Mountain High Resort in the Angeles National Forest opens for the ski season Friday after a narrow escape huge bridge fire which destroyed approximately 56,000 hectares in September.
“We’re so excited to make Battle the Flames one of the first resorts in the country two months ago, so it’s a great thing,” said John McColly, Mountain High’s vice president of marketing and sales.
When the wildfire broke out in the San Gabriel Canyon on September 8, crews battled in triple-digit heat to bring the blaze under control. Two days after it started, the flames exploded in the Wrightwood community and Mountain High. Thousands of people in the path of the wildfire fled, and as the flames approached the resort, staff turned on the snow cannons.
On September 10, Mountain High sent a statement saying they were still standing. “Thank you to all the firefighters and employees who worked tirelessly to save Mountain High. There is still a lot of work to be done, but nothing will stop us from opening in November or providing the level of service you expect.”
Although there was some fire damage, the main ski lift was spared from the flames. “It’s been a busy summer going through all the fire damage and repairs and getting ready to open, but here we are, it’s opening day of Mountain High,” McColly said.
Opens Friday to resort pass holders. “Our most loyal guests are here with us today and we have a lot of special events planned for them,” McColly said. The opening weekend for the general public starts on Saturday and Sunday.
In Wrightwood, the Bridge Fire burned 13 houses and six surrounding huts. Twenty homes were destroyed in Mount Baldy.
