Mammoth - The Very Essence of Windbuff

[LegoSkier]

DG and I just got back from 2 fine days ripping around Mammoth courtesy of her works 2 gold passes. We stayed down in Bishop at the ole Mountain View Motel on West Line where we had a fine view of the buttermilks out of the small bathroom window and got to hit up Kava Java on the way to skiing every morning. DG finally got to experience all of Mammoth open on Friday. After a quick run to Daves, we passed the time riding chair 9 and hit Dragon's Back. We sort of worked our way over to 14 through out the day and finally finished up over on 22 with some runs down the chutes. All the top runs were pretty good windbuff. It was a warm bluebird midwinter day. Which brings me to something we noticed:

WTF is up with Mammoth fashion? There were more 1 peices, fur collars, and bogners than I have ever seen there. Its a totally different look than the grunge factor at Kirkwood or Sugar Bowl and not something you notice too much in spring which is when I've been going there for the past few years.

Today started super windy and all the upper mountain was closed. We did a few laps on 5 then noticed a couple people skiing down Cornice bowl so we decided to check out the upper Gondola. We got in line behind about 20 people and right then the guy says its going to open in 2 minutes. We get on, have a gusty ride to the top and head for Dave's again. No one follows us and we end up being the first ones to ski it after a night and half a day of heavy wind blowing snow into it. If ever you could call windbuff sublime, this was it. A perfectly smooth 45 degree wall of 2" deep windbuff greeted us. Seriously fun. We rambled around that area, under 1, and off 23 until about 2 pm until we called it to grab a Pita Pit Gyro (Truckee seriously needs one of these) and head up 395 home. The avy carnage just north of Lee Vining was something to see. The road cuts right through a big debree field. I read they moved 5000 cubic yards of snow from the road!

[LegoSkier]

I couldn't have said it better myself!!! You know this is divegirl because I just used 3 exclaimation points, and Lego would never do that. Sorry for pulling an altachic, but I'm just gonna say this: Mammoth kicks both Squaw's and Kirkwood's asses. Sorry guys, it's true. Tons more vert, and the mountain is simply huge. I can't wait for Whistler!

[Jim S]

Oy vey, do I see a "Mammoth vs Squaw" thang evolving?

[Parvo Pup]

Re: Bogner, Fur wraps, etc.....

Real simple...

Mammoth = Los Angeles = Look at Me!
Tahoe = Rest of the Free World = I'm here to ski!

[tomw_n]

This pic is useless without threads

[guermo]

but I'm just gonna say this: Mammoth kicks both Squaw's and Kirkwood's asses. Sorry guys, it's true. Tons more vert, and the mountain is simply huge. I can't wait for Whistler!

Hey come on now , everyone is different and has their own opinion. Actually squaw is bigger - 4,000 acres... and way way steeper. No KT-22 at mammoth , nothing as consistently steep and challenging. So personally I'd take a day at squaw anyday over mammoth. After 15 years of skiing both , I think i'm entitled to my opinion. SQUAW VALLEY!!!

[irul&ublo]

Hey come on now , everyone is different and has their own opinion. Actually squaw is bigger - 4,000 acres... and way way steeper. No KT-22 at mammoth , nothing as consistently steep and challenging. So personally I'd take a day at squaw anyday over mammoth. After 15 years of skiing both , I think i'm entitled to my opinion. SQUAW VALLEY!!!

You are NOT entitled to your opinion until you have at least 100 posts or have put up naked pics of your sister/girlfriend/wife.

[guermo]

You are NOT entitled to your opinion until you have at least 100 posts or have put up naked pics of your sister/girlfriend/wife.

that's cool , 16th year at tahoe , first month being an internet geek ............

[irul&ublo]

Damn. Was I just insulted by a Squllywood JONG?

[guermo]

Damn. Was I just insulted by a Squllywood JONG?

no man , no insult. Just joking around.... peace to all cali brothers!

[Jim S]

I like Squaw a lot, have a season's pass there, and would absolutely love it but the darn elevation can give you some nasty snow conditions. KT does provide a myriad of great ski adventures.
It is 45 minutes from my place as opposed to nearly 3 hours for Mammoth.

But doesn't Mammoth have an altitude and snowpack advantage over Squaw?
I've only been to Mammoth last June and July 4th but aren't Hangman's and MJB's steep albeit short?

[Endlessseason]

I couldn't have said it better myself!!! You know this is divegirl because I just used 3 exclaimation points, and Lego would never do that. Sorry for pulling an altachic, but I'm just gonna say this: Mammoth kicks both Squaw's and Kirkwood's asses. Sorry guys, it's true. Tons more vert, and the mountain is simply huge. I can't wait for Whistler!

