Snow Summit Opens Saturday

Today's opening of Mtn. High in Wrightwood may have lit a fire under Snow Summit in Big Bear, which is opening Saturday after previously indicating the public would not get to the slopes until Thanksgiving.

However, there is still no announced opening date for Summit's sister resort, Bear Mountain.

Both Miracle Mile (Chair 1) and Bear Bottom Beginner Area (Chair 8), plus a few terrain features on Bear Bottom run will open Saturday, but snowmaking continues at every opportunity so more areas may come into play, weather and conditions permitting. 

Flickr user Big Bear Mountain Resorts

The base area of Snow Summit on Thursday.

Special early season lift tickets rates are: full day (8 a.m.-4 p.m), $40 adults (22+); $35 young adults (13-21); $10 children (7-12); half day (noon-4 p.m.) $35 adults; $30 young adults; $10 children. Private ski and snowboard lessons are available on the hour and the Summit Inn will be open for breakfast and lunch.
 
"We had some favorable snowmaking conditions this week enabling us to go ahead and give the green light to opening Snow Summit on Saturday," Chris Riddle, director of marketing for Big Bear Mountain Resorts, says in a media release. "After what has been a very long summer, everyone's ready to hit the slopes. This weekend is the perfect time to come up and take advantage of special pre-season rates and get a little head start on the 2010-2011 So. Cal snow season."
 

• Mammoth Mountain Opens Today, Mtn. High, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Are Not Far Behind

New features this season include Skill Builder Parks and $500,000 in new snowmaking equipment as part of $1.7 million in improvements Big Bear Mountain Resorts have invested for 2010-11. For snow reports, live cams and more, visit snowsummit.com.