We found spring time at the Sierra Summit last weekend April 4th & 5th, 2008. Still holding the snow well and plenty of groomers to be had. We found the conditions fun from 10:00 until close last weekend. Some shots we clicked are a good indicator. If you like spring riding, this is it.

User Photos (click to enlarge)

Regulars that ride at Sierra Summit don't ride out the flat spots, they head down the right runs. The runs are easy to find on the trail map. The three flat areas can be challenging in the spring, I agree. Even so, I'd rather walk out a ten minute hike at Sierra Summit, if I went the wrong way, then wait in a 15-20 minute lift line at Heavenly $$$$, Sierra at Tahoe $$, Mammoth $$$$, Breckenridge $$$$ and Dodge Ridge $$ on any given weekend. Been there, done that over the years.

For those who live in the local area Sierra Skummit is a great resort to go to. The overall size of the mountain is small with a little over 1600 foot vertical drop this mountain is traverser friendly! Teles seam to love this mountain! However it is a great place to take the family. The resort offers above-average lodging and a family-friendly atmosphere. The mountain is a good place for beginner-to-intermediate level skiiers and snowboarders because of the less challenging terrain. I like to say to family and friends, if you can ski skummit, then you will love to ski everywhere else, because it makes you appreciate bigger resorts! China Peak is a relaxed place to ski and have fun and everyone should go once.

February 2008 update. Fantastic base 7030' elevation, minimal crowds and if you go on a weekday the place is wide open as seen in these Feb. 08 pictures attached. Where else so close can you still be riding unstomped powder at 3:45 in the afternoon?

Get on it. If not now, when?

User Photos (click to enlarge)

Well, a few below this I noticed someone stating how we have such easy terrain with no double diamonds and short runs. Our park happens to be just as good as some of the top parks in California, just in smaller moderation. We don't have a high speed lift but, short lines make up for that time. There has never been a day, even in peak season when I waited more than 5 minutes for any chair on the mountain. I can stand for fifteen minutes up in Tahoe at some resorts or I can ride an equal length chair for 10 minutes and wait in almost no lift line. Our terrain is just as hard as some of the hardest places in the world, you just have to know where to access it. If you have skied some of the most technical lines at Squaw or Mammoth, you should try the false peak, it's the giant looking peak when you get off of chair one. I can hike 30 seconds and get double diamond terrain without a name and it's in boundaries. There are multiple sections of the Face. Our mountains most famous steep run, Avalanche and Juniper are the two runs on the right and left side. Juniper provides for excellent open bowl powder that takes forever to get tracked out. Avalanche doesn't get tracked out fast either and is a big mountain skiers dream. You can kick it off by jumping off the 40 foot cliff up top then hitting the large choice of ten to 25 foot drops and chutes below or ski around the top cliff and hit the lower chutes and drops. There are over 100 different options on this run. Buckhorn provides as the mountain's only named double diamond it is steep in short increments and is over a mile long. the bottom is fun as you weave your way through boulders and step down drops then you skate out for a great length so when the run turns left, pick up speed and carry your momentum through the smaller upper trail out. It's hard to spot but off to the right it's a wide trail, you need to look straight ahead and you will get to the cat track. Powder takes forever to get tracked out as long as you go to the right places, if you want to ski in the chair one area, that will be tracked out before you can yell POWDER DAY! same with Waterfall. Take chair five to east bowl and that gets track out fast too, but it's awesome. Westridge has lovely kicker filled glades. In the trees between lower dynamite and buckhorn is the best stash on earth, try not to tell too many people. The park is awesome and easy to lap. So what if we don't have a halfpipe? we have an awesome park, we inherit all of bear mtn. and snow summit's top of the line Snow Park Tech features. The food sucks but you're welcome to setup your own little lunch at their provided picnic tables. Groomers are excelent, they keep them in good shape but just watch out for icy runs such as mainstream, chair two is the best for groomers. What we have is real skiing.