Ready for snow season? Heres what you need to know about local resorts – OCRegister

Rudy Arce, 25, of Fontana, snowboards down Mountain Highs west resort, during opening day at the ski resort, in Wrightwood, Ca., Wednesday, December 6, 2017. (John Valenzuela/The Sun/SCNG)

Leah Harteau, 9, from Green Valley, patiently waits for the lifts to open on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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Leah Harteau, 9, from Green Valley, waits at the front of the line for the ski lifts to open on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A snow making machine blows snow as skiers and snowboarders wait for the lifts to open on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Snowboarders enjoy their first runs of the season on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Snowboarders head up the lifts for their first runs of the season on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Snowboarders exit the lift on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Mark Hardin, from Brea, and his son Mark, 3, head towards the ski lifts on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Mt. High representative John McColly (left) greets a skier just prior to opening the ski lifts on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Yeti rides the lift with the first snowboarders of the season Keith Harteau, from Green Valley, along with his daughters Ava, 11, and Leah, 9, on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Skiers and snowboarders wait to board the lift on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Skiers and snowboarders are reflected in a boarders googles on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Snowboarders and skiers approach the ticket window on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Keith Harteau, from Green Valley, along with his daughters Ava 11, and Leah, 9, are the first to hit the slopes as they exit the lift on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Mt. High representative John McColly announces to skiers and snowboarders the lifts are open on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Romain Azria, from Pearblossom, heads towards the ski lifts on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A snowboarder relaxes as she gets a lift to herself on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Skiers and snowboarders crowd the ticket windows on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Yeti rides the lift with the first snowboarders of the season Keith Harteau, from Green Valley, along with his daughters Ava, 11, and Leah, 9, on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Skiers enjoy their first runs of the season on opening day of the ski and snowboard season at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Snowboarder Josh Adams, 20, from Pasadena, gets some air on his first run of the season on opening day at Mt. High in Wrightwood Saturday morning Nov. 23, 2019. The resort is expecting more snow this coming week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Its starting to feel a lot like winter at least in the local mountains, where snow is blanketing the slopes.

Recent storms signaled a hopeful start to the snow season, and with chilly nights ahead allowing for snowmaking and another storm expected mid-week nearly all Southern California resorts are just days from kicking off their snow season.

Mother Nature really dictates the actual opening date, said John McColly, vice president of sales and marketing for Mountain High, which opened Saturday, Nov. 23.

So if youre ready to dust off the snow gear, here are a few things to know about the slopes at local mountain resorts.

Operators of Mountain High in Wrightwood, which snow enthusiasts can typically reach in under two hours from Los Angeles and Orange counties, were hoping to open by Friday, Nov. 22, but the latest storm dropped only six to eight inches, just shy of what operators were hoping for. Instead, they opted to wait a day and add to the base with man-made snow.

Another storm approaching mid-week is expected to add even more to the base for those hitting the slopes for the holiday weekend.

Snow Summit, which got four to six inches of snow this week, is scheduled to open Nov. 28, with sister resort Bear Mountain opening Nov. 29 but only for weekends until Dec. 13, when it will start operating daily. Big Bear resorts are expected to get an estimated 20 inches with the approaching storm.

Snow Valley is eyeing Wednesday, Nov. 27.

Mammoth Mountain, about a five- to six-hour drive, opened it slopes Nov. 9.

Snow-goers were calling last year one of the best seasons in a decade, following year after year of drought conditions in Southern California.

It was great plenty of powder days, McColly said, noting Mountain High was open almost until Easter. It was a great season and reminded us what a normal season looks like here.

The resort got an estimated 95 inches, not record-breaking by any means, but better than the 20 to 50 inches in previous years.

And hopefully, we are off to a good start this year, he said.

Snow Summit reported 152 inches of snow last season, with more than half about 81 inches falling in February. The previous season total was a measly 39 inches.

Mammoth Mountain ended up with nearly 500 inches of snowfall from November through May, with 207 in February alone. With that much snow, the resort was able to stay open until August.

But the big question remains: Will this season be as good as the last?

Resorts are constantly trying to improve on their user experience everything from adding the latest, most efficient ways to create snow to give Mother Nature a helping hand, to improving the areas where people congregate to eat, drink or take a break from the slopes.

Mountain High has made $1 million in improvements, including bringing in new snowmaking technology, new rental equipment and a new snowcat, and adding a third Yeti Snow Park.

About $500,000 of that total went into new stick guns and other machines that use less diesel and cost less to operate.Traditional snow guns use electric fans or high-pressure nozzles to project the snow horizontally across the slopes, while the stick guns are 35 feet above the ground and let fresh snow fall naturally, requiring less energy.

If youve ever been on the slopes when the old guns were blowing, you know that pelt-in-the-face feeling isnt very pleasant.

They are much quieter, make a ton of snow and its a better experience, McColly said of the stick guns.

The new system uses an estimated 100 fewer gallons of diesel fuel per hour, ostensibly cutting its carbon footprint in half, according to a statement from the resort.

Mountain High last year unveiled two Yeti Snow Parks, areas for snow play and sleds. This year, its adding another this one at 8,200 feet, at the top of its East Mountain, so snowgoers can take a scenic sky-chair up the mountain to sled, trek along a snowshoe trail or take in the scenic views from the Grand View Bistro.

The Yeti Snow Park at the base of Mountain Highs East Resort is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the parks at the top of East Resort and North Resort open weekends and holidays only.

Also new this year are rentals of all-mountain Sno-Go Snow Bikes.

Big Bear Mountain Resort spent millions sprucing up their resorts including a $5 million renovation to the Bear Mountain base that includes doubling the size of the mountains sun deck area. When complete, it will be about the size of a football field, boasting three new fire pits and outdoor furniture, with new ramps and pathways to expand accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

This is definitely a case where more is better, said Big Bear Mountain Resort COO Wade Reeser, in an announcement about the upgrades. In many ways the sun deck at Bear Mountain is as celebrated as the mountains snow conditions and terrain parks, and this project fully embraces that idea.

Mammoth Mountain is also beefing up its hang area at Canyon Lodge with a new bar and restaurant serving barbecue, and 2,500 square feet of inside space that will allow for an extra 200 seats.

Snow Valley made about $1 million in enhancements, including nearly doubling snow play areas and increasing sledding lanes to 15.

The San Bernardino County mountain resort increased access to Slide Peak, some of Southern Californias steepest descents at a pitch of 35 degrees, with upgrades to the chairlifts that reach the summit and a brush-clearing program that manicured the runs for better access.

Snow Valley also has a new alfresco drinking and dining option on the Chalet Deck, which will have two alpine gazebos serving food and drinks with menus changing throughout the season rotating micro brews, brats, burgers, soups and salads.

Theres also an option to take the food to go and head to the Mountain Top Terrace above the Snow Valley Express chairlift, where picnic tables with a view are set up on the mountain.

If you cant wait until your favorite slope opens, Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain in Big Bear is covered with snow, both from the latest storm and two weeks of snowmaking.

The snow base is two to four feet, and more snowmaking is expected.

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Ready for snow season? Heres what you need to know about local resorts - OCRegister