Wednesday Travel Ticker: SoCal’s snow daze

Snow updates, as another storm approaches: Mountain High has been open since Saturday, Bear Mountain opens today (Wednesday) and Mammoth and Snow Summit open Thursday. More important than the early snow? Consistently cool temps that allow for overnight snow making. Mammoth is reporting a 45-inch base at the Main Lodge.... Speaking of “skiing,” nice to see Matt Lauer’s travel series return, with Namibia on Monday, followed by Madrid on Tuesday. Lauer skiing down a sand dune in Namibia was just “good television,” as they like to say.... The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes an edgy turn with a Tim Burton balloon this year. It is described as “B, a lonely balloon boy outsider with a special wish to fly in the parade.” Go to nycgo.com/holiday for Big Apple travel tips.... Wrightwood’s canopy zip line closes out its inaugural season Nov. 30. It will reopen in April. Look for some season-ending discounts.... Alaska Air and American are now swapping elite status perks, an expansion of their agreement to share frequent flyer benefits ... Air France is adding two A380 runs between Paris and LAX beginning May 28.... Agua Caliente Cultural Museum will use native California ingredients at a cooking demo and tasting at the Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market on Nov. 19, 8:30 a.m. to noon.... Quote of the day: “Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face.” (Dave Barry)