Mammoth Mountain Ski Trip – Dec 2009

The first time I ever saw snow was when my Dad took me on a group bus trip to Mammoth Mountain to go skiing.  This was early 1980′s and I was 15.  We took some lessons and ever since then I’ve been hooked!  Here’s some old pics from that weekend.  (Note:  Throughout this blog you can click on each image for a larger version)

First ski trip with Dad circa 1980

Main Lodge at Mammoth circa 1980

Since then I’ve been back to Mammoth Mountain a number of times, plus Lake Tahoe, June Mountain and a wonderful trip to Copper Mountain in Colorado.  I even skied Rossendale in England in the Rossendale Valley just north of Manchester!

SKI ROSSENDALE! - Rawtenstall, UK 2001

In recent years though I’ve only managed to ski locally one or two days a season at Mountain High here in Los Angeles county which is only an hour and a half drive and perfect for a quick day trip.

Mountain High - Wrightwood, CA 2004

This year however, I decided to go back to my “ski roots” and booked a trip to Mammoth over Christmas week.  The last time I had been to Mammoth was 10 years ago.

My 80-yr old Dad joined me for this trip and it seemed like old times all over again, him and I, except that he wasn’t planning on doing any skiing.  Although he runs regularly and completes half marathons, he has an upcoming trip to attend the Australian Open and did not want to chance an injury beforehand.

So, we pack up the rental SUV and it’s a Road TRiiiiPPP!!

We head straight north through the Owens Valley for 4.5 hours and stop in Bishop for lunch

Raymond's Deli - Bishop, CA

And just in case you only wanted to use the facilities at Raymond’s…take heed…

Raymond's Deli toilet door - outside

Raymond's Deli toilet door - inside

Then it’s back on the road and …

US Highway 395 - Bishop, CA

Another 45 minutes later we arrive in Mammoth Lakes!

It snowed our first night and next day so Dad and I checked into the condo…

Crestview Condo

Crestview Condo

Dad

View from Condo

…went into town to stock up on groceries *cough!alcohol!* for the week…

Shopping center - Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes

…plus check out the nearest ski lodge facilities

Cloverleaf run - Canyon Lodge Base

Canyon Lodge reader board and chairlift conditions

We also spent some time checking out Mammoth Lakes’ newest outdoor mall “The Village”

Steps to The Village at Mammoth Lakes

Dad enjoying Fire-pit at The Village in Mammoth Lakes

Christmas Tree at The Village in Mammoth Lakes

No fake snow-flocking needed for this tree! ^^^^^

After the little storm passed the next three days were gorgeous blue skies and I skied my ever-lovin’ snow-bunny tail off!!  From the top of the mountain to the base and from one side to the other!

Top Of The Sierra - 11,053 ft

Top Of The Sierra and Upper Roadrunner run

View from Upper Roadrunner run beyond the ski area boundary

View from Upper Roadrunner run

Lower Roadrunner run

Lower Roadrunner run

Quicksilver run

Back For More run

Haven't The Foggiest run

And while shushing my way down the mountain I took time out for some other observations…

Santa, his Elf and the Woolly Mammoth

Can you spot Santa, his Elf and the Woolly Mammoth?

Snow tracks...

Catch a Tan ~ 40 degrees warm!

They're fillin' up!

View from Cloverleaf run of Canyon Lodge

And this pic below might take on a whole new meaning to chairlift operations after the new horror movie “Frozen” comes out in theaters!

Canyon Express Chair 16

In Theaters Feb 2010 – Frozen: A typical day on the slopes turns into a chilling nightmare for three ski/snowboarders when they get stranded on the chairlift before their last run.

Okay!  Well now’s not a good time to mention how very frequent the chairlifts DO stop and leave you hanging in mid-air!!

These next two pics show the same run from different vantage points.  Look for the RED “X” in each to see where I was standing for the alternate pic!

View down from Solitude run

Looking up Solitude run

My favorite Après-ski activity is the jacuzzi and boy did I need it every day!!  My leg muscles were like jelly and also tender from the pressure points of the ski boots.  The condo complex had not one, but two! incredibly HOT jacuzzis!  They were both outdoors and afforded some fantastic views of snow and pine trees.

View from Jacuzzi #1

View from Jacuzzi #2

Did I mention they were hot?  Can you imagine having to sit out of the Jacuzzi for a spell in upper 30 degree temps in order to cool off?!? After those jacuzzis it was more than my legs that were jelly…I was a complete noodle!

My second favorite Après-ski activity is drinking!!  I mean those wonderful warming drinks like Jägermeister shots, Irish Coffee with whipped cream or hot Apple Cider with cloves, cinnamon and spiked with rum!!  Ahh, what’s the next level after ‘noodle’?  Utter Bliss!

Well Christmas is over and so is the Mammoth trip.  My dad and I pack up the SUV with more groceries than what we brought and head back down into the Owens Valley and home.   There is a fantastic Scenic Vista point just outside of Mammoth that is amazing.  Here’s some pics…

"Owens Valley – Extending from Bishop south for 100 miles. The valley was inhabited by indians for many years. Joseph Walker in 1833 was the first white man to discover the valley. In 1845 John O. Fremont named the valley, a river and a lake, after Richard Owens an army captain in his expedition to this area."

Owens Valley - East

Owens Valley - South

Owens Valley - West

And in closing, here’s my attempt at splicing all three pics together into a panorama… click on the image for larger version!

Panoramic view of Owens Valley

Happy New Year 2010 everyone! ;-D