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 4: Royal Gorge XC Center
Event Details
Course Setter: Bob Baylor
Format: Point-to-point format utilizing the central mapped area (Summit Station track system).
Starts: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Course statistics:
Course Direct Optimal Climb Classes Blue 11.5km 14.9km 235m M-21+, Amazon Red 9.2km 12.7km 195m F-21+, M-20, M40+, M-red Green 8.5km 12.0km 150m F-20, F40+, M-16, M55+, M/F-green Orange 5.3km 7.1km 130m F-16, F55+, M/F-orange White 4.2km 5.1km 70m M/F-white
<b>Special rules:
- Off trail use: Must stay on mapped trails. Where trails come within 10 feet of one another, you can cross between them. Otherwise stay on mapped trails.
- One-way trails: There are no one-way trails.
- Rope tows: There are at least four rope tows on various hills. It is legal to use them but they might not be fast enough (and often stop when skiers slip off) for competitive skiers.
Map: This map was originally made in 1997 by Tom Jahn. 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, 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.royalgorge.com
Elevations: Competitive area is between 6900 and 7400 feet in elevation.
Total distance in trails: 330+ km
Rentals: This resort rents skis and possibly snowshoes. Otherwise, you need to rent these things at Sierra Nordic (Soda Springs), Pacos (Truckee), or from ski stores near your home.
Waxing: In the past, you could make use of an indoor waxing bench in the rental area to wax your own skis. You must use your own tools and wax.
Lessons: This resort offers cross country skiing lessons.
Lodging and Dining
See the Lodgings page for the Tahoe area. In general, the nearby lodgings (for Soda Springs) include a couple of Royal Gorge lodges (not including the Wilderness lodge, which burned down a few years ago), the Sierra Club hostel (Clair Tappan), and numerous cabins rented by local realty companies. Additional lodging can be found in Truckee (15-20 minutes away).
Do your grocery shopping in Auburn or Truckee, where large grocery stores abound. There is at least one small grocery store with a limited stock in Soda Springs
For dining, there are a couple of restaurants in Soda Springs and many more in Truckee (especially the old town of Truckee).
Driving Directions
From I-80 (about 90 miles east of Sacramento or 10 miles west of Truckee), take the Norden/Soda Springs exit (Exit 174). 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 (for those who preregistered) and registration (for day-of-entry registrations) are inside the main building — we will have a special desk in one corner of the room by the door. Skis can be rented downstairs.