I had to change my powder-alert email settings from
Mammoth.
Everyday I would receive snow mail in my inbox from California, one
foot overnight, three feet in a week, 100 inches in 10 days. Enough
already! Surely you have heard that California
mountains are buried in record amounts of the white stuff, topping
28-feet (while we right-coasters are still measuring in inches).
Californians wrote the book on how to play, and Mammoth is their #1
winter playground. The state motto “Eureka,” is Greek for “I have
found it.” We made the trip last April vacation and we found it too –
in Mammoth proportions.
We got a firsthand taste of the “foot overnight phenomenon,” followed
by a day of sun and then more of the aforementioned powder - so goes
the Mammoth cycle. None of the locals seemed shocked by our good
fortune, or the super-sized 15-foot base depths, just another day in
this winter play land apparently.
This top rated ski resort, located in the center of the “Golden
State,” has one of the longest, deepest, sunniest ski seasons in the
country. Multiply a 200-day ski season, with 300 days of sunshine a
year, then add 400 inches of snow and you have yourself one Mammoth
ski trip.
Thanks to Intrawest and $500 million (no typo there), 51-year old
Mammoth is undergoing a resort renaissance from the magic wand that
transformed the likes of Tremblant, Copper and Whistler.
We stayed at the posh new Village at Mammoth, in a spacious
alpine-motif condo. While there was still construction going on in the
Village, our digs were delightful, and we could walk to the handful of
shops, pubs and restaurants in the pedestrian plaza.
Mammoth is monstrous as its name implies, with 3,500-acres served by
28 lifts - an impressive uphill capacity nearing Whistler. In fact,
you can ascend the entire 3,100’ vertical via one speedy scenic
gondola to the 11,053’ summit, and ski in all directions.
Mammoth should not be lumped in with the Sierras of Lake Tahoe. The
base elevation at Mammoth is 8,000’, equivalent to Squaw Valley’s
summit.
Surrounded by desert (and a 3-hour haul from Reno airport), Mammoth is
subject to a unique weather convergence of abundant powder, sunshine
and a blow-your-hat-off High Sierra wind. The blustery tendency is
both a curse and a contributor. While gondola closures can be an
issue, dyed in the wool Mammoth-ites will tell you those gusts of snow
blowing wind keep the slopes “buffed.” Snowdrifts fill in mogul fields
and give a fresh coat of “pow” each night – sometimes even between
heart thumping runs.
Mammoth is ultra popular with snowboarders, it is a California thing
(dude). One snow surfer told me Mammoth has “vibe” – I believe that is
a good thing. The entire massive mountain rides like a giant natural
terrain park with peaks, bowls, cliffs and curves.
Mammoth holds its head high with the big boys in the ski biz. The
above-tree line bowls of Dave’s and Scotty’s offer the vastness of
Vail with the pitch of Snowbird. Cliff lined chutes of Hangman’s and
Huevos Grandes will satisfy adrenaline seekers just like the Couloir
at Big Sky. The stunning rock formations of Dry Creek remind me of an
off-piste adventure at Val D’Isere in France, and Avalanche Chutes 1-3
can hold their candles up to Alta’s steepest.
Scenery is my thing, and this central Cal. resort overlooks the
striking Sierras and spectacular Yosemite National Park, with
shimmering lakes below towering century old pines.
The Mill became our family’s favorite on-mountain hitching post, but
the mid-mountain gondi building, McCoy’s –named for founder Dave
McCoy, is central with all the essentials plus a scenic sit down
dining spot called Parallax .
Our kids loved the mascot, Wooly Mammoth (you get the picture). If you
don’t see the furry character out and about, capture a photo with the
massive bronze likeness near the Mammoth Mountain Inn.
Après ski is definitively French – but easily translated into
Californian. Bands play on the Mammoth’s sundecks and in the Village.
Skiers and riders don shades and shorts to hang out and soak up the
lingering west coast rays.
If you are looking for serious snow, Mammoth should be your California
dream destination. With the entire High Sierra peak snow-coated well
into May, you can make tracks at this lofty area long after Maine
resorts spin their last chair.
We combined our April family vacation with a kid-pleasing stopover at
California Disney and a pass through Hollywood, flying in and out of
L.A (with a six-hour drive to Mammoth). Reno is your recommended
direct gateway to get to Mammoth most readily.
And if you want Eastern skier torture by technology – sign up for the
Mammoth Powder alert, they get dumped on – Eureka, you get “snow
mail.”
