2007 Sierra Ski-O Week
Date: Jan. 27 - Feb. 4, 2007
Location: Tahoe Area and Bear Valley
Event Director: 
- 650.793.8764
Type: 7 Ski-O events in 9 days at Bear Valley and the Lake Tahoe area. Competition with the top US and Canadian ski orienteers at 5 cross-country ski resorts for 3 Ski-O championships.
Day 2: Bear Valley XC Center
Event Details
Course Setter: Kent Ohlund
Format: Point-to-point (probable)
Starts: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Special rules:
- Off trail use: Can go off trail but the map was made for trail use, so beware of off-trail areas that go out of sight of the trail. If you see a creek on the map, it is an area best avoided. We are planning to have mapped secondary trails where you would be most likely tempted to leave groomed trails.
- One-way trails: Some of the beginner trails are designated as one-way trails. We were able to get some changed to two-way trails. Courses are designed so you would use the one-way trails in the correct direction (unless you are taking a questionable route). One-way trails are mapped with directional arrow wherever they intersect with other groomed trails.
Map: This map was originally made in 1996 by Mike Poulsen for our first major ski-O events. Back then, we were restricted to using the trails only, so there wasn't a lot of attention paid to off-trail areas. Currently, this map, which was made from a USGS map, still has 40-foot contours. We are currently updating this map to include 5-meter contours with more off-trail detail, but that work will not be completed for the 2007 season. To see a sample map, click the RouteGadget link on the left side of this web page then look for a past event at this venue in 2005 or 2006.
Embargoed areas: This is not a US Championship event, so there are no embargoed ski trails or ski areas before this event.
Venue Information
Resort web page: www.bearvalleyxc.com
Elevations: Competitive area is between 6800 and 7400 feet in elevation.
Total distance in trails: 68 km
Rentals: This resort rents skis and snowshoes. Otherwise, you need to rent these things in Arnold or at home.
Waxing: In the past, you could make use of a waxing bench outside the rental area to wax your own skis. You need to have your own tools and wax.
Lessons: This resort offers cross country skiing lessons. Julie Raymond, one of our Amazon skiers, often teaches some of these lessons.
Lodging and Dining
See the Lodgings page for the Bear Valley area. In general, the close lodgings are limited to a couple of lodges and numerous cabins rented by local realty companies. Arnold and other towns offer motels and more cabins for rent.
Do your grocery shopping in Arnold. The town has at least one very large grocery store on the west end of town next to Highway 4. Bear Valley does have one small store with a small selection of food.
For dining, the Bear Valley village has a few nice restaurants. A favorite is the Base Camp Lodge Restaurant (dinners) and the Headwaters Cafe (breakfast and lunch). There are a couple other restaurants in the Bear Valley Lodge mall.
Driving Directions
Take Highway 5 or 99 to Highway 4 (a mile or two south of Stockton), and then drive east about 70 miles, through Angel's Camp and Arnold, to Bear Valley Cross Country Ski Resort. Turn left, drive between two 20' bears carved from trees, and follow the signs for 300' to parking on the right. Bear Valley is 120 miles from Livermore and Sacramento.
Check in (for preregistered people) or register (day-of-entry registrations) at the outdoors registration area at the trailhead located on the other side of the highway (cross with care!). All competitors, including those who have preregistered, must check in each day of competition. Our discounted trail passes are available at our desk (not at the cross country office).