I'll make it brief because I'm exhausted from the 9 hours spent on the road today, but this was a great Mammoth opener. I originally hadn't planned on heading up, but after they announced the top would open, I just couldn't help myself.
After the shuttle driver announced the "shrederan's day" holiday en route to the Main Lodge, I got to the liftline at around 9AM. Crowds weren't bad at all. I wanted to start out gently since I was on a brand new snowboard, so lapped Broadway a couple times to get a feel of it (assessment: best board I've ever ridden. So glad I picked it up. 2011 Lib Tech TRS).
I saw tracks being laid down in the lower Cornice/Gremlin's area, and had to get there before it tracked out. The top wasn't open yet, so hopped on 3 to traverse across into Gremlin's to get my first powder turns of the season. About shin-high powder could be found, but the reef lurked ominously underneath, so after getting lucky with a rock-free run (others nearby were not so fortunate), I decided to stick to the groomed with my precious new board.
Once the top opened, I lapped Cornice for a while. It was wind-blasted hardpack (as usual) up top, and pretty rutted and rocky as well. Still, the new board handled it like a champ. This whole magne-traction business is the real deal!
Finished the day alternating park runs with Cornice-to-Broadway bombers. Great, great fun.
They blew snow on all the Chair 2 runs all day, so those should be good to go within the next day or two.
All in all a beautiful day, with lots of smiles all around. Kudos to Mammoth for the great conditions and great vibes!
Sorry no pics- camera is out of commission temporarily.
After the shuttle driver announced the "shrederan's day" holiday en route to the Main Lodge, I got to the liftline at around 9AM. Crowds weren't bad at all. I wanted to start out gently since I was on a brand new snowboard, so lapped Broadway a couple times to get a feel of it (assessment: best board I've ever ridden. So glad I picked it up. 2011 Lib Tech TRS).
I saw tracks being laid down in the lower Cornice/Gremlin's area, and had to get there before it tracked out. The top wasn't open yet, so hopped on 3 to traverse across into Gremlin's to get my first powder turns of the season. About shin-high powder could be found, but the reef lurked ominously underneath, so after getting lucky with a rock-free run (others nearby were not so fortunate), I decided to stick to the groomed with my precious new board.
Once the top opened, I lapped Cornice for a while. It was wind-blasted hardpack (as usual) up top, and pretty rutted and rocky as well. Still, the new board handled it like a champ. This whole magne-traction business is the real deal!
Finished the day alternating park runs with Cornice-to-Broadway bombers. Great, great fun.
They blew snow on all the Chair 2 runs all day, so those should be good to go within the next day or two.
All in all a beautiful day, with lots of smiles all around. Kudos to Mammoth for the great conditions and great vibes!
Sorry no pics- camera is out of commission temporarily.