My Favorite Trails By Jeff Schloss One of the best things about my job as a cross country ski coach is that I have skied at most of the top XC ski resorts in the country. There are a lot of great trails out there but I can say, without a doubt, that the best nordic track skiing in the United States is right here in the Lake Tahoe area! With over 600 kilometers of groomed trails, spread out through six major resorts and several smaller areas, there is always something new to explore. What sets Tahoe skiing above the rest of the with a nice gradual climb through a small country is probably the quality of the canyon lined with Aspen trees. This is my grooming. Because of the huge amounts of favorite section; it feels far removed from the snow and the constant melt‐freeze cycle here, rest of the trail system and is the perfect up‐ the XC centers must groom daily to keep the hill grade for the long glides of classic skiing. surface ideal for skating and striding. And that At the head of the little canyon the trail turns they do—every resort grooms a significant left and heads straight up a section called the portion of their trail system every day and “Elevator Shaft” which is a short, but very they all use state of‐the‐art big grooming steep, herringbone grunt. I like skiing it this machines. You won’t see a snowmobile pulling way because I get the climbing over in one an old box‐spring over the snow here. Add in tough pull and then can enjoy the fun S‐turn great views, exciting mountain terrain, descent all the way back down to Euer Valley. legendary Sierra snowpacks, and lots of blue A final gradual climb out of the Valley brings sky days and you have a track skiers paradise. you back to the Nordic center for a perfect 13 Here is a list of five of my favorite ski trails on kilometers. the North side of the Tahoe region. TAHOE XC TAHOE DONNER Silver Trail I like Tahoe XC for my long easy days of High Noon Trail skating because the terrain is a little more I ski at Tahoe Donner nearly every day and gentle than some of the other areas. Tahoe XC I never get tired of it. Even with all of the has wonderful loops through the forest but different choices of trails I find myself my favorite trail breaks out of the forest for constantly making sure that I fit “High Noon” some unbelievable Lake Tahoe views. I like to into my circuit. It’s a great loop for skating but ski out from the center on the Yellow and I think it really shines for classic skiing. After Green trail then take Orange counter‐ departing from the Nordic center I usually clockwise to Red and finally over to the Silver head down the gradual descent into Euer trail. Silver is great in either direction, but I Valley and around the flat loop of “Last think the views hit you the most dramatically Round‐Up” & “Coyote Crossing” before going counterclockwise. The trail has really coming to the “High Noon” trail. High Noon is nice rolling terrain and then, WOW! Lake a loop and can be skied either direction, but I Tahoe opens up right in front of you. After all prefer going counterclock‐wise. You start out of the skiing in the woods I am always amazed to come out on the Silver trail and feel like I the energy take a left on Snow Mountain and could almost dive into the lake from the trail. finish up with the Palisades trail. This is about After the Silver Trail loop, it’s back to the a 22K ski that shows off some of the best Lodge via Purple trail for a fun and rolling terrain of Royal Gorge. total of twenty kilometers of skiing. THE ULTIMATE NORTHSTAR CHALLENGE Tahoe­Psycho Trail Royal Gorge Perimeter Northstar offers an interesting contrast. The OK, this is only for the truly fit and slightly Nordic trails are adjacent to the Downhill area insane. Once a year I like to really test myself and to access them you must take the Gondola by skiing the entire outer perimeter of Royal up to Mid‐mountain. This involves dealing Gorge. I start at Summit Station and head with all of the crowds of the Alpine skiers and counterclockwise, making every right turn I getting off the Gondola in the middle of the come to. This takes you around the outside of Alpine area. Whoa, this doesn’t feel like the the whole ski area for a total ski of about 70 XC experience! But wait, because the other kilometers. Yep, you read that right—70 k side of the coin