Time hit the slopes, resorts opening

Dodge Ridge Winter Sports Area is gearing up for its Friday opening.

Dodge Ridge Winter Sports Area, off Highway 108 near Pinecrest, will open Friday, while Bear Valley Mountain Resort, off Highway 4 just east of Calaveras County, will be open Saturday and Sunday and then seven days a week starting Dec. 18.

Leland High Sierra Snowplay, a snow tubing park off Highway 108 four miles east of Strawberry, will also open for the season on Friday.
   

At Dodge Ridge, about 75 to 80 percent of the mountain is expected to be open Friday, with all 10 lifts running.

Dodge Ridge President Sally Helm, who owns the ski area with her husband, Frank, said this week’s opening will provide ample time to train employees before the busy holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s.

“Everybody is so, so relieved to be working. It’s wonderful,” she said. “It was just a blessing to get this much snow. It just kind of gets you into winter mode and ready for Christmas.”

At the peak of the ski season, Dodge Ridge employs about 450 people and Bear Valley employs about 325 people.

Leland High Sierra Snowplay employs between 35 and 40 people.

“It’s awfully nice to be able to make that phone call and say, ‘Hey, we’re ready to go,’ ” said snowplay areas owner Lance Vetesy.

At an elevation of 6,300 feet, the tubing park has opened as early as Halloween and as late as Jan. 10, with mid-December being the average.

Dodge Ridge is opening a week earlier than last year.

“I would say we’ve opened right around this time for the past four years,” said Rosie Sundell, spokeswoman for Bear Valley.

This week’s storm has given Dodge Ridge 26 inches at its base and 36 inches at its 8,200-foot summit. More snow is predicted in the high country tonight through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

“We could end up with another couple feet of snow by Monday morning,” Helm said.

Tuolumne County Transit will continue to run a shuttle bus to Dodge Ridge on weekends and holidays.

Dodge Ridge is extending its season pass sale deadline to Sunday. Unlimited passes for adults and teens are $399, with youth and seniors at $159.

At Bear Valley, adult lift tickets will be sold for $39 this weekend — discounted from the regular price of $59.

Bear Valley has received 30 inches of snow at its base and 40 inches in some areas of its 8,500-foot summit.

“Everyone’s calling, people are excited,” Sundell said. “There’s a great energy at the resort.”

Badger Pass Ski Area in Yosemite National Park is expected to open for the season on Dec. 18.

    Contact Mike Morris at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 588-4537.