Skiing San Diego

It is a strange, strange thing to get in your car in L.A. and head south to go skiing. Stuck in traffic on the 405, I began to wonder what sort of fool's quest I was embarking upon, but the trip to San Diego ended up being one of my most memorable Southern California mountaineering adventures, offering incredibly beautiful views and unexpectedly good skiing.

Yes: skiing.

Cuyamaca Peak, elevation 6512', is a little over 30 miles from downtown San Diego. Skiing there is rare but not unheard of, and the same storm that put snow on I-10 in Beaumont covered Cuyamaca Peak with a good 24" base.

Let me give a huge thanks to SD insiders Brent (who runs a San Diego Backcountry Skiers group) and Bill for the tip that Cuyamaca was in season. This is one of those peaks where you don't have a lot of time once the snow falls.

Finally, I have to say it felt very exotic to ski in such a warm, sunny place, so close to the beach and the blue gem of the Pacific. When it was all over, I was more than a little reluctant to head back home to that frozen wasteland to the north, Los Angeles...but I'll be back.

— March 23, 2012

Andy Lewicky is the author and creator of SierraDescents

Brent March 23, 2012 at 9:04 am

I just cracked up at my desk. Great music! I got like 3 feet of air off that sweet jump.

Stan March 23, 2012 at 9:33 am

I loved how you put it together. Now I really wish I would have gone. How long are those boards you guys skied on?

Bill March 23, 2012 at 9:35 am

Waahooo!! The San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau thanks you!! :-)

Lee March 23, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Nice work guys, not many have skied that peak

charles March 23, 2012 at 12:12 pm

Awesome! I love this stuff. Just saw some people on SJ webcam too. Season must be back on down there for a minute..

Peggy March 23, 2012 at 12:48 pm

Andy - welcome to MY end of the state! Been here 20+ years and love it! Peggy W.

Florian March 24, 2012 at 4:23 pm

That shot of the Dynafits on the beach is awesome.

Puka Lewicky aka. Mom March 25, 2012 at 9:28 am

Dear Andy, you inherited my love for snow, snow, snow. Love Mom

Bill March 26, 2012 at 11:43 am

I went again today. Walked up, walked down. Snow mostly gone. :-)

Bill March 26, 2012 at 11:44 am

I went again today. Walked up, walked down. Snow mostly gone. :-(

Joshua March 27, 2012 at 6:47 am

Ah, Andy, what a great video. This reminds me of when I used to live in San Diego and why I left. One too many ski adventures like that, skiing back down some frozen road. Glad you're making the best of it! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I remember skiing around Pine Valley a few years back after it dumped 4 feet up there.

Jamie March 4, 2023 at 7:46 am

Thanks for the beta Andy! it's no Sierra but after these storms it'll do. on the way to Cuyamaca now