(Maybe the wrong place to ask this, but I haven't found the L.A. version of this place yet.)

Going to L.a. in early March and realized I could consider a ski day. Anyone here have opinions on the best choice within around a 1.5-hour drive from downtown LA? 

Not certain but big bear works.

plateau-reached wrote:

(Maybe the wrong place to ask this, but I haven't found the L.A. version of this place yet.)

Going to L.a. in early March and realized I could consider a ski day. Anyone here have opinions on the best choice within around a 1.5-hour drive from downtown LA? 

My buddy who lives out that way sent me this ...

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/top-lists/a-guide-to-ski-resorts-closest-to-orange-county/

Was in the same position about two weeks ago.  Look at Mountain High or Mt Baldy in the San Gabriels.

When working I used to make a lot of business trips to Pasadena.  I'd build in at least a weekend on either end to ski.  I only went to Big Bear and Snow Summit one time.  Its a good deal more than 1.5 hrs and the last hour is a slow and stressful drive on quite hairy mountain roads.  On weekends both areas are majority snowboarders and the terrain is not that good.  (i knew this and brought my board.)     Baldy has great terrain and is about an hr from Pasadena, but it has only about 1 good year in 5.  Some years it never opens.  If they do have good snow it is not to be missed.  Mostly I went to Mammoth because a business colleague and good friend had a place there and we'd stay at his place and ski together.  Once you get out of the LA traffic, after Palmdale, the drive is easy.  Flat thru the desert and empty.  Keep it to 85 or less and the highway patrol won't bother you.  The scenery in daylight is magnificent as the high Sierra is alongside 10 miles to the west for about 200 miles.  From Bishop to Mammoth Lakes is about 35 miles, 4000 feet elevation gain, yet never steep or twisting and well plowed when needed.  Chain restrictions south of Mammoth Lakes are rare.  If you're lucky the enire trip takes about 5 hrs.  All things considered, most LA skiers make Mammoth their prime option and I understand why.

not a day trip of course, it needs at least a weeked.  I took a look at Mtn. High once in Feb.  It looked worthy but was closed.  Almost no snow, which is more common than not in the San Gabriels. 

plateau-reached wrote:

(Maybe the wrong place to ask this, but I haven't found the L.A. version of this place yet.)

Going to L.a. in early March and realized I could consider a ski day. Anyone here have opinions on the best choice within around a 1.5-hour drive from downtown LA? 

Outside DC ski discussion: try EpicSki. It's national and best for all things skiing. 

I'd agree with other posters that Mammoth is definitely the place to go. Unfortunately they havent had a good dump in awhile, but still going to be better than big bear, etc. 

Mammoth is unfortunately out of the question. Too far. I guess my options would be Big Bear or Mountain High.

But I can't seem to get a handle on whether skiing outside of LA is even a worthwhile pursuit to begin with. A few people I talked to have advised against it. One actually said, "The skiing's just as sh*tty as the DC area." 

I haven't been able to get opinions yet from people who live in/near LA and ski regularly. I'd especially like to know what the conditions might be like in early March. But I'll keep digging.

Actually, NonstopSki, that EpicSki link was really helpful and I found a similar discussion there. The consensus seems to be that it'd be better to spend my time at the beach. I think I'm just going to do that. 

plateau-reached wrote:

Actually, NonstopSki, that EpicSki link was really helpful and I found a similar discussion there. The consensus seems to be that it'd be better to spend my time at the beach. I think I'm just going to do that. 

yea unfortunately they're (Mammmoth) not having a great year (again). I was there in December 2014 and 2013. 2013 (especially Dec.) was one of their worst years of all time. This year was much bettter, but it's a joke compared to years ago where Mammoth would have more trails open and more snow than many mountains in the country very early in the season. It's never going to break records for number of inches of base, but it was typically pretty great at getting early season snow. They'd get these massive dumps that my brother experienced 2 years in a row. And he was going in the pretty early season (December).