Planning California ski trip in Janaury

[nhskier1969]

I'm starting to plan my annual ski trip for my wife and I. Would like some recommendations between Mammoth and Palisades for end of January. I am not concerned so much with the crowds since we will ski Mon-Thur. Looking at both trail maps, except for a few cliff bands everything else is skiable for us.

My biggest concerns is amount of snow for the season and rain/snow line for storms that roll in. I know none of us are meteorologist but would Mammoth be a safer bet because of its higher base elevation?

We've skied Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho but never skied California.

Would like feedback.

 

[Edd]

Never skied Mammoth, but have done several trips to Lake Tahoe and enjoy time off the hill almost as much as the skiing. It’s just a very unique place in the US, there’s nothing else like it. Also, you have many other ski areas for options in case Pallisades has issues.

If skiing is the only concern, Mammoth seems a safer bet by reputation.

 

[snoseek]

Mammoth is more reliable but it really is a big guess. The Sierra can vary from buried in January to WROD. Flying into Reno? I would make the call last minute personally.

 

[urungus]

I would go to Palisades for the lake views, Olympic history, legendary KT-22 lift, more off-mountain dining and other activities nearby

 

[2Planker]

Never skied Mammoth, but have done several trips to Lake Tahoe and enjoy time off the hill almost as much as the skiing. It’s just a very unique place in the US, there’s nothing else like it. Also, you have many other ski areas for options in case Pallisades has issues.

If skiing is the only concern, Mammoth seems a safer bet by reputation.

Second the Tahoe choice
Rec Alpine Meadows and Kirkwood

 

[machski]

Mammoth is higher and tends to pull snow when Tahoe gets wet. Never a guarantee with the Sierras though. Mammoth has a lot in its region, you can also check out June Mountain for a different day if on the IKON pass. Also has natural hot springs you can go to but may require a snowshoe or x-country trek to if snow is heavy and snow line is real low.

 

[Razor]

One pf our best vacations ever was staying in South Lake Tahoe at a casino and skiing Heavenly, Sierra at Tahoe and Squaw. Ski all day, enjoy the casino and restaurants at night. Flew into Reno and took a bus to Tahoe.

 

[Edd]

One pf our best vacations ever was staying in South Lake Tahoe at a casino and skiing Heavenly, Sierra at Tahoe and Squaw. Ski all day, enjoy the casino and restaurants at night. Flew into Reno and took a bus to Tahoe.

How’d you get to Sierra and Squaw?

 

[snoseek]

How’d you get to Sierra and Squaw?

At one point there was a bus to Sierra from town. No idea about Squaw without a car.

 

[Cat in January]

There was a boat from South Lake to Squaw over a decade ago.

 

[urungus]

There was a boat from South Lake to Squaw over a decade ago.

That seems fun

 

[chuckstah]

There was a boat from South Lake to Squaw over a decade ago.

I remember taking that boat maybe 20 years ago to get to Squaw. It was definitely a relaxing commute for a ski day.

 

[jimk]

First, they are both terrific ski areas, so you can't hardly lose with either one when conditions are cooperating. Second, I kind of doubt that conditions will be hugely different between the two in late Jan, so if you have to make advance plans go for the one you think you'd most like - all things being equal. The big thing Mammoth has going for it is an extra 1000 feet of elevation. That always helps, but especially in late spring.

I'm by no means an expert on them, between the two ski areas I have 8 total days. I've visited each in recent years. I ski all over both mountains including double blacks (slowly) and I always experienced good to great conditions for my visits.

I skied three days at Mammoth in mid-April 2022. It was my first visit there ever and I enjoyed it very much. It has more skiable acreage in late spring than the place I usually ski at that time - Snowbird. I said at the time it might fit in my top ten favorite out of 100 ski areas I've visited. Several posts with numerous photos and commentary about my visit begin HERE.

My favorite photo from that visit, looking down Dropout Chute off Chair 23 (serves some of the best black diamonds, had dry, powdery snow on 15 Apr):


I've visited Palisades-Tahoe twice, once around 2013 for a day each at Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley. Liked them both. And then I visited them again this past early March (one partial day at Alpine and two great, powdery days at Olympic Valley (formerly Squaw). By the end of that 2024 visit I was ready to say the Olympic Valley (Squaw) side might be in my top five favorites anywhere (and when you add the Alpine Meadows side it could be in top three). I had people guiding me and that upped my appreciation factor Several posts with numerous photos and commentary about my visit begin HERE.

I took this photo of my son in Main Chute, one of several great hike-to chutes in the eponymous Palisades area above the Siberia Chair:


So all things being equal, I liked Palisades-Tahoe even more than Mammoth. Mammoth was low crowd during my April '22 visit. Palisades was busy, but manageable during my early March '24 weekdays visit. The steeper terrain generally had the lowest crowds at both places. You can't lose. Have fun.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Feast or famine has been my californee experience

No snow, or too much snow to drive!

Best of luck

 

[Hawk]

One of our best friends from Sunday River moved to Alpine Meadows right on the Mountain. We have visited many times and as stated above, it truely is different. Especially since Alpine and Palasades(Squaw) are connected by Gondola. Weather is a crap shoot but more often than not there is good skiing. We only fly into Reno and Steve picks us up so we never have to worry. The stoke and Vibe is off the hook there and you will see the big dogs huck just about anything if the snow is good. Go to the Chamois for beers apre and also do a shot at the slot bar. You just might see someone from a ski video. LOL I have never had a bad time at Palasades(Squaw).

 

[2Planker]

One of our best friends from Sunday River moved to Alpine Meadows right on the Mountain. We have visited many times and as stated above, it truely is different. Especially since Alpine and Palasades(Squaw) are connected by Gondola. Weather is a crap shoot but more often than not there is good skiing. We only fly into Reno and Steve picks us up so we never have to worry. The stoke and Vibe is off the hook there and you will see the big dogs huck just about anything if the snow is good. Go to the Chamois for beers apre and also do a shot at the slot bar. You just might see someone from a ski video. LOL I have never had a bad time at Palasades(Squaw).

Chip Seamans went from SR Patrol director to GM @ Alpine Meadows

 

[Hawk]

Yup Chip went out there. Is he still there? I have not head about him in a couple of years.
My freind was a free style coach and lived in my ski house before moving his eletrical engineering business to Sacramento and Alpine. We ran into chip a coule of times. He is in his element out there.

 

[2Planker]

Yup Chip went out there. Is he still there? I have not head about him in a couple of years.
My freind was a free style coach and lived in my ski house before moving his eletrical engineering business to Sacramento and Alpine. We ran into chip a coule of times. He is in his element out there.

Last I heard, a couple years ago, he had retired from being GM at a smaller place.
Heard he was going back to upstate NY...

 

[2Planker]

Hawk - https://www.saminfo.com/news/sam-headline-news/5918-130-windham-names-chip-seamans-general-manager

 

[Smellytele]

On my trip to truckee(north Tahoe) it did rain one day but drove up to mt rose and it was snowing up there. Got over a foot during the day. Drive down was pretty interesting though.