For those who waited for the good snow to fall, your patience has been rewarded.

Officials at Bear Valley were surprised at the sight on New Year's morning -- a family which snowshoed uphill from the village to the ski lodge, and then replaced the snowshoes with skis the rest of the day.

The ski-snowboard season has begun. Sort of.

SACRAMENTO -- California might best be known for its beaches, but it's the Golden State's snow that is getting all the attention via a national campaign.