Want to Feel Winter Coming? Drive 90 Minutes from LA and Do This

Most people wait for fall to show up on the weather app.
I say—go chase it.

Hey ski fam—Sasha here 👋

If you're a skier living in SoCal, you know the season doesn't start when the first flakes fall.
It starts the second you feel it in your bones.

And the best place to feel that first whisper of winter?

🍁 Oak Glen—just 90 minutes from LA, where the air shifts, the trees change, and the pie? Unreal.

🍎 Welcome to Apple Annie’s

Where Ski Season Actually Begins

I’m not even kidding—before I wax a single ski, I head to this little town tucked into the San Bernardino foothills. It’s my secret pre-season ritual.

The main attraction?
Apple Annie’s, an old-school diner that smells like cinnamon dreams and snowy mornings.

What do I order?

• Pancakes the size of a ski helmet 🥞

• A slice of Dutch apple pie… with cheddar melted on top 🧀 (Just trust me.)

And yes, I bring my daughter Quinn every year, because some traditions just feel like home.

🧤 Here’s the Magic…

You drive up sweating in your t-shirt.
Then you step out of the car and BAM—there it is.

The air is 20° cooler.
The leaves crunch under your boots.
Your breath forms little clouds when you laugh.

It doesn’t matter that it’s still 80 degrees in Venice.
In Oak Glen, you feel like you just stepped into November in Mammoth.

And that’s what this ritual really is—it’s a seasonal mind shift.
A pre-ski soul stretch.
The moment your body remembers that yes, it was made for cold.

👣 How to Do It Like a Local (And a Skier)

Step 1: Brunch at Apple Annie’s

• Get there before 11 or expect a wait.

• Try the cinnamon roll pancakes or the mountain omelet.

• Split the pie with someone… or don’t.

Step 2: Walk Off the Pie

• Cruise the trails behind Los Rios Rancho or Oak Tree Village.

• Pick apples. Feed goats. Drink cider.

• Watch kids in puffer jackets lose their minds over caramel apples.

Step 3: Don’t Skip Snow-Line

• This old cider house sells hard cider, tiny-batch wines, and smoked cheddar that tastes like ski day lunches.

• Pro tip: grab a bottle of apple wine for your ski buddy. Wrap it in flannel and boom—holiday gift = handled.

🧠 Why This Matters for Skiers

We talk so much about gear and snow forecasts.
But no one talks about what skiing does to your spirit.

And to really enjoy winter, you need to mentally arrive.

Driving up to Oak Glen is like taking your brain out of freeway mode and into chairlift daydream mode.
It’s a soft launch into mountain season.

Even if you’re not skiing yet, you’re connecting with the cold.
With the pace.
With the feeling that life’s about to get exciting again.

🚙 SoCal Skiers, This Is Your Sign

If you’re waiting for winter to knock...
Stop.

Instead, drive 90 minutes and knock on its door.

Oak Glen’s got your fall transition locked in.
Pie, air, cider, leaves—everything your mountain heart needs to warm up before the freeze.

🏔️ Proverb Worth Repeating:

“Feel the chill before you chase the thrill.”

❄️ Fast FAX for Fall Dreamers

Q: Is this a day trip?
A: Yep. Leave by 9AM, home by dinner (with jam, pie, and cider in tow).

Q: Is it crowded?
A: Weekends? Yes. Weekdays? You’ll feel like you own the orchard.

Q: Is it worth it if you don’t like apples?
A: Yes. Just go for the air, the trail walk, and the snow-scented vibes.

Q: Cheddar on pie… really?
A: It’s like après-ski in your mouth. I wouldn’t lead you wrong.

🗣️ Your Turn

What’s your ritual before snow season?
Drop a comment and share your pre-ski stoke moves.

💾 Save this for the next crisp weekend
📩 Forward it to your ski buddy who needs a nudge
⭐ Bookmark it if you’re already dreaming about powder

—Sasha “Pie Before Powder” Everett

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