Country Skiing or My First Overnight Cross-Country Ski Tour

February 4, 2020
| 4 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Copyright © 2016 Jared Manninen

When I was introduced to cross-country skiing as an adult (what child from the upper Midwest hasn’t tried it at least once in middle school?), I had already forsaken snow sports. The reasons weren’t because I didn’t love winter or I had an aversion to carving turns in fresh powder. Forgive my condescending attitude, but…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged advanced, luther pass, ski tour, south tahoe, trail journal, trip documenting 4 Comments

Hiking Freel Peak (via Forest Service RD 051 near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)

February 4, 2020
| No Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, Winter Trails
Snow-covered mountains at sunrise

Freel Peak is the highest peak in the Lake Tahoe Basin, standing at 10,881 feet. Freel Peak basically sits on the border between the Lake Tahoe Basin and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and offers unparalleled 360 degree views of the entire region. In addition to the panoramic views, you’ll find a variety of Sierra Nevada…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, Winter Trails Tagged advanced, day hike, luther pass, multi-day hike, ski tour, south tahoe, tahoe rim trail Leave a comment

Overnight Cross-Country Ski Tour to Little Round Top Mountain (Carson Pass)

November 17, 2019
| 4 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

Winter at Lake Tahoe is great for choose-your-own adventures in the backcountry. There are additional considerations to take into account during winter travel. However, your options are plentiful when the snowpack is stable, you know your gear and its capabilities, and you’re willing to embrace your inner pioneer spirit. For this article, I outline one…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged advanced, carson pass, ski tour, trail journal, trip documenting 4 Comments

Beginner’s Mind: Becoming a Student of Sport

November 15, 2019
| No Comments
| 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
Snow banks along a river running through a snowy forest

“Beginner’s mind” is a phrase that was used often during my dozen years of active training in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. The phrase originated with Zen Buddhism and denotes an approach to learning or, in a broad sense, experiencing life with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the new, unknown, and…

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Posted in 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 trail journal, trip documenting Leave a comment

Backcountry Skiing on the Pacific Crest Trail

November 15, 2019
| No Comments
| Blog, 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
Cross-country skiers traveling along the Pacific Crest Trail past trees

My grin morphed into a grimace the moment I saw the tips of my skis torpedo beneath a three-inch layer of wind-scoured crust and disappear. A split second later, the inevitable happened. My lower body came to a halt while my upper body continued to move. I pitched forward, landing face first in the snow….

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Posted in Blog, 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 trail journal, trip documenting Leave a comment

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing to Winnemucca Lake

November 12, 2019
| No Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

Traveling to Winnemucca Lake, accessible from Carson Pass, is a favorite activity year-round for locals and visitors to South Tahoe. In the summer, people hike the trail to Winnemucca Lake in order to find Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, to go swimming, and to fish. During the winter, people backcountry ski, cross-country ski, and snowshoe to Winnemucca…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged advanced, carson pass, intermediate, snowplay, south tahoe Leave a comment

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing to Red Lake Peak

November 12, 2019
| 4 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Red Lake Peak and wind-scoured snow

For similar reasons that I enjoy hiking to Red Lake Peak during the warmer months, I love cross-country skiing to Red Lake Peak in the winter. Those reasons include: ease of access via the north lot of the Carson Pass Sno-Park; line-of-sight travel thanks to the wide open terrain you’ll cover; sweeping panoramic views (again,…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged advanced, carson pass, intermediate, south tahoe 4 Comments

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing in Hope Valley (via Hope Valley Sno-Park)

November 12, 2019
| 2 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Cross-country skiing and Hope Valley go together like peanut butter and jelly. Although it can take some time for snow to accumulate in Hope Valley, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better location in the mountains where the terrain is flat for so many miles yet high enough in elevation to actually receive snow. The…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged beginner, south tahoe 2 Comments
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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
XC Skiing Explained (Part 2): Geometry of Classic Cross-Country Skis
Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
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

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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
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  • 5 Reasons to Love Snowshoeing

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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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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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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

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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.”