California skiing: Check out China Peak
Ever heard of China Peak Mountain Resort in the Sierra? Well, it depends on how old you are and how long you’ve been skiing. The resort opened in 1958, changed its name to Sierra Summit in 1982 and reverted to China Peak two years ago when new owners took over.
Whatever the name, it’s an out-of-the-way small resort in Lakeshore, Calif., about 70 miles north of Fresno between Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon national parks. Southern Californians can take advantage of a midweek package that’s good through mid-March: $89 a night for a room at the inn plus a free lift ticket.
The deal: The SoCal Winter Deal is available only by calling the Inn at China Peak. It costs $89 a night for an economy room, which comes with one lift ticket, and $129 for a standard room, which comes with two lift tickets (prices exclude tax and 12% resort fee). The deal is good for residents in the 90000 to 93190 ZIP codes. A valid ID that displays an address is required.
When: The offer is good through March 14, based on availability, excluding Feb. 17-21.
Tested: I called and found availability for an economy room for Feb. 24-26. The reservation agent told me, depending on what rooms are available, I might have to share a bathroom (but not the guestroom) with others. That made me think about upgrading to the standard room, which comes with two lift tickets. Lift tickets usually cost $65 each for adults.
The resort gets mixed reviews on recent Yelp postings; some say the inn is a bit dated; others laud the quiet slopes midweek. Note too that road construction might cause delays or closures along Highways 41 and 180, so check before you go.