TAHOE DONNER
Cross-country Heaven

Tahoe Donner Cross Country (TDXC) is one of the nation's premier cross-country ski centers, with 4,800 acres of terrain, and 51 trails spanning 102 km. Skating, striding or snowshoeing through the aspen groves and pine trees to gorgeous views of valleys and mountain tops is breathtaking. The wide variety of terrain allows everyone to enjoy the sport of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, from first-timers to fine-tuned experts. The trails are divided among beginner (30 percent), intermediate (50 percent) and advanced/expert (20 percent). There are also four snowshoe-only trails.

Let your day begin by cozying up to the fireplace at the Day Lodge, with its beautiful views and home-cooked food from the Alder Creek Café. There are five more warming huts throughout the TDXC terrain, all providing stunning panoramas. The Euer Valley cookhouse is nestled in the glorious Euer Valley, an easy 3½-kilometers ski from the Day Lodge. A simple warming hut during the week, on weekends and holidays it becomes the perfect place to refuel and rest. Baked goods, soups and sandwiches can be purchased at the Euer Valley Cookhouse and the knowledgeable staff is happy to provide trail recommendations.

On Wednesday nights in January and February, TDXC is open for night skiing, on a 2½-km lit track, from 5 to 7 p.m. There are four night races; starting the second Wednesday in January, they run every other week. In February, TDXC hosts the Valentine's Race, a 15-km freestyle race, and the 3X5 Relays. TDXC's most popular event, the Tour d' Euer, takes place in March. There are three different-length tours to choose from, and immediately following the ski everyone enjoys lunch and live music on the deck. Throughout the entire season, TDXC's world-class instructors conduct night clinics, special women's clinics and skills clinics. For information regarding races, events and clinics, check out TDXC on the Web at tdxc.com.

This season there is a new snowshoe trail to explore called Walk About. It starts just past the deck, winds up through the aspen grove and connects into Snowshoe. From there the choice is yours: you can stay in the Home Range, go up to the top of Hawks Peak or down into Euer Valley.

TDXC is located at 15275 Alder Creek Road in the community of Tahoe Donner, Truckee. TDXC is approximately 20 miles north of Lake Tahoe. Call 530-587-9484 for more information or go online, tdxc.com.

And remember: The skiing is out there.