Several early storms have coated Mammoth Mountain, a major resort five hours from Los Angeles.
Several early storms have coated Mammoth Mountain, a major resort five hours from Los Angeles.
October was kind to Central and Northern California resorts. One Lake Tahoe resort is already open, and the Eastern Sierra's Mammoth Mountain received 18 inches over the weekend, giving it a 36-inch base at higher elevations.

Meanwhile, popular Mountain High, usually the first resort to open in Southern California, has been running snow-making operations and could start spinning the lifts before its planned mid-November debut.