PINE GROVE, Calif. — As the snow began to pile up, Caltrans was out in force with plows to keep Highway 88 open and safe.
Pine Grove sits at 2,500 feet, but snow was coming down below the 2,000 foot level by the early afternoon.
At Orlando’s Pine Grove Market, business was brisk as people came in to stock up on food and more.
"Cat food, dog food. The deli is open. We're open 24/7. There are some other stores in town that are closed, so we are open and available,” said owner Lana Orlando.
It was also a snow day for schools, which meant a day off for high school students like Conor Clinton and Maddie Nicholson.
"I am excited. I mean it means more time off school for us,” said Clinton.
"I really like it because it doesn't normally snow at my house. I live a little bit lower, so this is probably like the first time I've seen snow at my house in at least a few years,” said Nicholson.
While it's not exactly ice cream weather, that doesn’t stop Munnerlyn’s Ice Creamery in Pine Grove from snagging customers off Highway 88.
Brian Woodcock is an ice cream maker for Munnerlyn's. Despite the snow, skiers and others still come in for their top selling “Kit Carson Crunk,” a cross between crunch and chunk.
"It's a light coffee with a chocolate-covered almond toffee. People just come by constantly for it,” said Woodcock.
Bottom line, school is out and the snow is in.
Cody Quarton Jr. sums it up this way.
"I mean education is always a big part of life. But, snowboarding is fun. Dirt biking is fun,” said Quarton Jr.
As of late this afternoon, Highway 88 was closed to eastbound traffic at Dew Drop in the Pioneer area. Drivers were encouraged to use an alternate route.
For the latest road conditions, check the Cal Trans website by going to roads.dot.ca.gov.
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