Dodge Ridge celebrates successful 70th anniversary season,
Dodge Ridge Ski Area closed out “an incredible” 70th anniversary winter skiing and riding season on Sunday, the resort said in a news release.
There were questions about how the season would unfold due to a drier than average winter coupled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but the resort opened for the 2020-21 season on Dec. 21 following the first significant storm of the season.
The resort responded to the health concerns by implementing COVID-19 protocols and making adjustments that were successful and allowed guests to enjoy the slopes all season without incident. This season also saw “a significant uptick” in new visitors from the Bay Area and Central Valley, the release stated.
Despite the overall drier than average winter statewide, Dodge Ridge’s snowfall totals for the season topped the majority of other ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada at 223 inches, or just under 20 feet.
Storms during the last week of January improved on an already great season by dropping 9 feet of snow over a five-day period between Jan. 24 and 29, with numerous additional storms in February and March coupled with colder than average temperatures creating ideal conditions.
“The 2020/21 season provided
some of the best skiing and riding conditions for the powder hounds to the fair-weather, good-time groomer skiers and riders,” the release said.
Now, the resort will jump right into spring and summer mode by working to open the 12 campgrounds it operates between Pinecrest Reservoir and Sonora Pass.
There's currently a targeted opening date of Saturday for the Fraser Flat Campgrounds and multiple loops of Pinecrest Campground for camping on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The date is notably one week before the California fishing season is scheduled to begin on April 24.
Dodge Ridge was opened in 1950 by the Purdy family before the Helm family took over in 1976.
The Helms have remained committed to growing and expanding Dodge Ridge over the past 44 years.
Investments and expansions at Dodge Ridge under their leadership have included the installment of Chairlift 7 in 1985 and Chairlift 8 in 1998, which tripled the skiable acreage available on the mountain to snowboarders and skiers.