Mt. Baldy, California to Reopen After Dodging Wildfire

Mt. Baldy Resort, located near Los Angeles, California will reopen for summer operations on Saturday, July 20th, just weeks after the Vista Fire began to rage.

General Manager Robby Ellingson spoke with POWDER's Ian Greenwood earlier this week about the heroics of fire crews that protected the resort from the blaze. Ellingson filmed the video below to update guests on Mt. Baldy's reopening.

Just as Ellingson alluded in his interview, Mt. Baldy is opening before the end of July, something that certainly didn't seem possible just one week ago.

Ellingson credits the work of hot shot crews, firefighters, and pilots for keeping Mt. Baldy protected as the fire burned just feet from the resort boundary. Ellingson also thanked the Mt. Baldy faithful for their support over the years, specifically in building the resort's vital 10 million gallon snowmaking reservoir.

As shown in the video above, pilots pulled thousands of gallons of water from the reservoir to battle the blaze, but did you notice something odd about the surface? Those floating black objects are plastic balls that can prevent evaporation by up to 90%. Mt. Baldy was the first ski area in the world to implement them back in 2014.

The Vista Fire continues to burn and has reached 2936 acres as of Friday, July 19th, 2024. The blaze is 83% contained with nearly 400 personnel assigned.

The US Forest Service, via InciWeb , provides clarity on which areas remain close as crews continue to battle the Vista Fire:

"The Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts are authorized to operate on lands, roads, and trails otherwise closed by Forest Order No. 05-01-24-08. This exemption applies only to customers who hold a valid lift or pass or reservation with Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts for the area within the Angeles National Forest. The area closure remains in effect to protect the public and firefighters who are working in the area of the Vista Fire.

Closure order in effect on the San Bernardino National Forest and the Angeles National Forest. Several roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, and dispersed recreation areas are closed to the public to provide for firefighter, community and public safety. Recreation activities are prohibited within the closure area."

Baldy will reopen with scenic chairlift rides, hiking trails, and a special Moonlight Hike with band Blue Highway on Saturday, July 20th.

Temperatures are creeping into the high 80s in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Heading up to Baldy's 8,600 foot summit to cool off and celebrate the perseverance of the resort sounds like a great way to spend the weekend.

Related: Where's our Ski Train?

Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed.

Submit your best clips for a chance to be featured on POWDER. Tune in and watch handpicked, high-quality ski videos streaming all day long on POWDER TV , and subscribe to our YouTube channel .