larger view

I made my first trek up to Alta Sierra, formerly Shirley Meadows, to ski on Saturday and was really impressed. If you can appreciate a small ski resort for what it is, or if you've ever wanted to try skiing/snow boarding or take a trip with friends of mixed skill level, this is as a great place to go. And now's the time to do it. Thanks to the stormy weather, the snow is fantastic. (The resort has listed conditions as "epic" on their web site.)

I'm no pro but skied a bit growing up in upstate New York. One of the things I really liked at Alta Sierra were the runs on either end of the resort called Eastwoods and Westwoods. As their name suggests, these are literally trails through the woods. While most of Alta Sierra's runs are beginner- level, these were a great challenge for someone with more intermediate to advanced skill. And they're basically untouched -- I found a good two feet of pristine powder on them. The best moment of my day was when I fell in the deep powder and looked up to see snow-covered redwoods towering above me set against a goregeous, clear blue sky. I was so mesmerized I just laid there for a few minutes taking it in.

I know a lot of people write off Alta Sierra as a rinky-dink place that's crowded with kids and lacks any real challenge compared to a place like Mammoth. I don't think that's an appropriate characterization. In my opinion it's a great deal: it's not expensive (even the food is reasonably priced), everyone is friendly and excited to be out and it's close to home. Plus, there's hardly any lines at the lift so while the runs are short, you can cram in a lot of skiing/boarding in just a day.

One other thing ... if you go, take Granite Road. The drive is beautiful and the hills are starting to turn green from the recent rain. Have fun!