Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus
If I were making a list of things I never expect to do, skiing the SoCal backcountry in October would be close to the top. Well, scratch that one off the list!
Here's Mount Pinos, today, October 15, and yes, that is me skinning up just below the summit. While the Ventura County snowpack was a bit variable, for sheer delight this one was hard to beat.
I think of Pinos primarily as a Nordic destination, but there was a solid foot of snow from the parking lot to the summit, and that was more than enough to make it worth the trip for me.
If you're thinking about going, keep your expectations reasonable, and be aware it is going to melt out fast.
— October 15, 2025
Andy Lewicky is the author and creator of SierraDescents
Walter Kibler October 16, 2025 at 9:47 am
Looks like the Los Padres area got more coverage than the San Gabriels (at least from that photo). Those are some early turns either way!
Dan Conger October 17, 2025 at 6:59 am
Looking forward to getting out there and making turns. From the Sacramento area where I live/work, the Sierra are a glorious white in the distance!!!
Bradley Brown October 17, 2025 at 10:07 am
2023 got me July and August skiing, still need September and October to complete the cycle. Still hoping MM would slide their opener back a few weeks to nab October. I saw a report saying Mt Whitney at 5 degrees was the coldest spot in the lower 48 a few days ago….here’s to an epic season boys!