Local Resorts Offer Easy Access and a Generic Alternative : Skiing: Proximity of most locations to the Valley basin makes up for a lack of splendor at more renowned and prestigious slopes.

Aspen, Vail, Steamboat Springs . . . Mt. Baldy.

Mt. Baldy?

It might be stretching things a bit to put Mt. Baldy in the same league with Robert Redford’s kind of resorts, but local ski areas have many of the same attributes as big-name slopes and offer a big bonus: convenience skiing.

Most of the 10 ski areas listed in this story are within a two-hour drive of the Valley basin, with the trip to the Big Bear vicinity taking a little longer, especially on weekends. And even though purists might prefer the Rockies to the San Gabriels, some skiers believe the easy access makes up for the lack of splendor.

“These places aren’t as picturesque as those other resorts, but they’re still beautiful,” said Jack Saranpa, manager at the Valley Ski Chalet in Chatsworth.

The benefit of convenience skiing is mainly monetary--it is not necessary to purchase an airline ticket and rent a condo and take a day off from work for traveling. Most local resorts have package deals: lift ticket, equipment and lesson for about $40. Ski-shop rental of skis, boots and poles is inexpensive (Saranpa’s shop charges $14). If you own your equipment, you can spend a day on the mountain for only the cost of a lift ticket, which averages about $32.

Local resorts also make it convenient not to stay overnight--even if you wanted to. With the exception of the Big Bear area, accommodations in local areas range from sparse to nonexistent.

But there is a downside to convenience skiing. Like most recreation activities in the metropolitan area, skiing pays a price for being convenient. On weekends, long lift lines are a regular occurrence, and it is not uncommon, veteran skiers say, to get in only five runs a day. Skiers also report that drinking has become a problem, especially in areas with lights for night skiing.

“Those places are packed with hackers,” a veteran skier said, adding: “Skiing around here is just not as much fun as it is at Mammoth,” which is six hours away by car.

And according to expert skiers, local slopes do not provide the same challenge as their Sierra counterparts. “The better skiers get bored with them,” Saranpa said.

Mindy Olson agrees--to a point. “Mount Baldy is known for challenging terrain,” said Olson, office manager of Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts.

Indeed, the Thunder Mountain run at Mt. Baldy has a 2,100-foot drop in elevation, comparing favorably to Mammoth’s famed Cornice. “People are amazed how steep it is,” Olson said.

While most local resorts do not offer hot tubs and chic apres ski hangouts, they do have a distinctive flair in many ways. Bear Mountain, for instance, has a state-of-the-art, high-speed quad lift that operates at 1,000 feet per minute, and Mountain High has a quad that can carry 2,000 skiers an hour, transporting them to the top of the mountain in only six minutes. In contrast, Kratka Ridge has one of the last single-chair lifts in existence.

You also can ride Southern California’s first chairlift. Erected in 1942, it is still in use at Mt. Waterman, L. A.’s closest ski area. Located 34 miles northeast of La Canada on the Angeles Crest Highway, Mt. Waterman is known for having “more snow than any other place in Southern California,” said Lynn Newcomb, who owns the resort.

Although lack of snow has been and is currently a problem in local mountains, snow-making machines help overcome the barren look. Mountain High claims to have one of the world’s largest snow-making systems, but even prodigious machinery was thwarted by the unseasonably high temperatures in early December.

And when the temperatures did drop, the absence of snow still prevented more than half the local resorts from opening. As of today, only Mountain High, Snow Summit, Bear Mountain and Snow Valley have opened.

Planning to try skiing for the first time? Convenience skiing veterans have a few tips:

Lessons are mandatory. “Get the cheapest two-hour lesson and then practice on your own,” Saranpa said. “Only take private lessons when you’re really ready to absorb all that knowledge.”

Before leaving home, always call ahead for ski conditions and to be sure a resort has not sold out. Always carry tire chains--during snowstorms, cars without them are often not allowed on mountain roads.

To check road conditions: 213-626-7231.

SKI AREAS AT A GLANCE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST Area: Mt. Baldy (714) 982-0800 Lifts: 4 Lift-ticket prices: $30 Artificial snow: Yes Skiable acres: 400 No. of runs: 26 Night skiing: no Area: Mt. Waterman (818) 440-1041 Lifts: 3 Lift-ticket prices: $28 Artificial snow: no Skiable acres: 130 No. of runs: 28 Night skiing: no Area: Kratka Ridge (818) 440-9749 Lifts: 2 Lift-ticket prices: $25 Artificial snow: no Skiable acres: 56 No. of runs: 14 Night skiing: no WRIGHTWOOD Area: Mountain High (619) 249-5821 (East and West) Lifts: 11 Lift-ticket prices: $35.75 Artificial snow: yes Skiable acres: 220 No. of runs: 40 Night skiing: yes Area: Ski Sunrise (619) 249-6150) Lifts: 4 Lift-ticket prices: $28 Artificial snow: yes Skiable acres: 100 No. of runs: 16 Night skiing: no BIG BEAR AREA Area: Snow Summit (714)866-5766 Lifts: 10 Lift-ticket prices: $35.50 Artificial snow: yes Skiable acres: 230 No. of runs: 18 Night skiing:yes Area: Bear Mountain (714) 585-2519 Lifts: 10 Lift-ticket prices: $36 Artificial snow: yes Skiable acres: 165 No. of runs: 12 Night skiing: no Area: Ski Green Valley (714) 867-2338 Lifts: 4 Lift-ticket prices: $24 Artificial snow: no Skiable acres: 50 No. of runs: 16 Night skiing: no Area: Snow Forest Lifts: 2 Lift-ticket prices: $32 Artificial snow: yes Skiable acres: 160 No. of runs: 13 Night skiing: no Area: Snow Valley (714) 867-2751 Lifts: 13 Lift-ticket prices: $33 Artificial snow: yes Skiable acres: 230 No. of runs: 35 Night skiing:yes