Mammoth Rules The Sierra After Alpine Closes for the Season.
A nearly unprecedented dry spring that prompted the closure of diehard resort Alpine Meadows recently left Mammoth Mountain ruling the Sierra with a snowpack easily expected to last until Memorial Day. With a hefty season snowfall of 435 inches, the most in the last five years, Mammoth continues to run its lifts and park for those unwilling to welcome summer just yet.
The last days of Alpine's season brought out Northern California skiers for farewell runs, bidding adieu to winter in Tahoe as high temps diminish a rapidly melting snowpack. But Mammoth, famous for staying open later than most resorts in the country, stills boasts a three to seven foot base that ensures enough snow to ski almost all of the mountain. Under a beautiful spring sun and blue skies, PowderMaggots recently converged on the area May 9th and 10th for a long-planned Mini-Summit to take advantage of Mammoth's late season cornfest.
Maggots could be spotted in their typical assault formations atop the best lines Mammoth had to offer, from Hangman's Hollow at the top of the gondola to the air-through crux of Philippe's 4 chute. Word that these can't-get-enough snow devotees had infested Mammoth spread through town as the not-so-incognito powderhounds tore the corn a new cob on all over the mountain. As always, epic crashes and hairball straightlines left plenty to talk about at impromptu apres events. And the impromptu apres events became fodder for a tale or two of their own.
Mammoth Mountain is making the sunny spring ski season even brighter this year and has lowered ticket prices to $50 for adults, $37 for teens and $25 for kids and seniors. For more information or to make reservations, call 800.MAMMOTH.or visit www.MammothMountain.com
