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2017-04-09 01:01
in Flying, Nflying, Nsnow, Snow
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It had been several years since I last went to Mammoth, and I was looking forward to finally going there with fresh powder. I carefully watched the forecast several days early including saturday when the storm was hitting the resort, to make sure that the top of the mountain would stay closed and I'd get fresh tracks the next day if I went.
I got up early (actually I woke up before my alarm) and by 04:45 started getting ready. Got to Palo Alto Airport at 05:15 and then started loading up the plane, parked the car, and got in the air by 06:00 for a beautiful easy flight:
By 07:15, I landed at KMMH, taxied to parking, found my rental car waiting for me on the tarmac (courtesy of Hertz), but sadly it was a 2 wheel drive with crappy tires (the front tires were not even M+S, they turned out to be crappy summer tires). Driving up to the resort, blowing past several chain control signs, took virtually all the driving skills I had. While I was barely able to drive up in the snow, I knew if I ever had to stop, it would be super unlikely that the car would get traction to restart at all (especially uphill), so I drove slowly with some distance with the car in front of me so I never had to stop when the traffic slowed down. Maybe in hindsight I should have gone to Eagle Lodge at much lower altitude, but powder-wise this was not a good idea, it was the wrong side of the resort and the top connecting lifts would be closed for a while. Yes, I should have had chains, but Hertz refuses to give or rent you chains because they're worried you may put them on wrong :(
Despite the driving challenges, I arrived at the main base around 08:15, had to find a far away parking spot and walk to the ticket counter to get my pass. I eventually got to the slopes around 08:40, which wasn't too bad.
snow all the way up to the base
the top of the mountain stayed closed until about 11:00
strangely, there was no line at the gondola
that's because everyone got out at mid station waiting for the top to open (that took 2H)
every other lift had 15mn+ lines
and lines
and more lines
while the gondola to the top wasn't open yet, but that's a lot of tracks down for a few ski patrol runs. Mmmh...
sadly, the 2ft of powder were pretty packed by the wind
line at the mid station gondola. It was better go to all the way back down and get it there
Gondola towards top of cloud nine had a bit of powder (only enough for one run though)
snow was good up high, but by 9000ft the powder quality went way down :-/
hike up the ridge to santiago bowl/hemlock bowl and chair 14
The next morning, driving up was easier, the road was mostly clear. I also only drove up to Mill's Café, which put me at the lifts I wanted and is actually easier to get back to, than the main lodge. Some people actually camped there:
The next morning was already spring skiing. Not bad, mostly no ice or slush, which is good, but virtually no powder left anywhere:
During those 2 days, I got some nice pictures of the surroundings:
airport I went to
looks nice to ride :)
this reminds me of heavenly]
On the way back, saw one of the Alaska planes bringing in a load of passengers:
good way to see the mountain
Mill's Café where I parked, and main lodge at the end of the road
Facelift Express
I hiked up the hill to ski down that face a couple of times
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