Mammoth Mountain Ski Trip – Dec 2009
December 30, 2009 10 Comments
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
Hi Shelley, Hope you are having a wonderful time and enjoy your New Year celebrations whatever you are doing tonight.
When I was younger, around the time you are talking about, I lived in California from around June 1980 to January 1983 whilst my Father was based in San Francisco. We lived in a town called Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County and I did visit Lake Tahoe that you mention a couple of times. I didn’t get the skiing bug that you seem to have but enjoyed my time there nevertheless.
Sue,
Cool that you lived over here for a few years! I’ve heard of Walnut Creek but haven’t been there specifically. Lake Tahoe is way more scenic than Mammoth even! Can’t beat adding a gorgeous blue lake centered in the snow and pines
Hope your New Years was great!
Looks amazing! Glad you had a great time xx
Thx Trace ;-D
Shelley, What a fantastic trip and you captured some beautiful pictures. I love how you put it all together for us so we feel like we were with you.
I am so happy that your father joined you. I am sure he is happy he did as well.
Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year to you. Love ya
Thanks Sandi. Yep was a very nice week with him. He even had second thoughts about going skiing when he learned that over 80 gets FREE lift tickets!! WOW!! And that’s beyond the senior discount!
Happy New Year to you too! Love to you and your family!
As usual, you’ve done a fantastic write-up of your trip! I feel like I was there. Kinda neat how you have your young memories and now your older memories tied together with your dad & skiing. My very favorite picture is the one of Owens Valley – East…something very magical about that one, although the panorama is awesome too.
Chris, the East Owens Valley shot is my fav too!! I like the foreground of the sagebrush color and the sky has better color/texture as well.
Shelley-
, but I love living vicariously on the slopes with you!!! Thank you again for sharing another one of your great blogs!
As always I stress your writing and photography skills suggest you have another calling if you ever get tired of the current job! FANTASTIC! beautiful pictures and narrative along side. Wow. What an adventure to remember for 2009. I felt like I was there! Stunning scenery. I had a bad experience on the bunny hill when I was 19 so this is one thing we do not share joy in
Love ya!!!
Lisa
Lisa, Oh Phooey on your bad experience on the bunny hill! darn it! ;-P that’s a real shame tho. I can see that skiing is either a sport that grabs you or doesn’t…at any age.
Love to you both too and Happy New Year!