Where to Ski, Get Lessons and Advice

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Badger Pass Cross-Country Ski School (six miles off California 41 on Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park, (209) 372-1244) is the oldest on the West Coast, and reportedly one of the best. Ski routes go through the giant Sequoias to sites overlooking Half Dome and El Capitan in Yosemite Valley and much of the Sierra Nevada. There is no trail fee, but entrance to the park is $3.

Rentals: $11 per day.

Lessons: $25 for four-hour introductory lesson and all-day rental.

Lodging available at the Yosemite Lodge, AhwahneeHotel and Curry Village.

INYO NATIONAL FOREST MAMMOTH LAKES AREA

In the shadows of Mammoth Mountain, Southern California’s favorite alpine ski area, several resorts cater to the growing Nordic crowd.

A good first stop for first time skiers might be the U.S. Forest Service Visitors Center (on California 203 at the entrance to the town of Mammoth Lakes, (619) 934-2505).

Pick up a trail map for 25 cents, an Inyo National Forest map for $1, topo maps, or books on cross-country skiing.

Hours: 8-4:30, Monday-Saturday.

24-hour road, snow and avalanche conditions: (619) 934-6611.

Mammoth Cross-Country Ski Area (off Lake Mary Road just out of town, (619) 934-2442) sets 60 kilometers of groomed track through the rolling terrain of the lakes, basin and forest. Tamarack Lodge offers rooms, cabins, meals, and the obligatory fireplace.

Trail fee $7; rentals: $10; lessons: $13 group; lodge rooms: $65; will do guided tours.

About three miles from the Tamarack Lodge, Sierra Meadows Ski Touring Center (in Mammoth Lakes on Sherwin Creek Road, (619) 934-6161) has 28 miles of marked, groomed trails and a warming hut where hot skiers can cool off.

Trail pass $6 a day.

Rentals $12 a day. Group lessons $15.

For sheer ski escapism, Rock Creek Winter Lodge is hard to beat (30 miles northwest of Bishop on U.S. 395 to Tom’s Place, then head up Rock Creek Road (619) 935-4464). Guests are ferried by snowmobile to a 7 1/2-acre site with a main lodge and primative cabins heated by wood stove. From there, they can set off on 25 kilometers of machine-groomed track and another 30 kilometers of marked trails leading to the wilderness.

The lodge charges $120 per person for the minimum two-night stay, with meals, lodging, and a ski lesson included.

Rentals: $18 for two days.

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

Basically a downhill resort, Sierra Summit (65 miles northeast of Fresno off California 168, (209) 893-3316) also boasts 10 miles of marked, groomed trail.

Rental: $10.

Trail fee: $2.

Lessons: $18 per group.

KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Grant Grove Ski Touring, (on Generals Highway in the National Park, (209) 335-2314), offers marked trail through the park.

Rentals: $9.50

Lessons: $11 for two hours

Wilsonia Lodge, (just off California 180, two miles into the park from the National Park entrance gate (209) 335-2310) has about 20 miles of marked trail in the nearby forest.

Rentals: $10.

Ski Touring: (209) 335-2303.

Lodge is $50 a night for two.

SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST

Montecito-Sequoia Nordic Ski Center, (on Generals Highway, near Grants Grove, just outside park boundaries, (800) 227-9900 or (415) 967-8612) has 10 miles of groomed trails leading through the forest to vistas of Kings Canyon and the Great Western Divide.

Rentals: $8 a day.

Lessons: $8.

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

Sequoia Ski Touring (on Generals Highway in Sequoia National Park, (209) 565-3461) has 25 miles of marked trails through the Giant Forest and the Wolverton lodgepole area.

Rentals: $9.50.

Lessons: $11 beginners.

Lodging within the park.

LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST MT. PINOS AREA

At 8,831 feet, Mt. Pinos is the highest point in the Los Padres National Forest. A volunteer ski patrol maintains 36-40 miles of marked cross-country ski trails through fir and Jeffrey pines. Most skiers depart from the 8,200-foot Mt. Pinos parking lot, located where Cuddy Valley Road dead-ends, about 15 miles west of Frazier Park. Get there early on weekends to beat the crowds.

The Chuchupate Ranger Station, (Lockwood Valley Road, Frazier Park, (805) 245-3731) has a recorded snow report (805) 245-3449) and offers information and trail maps for the Mt. Pinos area.

Frazier Ski and Pack (3620 Mt. Pinos Way, Frazier Park, (805) 245-3438) is a complete outdoor store, and has its own recorded snow report (805) 245-3050. Owner Lloyd Wiens knows a lot about the area and is willing to share his knowledge.

Ski package rentals (skis, boots, poles): $9 a day

Classes: $20 including lesson (on weekends, unless previously arranged).

Hours: 7-7 weekends and 8-6 weekdays.

Mt. Pinos Wintersport Area, on Frazier Park Road in Lake of the Woods (805) 245-3760 also rents skis and other snow play equipment. Ask owner Burt Gustafson about conditions and ski spots.

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS

Extending from the Tehachapis in the northwest to Cucamunga Peak in the southeast, the Angeles National Forest is the closest place for Angelenos to ski. Stop by the Chilao Vistors Center, (27 miles from La Canada on Angeles Crest Highway, (818) 796-5541) and pick up a flyer on cross country skiing in the area.

