TAHOE DONNER
Skiing at Tahoe Donner Cross Country

Photo: www.chappawitz.com

"The skiing is out there!" This slogan for the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Center is bold and exciting, just like the landscape where the center is located.

Tahoe Donner Cross Country, aka TDXC, is one of the nation's premier cross-country ski centers, with 4,800 acres of terrain and 51 trails spanning 102 kilometers. 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 those who want to try it for the first time to those who are 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 a glorious setting an easy 3½ kilometers' ski from the Day Lodge. This simple warming hut during the week, on weekends and holidays 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 Dec. 27 and Feb. 26, representatives from Fischer, Salomon, Rossigonol, Madshus and Atomic will be on hand for demo days. Demos are free; all you need is a trail pass to try them. 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, and running every other week at 6 p.m. In January there are two races: the Duathlon, a 5-km stride plus change of equipment, and a 5-km skate. The second race in January is the Skogsloppet, a 15-km freestyle race, which is also a fundraiser for the school's ski team. In February TDXC hosts the Valentine's Race, a 15-km freestyle. TDXC's most popular event, the Tour d' Euer, takes place in March. There are three tours to choose from, and immediately following the skiing 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.

Tahoe Donner Cross Country 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 to tdxc.com. And remember: "The skiing is out there!"