Snowmobiles Tours Easy Exercise

Mature travelers who wish to participate in a sport other than skiing are being introduced to the Winter Sports Center of Lake Tahoe.

Owners Ari and Tina MacKinen have developed easy-to-handle snowmobile tours for the mature individual, as well as cross-country skiing trips that are not too strenuous.

Working with snowmobile manufacturers, sports and medical professionals, outdoor clothing manufacturers and safety experts, the MacKinens have brought snowmobiling from harsh rides and lots of noise to a smooth, muted trail adventure.

They offer a two-hour guided snowmobile tour in scenic Hope Valley, just west of Lake Tahoe, for $65 per person.

There are a few king and queen seats for double riders at $90 per couple. The cost includes shuttle-bus pickup and return from all Stateline, Nev., casino hotels.

Novice snowmobilers might want to add $5 for an extra-warm snowsuit, $3 for snow boots and $3 for goggles. The safety helmet is included in the price.

“Though the snowmobiles are capable of going much faster, our guided tours run at about 15 m.p.h. to 25 m.p.h. for mature riders,” Tina MacKinen said.

The tour route is graded and smoothed each morning to ensure a comfortable ride.

For those who would rather try something shorter or who would want to test the snowmobile first, a 30-minute ride on the Winter Sports Center snowmobile track is $22 for one, $40 for a double-seater.

The MacKinens also schedule night snowmobile rides for an additional $10 per person.

The Winter Sports Center, on U.S. 50 at Tahoe Paradise by the Lake Tahoe Country Club, also offers cross-country skiing on a variety of novice-to-expert trails and on state recreation and park lands. Cross-country trails also are groomed daily.

A daily pass is $5 per person, while a daily ski package--including cross-country skis, boots and poles plus the area pass--is $10.

Newcomers to cross-country skiing often choose the 90-minute group lesson for another $9 (or $20 per person for the lesson, all equipment and a day pass).

Complimentary shuttle-bus service also is included.

The Winter Sports Center has special group rates for 15 or more mature travelers wishing to go snowmobiling or cross-country skiing.

For group tours the center can arrange for a Snow Cat to meet the tour group’s snowmobiles along the route for a mountaintop lunch. They also can provide Snow Cat rides for those who don’t wish to try snowmobiling.

For more information: Lake Tahoe Winter Sports, P.O. Box 11521, Tahoe Paradise, Calif. 95708, (916) 577-2940.