Skiers get their first chance of the season to hit the slopes at Snow Summit in the San Bernardino Mountains, where a Pacific storm dropped about 4 to 6 inches of snow. The precipitation decreased as the day warmed up. (Mountain High Resort / November 29, 2009)
WRIGHTWOOD -- Local ski resorts got an early holiday gift in the form of white powder, which promises to bring business to local mountains relatively early in the winter season.
In fact, recent years have seen Thanksgiving weekends that left resort operators with little to be thankful about. But the winter storm that hit the region early Saturday brought real snow to sunny Southern California.
"I expected a minor dusting at best," said Chris Riddle, director of marketing for Big Bear Mountain Resorts. "But lo and behold, when I woke up this morning, it was snowing real hard."
As the resorts bundled up in anticipation of an additional 30 percent chance of snow Saturday, Riddle said that as much as a half-foot of snow had already coated the ground at Big Bear today.
Chains were required for mountain travel, but that didn't stop a strong showing of skiers and snowboarders at the resorts.
"This is a good start ... ," Riddle said.
In fact, recent years have seen Thanksgiving weekends that left resort operators with little to be thankful about. But the winter storm that hit the region early Saturday brought real snow to sunny Southern California.
"I expected a minor dusting at best," said Chris Riddle, director of marketing for Big Bear Mountain Resorts. "But lo and behold, when I woke up this morning, it was snowing real hard."
As the resorts bundled up in anticipation of an additional 30 percent chance of snow Saturday, Riddle said that as much as a half-foot of snow had already coated the ground at Big Bear today.
Chains were required for mountain travel, but that didn't stop a strong showing of skiers and snowboarders at the resorts.
"This is a good start ... ," Riddle said.
