Hi Powderhounds,

This was a great snow week for the So. Cal. resorts - winter is alive and well! All resorts got at least 10" and some got about 2 feet. Spring deals are popping up everywhere so grab your gear and get out here. Some of the resorts are offering spring season passes - Snow Summit's is good for next season as well. Hit the slopes with these deals....

Spring Ski and Stay! The SOTC Heavenly and Lakeside Package! The Lakeside Inn & Casino and HEAVENLY (continue) hosting weekend and midweek (really low priced) (SOTC) ski and stay packages based on availability. Stay two nights at the Lakeside Inn & Casino, slide two days at HEAVENLY! The Lakeside Inn & Casino throws in two breakfast specials to boot! $139 per person double occupancy! $278 plus tax for the room package! 1 800 624-7980 Note!!! You can book this package in multi and single day packages through the end of the season.

Bear Mountain - Springfest is Coming
Head up to Bear for Springfest (3/29-4/7) - they'll have Freestyle Friday, Raggae music, a Mountain Brew Festival, Theme Days (participants get $10 off adult lift tickets and teens get $5 off) and pond skimming. If you can ski/ride here 2.5 times or more before this season ends, get the $99 Spring Pass for unlimited riding for the balance of the season. Bear got 10" of natural white stuff - they have a 30-56" base. Bring your old daily lift ticket, express ticket, season pass or park pass from another CA. resort and get a $25 lift ticket (Mon. - Fri., 3/18-22/02). Season passes from other So. Cal. resorts will get you $10 off an all day adult lift ticket or $5 off a teen all day lift ticket (good Sun.-Fri., non-holiday). Ride free on your birthday with I.D. Remember to reserve your tickets because they limit sales to keep crowds down. Thundercloud Resort offers a ski package for $75.43 pp/do - it comes with lodging, breakfast and lift (www.thundercloud.com. www.bearmtn.com.

XTCTours - Cheap Bus & Lift Deals
XTC runs bus trips to Bear from Orange County, L.A. and San Diego. For $55 you get your ride, your lift and a beverage. Check out their Mammoth trips as well - you get 2 day lift, a bus ride and deluxe lodging for $269 (Trip organizers that get 15 or more paid riders travel free!!) - see the website for details. www.xtctours.com.

Mt. High - Snowjam Starts this Weekend
Mt. High will have Snowjam from 3/23-31/02 - featuring pond skimming, Big Hair Jump, Frozen T-shirt contest, live music, celebrity radio remote and raffles. Or head up on 3/20 for the Burton Tour. If you have a 6-Pack, 3-Peat or Quad ticket, turn it in when you're finished to get a free Mountain Access Card (usually $19) - it will get you $10 off adult 8 hour tickets, $5 off adult night tickets, a free 8 hour ticket after every five visits plus discounts in the shops and for lessons. If you plan on doing some night riding, pick up a Quad ticket for $59 - it works out to only $14.75 a night for four nights of lifts (after 4/1 it's good for daytime rides, too!). It's only available online so don't expect to pick one up at the resort. Mt. High was hit with 8-10" of snow in the last storm and they have an 18-30" base. Bring your I.D. to ride free on your birthday. www.mthigh.com.

Weather.com
This week should warm up but another chance for snow will occur on Friday and Saturday. The resorts will have limited snowmaking opportunity this week. Check out Sliding on the Cheap's link at Weather.com for other regional newsletters and so much more. www.weather.com.

Mammoth - The Wholly Mammoth Brought More Snow!
Mammoth got about 2' of snow again this week and they have a 9-10' base. More snow is expected on the weekend! Need a job and want to get a season pass? Mammoth is hiring - get a pay check and a season pass. If you plan to ride Mammoth and/or June Mountain 7 or more days next season, consider the Value Pass for $399 (available beginning 4/1/02 through 5/31/02). This pass is good for summer gondola rides and next ski season at both Mammoth and June!!!!! This is an awesome deal because the regular Mammoth season pass is over $1600 and this time they give you June Mountain access as well! Try the Bed and Breakfast deal starting at $130 night - call (800) Mammoth. Or, ask about the Juniper Springs and Sunstone 50% off midweek deal. They are still offering the Stay and Ski Free and Stay and Learn packages starting at $67.50. The West Coast Invitational will be at Mammoth 5/3-5/02 and it is only $129pp - you get 2 nights lodging, 2 days lift, a t-shirt, a Fri. night Hoe Down including 2 drinks, and a ticket for the Sat. concert - call (800) Mammoth www.mammothmountain.com.

June Mountain - $75 Spring Pass
Head over to June Mountain for there $75 Spring Pass good for all riding through season end. June is only 20 minutes drive north of Mammoth! They will give you $10 off a lift ticket with your season pass from another resort. June got 14" of new snow and they have a 4-5' base. www.junemountain.com.

Snow Valley - Best Conditions of the Season
Beginners should try Snow Valley's Midweek Learning Package - only $39 for lift, lesson and gear. Take your 5th grader - buy yourself a lift ticket and your 5th grader rides free. Plus, you can get 50% off Built Snowboard products! If you buy a regular price weekend lift ticket and can get back midweek, get the Bounceback for $19.99 (good Tuesday - Thursday). They got 12-18" of white, fluffy flakes and have a 26-38" base. Ride free on your b-day with I.D. www.snow-valley.com.

Snow Summit - $10 Off with Other Resort's Passes
Bring your season pass from another So. Cal. resort and get $10 off your Snow Summit lift ticket. Or, buy your Snow Summit season pass for next year and start using it this year - only $199 (a limited number are available)! It's good for mountain bike season, too!!! Snow Summit received 6-10" of snow this past week and they have an 18-36"base. To ride free on your birthday, bring your I.D. Thundercloud Resort, accessible to Snow Summit, has a nice ski package (see lodging deal above under Bear Mountain). www.snowsummit.com.

See you on the slopes,

Yvette
Southern California Editor
Slidingonthecheap.com