This ski season, China Peak Mountain Resort is offering transportation to the resort from Bakersfield by charter bus for the first time.

The bus offers an alternative way of transportation where the riders can relax and not worry about the stresses of driving. China Peak is located about 65 miles northeast of Fresno.

It is also considered safe in the sense that people can participate in certain activities and not have to drive home afterward. Sherry Nolen, the resorts group coordinator, said, “If people want to drink a couple beers here it is safe because they don’t have to drive after.”

The bus picks the riders up from Bakersfield but also stops in Visalia to pick up any riders there. The Visalia stop is a way for people with friends or family who live in or near Visalia to link up for a day of skiing or snowboarding.

“It’s a wonderful deal and a great opportunity for beginner and regular skiers and snowboarders,” said Nolen.

The bus ticket price is $40 for adults and $18 for children at the age of 6-12. Not only can you buy the bus ticket, you can also purchase an all-mountain ticket for $39 and rentals for $25. The price for an adult all-mountain ticket at the resort is $69 and the adult rentals price at the resort is from $36-$41.

There is a deal where you can purchase the bus ticket for the regular price of $40 but you can also purchase a beginner’s package for $39. This beginner’s package comes with a beginner lift ticket, lesson, and rentals. For an adult over the age of 17 the beginner lift ticket alone is $42.

There is also the option for big groups, such as churches, schools, or big families to rent the charter bus. The price to rent the charter bus is $1,350.

The bus that picks up for Bakersfield is currently postponed due to the lack of snow at China Peak. When a snowstorm happens in China Peak, the bus tickets will be available for their assigned dates.

The days that are currently scheduled but not available for purchase because of the lack of snow are Feb. 14, Feb. 28, March 14, and March 28. Those dates all land on Saturdays.

The location that the bus will leave from is Action Sports in the Brimhall Square shopping area on the corner of Brimhall Road and Calloway Drive. The bus will leave there at 5:45 a.m. The bus to come back will leave China Peak Mountain Resort at 4 p.m.

The trip on the way up will take around four hours and the same on the way back.

To stay posted on when the bus is running again and to purchase tickets go to www.skichinapeak.com/bustrips.aspx