Lake Alpine, A Winter Wonderland in the Sierras

There’s that great song, “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” by Bing Crosby. I may have spent 4 decades singing and dreaming this song, until it finally came true to experience a White Christmas in real life! Living in Southern California means, we usually get a sunny, 80 degree Christmas. We were so very lucky that Peter’s cousin owns a cabin on forest land in Lake Alpine community, a place that is near impossible to rent a cabin in. For those that have never heard of Lake Alpine (not to be confused with Alpine Lake in West Virginia), its right next to the little ski resort called Bear Valley. And if you’ve never heard of that, it’s basically, straight south of Tahoe, as the crow flies. In a car, you have to drive the bend all around the Sierras to get to it.

It’s nestled in between the mountains and plenty of trees and if you time it right, like we did, you’ll have the place all to yourselves with nothing but feet of snow and bluejays resting on snow tipped trees.

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When coming in the winter, Highway 4 is only plowed to a certain point. You have to buy a snow pass, park on the side of the road and walk into the cabin 1/2 mile through the snow. When you’re staying for 9 days and there’s no food and you have to bring your own bedding, it takes many, many trips to and from the car. And sometimes the snow is knee deep, before you even get your snow pants on.

But it is all sooo worth it for when you get into the cozy cabin and you are seriously set in the most magical winter wonderland there ever was. PS, we never shoveled out the stoirs to get to the front door, we climbed up that snow to get in, and always slid down it to get out.

Now, let’s take a look at this cabin. Unfortunately, for all of you, this cabin in NOT rentable. Peter’s cousin owns it and it’s on forest land, which means, they don’t even technically own it, they have leased the house for 99 years. Part of being on forest land means that this house cannot be rented. Since we are family, we were able to stay here. However, there are rentals down the road near Bear Valley ski resort. But here’s some sneak peeks of just how rad this cabin is.

Since Peter’s cousin has 3 boys, we were lucky enough to have access to all of their snow gear as well, including a strap on snowboard that Macy took to immediately! In her words “I knew I’d be able to snowboard since I’m good at skateboarding, roller skating and I can walk really well” And sure enough, she strapped that puppy to her feet, took a few falls to understand it all, and then she was off! So impressed by her agility.

On Christmas Day, just as I mentioned, We got a White Christmas! It snowed that night and half of the day and left a world of white all around us, completely magical!

And when it snows on Christmas Day, it looks like this inside the cabin. PS, remember when I showed you the sled we have to take to and from the cabin to the car? Yes, that also included Christmas presents

And then we go out and play in the snow. Repeat.

Back in the cabin to warm up by the insane fire and the best and warmest view of the snow outside. With all the down time, Macy taught me how to crochet and I made a little jacket for my new Lucy Michel ceramic ravel mug that I’m obsessed with.

The beauty of this area, is that you can pretty much just walk anywhere, find a hill and sled down it! If you’d like something a little more formal, get back on the main road and there are sled hills on both sides of Highway 4. Make sure you get a snow pass for parking in Arnold.

Cabin activities definitely consisted of listening to tons of free audiobooks on our Libby app linked to our library card, puzzles and plenty of cocktails thanks to Hi-Lo liquor where we stocked up before we left and were given recipes for cabin life.

And here it is, the lake of Lake Alpine, snowed over but not frozen. A rare time for a solo hike without kids.

Back at the cabin, everything is A-OK! Jumping off railings, building snow castles, complete with windows and just more and more snow

On the last day there, we decided to get out and see the area a bit more. The only way possible with by renting a snowmobile down in Bear Valley from BV SnowMobile.

And on our last night, we were greeted with pink skies and even pink snow in the reflection. And absolutely spectacular trip in the snow, completely away from any other people and possibly the best place we could have possibly been while Los Angeles was blowing up in covid cases this holiday.