is just a kilometer away. Ski up without skiing any trail twice! I recommend the steep Forest trail and hit the Sawmill Flat doing this on a weekend because there is a trail. At this point the contrast really hits you; better chance of all of the trails being there is no one around! Northstar Nordic trails groomed and because the trail system opens a are remarkably uncrowded—I have often half hour earlier than the weekdays. You want skied here on perfect grooming and not seen to be there right at 8:30 am, ready to go with another ski track for most of the day. My fast skis, a couple of water bottles, and some favorite trail is to take Sawmill Flat over to food—it’s going to be a long day! The Lumberjack and then up the long climb of the perimeter takes you to all of the great view Tahoe trail. A great view of the Lake awaits at spots on the trail system: Devils Peak, Snow the top and then fast cruising across Mountain, Point Mariah, Lola’s Lookout, & Timbuktu takes you to one of the wildest Lake Van Norden. descents around, the Tahoe‐ Psycho Trail. Hang onto your hat and set your edges well These are just a few of my favorite trails, for the ripping decent back to Lumberjack and and it doesn’t even mention the great skiing the return to the Alpine area. at the southern end of the lake (Spooner Lake An extra bonus of the ski is that you finish the and Kirkwood.) The Tahoe basin really offers day by skiing down the Alpine “Home run” a life‐time of great trails to enjoy, so wax up all the way down to the parking lot. This is a the boards and I’ll see you on the trails! tough day with lots of climbing but some really great downhills, totaling about 15 km. Jeff Schloss is one of the Far West’s ROYAL GORGE most recognizable skiers and coaches. Point Mariah Trail He has been the Head Coach Far West My favorite trail at Royal Gorge is Point Nordic, Auburn Ski Club, Univ. of Mariah. The skiing is varied and fun the whole Nevada Reno, Truckee High, and is way and the destination is remarkable. At now head coach of the new nordic Point Mariah you are looking straight down program at Sugar Bowl Academy. almost 4000 feet into the Royal Gorge of the American River. This is the kind of topography you won’t find skiing in Minnesota! I like to ski from the Summit Station out Big Ben to Reindeer, Sterling’s Canyon, Whitney’s Bowl to Point Mariah. Then I make an awesome loop by coming back on the rolling ridge‐line of East Ridge. If you have And That’s Not Spooner Lake: Saints’ Rest Trail All… Spooner’s winter version of the Flume Bike In addition to Jeff’s favorites, we asked a few Trail is Saint’s Rest. Fun fast downhills with other Sierra resorts about their favorite trails. run outs and banked corners will put a smile on your face every time. Nice views of Lake Tahoe along most of the trail adds to Tamarack Lodge, Mammoth the thrill. After the downhills the trail akes ineshaft rail climbs up to the dam at Marlette Lake L : M T (where the summer Flume trail begins) and Combine a fun, curvy, downhill trail with the ski along the edge of the beautiful a little California gold mining history, and frozen Marlette Lake leads to the short you have the finest route back to Tamarack climb out of the lake basin. More fun Cross Country from the scenic Mammoth downhills (Super G and the Aspens) Lakes Basin. The Mineshaft Trail leaves complete your 24 km loop and take you the top of the Coldwater Trail, twisting back to the Spooner day lodge and trail and turning through the lodgepole forest, head. passing some old mining cabins and leads Max Jones to another exciting descent down Lucky Strike. The fun continues all the way back to the ski center with Waarli’s Wrath and Bear Valley: Headwater/ Bobby’s Blast, featuring a quick, fast descent. Aspen Loop Nancy Fiddler One of the Bear Valley favorite loops encompasses several trails and is about 7.5 km long. It starts with Headwaters Trail, Kirkwood: Cap les Creek Trail which is a “roller coaster” complete with A favorite trail is at Kirkwood is Caples turns, dips, steep ups and high speed Creek Trail, located right behind the cross descents. At the end of the loop is Walden country center. The trail begins with a Connection, which swoops down into roller‐coaster ride that descends quickly Walden Meadow, an almost magical place down to a peaceful meadow.