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2010 Sierra Ski-Orienteering Championships

Day 3 – Tahoe Donner XC

Date: Feb. 2, 2010
Location: Truckee, CA
Event Director: – 650.793.8764 (cell phone)
Course Setter: Bob Baylor and Denise Kowal
Type: Ski-O; Point-to-point event with 5 medium-length courses

Please note that fees and time limits apply, unless otherwise mentioned below. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


Overview

Day 3 is a point-to-point event at Tahoe Donner Cross Country. This hilly venue has an interesting network of trails. The beginner course is mostly in the flats, and the intermediate and advanced courses are mostly in the Home Range of trails, possibly in Euer Valley.

Registration and Trail Passes

Registration is open from 9 AM to noon, and is located upstairs in the lodge building. Pick up your pre-registration packets or register for the day at Registration. If you pre-registered, you will get your trail pass at Registration. Otherwise (i.e., if you are registering on the event day), register at Registrtion, then go downstairs to purchase your trail pass at full price.

Beginner Clinics

This event has beginner clinics for anybody who is new to ski orienteering. Even if you are an expert skier, but are new to orienteering, take the free 20-minute clinic. To take a clinic, see the director at the Starting area.

Starts and Course Closure Time

Starts occur between 10 AM and 12:30 PM by the corral (junction #1 about 100 meters west of the lodge). Typically, we recommend an early start before the sun can turn the snow to slush. If it is snowing, you probably don't need to worry about starting early.

All courses close at 2:30 and you must check in at the Finish by that time, even if you do not finish your course. We automatically begin picking up controls at 2:30, so it does not pay to stay out past 2:30. Even if you do not finish your course, punch in at the Finish and let us know that you are off the course, so that we do not have to form a search party to look for you.

Venue Rules

First and foremost, ski cooperatively and share the trails with the other skiers.

Obey one-way directions indicated on your map. Many beginner trails have one-way directions mandated by the management. We have to follow those directions. If you must go in another direction, go off trail (there are no one-way restrictions off-trail).

Snowshoe trails are for snow-shoe users only. If you are using skis, stay off the snowshoe trails. If you need to go where a snowshoe trail is going, ski alongside but off the trail.

You may go off the groomed trails at your own risk so long as you do not go on private properties, snowshoe trails, or areas marked out of bounds on your map or by the resort.

Sometimes, especially after a major storm, some trails are not groomed. We will make every effort to cross out those trails before you begin your course, but be aware that some trails might not be groomed or might be partially groomed. Always, look out for grooming machines and step aside the trail if one of those machines will be passing you.

(Preliminary) Course Stats

   Course    Airline Dist.    Optimal Dist.    Climb
   White        3.0 km           4.3 km         60 m
   Orange       5.3 km           6.6 km        170 m
   Green        5.6 km           8.4 km        270 m
   Red          6.7 km          10.9 km        330 m
   Blue         8.0 km          13.2 km        380 m

Driving Directions

From I-80 exit into Truckee (about 100 miles east of Sacramento) at Exit 184. 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 less than 0.1 miles to Alder Creek Road. Turn left onto Alder Creek, and go about 0.5 miles to the cross country parking area on the left. If the parking lot is full, park along the street.

Highway Conditions

CalTrans road conditions – (800)427-7623