John Horn

Review of Bear Mountain Ski Area

I would rate this above North Carolina skiing but ...

I would rate this above North Carolina skiing but not by much. The runs are not labeled accurately. For instance the blacks or double blacks would be blues at any ski resort in the Rockies. I went there with my family when we were on extended vacation on the coast of southern California. For a day trip it was fine but I wouldn't recommend staying more than a day as the mtn is small and you can ski the whole thing multiple times throughout the day. The drive up the mountain is very windy and our rental SUV nearly couldn't handle it. On the way down you are riding your brakes the whole way. The snowboarders are typical and explain why boarders get such a bad rap. They boarded like they owned the place and one literally took my wife out. Hit her from behind and swept her legs out from underneath her knocking both skis off. The boarder got up and took off. Didn't bother to check on her or anything. I suppose the bright side of this is that my wife was skiing directly behind our 8 year old who probably would've been injured severely had my wife not taken the brunt of the blow. Bottom line: if you're a local boarder who enjoys to toke it up then this place is for you , brah. If you're a family then go to Tahoe or the Rocky Mtns.