Jared Gilbert, left, and his friend Nathan Christiansen, right, both of Three Rivers, prepare to take the lift up the mountain at China Peak on Wednesday, December 19, 2012. China Peak guest services’ Lyndsie Couto said it was measured a minus 3 degrees F at 8am Wednesday morning. Couto added four chairs are operating with five lifts servicing customers after a foot of new snow fell Tuesday night. Snow-making operations are also working around the clock with more snow expected this weekend. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA/THE FRESNO BEE