2007 Sierra Ski-O Week
Current Highway Conditions (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo) Toll Free : 800 427-7623
Traveling to the 2007 Sierra Ski-Orienteering Week
Sacramento, Reno, Stockton, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose all offer airports that you can use. The most convenient airport to arrive at and depart from is Sacramento, but sometimes the Sacramento prices are a bit high. The Reno airport has the best drive for departures, but the longest drive when you arrive. Stockton is close to Bear Valley, but quite far from the last venue.
You can use various web sites to book air travel, such as www.travelocity.com, www.excite.com, and www.itasoftware.com (combines flights for one or more airlines). Southwest Airlines is often not covered by any web site other than their own.
For car rentals, get something that can be used in the snow. 4-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles are often preferred, but cars with chains also work, and often provide the best traction when you need to stop. It might be cheapest to rent a car and buy chains at a local auto store. Bring a car that can operate in a snow storm.
When planning your car travel, be sure to check weather forecasts. Snow storms in the Sierras can be severe and sometimes close or congest highways, which can add many hours to your travel time. If you have the choice of driving in clear weather or in a storm, try adjusting your schedule for the clear weather to avoid a long slow drive.
Traveling From Bear Valley to the Lake Tahoe Area
Typically, the best route between Bear Valley and the northern Lake Tahoe area is to take Highway 4 to Highway 49 in Angels Camp, then travel north on Highway 49 to Auburn, then go east for about an hour to the Norden/Soda Springs/Sugar Bowl exit (Highway 4 east of Bear Valley is closed during the winter). In addition to Highway 49 being the quickest route, this highway also takes you by many of the California Gold Rush historical sites (which can make this a long but interesting trip with various stops to explore). If it is snowing, this is usually a safe route that avoids the snow, but in severe storms the snow level can come down to this highway (rarely happens). Allow 4 hours in good conditions to make this trip.
Driving Directions to the 2007 Ski-Orienteering Venues
All directions begin from the highway that you take to each venue. Because people will be coming from different directions on each highway, each set of directions will begin at a highway exit.
Bear Valley Cross Country Ski Area (Day 1 and Day 2)
Take Highway 5 or 99 to Highway 4 (a mile or two south of Stockton), and then drive east about 70 miles, through Angels Camp and Arnold, to Bear Valley Cross Country Ski Resort. Turn left, drive between two 20-foot bears carved from trees, and follow the signs for 300 feet to parking on the right. Bear Valley is 120 miles from Livermore and Sacramento.
Check in at the outdoors registration area at the trail head located on the other side of the highway (cross with care!). Ski rentals are in the cross country store located between the parking area and trail head. (Note: Do not buy trail passes there — if you need an event trail pass, get it at registration.)
Royal Gorge Cross Country (Day 3 and Day 4)
From I-80 (about 90 miles east of Sacramento or 10 miles west of Truckee), take the Norden/Soda Springs exit. Go straight through the village for about a mile to the first blinking light/stop sign. Turn right; go across the railroad tracks, past the Soda Springs downhill ski area on your right, up the small hill, and turn at the second right (you'll see signs by now). After the turn, go straight to the parking lot of the Royal Gorge Ski Area lodge.
Check in (and buy event trail passes if needed) inside the main building — we will have a special desk in one corner of the room by the door. Skis can be rented downstairs.
Auburn Ski Club Training Center (Day 5)
From I-80 (about 90 miles east of Sacramento or 10 miles west of Truckee), take the Boreal Ridge/Castle Peak off-ramp just before Donner Summit. Go to the west end of the Boreal Ridge parking lot.
Check-in/Registration will probably be in the A-frame building of the Auburn Ski Club Training Center.
Tahoe Donner Cross Country (Day 6 and U.S. Long Course Championships)
From I-80 (in Truckee, which is about 100 miles east of Sacramento), exit at Donner Pass Road. Turn left onto Donner Pass Road, and go 0.5 miles to Northwoods Blvd (signal). Turn left onto Northwoods, and go about three miles to Fjord Road (you'll see a sign for the cross country area before you reach the road). Turn right onto Fjord, and go a couple hundred feet to Alder Creek Road. Turn left onto Alder Creek, and go about 1/2 mile to the cross country parking area on the left.
Check-in, registration, and event trail pass sales are located upstairs in the main building. Ski rentals are downstairs.
Tahoe Cross Country (Day 7 and U.S. Short Course Championships)
Burton Creek is on the northwest side of Lake Tahoe in the Sierras. To get there, take Highway 80 to Truckee. Exit at Hwy 89 and drive south to Tahoe City. At the Y intersection, go north on Hwy 28 (North Lake Boulevard) about 2 miles, and turn left on Fabian Way (7-Eleven store on opposite side of the highway). Make an immediate right onto Village Road, and follow it as it veers to the right. Turn left at the first intersection, and park as close to the Tahoe XC office as you can.
Check-in, registration, and event trail pass sales are in the lounge in the main building. Ski rentals are at the other end of the same building.