Millions of Californians have never seen or experienced snow, believe it or not! Yet the California ski resorts are distributed throughout the state's mountain destinations, seldom more than a five hour trip from any beach.  How sad for those who haven't felt the soft, tickling snowflakes that touch you eyelids like nothing else you'll ever experience.

The majority of Californians live within 50 miles of the coast and Pacific Ocean. And for those sun worshippers who love the warmth, it's tough to think that icy, cold weather could be fun.  Gloves, boots and winter weather are reserved for days hitting 50 degrees...so to even consider subjecting yourself to freezing temps of 32 degrees or lower is a description akin to a frozen hell for many Californians.

Yet someone actually named a ski resort "Heavenly" in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. And to see its beauty in the winter during a snowfall takes your breath away. If you've never seen a tree glistening white with thousands of little sparkling diamond glints lit by the sun refracting against the crystalline structure of the flakes, prepare yourself for heaven. Beautiful scenes that seem from another planet offer a world of their own, available only to those willing to experience the snow.

There are over 30 ski resorts in California mountains.  Some are well known and some are local or regional ski slopes featuring a shorter season and less days opened. One such resort is Alta Sierra in Sequoia National Forest's  Greenhorn Mountains. This small ski resort features beginner to intermediate slopes and is a local Kern County favorite for those dedicated to keeping skiing alive in the Kern County section of the Sequoia forests. Located east of Bakersfield approx. 50 miles, the quaint ski resort also features a one-of-a-kind Big Brand Tire Tube Park. Location: 56700 Rancheria Road, Wofford Heights, CA 93285. shirleymeadows.com

Additional ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe mountain resort region:
Alpine Meadows  web: skialpine.com

Boreal Ridge  web: rideboreal.com

Diamond Peak web:  diamondpeak.com

Donner Ski Ranch web: donnerskiranch.com

Heavenly Ski Resort  skiheavenly.com
Homewood Ski Resort  web: skihomewood.com
Kirkwood Mountain Resort  web: kirkwood.com
Northstar at Tahoe web: northstarattahoe.com
Sierra-at-Tahoe  web: sierraattahoe.com
Squaw Valley Ski Resort   web: squaw.com
Sugar Bowl  web: sugarbowl.com
Soda Springs  web: skisodasprings.com
Tahoe Donner  web: tahoedonner.com