Helping you find the best, groomed cross-country skiing areas in
California is the purpose of this book, that plus a lot of information
on getting started. I skied every good area I could find and came up
with twenty-two, including two in Nevada, but very close to Lake
Tahoe.
There is a section on the exercises done year round that keep me sharp
enough to enter races on short notice. Then, because I love to teach
skiing, there's a full colour section on the turns needed for downhill
control on cross-country skis. This time I did six easy turns (see
Five Easy Turns),
and though some would say the tip-toe turn is less
than easy, it's a fun turn.
The book starts out at Mount Shasta and takes you through the Lake Tahoe
region, Bear Valley and Yosemite, all the way down to Kings Canyon and
Montecito Sequoia. The facilities available and the prices at each
area are described (Bear in mind that prices go up a little each year,
typically about 5%. Each new edition of the book
will note these advances).
For every area there are accurate descriptions of the best and less
expensive places you can stay (I stayed in every lodge mentioned).
There is also good coverage of the best places to eat, and what to do
if weather threatens you on route to your destination; in other words,
cut out places to stay overnight.
Every chapter has its sidebar anecdote and lots of tips beyond the
norm in a guide book. The book has quickly achieved a five star rating
with Amazon.com, like it's companion book on Sea Kayaking (see
Adventure Kayaking).
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