By Tim Hauserman
Sure, winter is quickly melting away, but now is the perfect time to head to the higher elevations for some springtime skiing. One of my favorite places to go when the sun starts getting high in the sky is Kirkwood Cross Country Ski Area. It takes just over an hour to get there from North Tahoe, but it feels like you are traveling to an another world.
From North Lake Tahoe, drive south on Highway 89 along the west shore of the lake past Emerald Bay, then head through the edge of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50 to Meyers. Turn left off of Highway 50 onto Highway 89 and proceed towards Luther Pass and Hope Valley. Once you begin dropping down into Hope Valley is when the drive starts to become truly majestic. You are surrounded by seemingly untouched snow capped peaks, stretching high above an expansive valley. The mountains get even more dramatic as you climb over Carson Pass and roll past Caples Lake to Kirkwood.
Kirkwood Cross Country has three trail systems: The Main Lodge provides a series of short, fun trails through forest or climbing up short ridges to views; the meadow in the valley provides two short loops for quick skate skis; and my favorite, the Schneider Trail system dishes out amazing views of Elephant’s Back, Round Top, Kirkwood, Caples Lake and the Carson Spur. You do have to work for those views with a long steady climb, but the views are well worth the effort.
Even though there is still a lot of snow at the 8000 foot elevation where Kirkwood is located, don’t dilly dally since it is melting fast.
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 
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