Bakersfield Life

Trip Planner

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58 Miles to fun
By Chris Thompson
 
www.altasierra.com

It’s not surprising that many Bakersfield residents take weekend trips to play in the peaceful white snow. But what you may not know is exactly where they’re going. From skiing and snowboarding to tubing and the always kid-friendly snowball fi ght, this winter is going to be full of chilly fun all right here in Kern County.

It’s not far away at all. Just a few minutes past Lake Isabella and Kernville is all it takes. Winter adventure seekers will find the 58-mile drive to the snow is much shorter than a trip out of Kern County.

Yes, the southern San Joaquin Valley does have its own ski and snowboard resort, albeit not in the valley, but in the surrounding mountains at Alta Sierra. Making this local chill zone even better is the fact that it is owned and operated by local businessmen who are looking to continue bringing family fun in the snow to local residents.

Shirley Meadows began operation in the 1980s and was purchased by a group of Bakersfield-based business people in 2003. A few years later the resort was renamed Alta Sierra at Shirley Meadows to reflect the new owners’ passion for keeping winter sports alive in the San Joaquin Valley.

But for many fun seekers visiting on a busy winter weekend, the fun is an all-day experience.

“It doesn’t take long to get there,” says 14- year-old Victoria Jeffers, who learned to snowboard last year at Alta Sierra. “I like being able to

Try new things on my board and not have to worry about being run over by better riders.” Although a bit smaller than some other California ski destinations, Alta Sierra offers a warm, family atmosphere and the opportunity to experience winter escapes close to home. Additionally, the value of this local resort brings savings that are a welcome relief to winter sports enthusiasts during hard economic times. Adult lift tickets are $35 while a junior pass is $27.

“The value of Alta Sierra is certainly helpful to families that are looking to enjoy the snow together,” says Dave Maynard, member of the eight-person local ownership group. “We see families come up here, enjoy the day and take in dinner at Cheryl’s Diner in Kernville before heading home.” All of this together saves money over a long distance trip to some of the other California locations.

The resort boasts a 400-foot vertical drop at the summit’s high point of 7,100 feet.

With two double-chair lifts, skiers and snowboarders have access to eight runs that offer skill levels from beginner to advanced.

“The misconception is that we are a smaller resort and we don’t have runs for the experienced skier. Our black diamond runs are steep and have plenty of challenging options for those ready to take full advantage of the mountain,” Maynard says.

And it’s more than just the experienced skiers and snowboarders who take in this winter playground. The kids get in on the action even if they have never been on a board or skis. The return of the classic inner tube takes front and center in this one-of-a-kind local attraction.

The tube park is the first of its kind in Kern County allowing tubing without the burden of climbing back up the hill. “The automated lift will hook onto your tube as you sit inside and are gently pulled back to the top of the hill. There is no need to climb; we’ll do that for you,” says Maynard. You don’t even need to bring your own equipment, as a $15 ticket will provide a tube and hours of fun.

In the years that the new ownership group has been working at Alta Sierra, they have strived to improve the equipment available for rent. “We have some really nice skis and snowboards to rent. The quality is just as good as those you could buy,” he continues.

The big news this year at Alta Sierra is the new opportunity to make snow. “We are very excited,” Maynard explains. “We’ve been working on the snowmaking system for a few years and now we are ready to go live.

This means that we will be open for Christmas break, weather permitting, and should

Be able to stay open through the end of March. Being able to make our own snow is a big asset to the resort.” Every ski resort has some sort of sitting area and Alta Sierra is no different. The Warming Hut has outdoor tables and an indoor area for those who may have come to just watch. “We’ll have many people in the Warming Hut all day long, sitting by the fire and playing card games as the kids are on their boards. It truly is a family atmosphere,” Maynard says.

“When I first tried to snowboard, I wasn’t any good,” says Jeffers. “I had a lesson with one of the instructors last year and really got the hang of my board. I can’t do any tricks or jumps, but it is a lot of fun and I can’t wait until they open this year. I’m ready to go back.