Cross-country skiing is scenic alternative to downhill

While conditions for downhill skiing haven't been great recently, they've been ideal for cross country, a sport that's picking up in popularity.

The good conditions are the result of freezing temperatures at night said Kevin Murnane, director of Tahoe Cross Country.

"Skating-wise, it's as good as it gets," Murnane said. "It's holding up really well, that is a hard pack, sugary snow, but not icy, so it's very edgeable. You can cover a lot of ground and it's great for beginners."

Since conditions got thinner at Alpine resorts, Murnane said he has seen a considerable number of skiers and snowboarders hitting the trails in recent weeks.

"There's been a huge peak in interest," Murnane said. "It's great to see so many people trying (cross country skiing.)"

Downhill skiers are not the only cross-over athletes. Murnane said he's also seen more mountain bikers and runners cross country skiing in the winter, noting that the current economy and affordability of cross country skiing may also be an influence.

"There's been a huge draw from endurance sports," Murnane said. "People want to ski on the trails they bike and run on in the summer."

Truckee Tahoe has more than 750 groomed cross country trails. Combine that with 300 days of sunshine a year, races almost every winter weekend, and Tahoe emerges as a Mecca of sorts for the nordic sect.

Whether it's the lake views at Tahoe Cross Country, the 300k of groomed trails at Royal Gorge, the vistas of Spooner Summit, the challenging downhills and open valleys of Tahoe Donner, or the array of races at Auburn Ski Club " there is no limit to choice.

"It's the best," Laurie Stevenson said after a morning ski at Tahoe Cross Country last week. "You have so many choices: Tahoe Cross Country, Tahoe Donner, Royal Gorge, Spooner, Kirkwood, Squaw Valley. The best places to go are where there's a community following."

Unlike downhill ski resorts where powder is king, cross country skiing is at its best when snow gets old and firm.

"It's the opposite," Stevenson said. "When it's not good downhill skiing the skate skiing's great."

Tahoe Donner Cross Country

Size: 4,800 acres, 51 trails over 100 km

Rentals: Yes

Details: www.tahoedonner.com

Phone: 530-587-9484

Highlights: Night skiing Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m., local atmosphere, variety of terrain from challenging ascents and descents to beautiful beginner terrain in Euer Valley.

Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort

Size: 9,000 acres, 300 kilometers of trails, 88 trails, six trail systems

Rentals: Yes

Details: www.royalgorge.com

Phone: 800-500-3871

Note: Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Highlights: Good snow coverage, largest trail system in Tahoe, biggest grooming fleet, great views

Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area

Size: 65 kilometers, 19 trails

Rentals: Yes

Details: www.tahoexc.org

Phone: 530-583-5475

Highlights: Bring the dog all day Monday-Friday and from 3-5 p.m. on weekends, spectacular Lake Tahoe views

Spooner Lake Cross Country

Size: 9,000 acres, 80 kilometers of trails

Rentals: Yes

Details: www.spoonerlake.com

Phone: 775-749-5349

Highlights: Overnighting at one of the backcountry cabins, great Lake Tahoe views

Kirkwood Cross County & Snowshoe Center

Size: 80 kilometers

Rentals: Yes

Details: www.kirkwood.com

Phone: 209-258-7248

Highlights: Remote feeling on trails bordering wilderness area, 60% intermediate terrain, great for cross country skiing/alpine skiing couples or families

Auburn Ski Club

Rentals: No

Size: 15 kilometers of trails

Details: www.auburnskiclub.org

Phone: (530) 426-3313

Highlights: Usually the first cross country center to open and the last to close, great youth, junior and adult ski programs, hosts many races throughout the season including the 2009 Junior Olympics this March

Northstar-at-Tahoe Cross Country, Telemark and Snowshoe Center

Size: 50 kilometers of trails

Rentals: Yes

Details: www.northstarattahoe.com/info/ski/explore-xcountry.asp

Phone: 1-800-GO-NORTH

Highlights: Good for the cross country/alpine skiing family or friends, challenging terrain, $99 season pass price, free hot drinks at the warming huts, rarely crowded.

