You can celebrate America’s birthday in the surf or the snow this year.
Two California ski resorts are still open. It is the fourth time Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has had enough snow for Fourth of July turns since the resort opened in 1949. Mammoth Mountain predicts there may be enough snow to stay open through August.
On a recent 80-degree Sunday, a stream of skiers and snowboarders in board shorts and tank tops tumbled out of the gondola at Squaw Valley. Nearby, a waterfall poured through a gap in the cliffs as the hot skies penetrated the snow.
Clearly the bluebird skies are the highlight rather than the conditions. Skiers say the wet snow feels like gooey oatmeal, mashed potatoes or ice cream.
As San Francisco resident Michael Visconti carved turns in the slush, a fan of water sprayed out from underneath his skis. “It’s a little like water skiing. But it’s great coverage so you can’t complain.”