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Sports

Friday, Dec. 12, 2008

The Bee's 2008-2009 Cross Country Skiing Guide

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TAHOE DONNER

• Snowphone: (530) 587-9484

• Internet: www.tahoedonner.com.

• Location: Highway 99 to I-80 to Donner State Park exit. Exit on Donner Pass Road, left on Northwoods Boulevard, follow signs.

• Trail Pass: Adults $23; 60-69 $18, kids free.

• Terrain: 49 trails, 115 kilometers of trails, 4,800 acres split equally among beginners, advanced and intermediates. Top elevation 7,729.

• Ski School: Learn To Ski/Skate $47 for ages 13-59.

• Rentals: Package (skis, boots, poles) $20, half-day $16, demo equipment $26.

• Reasons to go: One of nation's top cross country centers featuring wide variety of terrain including three new trails and two new snowshoe-only trails. Euer Valley Cookhouse, only a 3½-mile ski from day lodge, offers food and comfort. Night skiing Wednesdays from Jan. 7 to Feb. 25.

ROYAL GORGE

• Phone: (530) 426-3871

• Internet: www.royalgorge.com

• Location: At peak of Donner Summit. Take I-80 east to Soda Springs exit, follow Royal Gorge signs.

• Trail Pass: Adults $29, midweek $25; half-days $25 and $19.

• Terrain: Largest cross country ski area in North America: 9,172 acres, includes 90 machine-groomed trails stretching for 330 kilometers — half for intermediates, 18 percent for advanced, 32 percent for beginners.

• Ski School: Group lessons (90 minutes), $25. With trail pass, $48.

• Rentals: Skis, boots, poles $21, 16-under $12, demo package $30, snowshoes $21, pulk sleds $18.

• Reasons to go: Ranked No. 1 by Snow Country Magazine. Updated snowmaking resort (15 kilometers of snowmaking) offers many services of downhill areas, including 10 warming huts with free hot tea and stoves, four trailside cafes. Free broadband Internet connection at lodges.

NORTHSTAR

• Snowphone: (530) 562-2475

• Internet: www.skinorthstar.com

• Location: I-80 Highway 267 exit, six miles. Adjacent to Northstar downhill area.

• Trail Pass: Adults $25, 5-12 $13.

• Terrain: Nearly 40 kilometers of groomed and tracked trails for cross country, telemark and snowshoe center. Top elevation 7,800 feet.

• School: $65 group lesson for adults (90 minutes), kids $39, includes trail pass.

• Rentals: Skis, boots and poles $25, kids $13. Snowshoes $25 adults and $13 kids.

• Reason to go: The trail system, complete with warming huts and picnic tables, is separate from downhill ski runs, which helps free-heelers experience the peaceful side of Tahoe wilderness (complete with views of the lake). Expanded cross country and snowshoe center features sun deck and larger teaching area. Moonlight snowshoe tours in-season.

TAHOE CROSS COUNTRY

• Snowphone: (530) 583-5475.

• Internet: www.tahoexc.org

• Location: I-80 to Truckee, south on Highway 89 to Tahoe City. East on Highway 28 two miles. At Dollar Hill, take Fabian Way, right on Village Drive, left on Country Club Drive. Drive time: 3:30.

• Trail Pass: Adults $21, $17 after 12:30 p.m.; 10-17 $17, $12 after 12:30.

• Terrain: 65 kilometers of machine-groomed back-country trails exclusively for cross country skiers and ski skaters. Quiet, wooded forested trails with good views of Lake Tahoe. Rolling terrain is especially suited to beginners and intermediate skiers.

• Ski School: Package (trail pass, rentals and instruction) $48 for adults; $38 afternoon; 10-17 $40 and $30 afternoon.