Snow, Hail Leaves Dangerous Driving Conditions Through Cajon Pass

CASTAIC (CBSLA) — Snow fell throughout the night into Friday morning in parts of Southern California.

Skiers and snowboarders were headed up to Wrightwood after Mountain High announced up to 20 new inches of powder.

“It’s been snowing for the last three days, so it’s like perfect conditions,” Julian Rivera, a snowboarder, said. “We’re gonna get it.”

Night manager Gary Tarver said the resort, which relies on seasonal tourism, has had a tough go of it during the pandemic.

“Especially toward the end of last year,” he said. “They shut us down right after we had a big storm, and that had a big impact.”

He said he feels blessed to be back open in the aftermath of this storm.

“Our guests are happy, we’re happy,” Tarver said. “We’re making the best of it.”

Drivers along the Cajon Pass, meanwhile, said they saw a little bit of everything: sun, rain, sleet and then snow.

“I stopped by for gas by the 15 and all of a sudden hail,” said driver Carolyn Hernandez who was headed from Ontario to Vegas.

The weather made for some dangerous conditions at one point when a car slid off a side road in Hesperia through a fence and flipped over onto the side of the freeway.

(credit: CBS)

No injuries were reported in the crash.

But despite the hazards, a few drivers stopped for a snowball fight or to take in the scenery, while others chose snow as a destination.

“It’s why we’re here in California, we get a little bit of everything,” said one traveler.

By late morning, the Cajon Pass was completely reopened to drivers.

And while traffic remained heavy with people headed to the mountains for the freshly fallen snow, CalTrans continued to warn people to remain vigilant and to always have tire chains with them.