Mammoth Mountain certainly lives up to its name, combining the best of wintersports, with a first-class vacation location for all the family. Uniquely situated in a crest in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, the Mammoth Lakes area receives a whopping 400 inches of snowfall per year. With a long season, from November to June, and with 300+ days of golden Californian sunshine, it will give you a gilt-edged glow in the snow. Getting to the Mammoth Lakes and Mountain area is no gigantic task; there is a direct air service from 4 cities, with a complimentary shuttle service to take guests to Mammoth’s lodging properties. Going by car? Then you’re in for a treat, with breathtaking views along many scenic routes. The beauty of the Eastern Sierra, ancient pineforests, rugged backcountry and the stillness of Death Valley are all en route to Mammoth. On arrival at the resort there is a choice of lodgings, all catering to the needs of the winter sports enthusiast. The Summer in Mammoth is beautiful and there is plenty of ski deals available to suit all budgets.
Mammoth Mountain Inn is located slopeside, 9,000 feet up at Panorama Gondola and is ideal for views and total immersion in the mountain experience. The Village Lodge, located at the social centre of Mammoth, is just a short gondola ride away from the slopes and combines the best of both worlds. For the ultimate in ski-in and ski-out lodging, try the Juniper Springs Resort, with beautiful mountain views combined with luxury condos or townhouses. The selection of parks at Mammoth is one reason why it will be your first choice for a winter break. There are facilities to suit all ages and levels of expertise; the quality and variety are top class. The Downtown Collection provides an urban setting, with stairs, ledges and concrete features, not to mention several jibs. Speaking of jibs, at Jibs Galore there are around 20-30 jibs in 7 acres of deep white snow. For the excitement of the pipe, snowboarders have a choice of 2 parks, with an 18 foot or 22 foot pipe the main attraction. The 22 footer takes boarding to a whole new level, with a stunt ditch suited to pros and keen boarders, where training and tricks are taken seriously. Providing the same conditions as the Olympics and the X Games, this pipe is one of the longest, at 500 feet long. For the younger snow patrol, Mammoth is a Winter Wonderland, with their own character friend, Woolly, to make the vacation fun.
On Saturdays, Woolly and his Ski and Snowboard School friends join up for music, dance and face-painting, plus a parade through the village at Mammoth. Woolly’s Tube Park and Snow Play area is for the whole family and there is space for toddlers to build that all-important snowman. The Unbound Playground is a progression park, with 4 acres of scaled-down terrain; a good introduction to freestyle. The instructional signage helps with mastering those first freestyle tricks. With all its other parks and numerous recreational features, Mammoth is tops for a memorable vacation. Being the tallest ski resort in California, with a peak elevation of 11,053 feet, Mammoth is awesome.
Charles Holland is a travel writer specialising in snow sports, cultural Europe, coastal India and African cities. Charles was born in London, but having grown up in Lagos, Nigeria, he has a great understanding of different cultures and world destinations. It was after he completed his English degree at the University of Sussex that he decided to combine both skills, travel knowledge and writing, to start posting his blogs onto the internet. So far he’s had great feedback and has some exciting projects in the pipeline. His latest work sees him compiling a guide to Goa which he will be posting onto his new website in the near future. Feel free to contact him via email at charlie.holland@firespinjay.co.uk
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