Kratka Ridge
Encyclopedia
Kratka Ridge or Snowcrest is a skiable
area on Waterman Mountain
in the San Gabriel Mountains
of Los Angeles County, California
. Located 36 miles northeast of La Cañada
and Pasadena
along the Angeles Crest Highway
, it reaches a height of 7515 feet (2,291 m).
The area featured two chair lifts and a rope tow, had a total of 13 runs with a vertical drop of approximately 750 feet (230 m).
Trail difficulty can be rated as 30% beginner, 30% intermediate, and 40% advanced.
The resort is located 4.2 miles (6.8 km) west of Angeles Crest Highway mile marker 52.6, about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) east of Mount Waterman
ski area, and about 2.7 miles east of the two tunnels.
.
The area was later owned by John and Jacqueline Steely.
Kratka Ridge changed its name to Snowcrest, then back to Kratka Ridge. After the switch back to the original name, "Kratka" referred to the skiing and snowboarding
terrain from the base to the summit, while "Snowcrest" referred to the snowplay/tubing area at the base.
On August 29, 1999 5 teenagers crashed a Toyota Camry off Angeles Crest Highway (mile marker 68) when driving home from a Jujubeats "rave" party held at the then-named Snowcrest Resort. The families of the teens took legal actions to sue the venue owners however the disputes were settled outside of court. This event may have contributed to a bad image of "Snowcrest" thus prompting the owners to change the name back to Kratka Ridge.
The ski area was open through the 2000-2001 ski season. The single chair lift was damaged by avalanche during a large storm during February 11-13, 2001, which left approximately 7 feet of snow. In December 2001, a mysterious fire destroyed the chairlift base area (http://www.skisocal.org/snowcrest_fire) and the resort has been closed since the 2001-2002 season. The parent owner of the resort, Angeles Crest Resorts, collected insurance on both events but did not begin reconstruction. The ski area's closure may have been related to the fire or other economic reasons.
The permit for Kratka Ridge has been completely revoked, either the current owners must sell or the resort will be torn down. Another local resort, Mountain High
has shown interest in buying the lift structures, probably for its new North Resort.
On March 12, 2006, the Pasadena Star reported that Lynn Newcomb and Rick Metcalf, a Southern California businessman, are looking to purchase Mt. Waterman from the existing owners.
The former manager for Mount Waterman under Lynn Newcomb has reported that Lynn Newcomb and Rick Metcalf have purchased the resort and plan to have it open by the 2006-2007 winter season. As of October 18, 2006, reconstruction of the chairlift base area has been heavily under way. Plans for the area are not certain, however, as many speculate it to be a play area while neighboring Mt. Waterman will host ski lifts.
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
area on Waterman Mountain
Waterman Mountain
Waterman Mountain, at 8,038 ft, is a prominent peak in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, California within the Angeles National Forest. Several small ski areas are located on its north side: Mount Waterman, Kratka Ridge, and Buckhorn Ski Club...
in the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
of Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
. Located 36 miles northeast of La Cañada
La Cañada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge is a small and affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States whose population at the 2010 census was 20,246, down from 20,318 at the 2000 census. According to Forbes, as of 2010, La Cañada Flintridge ranks as the 143rd most expensive U.S...
and Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
along the Angeles Crest Highway
Angeles Crest Highway
The Angeles Crest Highway is a two-lane segment of California State Route 2 in the United States. The road is in length, with its western terminus at the intersection at Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge and its eastern terminus at State Route 138 northeast of Wrightwood...
, it reaches a height of 7515 feet (2,291 m).
The area featured two chair lifts and a rope tow, had a total of 13 runs with a vertical drop of approximately 750 feet (230 m).
Trail difficulty can be rated as 30% beginner, 30% intermediate, and 40% advanced.
The resort is located 4.2 miles (6.8 km) west of Angeles Crest Highway mile marker 52.6, about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) east of Mount Waterman
Mount Waterman
Mount Waterman is a ski area on Waterman Mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains of the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County, California. The area is located on California State Route 2, the Angeles Crest Highway, and reaches a height of with an overall vertical drop of . Mount Waterman is...
ski area, and about 2.7 miles east of the two tunnels.
History
The area was developed in 1950 by the Joe Diener and the Angeles Winter Development Association, a group of Mount San Gorgonio ski club members. In 1954, the first chairlift at Kratka Ridge was constructed. Its single chair was believed to be one of the last of its kind in operation as of 2001 besides the single chair at Mad River GlenMad River Glen
Mad River Glen is a ski area in Fayston, Vermont. Its terrain has been ranked by SKI magazine as the most challenging on the east coast of the United States. Located within the Green Mountain range, it sits in the Mad River Valley, close to the larger Sugarbush Resort...
.
The area was later owned by John and Jacqueline Steely.
Kratka Ridge changed its name to Snowcrest, then back to Kratka Ridge. After the switch back to the original name, "Kratka" referred to the skiing and snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
terrain from the base to the summit, while "Snowcrest" referred to the snowplay/tubing area at the base.
On August 29, 1999 5 teenagers crashed a Toyota Camry off Angeles Crest Highway (mile marker 68) when driving home from a Jujubeats "rave" party held at the then-named Snowcrest Resort. The families of the teens took legal actions to sue the venue owners however the disputes were settled outside of court. This event may have contributed to a bad image of "Snowcrest" thus prompting the owners to change the name back to Kratka Ridge.
The ski area was open through the 2000-2001 ski season. The single chair lift was damaged by avalanche during a large storm during February 11-13, 2001, which left approximately 7 feet of snow. In December 2001, a mysterious fire destroyed the chairlift base area (http://www.skisocal.org/snowcrest_fire) and the resort has been closed since the 2001-2002 season. The parent owner of the resort, Angeles Crest Resorts, collected insurance on both events but did not begin reconstruction. The ski area's closure may have been related to the fire or other economic reasons.
The permit for Kratka Ridge has been completely revoked, either the current owners must sell or the resort will be torn down. Another local resort, Mountain High
Mountain High
Mountain High resort is a winter resort in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County in California. Mountain High is the most-visited resort in Southern California. The resort is located along State Route 2 west of Wrightwood, California...
has shown interest in buying the lift structures, probably for its new North Resort.
On March 12, 2006, the Pasadena Star reported that Lynn Newcomb and Rick Metcalf, a Southern California businessman, are looking to purchase Mt. Waterman from the existing owners.
The former manager for Mount Waterman under Lynn Newcomb has reported that Lynn Newcomb and Rick Metcalf have purchased the resort and plan to have it open by the 2006-2007 winter season. As of October 18, 2006, reconstruction of the chairlift base area has been heavily under way. Plans for the area are not certain, however, as many speculate it to be a play area while neighboring Mt. Waterman will host ski lifts.
External links
- Kratka Ridge and Mt. Waterman article about the two lost ski areas of Southern California.
- Kratka Ridge Trail Map 2000-2001 season
- http://www.skisocal.org/sg/kratka/
- http://angeles.sierraclub.org/hps/signatures/14k.htm
- http://www.pacificrimalliance.org/F.PublicAffairs/SkiHistory/historySoCal.html
- Saving Ski History: Kratka Ridge's Single-Person Chairlift