End of the Season

It is the end of the season with no more patrolling and many of the US Forest Service recreation staff on to the work of getting the district ready for summer activities.

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Posted on April 28, 2024
 
Another nice day on Mt Pinos.

Two Sierra Club wilderness training groups and a Meet Up group snow shoed around the mountain. A search and rescue team and two Boy Scout groups are spending the night in separate training sessions.

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Posted on February 17, 2024
 
Another nice snow day on Mt Pinos

Member posted image.

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Posted on February 4, 2024
 
A nice day on Mt Pinos

Member posted image.

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Posted on January 28, 2024
Updated on January 28, 2024

 
December 30th: Our second real snow of the season

Member posted image.

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Posted on December 30, 2023
Updated on December 30, 2023

 
December 23rd: Our first snow of the season!

Member posted image.

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Posted on December 23, 2023
Updated on December 23, 2023

 
Nordic Base Open House

On Saturday, August 26th an “open house” was held at Nordic Base for individuals interested in joining the Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol.

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Posted on August 28, 2023
Updated on August 28, 2023

 
Want to join our patrol? Come to our open house!

We will be hosting a “open house” on Mt Pinos for people interested in joining our patrol on August 26th.

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Posted on August 9, 2023
 
End of the 2022-23 Season

This season was unique: We have never had the road to Mt Pinos closed for so long. Fortunately it opened in time for our last scheduled patrol weekend. Member posted image.

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Posted on April 23, 2023
 
When will the road to Mt Pinos open?

April 12th Update: Kern County updated their road status page today to show the road up Mt Pinos is now open.

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Posted on February 28, 2023
Updated on April 12, 2023

 
A wonderful snow day

Kern County did a nice job clearing the road and the crowds appreciated it.

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Posted on January 21, 2023
 
Open only Saturday

What a weekend! First we were informed that the road would not be open at all so our members started making other plans.

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Posted on January 15, 2023
Updated on January 15, 2023

 
Saturday Update

During the week we received conflicting information about whether the road would be plowed and the mountain opened for this weekend. Kern County roads came through and got the road plowed. Not just plowed but really cleared of snow. With melt and refreeze there are always icy spots, so chains and careful driving are the rule, but for the most part the road is clear and dry.

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Posted on January 7, 2023
Updated on January 7, 2023

 
Road to Mt Pinos is open!

January 6th Update: Kern County plowed the road today and the last report we received is that the snow gate is open. Chains are required.

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Posted on January 5, 2023
Updated on January 6, 2023

 
A New Year’s Day Outing

The storm that came in Saturday afternoon was wet but warm so it was unclear how much or how good the snow was going to be on Mt Pinos. We decided to check it out.

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Posted on January 1, 2023
Updated on January 5, 2023

 
Enough Snow For Skiing

So far the winter storms have been a little disappointing but we did have enough snow last weekend for skiing and for some toboggan training.

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Posted on December 20, 2022
 
First Snow Of The Year

Our intrepid photographer arrived at the snow gate just when Kern County was opening the road and was able to get these photographs.

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Posted on November 9, 2022
Updated on November 9, 2022

 
Fall Refreshers and Training

Member posted image.

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Posted on October 23, 2022
 
Winter FAQ

Status as of March 12, 2021

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Posted on January 18, 2019
Updated on March 12, 2021

 
Training For The New Season

Member posted image.

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Posted on October 22, 2018
Updated on October 22, 2018

 
Carry Chains!

There are very few places in Southern California as good as Mount Pinos for back country skiing, snowshoeing and snow play.

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Posted on January 8, 2017
Updated on January 8, 2017

 
Enough snow to have fun

The sunny days since the last storm have left the exposed south facing area bare but on the shady and north facing slopes there was enough snow to have some fun skiing, hiking or snow playing.

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Posted on December 3, 2016
 
A ski day

Went to summit and down the west side as far as the Chumash sign today. The two storms we’ve had have put some good coverage, 6-10 inches, I’d say, but skiing was difficult. I would have cussed the crust, but I’ve never seen it quite like this—scalloped drifts with something like graupel embedded in it. It reminded me of crunchy peanut brittle and was about as easy to ski. Pinos often creates a fantastic flocking and this was also unusual—a rainbow spectrum of ice and frost on every twig.

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Posted on November 29, 2016
 
Waiting, Wishing and Hoping

Member posted image.

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Posted on February 21, 2016
Updated on October 5, 2016

 
Giving Thanks and Gearing Up

In just a few days, after we've recovered from the annual ritual of eating way too much, and providing everything looks good, Nordic Base, snow dependent of course, should be open for business.

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Posted on November 23, 2015
Updated on September 3, 2018

 
2014/15 Season Recap

The past season is over; Patrollers eagerly prepare for the next - coming soon, as in days away. Snow? Not as much as we'd like but there were a few good days - just a few, and Mt. Pinos showed her true colors coming alive under a blanket of white. Though our new season is now upon us, we take time to reflect on the great things our Patrol did last year.

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Posted on October 11, 2015
Updated on October 11, 2015

 
3 Months, 2 Days and ....

Until Christmas.

