TRUCKEE, Calif. – The 2025/26 winter season marks the 40th Anniversary of the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center (TDXC), one of North America’s most celebrated XC ski destinations. Established in 1985 by visionaries Peter Werbel and American biathlete and former Olympian Glenn Jobe, their trail-blazing efforts laid the foundation for TDXC’s vast network of trails, including the iconic Euer Valley. With a rich history that harkens back to California’s pioneer era, and modern innovations in snowmaking, grooming technology and snow reports, TDXC’s growth and evolution over the past four decades have spanned a remarkable journey, from rustic roots to an award-winning, world-class facility.

This year’s 40th Anniversary season will feature special events, community celebrations and a look back at the people and stories that shaped the center over four decades. “From a small barn to a best-in-class cross country ski facility, the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center is a story of passion, perseverance and love for the outdoors,” says Sally Jones, Cross Country Ski Center Manager since 2012. “We are proud to celebrate 40 years of creating unforgettable XC experiences for locals and visitors alike.”

Jobe’s early contributions to the Cross Country Ski Center are most often attributed to his athletic achievements. However, lesser known and perhaps most pivotal is his role in acquiring access to and paving the way for the acquisition of the Euer Valley as part of the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center. The crown jewel of the trail system, it was Jobe’s background, having grown up on a cattle ranch, and his ability to speak “rancher to rancher” with owner John Euer – whose family’s presence dates back to the 1860s – that facilitated a “handshake deal” for use of the valley and its sprawling meadow landscape. The land was later bought by Tahoe Donner in 2012. 

Operating modestly out of a barn until 2015, the Alder Creek Adventure Center was built to provide guests with ski center dining, retail and rental services, as well as a tech shop, locker rooms and a public waxing room. The center’s history, however, remains woven into every trail, many of which carry Western-inspired names honoring TDXC’s roots.

Today, TDXC boasts over 100 kilometers of trails, offering the most accessible terrain to the broadest range of skiers, from beginners to experts. By design, Jobe – quite literally – blazed trails himself in a snowcat to ensure they were easiest nearest the lodge and the most difficult farther out. Skiers can enjoy flat terrain, rolling hills or challenging ascents and descents while being fully immersed in the beauty of the Sierra Nevada and the magic and mystique of Euer Valley. Groomed daily, benefitting from snowmaking capabilities and utilizing the Nordic Pulse app for real-time trail and grooming updates, TDXC prides itself on an enhanced trail experience forty years in the making.

Consistently recognized as a Top 3 Cross Country Ski Area in North America by USA Today, TDXC features learning programs for all levels from youth skiers to adults, a top-notch team of professional instructors – sometimes including Jobe himself – as well as an equipment rental and demo center. Tahoe Donner is widely recognized as the premier facility for veterans to train, and for newcomers to fall in love with the sport and community. To learn more about all that makes TDXC a renowned Nordic ski destination, not just in Lake Tahoe, but across the continent, visit tahoedonner.com/xc.