Agreed. Kirkwood and Squaw are fantastic, fun mountains, but Mammoth totally blows me away.

[msnowmn]

We had classic wind buff sugar snow on 23 today! Sooooooo... nice it's time to go edit some video of it.

[BLOODSWEATSTEEL]

I like to think I offer an semi-unbiased opinion, as I bought passes at all three this year. Yeah, let's just say I worked some overtime. I've been skiing all three for a very long time. They all have their good and bad points. I live in S. Gardnerville, so mammoth is only about 1.5 hrs, KW is bout 30 mins, and Squaw is a little under an hour.

Mammoth = excellent for early season [because they're ALWAYS open first,] and spring skiing. Snow stays cold and pretty dry b/c of the high elevation and exposed nature of most of the mountain. Great lift system, but the terrain is only about a 7/10. Winds are also a big disappointment after an hour and a half drive some days. The So. Cal gaper crowd is very strong. Just deal with it, it's usually worth it. I'll at least say this; Mammoth snow is almost always predictable, always delivers, and is pretty much the standard as far as how a mountain operation should be run IMO.

Squaw = Best variety of terrain around. Squallywood has it all. Lotsa gapers and the bay crowd, but they stick to the parks & groomers [for the most part.] There are a LOT of stashes. The mountains are just so spread out and well-covered by trees and natural obstacles that I still think after ten years there is still terrain there that I haven't found yet. Hucks everywhere. It's like opening a little tiny Christmas present everytime, even if it's just a new line down old terrain. The possibilities are endless. The downside: the good quality snow days are few and far between. It's really hit or miss. Being at such a low elevation and on the windward side of the Sierra, there is a VERY high moisture content in the snow. Sometimes it's crud, sometimes it's cement, sometimes it's waterskiing, and sometimes it's downright PAIN. At any rate; respect due. When Squaw is on, Squaw is ON THE FUCKING MONEY.

Kirkwood = Well, KW sucks. It's a shitty drive on a powder day [no matter which side of the range you're coming from,] and the customer service sucks balls. Pretty much non-existant. On the rare days that they can seem to 1: keep the power at the mountain on, 2: keep the wind down long enough to open the upper mountain lifts, 3: NOT have a full-on catastrophic lift system breakdown, or 4: keep the roads open long enough for you to get there,.......... it rocks. Anyways; too many headaches. Everybody should all just go to Sierra or Northstar instead.

[comish]

I'm gonna mostly agree with you DG. After skiing the Tahoe area for 4 years and now Mammoth for the last 2.5 I will take Mammoth almost any day. My only complaint with Mammy is that the wind, which is such a blessing most of the time (think wind buff, no moguls, etc), Can kill a great pow day. There aren't quite enough trees to keep things soft and fluffy when the wind is nucking over the summit at 100mph.

The only thing Squaw has on Mammoth is for hucking where it simply kills Mammoth. Bullet had it right on the hucking. Not really a huge factor for me anymore though.

LA factor at Mammoth sucks.

The combination of long sustained pitches, higher elevation, east side location, aspect, and good lift system means that there is almost never a bad day at Mammoth, while you definitely can't say that about Squaw. Mammy is very consistently good.

Glad you got some!

[Barnballs]

20 feet of wind yesterday, but we needed it. Once the lifts were up and running, Avi's were en-fuego. Dave's, Huevo's, Chair 5 = super. Today was definitely firmer, but plenty of wind buff in pockets (face of 22). Made the mistake of doing Hangers today...that sucked. Saw some good yard-sales from CH23 under the drop-outs. Pics to follow.

[cj001f]

WTF is up with Mammoth fashion? There were more 1 peices, fur collars, and bogners than I have ever seen there.

Don't forget the monoskis. I think I saw more at Mammoth yesterday and today than in the previous 10 years (excluding time spent at Heavenly).

Terrain wise it's maybe a draw. Mammoth has more wide open machschnell slopes; tahoe has more steep narrow chutes. Squaw, Kirkwood have many more lapable chutes/steeps without crowds.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Kirkwood = Well, KW sucks. It's a shitty drive on a powder day [no matter which side of the range you're coming from,] and the customer service sucks balls. Pretty much non-existant. On the rare days that they can seem to 1: keep the power at the mountain on, 2: keep the wind down long enough to open the upper mountain lifts, 3: NOT have a full-on catastrophic lift system breakdown, or 4: keep the roads open long enough for you to get there,.......... it rocks. Anyways; too many headaches. Everybody should all just go to Sierra or Northstar instead.

ha! Pretty accurate assessment....

