February 10 - 13, Mammoth, CA

I lucked out and got out of the rainy PNW just in time and have been enjoying spring conditions at Mammoth.

While Zap has been avoiding the chickenheads at Stevens, the skiing at Mammoth has been relatively decent, though note the *disclaimer* below.

No backcountry partner this trip, so the closest I got was 15K of XC at Tamarack Lakes the first day of the trip to acclimatize my cardiovascular system to skiing above 8,000'.

At the ski area, conditions varied wildly and when viewed as a whole, comprised a complete menu of snow surfaces:

Granola = a chunky variation of death cookies best enjoyed during breakfast hours

Whipped mashed potatoes = delicious when consumed in the late afternoon

Twice-baked potatoes = slightly crusty on top, and mashed underneath, ready for eating around 3:15. If you wait too long you have...

Creme-brulee = crusty caramel on top, and pudding-like underneath

Rock candy = best avoided, unless you want to get cavities

Death cookies = those nasty chunks of snow-ice that ski like ball bearings

Cookie dough = found in the groomer turnaround points

Rocky road = cat track snow churned with pumice balls for optimal consistency

And a surface on the steep upper slopes that skied like a sheet of styrofoam.

*Most of the mountain was closed today due to high winds. The Mammoth ski patrol web site listed wind gusts over 110 mph this afternoon. My pals and I got slammed with a major gust on one of the lower lifts and almost got bucked from the chair. Scariest chairlift ride of our lives. We called it a day @ 11 AM.

While high temperatures have been in the 40's all week, overnight temps tonight are supposed to be in the single digits, then up to the 40's again tomorrow.

Pic: Jenny rips the stryofoam beneath "Philippes"

Your trip report makes me hungry. 

In all the days we have spent at Mammoth, we've only had one calm day.  I have been amazed that they run the lifts during what locally would close the lifts.  Jill and I were on chair 22 once and had to get in a tuck, slid on the chair edge  and have the chair push us off into a gale.  Yeah, that was the last run of the day.

Are they still giving ticket discounts with the Whistler Edge card ?

I don't know whether they give a discount with a Whistler Edge Card. One of my friends owns a couple condos here and we got a discount through him ($50 / day).

The average wind speed at the top is currently 117 mph. But, a few chairs are running so they can claim they are "open" and won't issue refunds...

More snow surface types encountered today w/ high winds and low temps:

Fruitcake = snow with embedded storm debris such as pine cones, branches, and needles

Ice cube = better for skating, but since the ski area doesn't have a Zamboni, skis will have to do