XC Skiing (Cross Country Skiing) is one of the best forms of exercise you can do that is affordable and mostly injury free compared to downhill or other forms of exercise. It’s also a very vigorous activity so you can easily stay warm yourself even in cooler or freezing snow conditions. You should be well conditioned and clothed as you may be skiing into areas where you have to navigate yourself and provide all of your own services unlike a ski resort.
Cross Country Skiing at Pinecrest California
Around Pinecrest there are no groomed trail fee areas so you must create your own trails. If there has been a few deep snowfalls, it will require a lot of effort to cover much distance at all so plan your trip carefully. The more XC skiers you have in your party when the snow is fresh and deep is better to share the burden of breaking your own trails.
Since there are no groomed trail area, “skating” XC skiing isn’t really an option in the Pinecrest area as it requires a 8 foot wide, flattened, firmed snow based to properly skate. There is no one making groomed XC ski tracks and flatted areas around Pinecrest!
February 2017 – Skiing on Experimental Forest Rd outside of Pinecrest after warm rain storms washed away much of the snow leaving rivers everywhere!
Equipment:- XC ski equipment rental or purchase in the Pinecrest area is basically not existent so plan ahead and rent or purchase ahead of time if you plan to XC ski in the Pinecrest area in the central valley or Bay area. Bear Valley and Hwy 4 is a much bigger XC ski area and offers options to rent and also a fee groomed area as well but that area is 2+ hours away fro Pinecrest. Other Sierra destinations (near Tahoe) have a more complete set of XC ski options of groomed areas and rentals and purchase options.
Conditions: Your experience cross country skiing can vary dramatic from one week to another one a few weeks later. Too much snow will require you to create trails that take an incredible amount of effort moving snow out the way to create a track. Not enough snow will require that you take off your skis and put them back on once your cross a dry patch. And icy conditions can make it difficult for less experienced XC skiers and more dangerous for falls with the harder and slippery surface. Always be prepared to apply a “maxi-glide” type solution to the bottom of your skis to prevent the snow from sticking while out on the trails. Carefully plan your adventure for your destination, time, and ability levels and the snow conditions and you may need to make decisions on the day on the ski based on those factors.
Pinecrest Cross Country & Snowshoe Network 