Mammoth, CA Conditions Report: 18-Inch Powder Day

Mammoth ski resort in California opened at 7:30am today with 18″ of perfect, spongy, responsive, bouncy settled powder.  7:30am, and you’re riding up a chair at a ski resort on a powder day?  It felt like “Early Ups” for all.

Chair 23 was the place to be.  The wind was howling in the morning up top and that kept the first few turns firm, but as soon as you dropped down 30-vertical feet, it was perfect.  Perfect for any time of year, let alone for May 9th.

The snow was wildly responsive.  There was no speed limit.  You could drop if off the top, scratch a few turns, hit the pow, then open it up as far you liked.  The snow was spraying 10-feet in air on big slashes and cutbacks.

We were simply freaking out.  It was surreal.  Deep, fast, fun, crazy pow in mid-May?  We caught the fully obnoxious powder high and couldn’t stop high fiving.

One great thing at Mammoth is the vibe.  Everyone is happy, cool, and easy going.  Much less of an insane powder rush than many of ski resorts.  People remain courteous, stoked, and focused.

There was plenty to be stoked about.  Hoots were echoing across the Paranoids and out into the abyss towards the Minarets.

By 9:30am the snow on Chair 23 was well chopped up and the warmth of the day began to change the snow.  We skied a few more after that and called it good.

Mammoth extended indefinitely, so we’ll certainly be back here on Monday night after a quick Mother’s Day appears at Moms.  

All this new snow is going to corn up and make next week at Mammoth one to remember.