At the beginning of the twentieth century, Lake Tahoe and the Donner Summit region became California's first developed winter sports areas. Plentiful snowfall and newly built highways opened up the summer playground for visitors year-round, and skiing flourished. The Sierra Ski Club formed in 1925, attracting members eager to experience everything the mountains had to offer. People flocked to the slopes, visiting places like Clair Tappaan Lodge in Soda Springs, boasting one of the summit's earliest ski tows, and the Yuba Gap Lodge, a pioneer in night skiing. Join Ingrid P. Wicken, award-winning author and ski historian, as she recounts the fascinating beginnings of this celebrated ski hub.

The snow-laden slopes of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains have beckoned Southland skiers since the 1930s. Many once-cherished ski areas have disappeared, yet their history remains. A short drive from the sun and sand, places like Rebel Ridge and Kratka Ridge offered snowy escapes. Thrilling races were held at the First International Pine Needle Ski Tournament in North Hollywood, while the San Diego Ski Club boasted Dorothy McClung Wullich, the first female member of the National Ski Patrol. Ingrid Wicken, ski historian and founder of the California Ski Library, chronicles Southern California's lost mountain getaways and the vanished ski areas that introduced everything from rope tows to artificial snow.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Lake Tahoe and the Donner Summit region became California's first developed winter sports areas. Plentiful snowfall and newly built highways opened up the summer playground for visitors year-round, and skiing flourished. The Sierra Ski Club formed in 1925, attracting members eager to experience everything the mountains had to offer. People flocked to the slopes, visiting places like Clair Tappaan Lodge in Soda Springs, boasting one of the summit's earliest ski tows, and the Yuba Gap Lodge, a pioneer in night skiing. Join Ingrid P. Wicken, award-winning author and ski historian, as she recounts the fascinating beginnings of this celebrated ski hub.

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The DK Eyewitness California travel guide will lead you straight to the best attractions the state has to offer. Whether you're making the most of the illustrious nightlife or discovering California's history in the museums of San Francisco, this guide provides all the insider tips every visitor needs, with comprehensive listings of the best hotels, restaurants, shops and nightlife for all budgets. It's fully illustrated, and covers of all the major areas from LA and San Diego to The Mojave Desert and Wine Country. You'll find 3D cutaways and floorplans of all the must-see sites - including Long Beach, the Golden Gate Park and the Transamerica Pyramid - as well as reliable information about getting around this diverse state. DK Eyewitness California explores the culture, history and architecture, not missing the best in entertainment, shopping, tours and scenic walks, in this unique and varied state. With all the sights, beaches and attractions listed area by area, DK Eyewitness California is your essential companion. DK Eyewitness California - showing you what others only tell you.