I suspected last weekend's storm (cement-like with high winds) would pack the snow and result in rapid corn formation as soon as it warmed up. I was not disappointed. Saturday was probably a top 10 lifetime corn day.
Saturday was completely clear and warmed into the 40's up top and 50's at Main Lodge. There was a steady breeze, which is helpful this time of year in delaying the onset of sticky conditions. Mammoth is open until 3PM and there were pleasant surfaces to be found right up to the closing bell. Both days I did not get out until a bit after 9AM. I started with the usual Chair 2 & 1 warmups, then hit Cornice and face of 3.
Here's some people cruising the nicely softened groomed corn on Cornice about 10:15. I made a couple of turns off the groomed skier's left and could tell it was going to be good. So for the next hour I ran 4 circuits, alternating Climax and Dave's Run up top, then down through the chair 5 terrain to the Comeback Trail, returning to Chair 2.
Boarders on Climax, Saddle Bowl and back of chair 3 (green unloading station at upper right). Usually in spring the steeps are good but the apron runouts are a lot of work. Not so this time, smooth corn through midday on the aprons below Climax, Dave's and on either side of Chair 23.
Just a few people on the wide open smooth corn near Chair 5.
Chair 23 was closed, so there some traverse tracks have been cut above the rocks to access 80+% of Wipe Out/Drop Out. The highest traverse ends at the top of the Hump past Wipe Out 2. The Drop Out side of Chair 23 was at its best Saturday up until noon, while the Wipe Out side was ideal after 1PM when most of the more NE exposures we past their prime.
Looking down Wipe Out about 1:30PM. The corn was so easy I was able to ski it nonstop all the way to St. Anton, which is a rare occurrence on the first day after leaving sea level for me.
Hangman's is also very well sheltered and best skied in the afternoon, about 2PM for me on Saturday. I made one of the last gondolas before it closed at 2:30 for another run on Wipe Out. 27,000 on Saturday.
Sunday there was no wind so I knew runs would soften earlier.
joegm would have been at home too. Mammoth does have a contingent of bumpers, and in spring they set up this zipper line in West Bowl.
I got up on Cornice ~9:45 and Climax/Face of 5 not long thereafter.
The corn on 5 was still good, but the warm weather released a few large snowballs.
Then Drop Out and a second shot at Climax and 5 about 11:30. The rest of the day I went out that traverse past Cornice, skiing Drop Out again, then Hump, Wipe Out 2 and Wipe Out.
Skiers below Wipe Out 2 and the Hump Sunday afternoon. All of these runs I skied down to St. Anton, then back up the gondola to the top. I did not notice that Chair 1 had stopped running (perhaps Collins' warm weather disease is contagious). So back up top one last time to skier's left of Climax, Saddle Bowl and Stump Alley to the car. 22,700 on Sunday.
Saturday was completely clear and warmed into the 40's up top and 50's at Main Lodge. There was a steady breeze, which is helpful this time of year in delaying the onset of sticky conditions. Mammoth is open until 3PM and there were pleasant surfaces to be found right up to the closing bell. Both days I did not get out until a bit after 9AM. I started with the usual Chair 2 & 1 warmups, then hit Cornice and face of 3.
Here's some people cruising the nicely softened groomed corn on Cornice about 10:15. I made a couple of turns off the groomed skier's left and could tell it was going to be good. So for the next hour I ran 4 circuits, alternating Climax and Dave's Run up top, then down through the chair 5 terrain to the Comeback Trail, returning to Chair 2.
Boarders on Climax, Saddle Bowl and back of chair 3 (green unloading station at upper right). Usually in spring the steeps are good but the apron runouts are a lot of work. Not so this time, smooth corn through midday on the aprons below Climax, Dave's and on either side of Chair 23.
Just a few people on the wide open smooth corn near Chair 5.
Chair 23 was closed, so there some traverse tracks have been cut above the rocks to access 80+% of Wipe Out/Drop Out. The highest traverse ends at the top of the Hump past Wipe Out 2. The Drop Out side of Chair 23 was at its best Saturday up until noon, while the Wipe Out side was ideal after 1PM when most of the more NE exposures we past their prime.
Looking down Wipe Out about 1:30PM. The corn was so easy I was able to ski it nonstop all the way to St. Anton, which is a rare occurrence on the first day after leaving sea level for me.
Hangman's is also very well sheltered and best skied in the afternoon, about 2PM for me on Saturday. I made one of the last gondolas before it closed at 2:30 for another run on Wipe Out. 27,000 on Saturday.
Sunday there was no wind so I knew runs would soften earlier.
joegm would have been at home too. Mammoth does have a contingent of bumpers, and in spring they set up this zipper line in West Bowl.
I got up on Cornice ~9:45 and Climax/Face of 5 not long thereafter.
The corn on 5 was still good, but the warm weather released a few large snowballs.
Then Drop Out and a second shot at Climax and 5 about 11:30. The rest of the day I went out that traverse past Cornice, skiing Drop Out again, then Hump, Wipe Out 2 and Wipe Out.
Skiers below Wipe Out 2 and the Hump Sunday afternoon. All of these runs I skied down to St. Anton, then back up the gondola to the top. I did not notice that Chair 1 had stopped running (perhaps Collins' warm weather disease is contagious). So back up top one last time to skier's left of Climax, Saddle Bowl and Stump Alley to the car. 22,700 on Sunday.
