At the beginning of the twentieth century, Lake Tahoe and the Donner Summit region became California's first developed winter sports areas. Plentiful snowfall and newly built highways opened up the summer playground for visitors year-round, and skiing flourished. The Sierra Ski Club formed in 1925, attracting members eager to experience everything the mountains had to offer. People flocked to the slopes, visiting places like Clair Tappaan Lodge in Soda Springs, boasting one of the summit's earliest ski tows, and the Yuba Gap Lodge, a pioneer in night skiing. Join Ingrid P. Wicken, award-winning author and ski historian, as she recounts the fascinating beginnings of this celebrated ski hub.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Lake Tahoe and the Donner Summit region became California's first developed winter sports areas. Plentiful snowfall and newly built highways opened up the summer playground for visitors year-round, and skiing flourished. The Sierra Ski Club formed in 1925, attracting members eager to experience everything the mountains had to offer. People flocked to the slopes, visiting places like Clair Tappaan Lodge in Soda Springs, boasting one of the summit's earliest ski tows, and the Yuba Gap Lodge, a pioneer in night skiing. Join Ingrid P. Wicken, award-winning author and ski historian, as she recounts the fascinating beginnings of this celebrated ski hub.

The snow-laden slopes of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains have beckoned Southland skiers since the 1930s. Many once-cherished ski areas have disappeared, yet their history remains. A short drive from the sun and sand, places like Rebel Ridge and Kratka Ridge offered snowy escapes. Thrilling races were held at the First International Pine Needle Ski Tournament in North Hollywood, while the San Diego Ski Club boasted Dorothy McClung Wullich, the first female member of the National Ski Patrol. Ingrid Wicken, ski historian and founder of the California Ski Library, chronicles Southern California's lost mountain getaways and the vanished ski areas that introduced everything from rope tows to artificial snow.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: California will lead you straight to the best attractions this state has to offer. Discover all the major cities and sights, from Los Angeles, Southern California, and the national parks to San Francisco and the Bay Area to wine country, the north, and more. Experience the culture, history, architecture, wildlife, beaches, and scenic walks and drives. Whether you're exploring historic towns and museums or making the most of the nightlife, this in-depth guidebook provides the insider travel tips you need. Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: California. + Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance. + Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. + Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. + Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. + Area maps marked with sights and restaurants. + Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. + Suggested day trips and itineraries to explore beyond the cities and towns. + Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: California truly shows you this state as no one else can.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: California will lead you straight to the best attractions California has to offer and provides the insider travel tips you need, whether you're making the most of the nightlife or exploring historic towns and museums.Fully illustrated, it covers all the major cities and sights, from Los Angeles, southern California, and the national parks to San Francisco and the bay area to California wine country, the north, and more. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: California explores the culture, history, architecture, wildlife, beaches, and scenic walks and drives. You'll find 3-D illustrated cutaways and floor plans of all the must-see sights, as well as street maps and reliable information for getting around. Plus, this guidebook is packed with comprehensive listings of the best hotels, restaurants, shops, and nightlife in each area for all budgets. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that brighten every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: California truly shows you this state as no one else can.

The DK Eyewitness California travel guide will lead you straight to the best attractions the state has to offer. Whether you're making the most of the illustrious nightlife or discovering California's history in the museums of San Francisco, this guide provides all the insider tips every visitor needs, with comprehensive listings of the best hotels, restaurants, shops and nightlife for all budgets. It's fully illustrated, and covers of all the major areas from LA and San Diego to The Mojave Desert and Wine Country. You'll find 3D cutaways and floorplans of all the must-see sites - including Long Beach, the Golden Gate Park and the Transamerica Pyramid - as well as reliable information about getting around this diverse state. DK Eyewitness California explores the culture, history and architecture, not missing the best in entertainment, shopping, tours and scenic walks, in this unique and varied state. With all the sights, beaches and attractions listed area by area, DK Eyewitness California is your essential companion. DK Eyewitness California - showing you what others only tell you.

Known for its sunshine and sandy beaches filled with bathing beauties and musclemen, Southern California is a Mediterranean-climate haven for winter-weary Americans from Michigan to Maine. But for those with a hankering for winter sports, one could scarcely ignore the snowcapped peaks of Mount Baldy and San Gorgonio shimmering in the bright California sunshine. By the 1930s, skiing was all the rage, with the towns of Big Pines, Lake Arrowhead, and Big Bear Lake evolving into popular snow-sport locales. Southern California was also home to many who made their mark in the world of American skiing: Walter Mosauer, the father of skiing in Southern California; Tyler Van Degrift, owner of Los Angeless first ski shop; Clarita Heath Bright, talented member of the first U.S. Womens Olympic ski team; Dorothy McClung Wullich, first woman member of the National Ski Patrol; and Sepp Benedikter and Tommi Tyndall, both leading the way with ski schools and instruction. These and many others are documented here in this collection of rare and vintage images of Southern California skiing.