Are you interested in cross-country skiing? While the sport originated in Norway, it is very popular in the Lake Tahoe area. There are several places for cross-country skiing, and the sport has a lot of history in the region. This post will explore the history of cross-country skiing in Lake Tahoe.
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The Story of Cross-Country Skiing in Lake Tahoe
Snowshoe Thompson: Tahoe’s First Ski Legend
Cross-country skiing in Lake Tahoe has existed since the mid-1850s. The legendary skier Snowshoe Thompson carried mail across the Sierra Nevada. More than 160 years later, the sport is still going strong.
Miners quickly embraced ski skates for winter travel. They’d craft their own and race down slopes at speeds up to 90 mph. Ski clubs and downhill races emerged across Sierra mining camps. The men and women would compete in wild, dangerous events.
California’s First Ski Spots
Now a popular Truckee restaurant, Cottonwood once had a small ski area with rope tows and a Poma lift. Charles F. McGlashan’s Winter Carnival, with skiing, skating, and sleigh rides, put Truckee on the map as a winter destination.
Sugar Bowl Resort opened in 1939 with help from a $2,500 investment by Walt Disney. It featured California’s first chairlift, the Disney lift, which was 3,200 feet long with a 1,000-foot vertical rise. The lift had 13 steel towers and adjustable terminals to accommodate snowfall.
In 1940, the first Silver Belt race drew top European and American skiers. It was one of the toughest ski events before the World Cup era.
The 1960 Winter Olympics
When Palisades Tahoe opened in 1949, it had just one double chairlift—the world’s largest—and two rope tows. It was later the venue of the 1960 Winter Olympics. The event brought major growth to the resort and the Truckee-Tahoe area. You can explore the history of the 1960 Olympics at the Olympic Museum in High Camp.
Walt Disney oversaw the opening and closing ceremonies. It was also the first time the Olympics were on television in the U.S. This event led to major growth in local resorts, with new lifts, snow play areas, and lodging developments.
After the Olympics, Alpine Meadows opened in 1961. In 2011, it merged with Palisades Tahoe. Together, they offer 6,000 acres of skiable terrain on one lift ticket.
Skiing and Riding
Truckee-Tahoe is a top spot for skiing and snowboarding, with over seven resorts just 15-45 minutes from town. It’s also home to world-class Nordic areas, including North America’s largest cross-country ski area. It’s the perfect winter destination, with 500 inches of snow each year and plenty of California sunshine.
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