Mammoth Mountain offers guaranteed snow

by Kraig Becker on

It has been a real hit-and-miss season for skiers so far this winter. Some regions of the U.S. have received plenty of snow, but large sections of the country are still waiting for for the sizable accumulations that will allow them to hit the slopes in style. But visitors to Mammoth Mountain in California can rest assured that they’ll have plenty of powder to play in, as the resort is even offering a snow guarantee for pass holders.

The Mammoth Mid-Winter Pass is currently on sale for just $299 and allows skiing or snowboarding everyday of the week between January 9 and February 10. That averages out to just $12 per day, which is an amazing deal for anyone who wants to ski one of the premiere resorts in all of North America. But, it gets even better. Starting yesterday, for every day that goes by in which the resort doesn’t receive 24 inches of new snowfall, they’ll extend the length of the pass for an additional day.

I’m told that the current snow base on the mountain is between 1.5 and 2 feet, and daily measurements will be provided by the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol to keep track of how much new snow falls. A running ticker will also be added to the Mammoth website to keep pass holders informed of those measurements and how many extra days are being added to their pass. So while you’re lamenting the fact that no fresh snow has fallen on the mountain, the value of that Mid-Winter Pass will continue to go up.

There is one small caveat however. In order to take advantage of this deal, you’ll need to purchase the Mid-Winter Pass by Monday, January 9th. To find out more and order your pass online, click here.

[Photo Courtesy of Mammoth Mountain]

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?

Ride Mammoth mountain bike park into the fall

by Kraig Becker on

Mammoth Mountain, located in California’s Sierra Nevada range, is probably best known for its spectacular skiing. The resort averages roughly 400 inches of snow each year and is amongst the most popular ski destinations in all of North America. But not everyone knows that it is also home to a fantastic mountain bike park, which gives visitors a reason to visit during the warmer months as well.

With over 70 miles of single-track trail to explore, and 3000 feet of vertical descent to enjoy, the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is a truly unique experience in and of itself. With routes that spider-web across the area, riders will experience everything from wide-open, scenic vistas, to twisting, technical rides through beautiful pine forests. This year, the park has added some new additions as well, building several jump runs and expanding existing routes even further. As a result, an already amazing mountain bike run has gotten even better.

Along with these expanded routes, the resort has also announced an expanded schedule. The mountain bike park will remain open daily through September 19 and on weekends until October 2. After that, it’s time to put the bikes away for the season and get ready for the winter ahead.

September should be an amazing time to visit Mammoth and go for a ride in the bike park. The resort makes it incredibly easy to do just that, offering shuttle service to the park itself and gondolas to the top of the mountain. After that, all you have to worry about is whether you want to bomb down the course, or enjoy a more leisurely pace back to the base of the hill. Either way, Mammoth is a mountain biker’s paradise, with something to offer all skill levels.