Ski resort has earliest ever opening

By SYLAS WRIGHT

SIERRA SUMMIT, Calif.—Skiers and snowboarders arrived at Sierra Summit in hordes Saturday to hit the slopes on the earliest opening date ever.

Recent storms, according to the Sierra Summit Web site, have dumped more than four-and-a-half feet of snow at the peak of the 8,709-foot mountain, and more stormy weather is predicted this week.

“This is an unusual amount of snow for this time of year,” said Lisa Bressel, a marketing coordinator at Sierra Summit. “We are not used to receiving this much this early.”

Although snow blanketed most of the terrain, rocks, bushes, stumps and other protruding natural objects could be found with relative ease. But that’s to be expected at Sierra Summit, which is strewn with large boulders, fallen trees and spikey stumps.

Kenny Rose, a 45-year-old heavy equipment operator for Southern California Edison and Sierra Summit local, doesn’t believe there is four-and-a-half feet of snow anywhere on the mountain.

“There’s absolutely no way there is almost five feet,” said Rose, who has been riding at Sierra Summit for 35 years. “There’s probably 18 inches on the top.”

That number does seem more accurate. And with masses of people carving the precious surface away, some additional snow coverage would help.

But Bressel is not worried about the snow, or lack of it.

“I wouldn’t say it’s risky,” she said about opening on such an early date when the area is known for Indian summers—a period of dry weather late in the fall. “We are expecting more snow this week, so that’s not a concern.”

But spring-like conditions prevailed Saturday.

With sunrays intense, the snow, especially at the bottom of the mountain, became increasingly sticky as it melted away. Certain sun-baked spots caused instant and radical speed reduction as if riding into a giant sheet of flypaper.

Shaun Reich, a senior civil engineering major at Fresno State, who has been snowboarding at Sierra Summit since 1995, is a bit skeptical about the weather cooperating.

“I’m impressed with the coverage,” Reich said, while shedding his goggles and beanie, “but it’s still early in the season. I just hope this isn’t a tease. It feels like an Indian summer.”

Either way, Sierra Summit is open, meaning anyone willing to cough up $45 for a lift ticket can enjoy a day of maneuvering down slopes with clean air in his or her face.

Plenty of people were willing to pay Saturday, as evidenced by both full parking lots and the lengthy lift lines. It was the first day of the season, though, and many trickled out early with overworked muscles and sunburned faces that resembled raccoons.

“We are very pleased,” Bressel said about Saturday’s turnout. “The crowds were good, conditions were good and people had fun.”