Weather-Beaten: O.C. Deluge : Stormin’ the Slopes : After Taking a Pounding, Some Decide to Take a Powder Far Above All the Havoc

Adrian Rosescu had a feeling that when he left his La Habra home early Thursday morning, a major storm that had swept through Orange County also would mean good snow.

He was right.

The same storm that caused havoc in Orange County and other parts of Southern California dumped up to three feet of snow in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Local skiers said it was one of the “most intense snowstorms” in six years.

Paul Bauer, 35, of Big Bear, the vice president of operations at Snow Valley ski resort, said he was forced to remain overnight in the office. He also had allowed about 20 other people in who did not want to risk driving down the mountain or who were stranded when an avalanche closed Highway 18 from Snow Valley to Big Bear.

“I haven’t seen a storm so concentrated bring so much snow in such a short time,” Bauer said. “(Wednesday) night it was snowing so hard for a while, it was coming down at a rate of two to three inches an hour.”

For Rosescu and his wife, Irene, the sight of a fresh mantle of snow and uncrowded slopes was worth the two-hour drive, and the trouble of putting on tire chains, as well as keeping warm in the cold and windy ski conditions.

“When that big rainstorm hit us in Orange County, I just knew, I hoped there would be a lot of snow up here,” said Rosescu, 27, a store clerk who took the day off to ski.

Rosescu’s father and stepmother, Dan and Linda Rosescu of Buena Park, joined the young couple as they skied and then took a brief rest, enjoying cups of steaming coffee, hot chocolate and homemade sandwiches.

Linda Rosescu said it was ironic that Wednesday’s brutal rainstorm was so scary, yet a day later they were able to enjoy its results in the mountains.

“We left early Thursday morning for the mountains,” she said, “but we still had trouble in Orange County because streets, like at Manchester and Beach Boulevard, were flooded out.”

Nearby, two snowboarders decked out in bright blue and red jackets whizzed by the family. Felix Garcia, 28, and his friend, Hector Rodriguez, 32, both of Laguna Niguel, said they had seen photographs and videos of snowboarders having fun. Garcia got the snowboarding bug two years ago, but it was Rodriguez’s first time on the wide, single ski.

“I like skateboarding,” said Rodriguez, a food server at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Dana Point. “And, it’s almost the same thing.”

Kathy Cantrell, 18, of Irvine, and her three friends had been thinking about getting together for a ski trip long before the storm struck.

“Finally, this was the day when all of us could get off from work and school and do it,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell’s friends included her boyfriend, Dave Krogle, 19, and James Dolan, and Mike Krasner, both 18, all from Irvine.

For Krogle, a student at Irvine Valley Community College, it was his first time on skis. At first he surveyed the beautiful surroundings, taking in the snowcapped peaks and snow-laden fir trees. Then, he strapped on heavy ski boots, secured the skis, and then quickly fell in a heavy crash. Krasner offered advice to right him again.

“I used to play ice hockey at a rink in Costa Mesa,” Krogle said. “Oh, jeez. What do I do now? Say, Mike. How do I get up?”

Jon Lehman, 50, of Costa Mesa had second thoughts about bringing his sons, Jon C., 23, and Andy, 10, to play in the snow when he saw the sign, “Chains required” and a Caltrans crew blocking the road.

“I brought my sons up so they could inner-tube down some hills,” Lehman said. “It’s the first time my little boy has been in the snow. All the way up the mountain he’s been saying, ‘Gosh,’ and, ‘Gee, Dad.’ But I didn’t figure on putting on chains.”

Lehman said he had borrowed a pair from a friend but did not take the time to size his tires with the chains, which were several sizes too large.

Bill White, a Crestline resident who installs tire chains for $20, stood by and watched. He advised that the chains would need adjusting.

Lehman looked at the chains, then his sons, and began struggling with the chains for several minutes. With a defeated tone, he gave up and told White, “Oh, all right, put them on. Here’s your 20.”