I awoke at 5:30 am yesterday in Park City, UT, and was on the road to Mammoth, CA, by 6 am.
My favorite drive in the world.
Across the Salt Flats, down the basin to Ely, across the snowy 11,000′ White Pine Mountains, avoid the Mormon Cricket infestation (they can get so thick in wet years that they cause car crashes due to their slippery guts), wave hi to the cattle ranches, side eye the one random oil pumpjack, up over the craters of the moon, graze the Tonopah Missile Test Range right next to the Tonopah Speedway, stop at the world famous Clown Motel and Tonopah Cemetery, 10,000 mirrors all pointing at the one tower to rule them all (Cresent Dunes Solar), up over the breathtaking 14,000′ White Mountains, wiggle through Benton Hot Springs, and finally into the Long Valley Caldera where your gaze settles on the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains and Mammoth Ski Resort.
Sierra Nevada, CA. Image: SnowBrains
It’s definitely a case of the journey being as good as the destination.
I broke my fast with a Latin Market burrito, zipped home to change real quick, then jumped on Chair 2 at 2 pm.
I rode up the chair, scanning the mountain for places to go, when I saw that the little Hangman’s Alternate chute had tracks in it.
The World Famous Clown Motel. Image: SnowBrains
Then I saw a guy tear down it, billowing smoke as he went.
That was the plan.
Straight to the gondola for 2 Hangman’s Alternates and 1 Hangman’s.
Tonopah Cemetary. Image: SnowBrains
Made a new friend named Edita.
We cruised over to the spine feature on Drop Out, and it was rough, challenging, and fun.
Found Pineapple Man at the base of the lift and threw him on the chair with us.
Chair 23. Image: SnowBrains
Grabbed one more spine line, then bumped over to Wipe Out to follow Pineapple as he tore it up top to bottom.
From there, it was a last Drop Out to the baby park, where I planned on throwing some 360s without warming up on my last run of the day, then thought better of it…
There will be plenty of park days ahead.
P1neapple, Edita, Miles. Image: SnowBrains
I’m here for the month (minus a quick stint to LA and SD for the NSAA convention) and I can’t wait to drink in every last drop of Mammoth and the Eastern Sierra for the next 30 days.
Thanks, California!
Photos in Chronological Order
Dawn in Utah. Image: SnowBrainsTree of Life. Image: SnowBrainsThe Tree of Life. Image: SnowBrainsNevada. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pine Mountains, NV. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pine Mountains, NV. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pine Mountains, NV. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pine Mountains, NV. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pine Mountains, NV. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pine Mountains, NV. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pine Mountains, NV. Image: SnowBrainsNevada. Image: SnowBrainsNevada. Image: SnowBrainsNevada. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pines. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Pines. Image: SnowBrainsNevada. Image: SnowBrainsOil pumpjack. Image: SnowBrainsNV. Image: SnowBrainsNV. Image: SnowBrainsNV. Image: SnowBrainsOpen road, NV. Image: SnowBrainsDusting. NV. Image: SnowBrainsVolcanos. Image: SnowBrainsBig mining truck. Image: SnowBrainsClown Motel. Image: SnowBrainsClown Motel. Image: SnowBrainsClown Motel. Image: SnowBrainsClown Motel. Image: SnowBrainsSolar project. Image: SnowBrainsBoundary Peak, CA. Image: SnowBrainsBoundary Peak, CA. Image: SnowBrainsBoundary Peak, CA. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Mountains, CA. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Mountains, CA. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Mountains, CA. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Mountains, CA. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Mountains, CA. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Mountains, CA. Image: SnowBrainsWhite Mountains, CA. Image: SnowBrainsSierra Nevada, CA. Image: SnowBrainsSierra Nevada, CA. Image: SnowBrainsSierra Nevada, CA. Image: SnowBrainsSierra Nevada, CA. Image: SnowBrainsMammoth Mountain, CA. Image: SnowBrainsLatin Market. Image: SnowBrainsMammoth Park. Image: SnowBrainsMt. Ritter and Mt. Banner. Image: SnowBrainsHangman’s. Image: SnowBrainsMinarets. Image: SnowBrainsChair 23. Image: SnowBrainsHangman’s. Image: SnowBrainsChair 23. Image: SnowBrainsThis sign is 24′ tall. Image: SnowBrainsMiles on top. Image: SnowBrainsChair 23 with Banner and Ritter. Image: SnowBrainsChair 23 and Minarets. Image: SnowBrainsChair 23. Image: SnowBrainsChair 23. Image: SnowBrainsChair 23. Image: SnowBrainsChair 23. Image: SnowBrainsHangman’s Image: SnowBrainsChair 3. Image: SnowBrainsThe Hulk! Image: SnowBrainsWipe Out. Image: SnowBrains
Conditions Report
