Mammoth, CA = Spring Skiing’s Mecca | 4/29 Conditions Report:

Miles Clark | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
Chair 23 was rippin' today
Chair 23 was rippin’ today

What do you do when your ski resort closes for the season?  You go to Mammoth, that’s what you do.

Mammoth always stays open until the end of May and many years they stay open until the 4th of July.  On big years they stay open into August.

Yimmers Climaxing for everyone on the Gondola to see
Yimmers Climaxing for everyone on the Gondola to see

How can they stay open so late in the year?  Because Mammoth gets a lot of snow and the mountain is high.  11,060 feet, to be exact.

Mammoth puts a lot of energy into keeping things well groomed and salted in the spring and summertime.  Their terrain parks are second to none and the terrain is simply made for long bump runs, groomer runs, and off-piste.

Chair 23 zone today was terrific
Chair 23 zone today was terrific

Today was a classic spring skiing day at Mammoth.  We started at 8:30am on firm groomers off the summit.  40mph east winds were ripping up the face of the mountain giving you the feeling of going very fast as you cruised down.

Fly away front flip
Fly away front flip

As things softened we ventured into the bumps/off-piste in the Chair 23 zone.  This was our favorite zone of the day.  We heard some people bickering on the chair about how Chair 23 wasn’t spinning, but all it took was a straight-line and a short duck walk from the top of the Gondola and you were there. We actually preferred the chair being closed because we had the best snow on the mountain to ourselves all day!  Climax also had great bumps and snow under the Gondola once things softened up a bit around 11am.

The park softened and got going around 11am and the usual suspects were out in force and throwing down.  There were two big jumps and it was a showdown.  The boys here aren’t afraid to get some air in between themselves and the ground.

"Throw Pole Ball Grab"
“Throw Poles Ball Grab Claim”

After noon, you could ski anywhere.  Dave’s was good, 23 was great, Climax was fun, the groomers were fast, and skiing from the top of Mammoth, 3,000 feet down to the bottom felt invigorating.  Not many places have that kind of vertical, especially in late April, damn near May.

“Props to our homeboy Ullr, who dumped some snow on us over the weekend and gave us two legit powder days (photo evidence at the end of this post). The last storm system has kept Mammoth skiing and riding very nicely all week long.” – James Yim

 PHOTO TOUR:

Climax today
Climax today
Good form, good groomer
Getting on the race track after the real racers were done training
Chair 23
Chair 23
Mammoth's crazy spine park
Mammoth’s crazy spine park

IMG_5479

If you dig deep enough, you can make it a powder day.
If you dig deep enough, you can make it a powder day.
Can you get higher edge angles than this?
Can you get higher edge angles than this?

Acro Yoga near Dave'sAcro Yoga near Dave’s

Groomer city
Groomers were ripping all day long

Brochure skiing under the gondy on ClimaxBrochure skiing under the gondy on Climax

My favorite line at Mammoth, Star Chute, is not in right now.
My favorite line at Mammoth, Star Chute, is not in right now.
Perfect groomers + solid off piste terrain = Mammoth right now
Perfect groomers + solid off piste terrain = Mammoth right now
Chair 23
Chair 23
Happy people
Happy people
Chair 23 today
Chair 23 today
Ski climbing.
Ski climbing
Chair 23
Chair 23

Left to right:  Minarets, Mt. Ritter, Mt. BannerLeft to right: Minarets, Mt. Ritter, Mt. Banner

rogers
Rogers was a bit thick
Miles "Straigh-liner" Clark
Miles “Straight-liner” Clark using the Cornice wind for speed control
Big park jumps
Big park jumps
dorks
Dorks
Jonathan Ballou under Potato Rock - 4/25
Jonathan Ballou under Potato Rock – 4/25
I think it snowed - 4/25
I think it snowed – 4/25
Jonathan Ballou getting freshies on Rogers - 4/25
Jonathan Ballou getting freshies on Rogers – 4/25

 

Bluebird morning - 4/26
Bluebird morning – 4/26
The legend, Glen Plake, skiing the morning crud
The legend, Glen Plake, skiing the morning crud
Skimac on Dave's - 4/27
Skimac on a windy Dave’s – 4/27

Related Articles

7 thoughts on “Mammoth, CA = Spring Skiing’s Mecca | 4/29 Conditions Report:

Got an opinion? Let us know...