Memorial Day Getaway: Ski, Bike, Golf Mammoth Mountain

by Kraig Becker on

Are you still making plans for Memorial Day weekend? Then look no further than Mammoth Mountain Resort, where unique spring weather conditions have made it possible for visitors to ski, mountain bike and play golf all on the same day.

Even though the Memorial Day weekend often marks the unofficial start to summer, Mammoth isn’t quite ready to completely give up on winter just yet. The resort is one of the few places in the U.S. where it is still possible to ski this spring and the lifts will remain open from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Monday, May 28.

Once you’ve finished taking a few turns on the slopes, head over to Mammoth’s fantastic mountain bike park, which officially opens for the season on Saturday, May 26. The lower-mountain trails will be fully accessible and the uphill shuttle will run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., making it as easy as possible to bomb down the great trails there.

Finally, cap off the day with a round of golf on the Sierra Star Golf Course, which opened for the season this past Friday. The beautiful course is surrounded by snow capped peaks and is also located at 8000 feet above sea level, making it the highest course all of California. The thin air will add distance to your drives while the serene setting will brighten your mood, even after a three-putt.

Because it is so unusual to be able to ski, mountain bike and golf all on the same day, Mammoth is offering fantastic deals on passes for the weekend. Visitors can choose to either ski and ride or ski and golf for just $79 or they can elect to partake in all three activities for just $99. That seems like a bargain for a very active day outside. Check out all of these deals and more on the Mammoth Summer Kick-off page.

[Photo courtesy Mammoth Mountain]

Leap Year babies stay for free at Mammoth Mountain Lodge

by Kraig Becker on

Leap Year only comes once every four years, and if you happen to be one of those special few whose were born on February 29th, you know how seldom you truly get to celebrate your birthday. This year, Mammoth Mountain Lodge, located in California‘s Sierra Nevada range, is helping to make the 29th especially memorable by offering free lodging to Leap Year babies who visit the resort on their special day.

Leapers have the option of staying at one of four Mammoth lodges – Mammoth Mountain Inn, Juniper Springs Resort, The Village Lodge, and Tamarack Lodge and Resort. The free room offer is good for the night of Wednesday, February 29th only, and a valid ID showing proof of the Leap Year birthday is required at check-in. To take advantage of this deal, simply call 800-MAMMOTH or visit MammothMountain.com.

Of course, the free Leap Year lodging isn’t the only reason to visit Mammoth in February. The mountain continues to get plenty of fresh snow and has a current base of between three and five feet. That means that all 3500 skiable acres, and every chairlift, is open for business. The resort is even offering family discounts on lift tickets throughout the entire month as well, making it more affordable than ever to hit the slopes.

Winter was a bit late in coming this year, but it is definitely in full swing now. Take advantage of it while you can, and hit the slopes for some skiing or snowboarding fun.

Ski Mammoth Mountain for free tomorrow!

by Kraig Becker on

California skiers and snowboarders looking to get in some early turns this weekend will want to head to Mammoth Mountain tomorrow. The iconic ski resort is offering free lift tickets to MyMammoth members all day long. What’s that? You’re not a MyMammoth member yet? No worries, you can sign up for free right here.

With a current snow base of two feet, conditions are already great on Mammoth this season. As of today, there were nine lifts in operation, and the resort continues to open new runs almost daily. Throw in a terrain park and superpipe for the snowboarders, and you have one of the top winter destinations in all of North America.

As mentioned, you’ll need to be a MyMammoth member to take advantage of the free ski passes tomorrow. But that isn’t the only benefit you’ll enjoy for signing up. Members of this free insider club also receive discounted lift tickets, a smartphone app that provides updates on snow conditions, RFID cards that offer faster access to lifts, free WiFi in the lodge, and more.

We’ve been teasing the start of the ski season for weeks now, and most major resorts are already open. But with the cooler weather that has hit the U.S. in the past week or so, it is safe to say that winter is nearly ready to announce its arrival. What better way to welcome it then with a free day of skiing on one of the premiere ski mountains in the world.

Mammoth Mountain offers Thanksgiving with all the trimmings

by Kraig Becker on

Want to hit the ski slopes this Thursday without sacrificing the traditional Thanksgiving dinner? Than consider adding California’s Mammoth Mountain to the list of your turkey day traditions. Several of the resort’s restaurants will be serving up plenty of great food throughout the day, giving you the opportunity to play in the fresh powder, while still celebrating the holiday to the fullest.

Mammoth’s Mountainside Grill has a new head chef, and the restaurant is eager to feature his new dishes. For Thanksgiving, they’ll be offering everything you’d expect to find on your table at home, including carved turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, candied yams, and of course pumpkin pie. The gourmet meal costs $50 for adults, $20 for children age 7-12, and kids under 6 eat free. The service also includes complimentary photos and supervised activities for the kids in a separate game room. Seatings are available at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm.

Skiers and snowboarders looking for something a bit more casual will find Thanksgiving dinner available at other Mammoth restaurants as well. The Hyde Lounge, Yodler Restaurant & Bar, and Lakefront Restaurant will all be offering a fixed menu of traditional items, such as turkey, cornbread dressing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and a selection of homemade pies.

If you’re headed to Mammoth on Thanksgiving, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of these great dining options. Travelers are encouraged to call ahead and make reservations however, as seating is limited and already going fast. Click here for more details.

Of course, don’t forget about the amazing skiing at Mammoth either. The resort has more than two feet of powder already on the ground, with more snow in the forecast. They’re also hurriedly finishing the famous Olympic size SuperDuper Pipe as well, which should open just in time for the holiday too.

Ski season opens at Mammoth Mountain this week!

by Kraig Becker on

While skiers and snowboarders in Colorado have already been on the slopes for a few weeks, their counterparts in California have been forced to patiently wait for their turn to come. Their patience is about to be rewarded however, as Mammoth Mountain, one of the top ski resorts in North America, opens this week.

On Thursday, November 10th, at 8:30 AM, the first chair of the season will begin shuttling eager skiers and snowboarders up the mountain for the first runs of the day. But that will just be the beginning of a four-day celebration at Mammoth that will kick off the new season in grand style with live music, special events, film premieres, and parties all weekend long. For a full schedule of events, which includes autograph signings by the DC Pro Snowboarding Team, a concert by Black Lips and Ra Ra Riot, and much more, click here.

Mammoth also currently has season passes on sale, with an adult pass running just $799. Passes for children and seniors are significantly cheaper than that price, but if you’re interested, you’ll want to act fast. The sale ends November 13, after which they’ll return to their regular price and you’ll end up kicking yourself for not nabbing one sooner.

With an average snowfall of more than 400 inches per year and over 150 trails to ski or ride, you would think the management at Mammoth would be content to lure in visitors with the mountain’s natural wonders alone. But during the off season, they spent more than $20 million on upgrades to the resort, incorporating RFID technology into the lift passes, installing a new quad chairlift, and improving other facilities for their guests. New direct flights from San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other cities makes it easier than ever to get to the mountain as well, eliminating any excuse you have for not hitting the slopes this winter.

I know the calendar still says November, and winter is still officially six weeks away, but there is already plenty of powder in the mountains. Why not go enjoy some early seasons turns at Mammoth this weekend?