|
Mammoth’s Skiing Open Until July 4
Ever heard of summer skiing? Most of you will opt for the sunshine of San Diego’s beaches or the comfort of your own backyard when you fire up the grills on Independence Day, but for those of you looking for something a little different this Fourth of July, it’s not too late to take a ski trip to Mammoth Mountain.
Yes, you read that correctly. A ski trip. In July. Mammoth Mountain, blessed with an absolute smothering of snow this past season, plans to keep the ski lifts oiled and running until July 4. So, while some of you might be surfing a ten foot wave, others could be boarding in ten inches of fresh powder.
The snowfall this past season was nothing short of biblical with the total snowfall surpassing 300 inches by December, which, at the time, was the most snow on any skiable mountain in the world, according to Mammoth Mountain statistics.
As recently as Mother’s Day Mammoth was still receiving new snowfall, adding another inch to the already record breaking 638 inches for the year. Following the holiday were forecasts of more to come through mid-May.
Although this year was particularly fortuitous, Mammoth Mountain has a history of uncannily long snow seasons, sometimes ranging from late October all the way through July 4. Mammoth’s geographical location makes it somewhat of a natural phenomenon, allowing the location to receive and retain prodigious amounts of snow.
Sitting on the Sierra Crest with a summit of 11,000 feet, Mammoth is relatively unimpeded by the High Sierra, which
means air masses lose less water vapor (to precipitation) as they approach Mammoth. Moreover, the snow that falls retains a greater amount of deuterium, a denser hydrogen atom, which provides a higher resistance to melting. The result of this scientific marvel is dream-like snow for the majority of the year.
In addition to summer skiing in the sunshine, Mammoth offers a multitude of other options during this time of year. The golf course is cleared of snow and open for business.
The lakes have thawed and fishing season has commenced. Mountain bike trails will open in mid-June. Plus, Mammoth Village is home to an impressive assortment of restaurants and bars for anyone seeking nightlife activities.
So, for those of you who may have missed your opportunity this winter, Mammoth can satisfy that urge for summer skiing you never knew you had!
Villager Weekend Travel Essentials
Mammoth Mountain Resort
1-800-MAMMOTH or
www.mammothmountain.com
Location: 400 miles NE of San Diego
Flight Info: Daily direct flights from Los Angeles
to Mammoth via
Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air.
|
Only 3 feet of this 18 foot sign on Mammoth's Peak is visible because of the snowfall.
The main square of Mommoth Village provides nighttime entertainment options.
|