No freshly cut superpipe after 5 days of dumpage.

As the biggest storm to hit the Sierras (in 3 years) began pounding Mammoth, it was time to shut the laptop down, feel “sick” and pack the bags. Having a tight schedule, there was only one thing to do…a one-day mission up to Mammoth. Forecasters were predicting 5 days of blizzard conditions, so I decided to make my rendezvous with Mammoth on Wednesday, January 9th. NOAA was forecasting 39 degrees with 5 mph winds, but with 35 to 50 mph gusts the night before, I was a bit skeptical. Well, it couldn’t have been a better day. Temperature in the mid 30’s, partly cloudy skies, 8 to 10 feet of fresh pow and an empty mountain. Ooooh yeeaaaah, Mammoth was practically empty.

Lift line on Broadway Express around 10:30am. This was the scene at all lifts most of the day.

Looking up at Solitude (I think).

Conditions were great. McCoy Station on the left.

Riding Stump Alley Express looking towards the Main Lodge.

The ride up on the new 6-passenger Cloud Nine Express was smoooooooooth.

The view looking down on Cloud Nine Express.

First thing you'll see to your left when exiting Cloud Nine Express. So, that's just where I headed.

By the time I hit Ricochet it had been chopped up, making my ride down a bit bumpy.

Towards the end of the day going up Stump Alley Express for what would be my last chair of the day.

After a full day of riding, it was off to Roberto's for some authentic Mexican food. Damn, it was good. I was not looking forward to the 5 hour drive back home especially after that long day and a full stomach. So, I stopped by the Looney Bean in Bishop for a Super Fly Chai to keep my ass up and alert and before I knew it I was back home. Already planning my next trip up because the fever is at an all-time high.

Thanks to Lucky and Bryan in Marketing at Mammoth Mountain.