by Pat Krig (Author), Barbara Houten (Author), Barbara Van Houten (Author)
Nestled at 6,000 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains, the village of Wrightwood sits amidst a mountain range next to the finest ski slopes east of Los Angeles. This picturesque community has been a cherished mountain retreat removed from the hustle and bustle of city life, where skyscrapers give way to towering pine trees and roads run parallel to trails and ski runs. During the early twenties, the area's appeal as a gorgeous setting for hiking and other outdoor activities led the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to develop a year-round recreational facility west of Wrightwood, known as Big Pines County Park. Now a haven for commuters, Wrightwood remains a close-knit community despite the influx of more than half a million skiers and mountain lovers annually.