Resort at Squaw Creek

Size: 18k over 400 acres

Rentals: yes

Details: (530) 583-6300

Highlights: Best for beginners as 70% of trails are flat, good multi-activity hub with dogsledding and sleigh ride tours offered through the winter at the Nordic Center

Groomed Trails

Clair Tapaan Lodge

Size: 10 kilometers of groomed trails for striding and snowshoes

Rentals: Yes

Details: ctl.sierraclub.org

Phone: (530) 426-3632

Highlights: Overnight wilderness huts available, shuttle to Soda Springs & Sugar Bowl

Granlibakken Ski Area

Size: two trails over 7.5 kilometers

Rentals: Yes

Details: www.granlibakken.com

Phone: (800) 543-3221

Highlights: No trail fee,

North Tahoe Regional Park

Size: 40 kilometers of groomed trails over 6,500 acres

Rentals: No

Details: (530) 546-5043

Highlights: $3 parking fee and no trail pass required, sledding hill and snowplay area

Sugar Pine Point State Park

Size: Two groomed trails covering 10 kilometers, 5 kilometers of ungroomed trails

Rentals: No

Details: (530) 525-7982

Highlights: Interpretative presentations offered on weekends January through March, skiing along Lake Tahoe

Donner Memorial State Park

Size: Five miles of marked cross country skiing and snowshoe trails

Rentals: No

Details: (530) 582-7892

Highlights: skiing along Donner Lake

Hope Valley Outdoor Center

Size: 60 miles of groomed and ungroomed trails

Rentals: Yes

Details: (530) 694-2266

Highlights: Full moon snowshoe tours, no trail fee (donations accepted), scenic meadow

Camp Richardson Resort

Size: 35 kilometers of marked and groomed trails

Rentals: Yes

Details: (530) 542-6584

Highlights: Ski or snowshoe along the Lake Tahoe shoreline, full moon cross country ski parties

Alpenglow Freestyle 20k

Feb. 1 at Tahoe XC

Tahoe Donner Night Race

Feb. 4 and 18

Auburn Ski Club Freestyle Sprint

Feb. 15 at ASC

Paco's XC Presidents Cup

15k skate at Tahoe Donner Cross Country

Sierra Nordic Tahoe Donner XC Relays

3x5km relay, first leg classic

The Great Ski Race

March 1

30k freestyle point-to-point race from Tahoe XC to Truckee

The California Gold Rush/Silver Rush/Bronze Rush

March 22

42/21/10k freestyle races at Royal Gorge XC

Billy Dutton Uphill

April 12

XC ski, run or snowshoe 3.2 miles up Squaw Valley USA

10th Mountain Division Biathlon Race

April 19

Auburn Ski Club

For more information go to farwestnordic.org

Clinics

Clinics at Tahoe Donner XC

Feb. 5 10 a.m.

Women's Beginning Skate Clinic - Taught by PSIA level III JoJo Toeppner. Cost: $35. Part of Women's Month at Tahoe Donner Cross Country.

Feb. 7 9 a.m.

Intermediate to Advanced Classic Clinic - Taught by Olympian Glenn Jobe. Cost: $35.

Feb. 7 9 a.m.

Skate Clinic V-2 Uphill - Taught by PSIA level III Gary Schmitt. Cost: $35.

Feb. 12 10 a.m.

Women's Intermediate Skate Clinic - Taught by PSIA level III JoJo Toeppner. Cost: $35. Part of Women's Month at Tahoe Donner Cross Country.

Feb. 14

Women's Intermediate to Advanced Skate Clinic - Taught by Olympian Katerina Nash. Cost: $35.

Feb. 14

Intermediate to Advanced Skate Clinic - Taught by Great Race Winner and former Fischer Factory Team Member Dave McLaughlin. Cost: $35.

Feb. 14 2 p.m.

Swix Waxing Clinic - This is a free clinic that will be held in the Locker Room.

Feb. 19 10 a.m.

Women's Beginning Skate Clinic - Taught by PSIA level III JoJo Toeppner. Cost: $35. Part of Women's Month at Tahoe Donner Cross Country.

Feb. 26 10 a.m.

Women's Intermediate Skate Clinic - Taught by PSIA level III JoJo Toeppner. Cost: $35. Part of Women's Month at Tahoe Donner Cross Country.

For more information go to tdxc.com