by Stacey Mleczko
Staff Writer
Today marks the end of the fifth week of the spring semester. University of La Verne students are filling up the campus computer labs and expending hours at the library in effort to catch up on procrastinated assignments.
It looks as though everyone could use a vacation.
There is no better time than now to drop the books [after reading them of course] and hit the slopes.
The local mountains have been bombarded with fresh snow, making winter sports the most attractive escape for the season.
“Up until the past two weeks, the snowboarding season had been pretty weak. But now it is better than it has been the last two years,” said freshman snowboarder and part-time Big Bear resident, Luke Wagner.
Three major ski and snowboarding resorts inhabit the San Bernardino mountains for those seeking the slopes.
Bear Mountain, located in the city of Big Bear, is 100 percent open, featuring 33 trails and 12 lifts. Ride to the top or cruise the bunny slope for $32 a day. On March 11-12, it will host the American Snowboard Tour. For more information, check out www.bearmtn.com.
Snow Summit, also in Big Bear, is just a minute closer to ULV than Bear Mountain and is also completely operable. Eleven of 12 lifts take skiers and snowboarders to all of 31 trails for $34. Log on to www.snowsummit.com for ski and snow reports.
Snow Valley wraps up the San Bernardino mountains resort map with its 38 to 50-inch base and 12 of 35 well-groomed trails open. A single day lift ticket will empty $32 out of skier’s and snowboarder’s wallets, but may prove worth it with the Back Country, which opened Friday, March 3. To access the latest updates online for Snow Valley, see www.snow-valley.com.
For uneasy mountain drivers, Mountain High in Wrightwood offers high altitude adventures at an unwinding experience. A $34 lift ticket will provide eight hours of snow-loving pleasure down 44 of 47 open trails. Mountain High advertises discounted 14-hour extended day passes for Ralphs Club Card holders. Visit www.mthigh.com for directions and snowfall updates.
Mt. Baldy, an Upland-based resort, charges $40 for lift tickets and features four lifts that filter skier’s and snowboarder’s onto 26 runs. Baldy offers discounts for phone and internet reservations and purchases. Refer to www.mtbaldy.com for details.
In consideration of student budgets and alternative interests, there are other options for snow play.
The Alpine Slide at Big Bear’s Magic Mountain, features a quarter mile long track that steers a free sliding go-cart and rider to the bottom of the snowy mountain. Single rides on the amusement can be purchased for $3.50 each or an all-day pass can be purchased at a discounted rate of $15.
The same prices apply to the innertube attraction at Magic Mountain. Snow Play Hill is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For many, these prices are still not affordable within their budget. Another suggestion: head up to a local mountain range with a friend who drives. Treat them to breakfast at Davenport and borrow a red tray or two to use temporarily as make-shift sleds, budget problem solved. Throw a couple snowballs and release all that semester stress.
Stacey Mleczko
