Growing up in Seattle, I was surrounded by mountains and ski culture. The nearby Cascade range is home to fantastic ski areas such as Alpental, Crystal Mountain, Steven’s Pass, and Mount Baker. Ironically, it took me living in L.A. to really get into snowboarding, when I joined the ski and snowboard club at my university. Over 100 of us would pool our money and rent a condo near the base of Mammoth Mountain, California, and we would go up there as much as possible. I have fond memories of sliding down Cornice Bowl on my butt (a rite of passage for intermediates at Mammoth), riding — and getting stuck in — deep powder under Chair 5, and going out to ‘Latin Night’ at the old Rafters. The 2016/17 winter, my senior year, was nutty with over 600 inches of snow including 245.5 inches in January, which still stands as Mammoth’s snowiest month on record.
After graduation, I needed a break from the real world, so I decided to move to Mammoth for a season. I got a job in town, packed up my old Jeep, and drove up there the day after my last final exam. My “one season” turned into two, and I’ve been ski bumming since.
Winter in Mammoth got me hooked quickly. When those atmospheric rivers come through with a bulls-eye on the Eastern Sierras, the storms are ferocious. I recall working an overnight shift during the biggest storm of 2019. When I got off at 7 a.m., I waded home in chest-deep snow, geared up, and headed to the mountain. One of the few chairlifts that opened that day was Chair 8, which has some steep enough terrain for a deep day. That was the deepest powder I’ve ever ridden—up to my neck. I could barely turn, but was just bouncing and choking on snow and it was wonderful.
Some people may say that the snow in Mammoth (and the Sierras in general) sucks because it’s heavy “Sierra Cement.” They’re not wrong about the cement part, but they are wrong about it sucking. A good storm of Sierra Cement will cover up bumps and create a bottomless feeling hard to find elsewhere. Then, with a good southwest wind, the loose snow gets stirred around and packed into the side of the mountain, to create what my friend visiting from Colorado called “the best wind buff I’ve ever skied.”
On top of all this, the heavy snow builds a huge base throughout the winter to make for what I consider the best part about Mammoth: spring and summer skiing and riding! The ’17/18 season was a low snow year and still lasted into June; ’18/19 saw above-average snowfall and closing day was July 28th! I rode over 130 days that season without even trying. Also, it’s pretty hard to beat the vibe of a 70-degree day, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, doing hot slush laps with your friends.
After two seasons in Mammoth, it was time for a change. I traveled around, tried out a few other ski towns, and currently live in Aspen. The Elk Mountains are incredible and I love it here, but the season is shorter. So, once the season winds down in Colorado, after A-Basin closing day, it’s back to Mammoth to camp and shred every day with the rest of the diehards.