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Posted on September 23, 2015
 
NSP and Far West Division Recognized by the California Senate

Today was a banner day for all National Ski Patrol (NSP) volunteers as the California State Senate took time to honor members of the Far West Division and NSP.

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Posted on August 27, 2015
Updated on August 27, 2015

 
Fun in the Snow... Already??

With temperatures in the mid 90s and summer still in full swing, snow is certainly not high on the list of things to think about. When there is beach and sand and fun in the sun?? Thinking about snow?

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Posted on August 17, 2015
 
Fiesta Day Fun!

Our Patrol volunteers have had a wonderful weekend meeting new neighbors, and saying "hello" to old friends who've stopped by our booth at Fiesta Days.

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Posted on August 8, 2015
 
Mark The Calendar! Fiesta Days Will Be Here Soon!

The 48th Annual Fiesta Days: August 7, 8 and 9

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Posted on July 30, 2015
Updated on July 30, 2015

 
Off Season Patrolling Done Right

While Patrollers certainly share a love of the outdoors and the beautiful winter season, what brings us back, year, to year, is our desire to serve and help our community. For a Patroller, providing service above and beyond is something we all strive for.

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Posted on July 22, 2015
Updated on July 22, 2015

 
May Summer Social Hike #1 Recap

May Social Hike at Mt. Pinos on May 24th.

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Posted on June 27, 2015
Updated on June 27, 2015

 
Recap of the 2013-14 Season

The 2013-14 winter season was disappointing with respect to snow. Essentially there was none. Yes, we did have about 4 lovely weekends with a foot or so of snow, but after falling, it promptly melted away and percolated onto the soils of our beloved Mt. Pinos.

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Posted on June 15, 2014
Updated on August 24, 2018

 
Constants that change

I generally think of a typical mountain as being a constant. Weather and seasons change of course. But a visit to Mount Pinos a year or so from now will not be enough for the fallen tree to decay back into the soil and the meadow that had lovely flowers last spring is likely to have lovely flowers next spring.

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Posted on October 10, 2013
Updated on October 13, 2013

 
Calm before storm?

We had a pretty mellow weekend of ski patrolling on Mt. Pinos this past President's day weekend (Feb 16-17, 2013). Saturday morning was cold and blustery, but then the weather warmed up and we had sunny weather in the 40s for the rest of the day and on Sunday.

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Posted on February 19, 2013
 
Sunshiny Pinos Weekend

We had great SoCal weather on Mt. Pinos this past weekend (Jan 19-20, 2013). The skies were clear and deep blue and from the top of the mountain we could see the Pacific ocean as well as snow covered Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.

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Posted on January 21, 2013
 
Avalanche Level I for the Professional Rescuer

This is a NSP course that is available for NSP Patrollers as well as the general public. The course involves 8 hours of classroom and 16 hours of field work;

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Posted on December 12, 2012
Updated on December 12, 2012

 
On The Hill Refresher

Saturday October 20th was our annual "On The Hill Refresher" where Patrollers, Hill Hosts and Candidates came up to Nordic Base to spend the day refreshing on various skill stations in preparation for the 2012-2013 season. We get together every October and work together on skills such as navigation, radio communication, rope work, avalanche and ICS. This year we were joined by our friends from Mammoth Basin Backcountry Patrol and Winter SAR Ski Patrol South. The weather was perfect and great fun was had by all while shaking off the rust of summer.

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Posted on October 28, 2012
Updated on October 28, 2012

 
What a difference a storm makes

Quiet weekend of patrolling 03/24-25/2012. The skiing on Sunday was stellar - 8" of snow and more falling as we left - covered up all the bare spots on trails. The snow was wet to being and as the temp dropped, it kept getting drier. Hero snow today!

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Posted on March 25, 2012
 
Finally There Is Snow On Pinos!

The storm last weekend dumped between 16 and 18 inches of snow at Nordic Base. This has consolidated to about 12 inches as of this morning.

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Posted on March 20, 2012
 
Nordic toboggan clinic

All patrollers and candidates,

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Posted on February 16, 2012
 
Ski training

Ski training-candidate and all patrollers welcome. At Bear Mountain.I have contacted Joe McCoy and we have come up with a tentative ski training schedule. The dates are as follows:

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Posted on February 6, 2012
Updated on February 8, 2012

 
Weekend Report

There was candidate training at Nordic Base this last weekend. The snow coverage is minimal and for our purposes, non-existent. As of Sunday, no new snow happened. It probably rained Friday night-Saturday morning because the road up was icy past the second snow gate.

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Posted on January 23, 2012
Updated on January 23, 2012

 
How did the forecast turn out?

Quote:
Did the 7-15" of snow predicted last week turn up? It looks a little rainy for the forecast for this coming weekend (Jan 21-22)...hope we get some snow!

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Posted on January 18, 2012
Updated on January 18, 2012

 
Weather is looking up!

The latest weather forecast for Mt. Pinos has 7 to 15 inches of show occurring over the course of today and tomorrow. Dust off those skis!

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Posted on December 12, 2011
Updated on December 12, 2011

 
About The Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol

The Number 1 Nordic Ski Patrol In the Nation for 1993 * 1996 * 1999 * 2006 * 2011

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Posted on August 22, 2011
Updated on February 9, 2023