UPDATE FRAZIER PARK, CA (Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011 at 10 a.m.)—The Grapevine over Interstate 5 is open and Mt. Pinos is open for snowplay. Snow chains or 4-wheel-drive with snow tires are required to drive up Mt. Pinos Road to the snowplay area. See the bottom of this page for driving directions and for area business information.

UPDATE FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at 8:30 p.m.)—The Grapevine over Interstate 5 is closed from Castaic (Parker Road) to the Los Angeles County/Kern County line due to snow, according to Caltrans. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route. Northbound travelers from Los Angeles can take Highway 14 north through Palmdale and Lancaster. If you have a properly equipped vehicle, you can take Highway 138 west toward Gorman and pick up Interstate 5 northbound there. There will be snow and ice on the interstate at Gorman, so this is not advised unless you have snow chains for your vehicle. If your vehicle is not properly equipped, or if you are traveling further north on Interstate 5, you can take Highway 14 north past Highway 138 to Highway 58 northwest into Bakersfield and re-connect with Interstate 5 north there.

UPDATE FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.)—The California Highway Patrol is pacing traffic over the Grapevine (Interstate 5) due to poor visibility. The pacing is taking place from the Los Angeles/Kern County line north to Laval Road, according to Caltrans. Motorists are advised to drive with caution.

UPDATE FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at 12:30 p.m.)—Mount Piños is now open for snowplay. Snow chains on two-wheel drive vehicles or snow tires on 4×4 vehicles are required to drive up Mt. Piños Road to the snowplay area.

See driving directions and area business information at the bottom of this page.

UPDATE FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at 7:45 a.m.)—About four inches of snow fell on Pine Mountain Friday night with temperatures below 20 degrees. The two thousand-home community of Pine Mountain is located below the north face of Mount Piños, about 15 miles west of Frazier Park and 18 miles west of Interstate 5, accessed via Mil Potrero Highway, the right fork at the west end of Cuddy Valley Road. Interstate 5 over the Grapevine (Tejon Pass) is open at this time. The current temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Overnight, CHP had to escort drivers over the Grapevine on Interstate 5 and Caltrans was plowing snow to keep the freeway open.

Pine Mountain’s weather forecast is:

Today: Snow showers likely, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to near 25 by noon, then falling to around 15 during the remainder of the day. Wind chill values as low as zero. North northwest wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Wind chill values as low as -8. Blustery, with a north wind between 18 and 23 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

UPDATE FRAZIER PARK, CA (Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 at 5:59 p.m.)—A storm is predicted for this weekend. Here is the National Weather Service prediction for the next few days.

Friday: Snow. High near 40. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 13 mph increasing to between 19 and 22 mph. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Friday Night: Snow showers. Low around 19. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 21 to 24 mph becoming west northwest 9 to 12 mph. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. West northwest wind between 8 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. West northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Thursday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level 6000 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

UPDATE FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at 11:53 a.m.)–Current conditions: snowing lightly in Frazier Park with a temperature of 36 degrees F.

UPDATE FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at 11 a.m.)–Mt. Pinos Road which leads to the snowplay area near the top of Mt. Pinos, is open. See driving directions below. Up to several inches more snow is predicted for today by the National Weather Service.

FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at 9:15 a.m.)–A winter storm left about 3 inches of snow overnight in Pine Mountain and is estimated to have left 8 to 12 inches at the Mount Pinos snowplay area. Interstate 5 is open over the Grapevine. The road to the Mount Pinos snowplay area was closed at 7:30 a.m. today. Check back at this web page for updates on road conditions and access to snowplay areas.

Directions to Mount Piños:

To reach Mount Pinos, travel north on Interstate 5 about 60 miles from Los Angeles and exit at Frazier Mountain Park Road. Turn left (west) and go 12 miles. At the Mil Potrero Highway split, take the left fork onto Mt. Pinos Road. If the snow gate is open, drive about 9 miles to the top where you can park in the parking lot and access the snowplay areas around the parking lot. There is a Nordic Ski Patrol (Nordic Base) facility where you can purchase hot chocolate and snacks.

A note from the publisher—Help Support the Local Businesses:

While you are enjoying the snow, stop in Frazier Park (only 5 minutes west of Interstate 5) or drive down Mil Potrero Highway to Pine Mountain (only 5 miles west of Cuddy Valley) and have lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants in the area. Gift shops are also open for business.

Like what you see? Why not stop in and speak with one of the area real estate agents? In Pine Mountain Village you’ll find Pine Mountain Realty, Mountain Properties, All Seasons Realty and Jennings Realty. Ask about vacation cabin rentals and home sales. In Frazier Park you can stop at Frazier Mountain Real Estate on Mt. Pinos Way, as well as All Seasons Realty and Mountain Properties, both at the entrance to town, on Monterey Trail. In Lake of the Woods, Grapevine Real Estate is on Lockwood Valley Road.

Have you recently purchased one of the many fantastic properties available on the mountain? Maybe it’s time to speak with a general contractor about building your dream cabin this summer. See the Business Directory in the print edition of The Mountain Enterprise. Subscribe online now at https://mountainenterprise.com/subscribe.php

You can also view the business directory online at /directory.php

This is part of the February 25, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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