Valley residents flock north to escape heat

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It's best-known as a winter attraction, but there's quite a bit going on up north right now, including cooler temperatures.

At the base of China Peak, the temperature doesn't climb very high. On Wednesday, it was in the mid 70's - much lower than Fresno's 100-degree heat.

"I don't use the air conditioner up here," Nick Cohee with China Peak said. "I just open up the windows at night."

Cohee works on the mountain and on his spare time he rides down.

The normally snow packed hills become an excellent biking trail in the summer. It's a bit treacherous, but he says there are easier rides.

There's also a chair lift to the top which will start running on Saturday when the resort opens up for the summer.

"We're excited to get people up here, get some business and have some fun," Cohee said

Down the road at Shaver Lake, there were families getting a head start on the weekend.

Marty Rouse drove up from Ventura County with a couple jet skis in tow.

"It's actually been so pleasant and the trees make it cooler and you've got a great breeze here," she said.

Jody Liu didn't drive nearly as far she's from Clovis and she couldn't stand the heat.

"It is too dang hot to stay there," she said. "So we escaped for the three hours we could get away today."

"It's definitely an escape, it's right out the front door," Cohee said.

Back at China Peak, it's more of an adventurous escape. Aside from bike trails, there's paths for hiking and a disc golf course with 27 holes from the top of the mountain down to the bottom.