[tuffy109]

i saw a black monoskier at mammoth a few weeks back. the rarities of rares.

i'm so sick of the fucking drive to mammoth. i wish there was a fabric in time that transported you from the 5/14 to lone pine. finish the fucking airport already.

[shmerham]

Don't forget the monoskis. I think I saw more at Mammoth yesterday and today than in the previous 10 years (excluding time spent at Heavenly).

It's a monoski. It's verrrry european. [/french accent]

[pointemstraight]

Yes, the windbuff this weekend was very nice-ah. The mid-to-lower apron off 23 was smooth and creamy and primed for big fast screamer turns.

[BLOODSWEATSTEEL]

i'm so sick of the fucking drive to mammoth. i wish there was a fabric in time that transported you from the 5/14 to lone pine. finish the fucking airport already.

Yeah, can't wait for that one.

Welcome to the Mammoth/Sequoia/King's Canyon/Yosemite/Inyo International Airport, kids! The latest installment in a series entitled "The McDonaldization of our national resources."

I just really hope they have the smarts to put a Les Schwab, a Costco, mineral spa/massage parlor and a few Starbucks' in there too.

[Jim S]

finish the fucking airport already.

They are building a commerical airport near Mammoth?

[Superstar Punani]

Mammoth kicks both Squaw's and Kirkwood's asses. Sorry guys, it's true.

When I lived in LA I was a Mammy & Kirkweed passholder. Skied 40 days at KW and 3 at Mammoth between opening day and Kirkwood closing time. Personally I kept getting jaded when there's a big dump, and Mammy would be a few inches of windbuff while KW's got 2 feet of blower.




I agree Mammoth is better than KW...

...for the few weeks they're open after the Kirkweed shutdown in May

[Booger]

I like to think I offer an semi-unbiased opinion, as I bought passes at all three this year. Yeah, let's just say I worked some overtime. I've been skiing all three for a very long time. They all have their good and bad points. I live in S. Gardnerville, so mammoth is only about 1.5 hrs, KW is bout 30 mins, and Squaw is a little under an hour.

Mammoth = excellent for early season [because they're ALWAYS open first,] and spring skiing. Snow stays cold and pretty dry b/c of the high elevation and exposed nature of most of the mountain. Great lift system, but the terrain is only about a 7/10. Winds are also a big disappointment after an hour and a half drive some days. The So. Cal gaper crowd is very strong. Just deal with it, it's usually worth it. I'll at least say this; Mammoth snow is almost always predictable, always delivers, and is pretty much the standard as far as how a mountain operation should be run IMO.

Squaw = Best variety of terrain around. Squallywood has it all. Lotsa gapers and the bay crowd, but they stick to the parks & groomers [for the most part.] There are a LOT of stashes. The mountains are just so spread out and well-covered by trees and natural obstacles that I still think after ten years there is still terrain there that I haven't found yet. Hucks everywhere. It's like opening a little tiny Christmas present everytime, even if it's just a new line down old terrain. The possibilities are endless. The downside: the good quality snow days are few and far between. It's really hit or miss. Being at such a low elevation and on the windward side of the Sierra, there is a VERY high moisture content in the snow. Sometimes it's crud, sometimes it's cement, sometimes it's waterskiing, and sometimes it's downright PAIN. At any rate; respect due. When Squaw is on, Squaw is ON THE FUCKING MONEY.

Kirkwood = Well, KW sucks. It's a shitty drive on a powder day [no matter which side of the range you're coming from,] and the customer service sucks balls. Pretty much non-existant. On the rare days that they can seem to 1: keep the power at the mountain on, 2: keep the wind down long enough to open the upper mountain lifts, 3: NOT have a full-on catastrophic lift system breakdown, or 4: keep the roads open long enough for you to get there,.......... it rocks. Anyways; too many headaches. Everybody should all just go to Sierra or Northstar instead.

Pretty much what he said.

I grew up in a ski town so Im also overly sensitive to ski town culture.

Both Squaw and Mammoth suck on Sunny weekends between Dec 20 and Easter. The LA/ San Fran weekend crowd is scary at both places. Id rather ride the lift with Mormons-looking-for-air in the intermountain triangle than the California Range Rover dude (Yeti man knows waht Im talking about) spraying endless drivel in the bar how he was "killing it" today.

Id take Squaw any day over Mamoth....more diversity in terrain, more steeps, better bumps, and most importantly, less wind. If I couldnt really ski/ board and my life revolved around hanging out in a park I think Mammoth takes the cake here.

Locals great at both places. Tahoe towns are ruined by too many people and urban influences but Mammoth isnt really that different since its also super accessible.