Snow is back in SoCal.
The San Bernadino mountains were hit with snow during the southern California region’s coldest day of the week on Tuesday, October 30, 2024.
That means Big Bear Mountain Resort was dusted with snow, and while it might not have lasted long before it melted away, there’s even more in the forecast. OpenSnow has forecast up to three inches between now and Monday. The resort puts it simply on the home page of its website.
“Snow is in the forecast this weekend,” it says.
Temperatures are hovering around 35 degrees this morning, and snowmaking will begin when overnight temperatures drop into the low 20s with low humidity and light winds, according to the Big Bear weather report. An official opening date hasn’t been announced yet, but lift tickets are on sale now for a projected November 23 start date.
Bear Mountain and Snow Summit both opened up on November 24 last season.
The resort is adding a new high-speed six-seat chairlift that’s set to debut this December. It will replace two chairs in the central base area, and provide better uphill access, leading to shorter lift lines. According to the resort’s press release, the lift cost $10.2 million, and can load skiers and riders uphill at 1,000 feet a minute.
There are three ski areas under the Big Bear Mountain Resort umbrella: Bear, Snow Summit, and Snow Valley. Snow Valley received 201 inches of snow last season, and 277 inches the season before that.
Photo: Big Bear Mountain Resort
Bear Mountain is a haven for park rats, with southern California’s only halfpipes – there are two - and a plethora of terrain parks. It’s the smallest acreage of any of the three ski areas, but features the longest run, with Geronimo at 1.5 miles. It was one of the locations used in the filming of ThirtyTwo’s 2023 film Bonecrusher, which featured the snowboarding of Austin Vizz, Toni Kerkela, Phil Hansen and Pat Fava.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in California, temperatures at Mammoth Mountain have already dipped into the 20s, and the resort is making snow. An opening day of November 15 has already been set, and a winter kickoff party is on the calendar.
Coffee and hot cocoa service begins at 7:30 a.m. on the mountain, and first chair is at 8:30 a.m. There will be a beer toast to the season on the Tusks Sundeck at 11 a.m. And The resort is offering discounted lodging and lift tickets for the start of the season with the exception of Thanksgiving weekend.