Mammoth 1/8-16

[Staley]

I was up in Mammoth for the last week or so. The first Saturday had some really nice groomers, but the ungroomed was pretty firm. Sunday had more wind and some amazing wind buff on Huevos. Monday was more of the same, but not quite as good as Sunday. The entrance to the Paranoids was horrible, but once inside, the snow wasn't that bad. Tuesday had terrible visibility with a little bit of snow. Gravy Chute was pretty soft, as were a few of the Avi Chutes, but overall, it wasn't a good day.

Wednesday had about 5 inches of powder on top of very firm snow. Nevertheless, it skied very well, especially in Dragon's Tail. Unfortunately, I was really sick, so I couldn't ski hard all day. I sat out Thursday-Sunday but the word was that some spots softened up nicely with the warm temperature, while other areas weren't so great. Now isn't a great time to be skiing Mammoth, as there's no new snow in the forecast and the sun isn't really strong enough to produce corn at this time of the year.

Here's a quick video from a few runs on Wednesday morning:
[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/18884835[/vimeo]

 

[schubwa]

Now isn't a great time to be skiing Mammoth, as there's no new snow in the forecast and the sun isn't really strong enough to produce corn at this time of the year.

I had to read this a few times, and from a "powder only" perspective, you're right. But Mammoth doesn't really get that much powder compared to many places north and east. Usually big doses of snow with lots of wind. But it does get tons of perfect bluebird days in between the storm cycles to enjoy. Just look at your pictures. And talk about snow preservation.
It sounds like the top, with a little wind from the right direction (SW), will be setting up for more wind board. Some of my fondest memories of that place are all the great days off the top, lapping to the lower Gondi, in sweaters and sunglasses, gettin' a tan! Man, I'm about ready to hop in my car and make the long drive down there and get in some California dreamin'.

 

[Tony Crocker]

As a former Mammoth local schubwa understands completely. Usually the wind smooths out those upper runs and makes the aprons below them in particular much more enjoyable that when it's just stiffened chowder from a storm a couple of days before. Best of all is when the wind blows in a sifted inch or two of superdry snow from the backside on top of the smooth windbuff. Those can be 40K days.

It doesn't always work that way and perhaps Staley caught an unfortunate weather pattern before the new snow. Upslope winds can strip the soft sift and leave behind a tight, firm surface. The video looks decent enough to me. Some of the snow hit the camera.

 

[Staley]

Wednesday was definitely a good day. I had some good runs every day I was there, so it was far from a terrible trip. Right now the wind isn't doing much, so you're going to be looking for South-facing aspects (and likely groomed stuff only) over wind-buff.

Monday was the worst day I had. The wind buff from the day before on Huevos had set up, so while Huevos was still smooth and the best run on the mountain, it was pretty firm. The only other semi-soft snow I found was in the middle of P3. That was after sideslipping in over completely bulletproof snow, and the apron below the Paranoids and Philippe's was all-time bad. The entire thing was rock-hard sastrugi.

I definitely agree that the wind can do great things for Mammoth, but now is not that time. We're currently in the middle of the January thaw and no new snow is expected until February, so unless the wind picks up and finds soft snow to move around, it's probably groomer season in Mammoth.

 

[Tony Crocker]

January thaw

That implies melt/freeze, which I'm 99+% certain is not happening on the north facing steeps at Mammoth. Unless it rained like Utah. It could be the "month long drought," which unfortunately is not a rare occurrence in the Sierra. Mammoth handles those better than anywhere else though. In 1996-97 Mammoth had 311 inches snow November - January and only 8 inches after Feb. 1. I still skied Memorial Day that season and it was OK.