After 72 hours of snowy storm, today is absolutely gorgeous. It’s a shame the lifts aren’t running as some of the wind-blown terrain looks quite ski-able!

Here are some pictures from about 10am this morning. Notice the gates being installed by the lifts – these are the new RFID gates. According to Mammoth Mountain, “This season you’ll be able to ski/ride all day without ever taking your lift ticket/pass out of your pocket thanks to our new RFID technology and gates.” Exciting!

Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge

Chair 11 at Main Lodge

Fascination at Main Lodge

Looking at the forecast for the next week makes me wonder if the sparkling powder will stick around – solid sun and temps in the 60s. Can’t complain really, I could use just a bit more summer before winter officially starts!

Thanks for visiting Kiwiski!

This is two day’s worth. Oof-da.

Main Lodge Parking Lot - Mammoth Mountain

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday’s dusting was just a warm-up compared to the truckload of snow Mother Nature is dumping on Mammoth today. I woke up this morning to the gloomy grey glow of winter – probably about 6 inches in town and over a foot and still going up at Main Lodge. This is, from my experience living in Mammoth Lakes so far, a typical season change. One day it’s sunny and warm, and the next it’s windy and snowing!

Broadway at Mammoth Mountain

Tusks Sundeck at Mammoth Mountain

Woolly Statue at Mammoth Mountain

Chair 6 at Mammoth Mountain

This morning I awoke to the sight of fresh snow on the mountain from my bedroom window. I wasn’t surprised after listening to rain on the roof for much of the night. Winter is approaching and there is a definite bite in the air even during the day. There is more on the way tonight and tomorrow, maybe as much as 6 inches.

Here’s a few photos from earlier today up at Main Lodge.

Chair 6

Woolly

Main Lodge

It is a little early to get too excited. Personally I wouldn’t mind two more weeks of warm weather, then it can dump big time right before opening day like it did last year, is that too much to ask?

The date is set and the clock is ticking down to opening day at Mammoth Mountain. Officially the mountain is due to open on November 10th at 8.30; dependant on snow of course. It’s pretty exciting although I’d like summer to hang around just a little bit longer. After all you could still ski here only a few months ago in July!

It is definitely getting cooler here in Mammoth and there is snow in the forecast for this week so the fire will get used for the first time this season. It is time to start thinking of the winter ahead; get into shape and get your gear ready for another epic winter. Word on the street in Mammoth is that we are in for 1000 inches of snow this season. This would be a crazy amount of snow, especially after last year, but you never know aye?

At last spring has arrived in Mammoth! It has been a long winter and a record one too. With over 600 inches falling during the season there is still a ton of snow on the hill. In town grass is appearing, the birds are chirping and the bears are scavenging.

Conditions are great and we are getting some nice sunny days to enjoy it at last. Today I got some fantastic top to bottom runs in on fun groomed trails. I also skied Huevos late morning which had softened up so the skiing off piste is good too (once the sun has been on it). My pick would be to try out Cornice early before it gets scrapped off then ski some of the lower runs as they soften up. Keep an eye out for people skiing off trail and if it looks good give it a go; there’s no need to be the first person down something dodgy and take a slide. If no one is going near a run there is usually a good reason for that.

Canyon and Eagle Lodges closed last weekend so unfortunately the whole mountain is not open. Lifts at Main Lodge will be open everyday, these include 1, 2, 3, 6, 11 and the Gondola. Chairs 4, 5, 10 and 23 may be open this weekend; dependent on projected numbers of skiers I guess.

Ski School is operating as well and there is no better time to take a private lesson. Mammoth is offering private lessons at a discounted rate of $95/hour, a pretty good deal when they charge $150+ an hour during the season. As usual you can have up to five people in a lesson at no extra cost. I’ve moved my gear up to Main Lodge and I am enjoying a change of scene, just drop me an e-mail if you are thinking of taking a lesson and would like to know more.

Woolly celebrates his birthday next weekend at Canyon Lodge. No one I’ve asked really knows how old Woolly is, perhaps he is shy about his age. Anyhow, Mammoth Mountain is putting on a Winter Carnival at Canyon Lodge over the weekend to celebrate. Activities include, sled rides, snow mobile rides, performing artists, face painting and much more. And the good news is that children get to ski free! that’s right for free (with a paying adult). Oh and there is birthday cake too, be there at 3pm on the 26th to get your slice.

The snow has arrived back at Mammoth in a big way, just in time for a busy Presidents’ Week! Since Wednesday about 6 feet of light powder has fallen from above turning the mountain back into a winter wonderland. It is shaping up to be a fantastic week with clear skies returning for those lucky enough to be here to enjoy them.

I’m pretty sure the top hasn’t opened at all over the last few days so when it does there will be some epic skiing to be had. It will also be great to spread out skiers and riders over the mountain and reduce lift queues. On that note be careful skiing around the hill, I saw a few collisions and a number of close calls today. Here’s my top ten tips to keep safe:

1. Look around you ALL the time, but especially when crossing runs or cutting from one side to another
2. Ski to one side of the run if possible, the middle tends to be busier
3. Grab a trail map and try some new runs away from the main thoroughfares like Stump Alley
4. Stop where you can be seen and off to the side of the run
5. Overtake snowboarders on the side they are facing rather than on their blind spot
6. Get out early, lunch early to avoid the busiest times, that way you get a seat to enjoy lunch too!
7. Give way to people below you, hopefully those above you will look out for you but don’t assume so
8. Go to June, there’s no one there
9. Take a lesson to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds
10. Don’t drink and ski

Happy Presidents’ Week and have a fun time slaying all that powder out there!

On Sunday we were lucky to get a great top up of snow which has rejuvenated the skiing at Mammoth. Before then it had been over three weeks of warm temperatures and sun that meant skiing off the groomed runs was a challenge and not so rewarding. This has all changed now though. From Sunday’s storm the Mountain is reporting 12-16 inches which I’d say was about right. It hasn’t quite covered all the icy areas but does mean the off piste skiing is fun again. The snow has also freshened up the groomed runs too but they held out pretty well during the dry spell anyhow. Today there was bit of a easterly wind that looked to be stripping the top rather than loading it with snow so caution will still be required at the top of summit runs. Temperatures are meant to stay cool until about Friday so the all mountain skiing should have winter conditions. There is lots of sun in the forecast for the next week so shaping up to be an awesome weekend ahead.

Hello everyone,

It’s been a while since I last posted so my apologies.

January has been and gone and can be summed up in one word, SUNNY! I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed so many days of sunshine in a row during the winter before. Coming from New Zealand I’ve got use to seeing a bit more action on the weather front and I was well pleased to see some snow on Sunday, 10-15 inches in fact. After December’s epic record snow fall January was one of the lightest. Having said that the skiing was still fun especially on the groomed runs. Actually I was amazed each day by the quality of the skiing to be had on the groomers. Mammoth still has a exceptional base and the snow from Sunday has opened up the off-piste skiing again, there is a lot of fun to be had.

Grab your skis and get up here.