sAge Advice For MASTER skiers time For A ROAD TRIP Check out a Few Secret Gems of the Sierra Nevada By Tim Hauserman If you read the rest of the articles in this Mt. Shasta Nordic Center aspen trees you will ever see. Or jump on the publication you will learn all kinds of great For skiers in the Tahoe/Truckee area Shasta Bjornloppet Trail, the centerpiece of the an- techniques to train harder, ski faster and per- is a bit of a jaunt, but a very worthwhile one. nual race that it is named after. Looking for form better in races. That is all well and good, Situated right at the base of California’s tall- a place to practice your V2? Try The Runway, but sometimes it is entertaining just to head est volcano is the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center a long straightaway that is a aircraft landing out of town to a place you have never skied with 25 Kilometers of trails. You will find strip in the summer. before and ski. Just for the fun of it. friendly folks, and a plants and trees that will Once you are finished skiing, take off your In the Tahoe-Truckee area we are blessed make you feel more like you are in Oregon skis and walk about 100 yards to inexpensive with the largest concentration of beautifully than California. The charming town of Mt. lodging and food at Basecamp lodge. Several groomed cross-country ski trails in the Unit- Shasta City is 13 miles away with a good se- other restaurants are also within walking dis- ed States. Once you have skied Wagon Train, lection of restaurants and outdoor oriented tance. In fact, the whole town can be walked Point Mariah, Drifter, Bronze and Gold, I’m shops. in ten minutes. Bear Valley Cross Country is Ok-Your Ok, Saints Rest, Silver, Last Round Last year the Mt. Shasta Nordic Associa- an incredibly relaxing place to spend a few Up and Super G, perhaps it is time for a road tion took over management of the center, days. trip. Try a few of these out of the way places which is located next to the Mt. Shasta Board for a wonderful ski escape. Tamarack Cross Country at Mammoth and Ski Park. While situated at a low altitude Mountain Kirkwood Cross Country for cross-country ski centers, it is far enough Many of you are familiar with Tamarack Just outside the Tahoe basin is Kirkwood, north to catch the wet storms of the north- Cross Country from the Mammoth Marathon. which boasts some of the most wide open, west. In addition, Mt. Shasta has a unique A marathon is a long race and if it is a warm jaw dropping views of any nordic center in microclimate, which provides for lots of snow day, it can be a very long race. Wouldn’t it be the Sierra. Climb up Outpost to Sierra Vista on the mountain slopes while the area just nice to go to Mammoth and ski around those and the Last Round Up trail for truly spec- downhill is getting rained on. Ernie’s Trail and big, beautiful lakes framed by high granite tacular views of Round Top peak, the Kirk- Dos Lobos are the two most challenging trails peaks, and actually stop and take a look at wood downhill resort and the frozen Caples at the area, but they are not too difficult. You the view without gasping for breath? You Lake. From Lake Tahoe’s South Shore you can could probably ski every trail there within a could leisurely ski up Lake Mary Road and be at the resort in a little over a half hour. few hours, but that’s Ok, go ski them again. then ski over to Horseshoe Lake. Then circle Be sure to check that Carson Pass and the The highlight of your trip will be the stun- Lake Mary itself before heading back to the Carson Spur on Highway 88 are open before ning views of Mt. Shasta. If you have never lodge via Coldstream Loop, Mineshaft, Pine making your jaunt. seen this powerful mountain up close, you are in for an awesome experience. City, Lucky Strike, Waarlis Wrath and Bobby’s Kirkwood has three different trail systems. Blast. It is a very beautiful place to ski, espe- Bear Valley Cross Country The Meadow Trails are two flat trails that cially in the middle of the winter when the wind through the large meadow at the base Another long drive from Lake Tahoe is snow is cold and dry. of the Kirkwood downhill resort. Looking to Bear Valley, but it is well worth it. In fact, Mammoth is a lively place at night with loosen up on the first skate of the year? This this may be the perfect “I need to get out of the bustle of thousands of downhillers may be the place. Then you can cross the town and go somewhere else” cross-country crowding up the restaurants and bars. Which highway to the main trail system. From here ski road trip. The terrain at Bear Valley seems could be fun, or you could find less expensive you can head out to the views on the High to have been created for nordic skiing. And lodging and lots of piece and quiet at nearby Trail, or take lots of little twists and turns the tiny town of Bear Valley will make you June Lake. down to the Beaver Pond. From the pond feel like you have gone back in time. you can head up Agony to the highlight of Tim Hauserman’s latest book, Cross Coun- Bear Valley Cross Country has gentle trails Kirkwood, the Schnieider Trail System. Lots try Skiing in the Sierra Nevada was published winding through aspen meadows as well as of climbing is rewarded with incredible wide in September by The Countryman Press. It is challenging ascents and descents up to ridge open views. On a sunny day, this is where you available at local booksellers, cross country tops. You will not get bored. One of my fa- want to be. ski centers or online. vorite loops is Sunrise Bowl, Grin and Bear It, At days end you can drive a mile to the and Equipe, providing lots of views and a nice Kirkwood Resort for restaurants and enter- climb. Another nice circuit is to wind your tainment or join your buddies who spent the way through Aspen Forest, Walden Meadow day downhill skiing. and Headwater to find some of the biggest .