Gerry Reponen, manager of the center, suggests that skiers pick up a forest map then head for one of these areas: the Charleton Flats Picnic Area, Chilao Picnic Area, Horse Flats and Bandito Campgrounds (closed in winter, but OK for skiing), Buckhorn Campground, Crystal Lake to Deer Flats (California 39, above Azusa), the Big Pines area in community of Wrightwood, Table Mountain. (east and west Table Mountain Roads and Table Mountain Campground), and California 2 near Inspiration Point (ski on the unplowed section of the road).

SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST RUNNING SPRINGS-BIG BEAR

The Arrowhead Ranger District, (26577 California 18, Rim Forest, (714) 337-2444) has maps and information on skiing in the Arrowhead district of the San Bernardino National Forest.

Several ski and sporting goods stores in the Running Springs and Arrowbear areas rent cross-country equipment. Green Valley Lake Cross-Country Ski Center, has everything for the cross-country skier from ski and lip wax to advice from owner Dave Williams. (Take California 330 from San Bernardino to Running Springs, and continue towards Big Bear on California 18 for two miles to Green Valley Lake Road. Take a left and travel a half mile past the town of Green Valley Lake (714) 867-4505.)

Ski package rentals: $7.50 a day.

Lessons $7.50 weekends, $10 during the week.

Hours: Weekends 8-5, 9-5 Monday-Friday.

In Big Bear, Buffalo Bill’s Nordic Center (off California 18, three miles east of the dam on the south shore of the lake, (714) 866-5253) offers rentals and maps to trails throughout the Big Bear Valley).

Rentals: $8 a day.

No lessons.

Hours: Weekends 8-5, 9-5 Thursday-Friday.

MT. SAN GORGONIO

Mill Creek Ranger Station, (34701 Mill Creek Road, Mentone, (714) 794-1123) issues permits for the San Gorgonio wilderness and supplies information on other popular but undeveloped cross-country areas nearby. (Take I-10 through Redlands, off at Orange Street to California 38, turn right and follow California 38 about 10 miles.)

MT. SAN JACINTO

The U.S. Forest Service’s San Jacinto Ranger District, (25905 California 243, Idylwild, (619) 659-2117), issues wilderness permits and supplies information on skiing in the San Jacinto wilderness area. For information on San Jacinto State Park contact the park rangers at: (619) 327-0222

The most popular way to get to San Jacinto’s often excellent snow is via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (619) 325-1391. Trams leave every half hour from 8 a.m. till 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and from 10 on weekdays. Price is $11.95 for adults. $7.95 children.

The Palm Springs Ski Center at the top of the tram, (619) 327-6002, offers access to one mile of marked trails and a whole mountain of more challenging backcountry touring and snow camping spots. Persuade manager John Wallace to fill you in.

Rentals: $15 a day.

Lessons: $10 group lessons at 10-12-2.

Hours: From 8 a.m. (first tram) weekends.

FLATLAND RENTALS, LESSONS, LECTURES

Various sporting goods shops in Southern California rent cross-country equipment. Here are a few of the larger outlets which offer lessons as well as rentals:

Sports Chale, has eight stores from San Diego to La Canada.

Rentals: $7 first day, $20 a week.

The La Canada shop also offers “outdoors adventure” courses in skiing basics, telemarking, and touring through April. These include in-shop lectures and on-the-trails instruction.

Adventure-16 shops are located in West Los Angeles (11161 W. Pico, (213) 473-4574); Tarzana (818) 345-4266; Solana Beach (619) 755-7662; and San Diego (619) 283-2374.

Rentals: $10 a day, $2.50 thereafter for demo skis; $8 a day, $2 each day thereafter.

The shops will offer a cross-country class including in-shop and on-snow instruction Feb. 28 for $40.

REI Co-op is open to the public and offers discounts to its members on classes and rentals from stores in San Dimas (714) 592-2095), Carson (213) 538-2429) and Orange (9 City Blvd. West, The City Shopping Center (714) 634-2391).

Rental: $9 members, $12 non-members per day; $19 members, $24 non-members a week.

The shops offer various courses, including a ski touring course for $30 and a telemark class for $40.

OTHER CROSS COUNTRY ADVENTURES

The California State Dept. of Parks and Recreation “Sno Park” system consists of about 15 sites in Central and Northern California. A $2 day permit or $10 seasonal permit allows cross-country skiers (as well as snow mobile riders and others) exclusive parking at sites with access to trails in the area.

Sno-Park guides are available for $2 plus tax and $1 postage and handling, from California Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Publications Section, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, Calif. 94296. For more information call (916) 322-8593

Cross-Country Skier magazine and the Cross-Country Ski Areas of America offer a guide called Destinations, a national directory of over 350 cross-country ski touring centers. Send $2 for postage and handling. RD 2, Bolton Road, Winchester, N.H. 03451

The Wilderness Institute’s (22900 Ventura Blvd., Suite L-10, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364 (818) 887-7831) Winter/Spring catalogue advertises all sorts of ski trips and clinics. For example, check out these local ski tours scheduled for February: Mt. Pinos to Mt. Able $20, or La Canada to Wrightwood $95.

The Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, has some sort of cross-country ski trip or ski mountaineering trip planned virtually every weekend throughout the winter and early spring. For information pick up a schedule of events at most outdoor shops, including those listed here.