Mammoth Mountain

[skiNEwhere]

I am going to be back in California in middle-late January. There really aren't any but 2 ski resorts relatively close to oceanside, Bear and Mammoth Mountain. I have skiied in New England my whole life, I've never skiied the bowls before (I went to Sugarloaf once, when they had the gondola 3/4th's the way up the mountain, and it was closed)

Has anyone skiied bowls before, was it a big adjustment for them?

And anyone have any recommendations for trails at Mammoth Mountain? I ski everything

 

[molecan]

llamborghinii wrote: "Has anyone skiied bowls before, was it a big adjustment for them? "


Never been to Mammoth, but had the chance to ski the backside bowls of Vail, Copper, and Snowbird last winter.

Its bizzare having an area as large as an average NE Ski mountain's terrain lying open in front of you, and inverted.
It just takes a few seconds to accept that there is no 'trail', a few deep breaths, a few turns feeling out the terrain, and a few hoots and hollers.

Other than expanded scale, and options limited only by your skill, and avy ropes, it's not a huge adjustment. What's difficult is coming back to NE and skiing (what will seem like) dinky little areas, e.g., Jay/Stowe/Wildcat, et al again.

 

[Talisman]

I have skied Mammoth many times and the bowl skiing is really tops. The high elevtation snow stays fluffy and there are many lines off of the summit that cover a wide range of abilities. June Mtn which is close by is a fun place to ski when Mammoth is too windy to open up the top half of the mountain. You are in for real treat, enjoy it!