On the Eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada - the loftiest and longest mountain range in the US - Mammoth mountain manages to stand out. Unlike its granite neighbours, it’s part of the Long Caldera “super” volcano and burst to its 11,000ft height in an eruption some 57,000 years ago. But not to worry, experts assure us that that was also the date of the last ever eruption.
All that magma has had little effect on the snow. The ski resort’s founder, a pioneering fellow by the name of McCoy, hand-picked Mammot...
“Find your Mammoth” is something of a local motto because there’s such a variety of terrain on offer that no-one’s “Mammoth”’s the same. Whether you like treeless, panoramic peaks, Alpine bowls, or perfect gladed groomers, there’s all sorts here, with a pretty even split in run difficulty levels to match – which the resort divides helpfully into 6 colour categories, rather than the usual 4 (adding in green-black and blue-black).
While the variety of base stations might first intimidate beginners, a...
Like its runs, Mammoth’s bars and restaurants are varied as they are interesting, with over 50 in Mammoth Lakes alone. Grab a copy of the resort’s restaurant guide to read up on the range, which caters for vegan, gluten-free and the whole gamut of clientele. Recent additions to Mammoth Lakes include gastro-pub, Mammoth Tavern, where it’s said the oysters rival those in LA. Up in the Village, strong contenders include the Mountainside Grill and the Rei Sushi bar – another LA influence, to be sure. Never fear ...