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May, 2025

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Mammoth Mountain Summer Skiing Review Thread

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Casey
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Title says it best. I am thinking about driving down there for a week in a van because they are going to be open until August and they got like 700 inches of snow this winter. I don't really know what to expect. How does the skiing compare to Hood? What do you think of Mammoth Lakes (+21)?

If people weren't that into park, or weren't that into touring would it be worth it?
8 years ago
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
I ski Mammoth 2-3 weekends a month and I love it. Great steeps, lots of variety. The upper mountain steeps should be good to go for a while. I have not been in a couple of weeks and I'm done for the year, but that's just because I'm sick of the drive. I don't know how if compares to Hood, but if you want slushy upper mountain steeps Mammoth is great right now. Only the Main lodge is open, but that still accesses a ton of good terrain off the upper gondola. You will definitely not be disappointed.
8 years ago
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Sharko
Posts: 2274 - Karma: 4,104
Dan, where are you driving from?
8 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7080 - Karma: 26,674
Threads.
8 years ago
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butteredpretzel
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 867
Threads. Also thinking of making the trip in July
8 years ago
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Holte
Posts: 10753 - Karma: 7,974
Get out on the mountain early. The snow is slooooow by 1PM. I haven't been to Hood in the summer, but Mammoth in the spring and summer is some of the most fun skiing I've ever had. More-so if you're into park because the regular terrain isn't super technical.
8 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61957 - Karma: 126,732
HolteGet out on the mountain early. The snow is slooooow by 1PM. I haven't been to Hood in the summer, but Mammoth in the spring and summer is some of the most fun skiing I've ever had. More-so if you're into park because the regular terrain isn't super technical.


If you take the gondola up, there is tons of tech/steep/real skiing, the gondola will likely be open all summer as well. The park will be prime as well. I imagine the upper mountain will be firm in the mornings and soften up by noon, maybe earlier if its super hot.
8 years ago
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fghtoffyrdmns
Posts: 3003 - Karma: 6,957
butteredpretzelThreads. Also thinking of making the trip in July


me too!
8 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8024 - Karma: 27,005
dan4060I ski Mammoth 2-3 weekends a month and I love it. Great steeps, lots of variety. The upper mountain steeps should be good to go for a while. I have not been in a couple of weeks and I'm done for the year, but that's just because I'm sick of the drive. I don't know how if compares to Hood, but if you want slushy upper mountain steeps Mammoth is great right now. Only the Main lodge is open, but that still accesses a ton of good terrain off the upper gondola. You will definitely not be disappointed.


Hood is like one giant uniformly steep blue run and all the camps have their 'lane'. It's definitely fun but for non the non park riders in my group I am thinking Mammoth will be better. Plus I've never been there.
8 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7080 - Karma: 26,674
eheathIf you take the gondola up, there is tons of tech/steep/real skiing, the gondola will likely be open all summer as well. The park will be prime as well. I imagine the upper mountain will be firm in the mornings and soften up by noon, maybe earlier if its super hot.


Can you access the upper mountain without the gondola? Site says it is out for maintenance until the 17th. Don't know if I should try to go down before then or wait.
8 years ago
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Sharko
Posts: 2274 - Karma: 4,104
Yes, take chair 1 to chair 23. That will get you to the highest ridge.
You would have to hike a little to actually get to the highest point where the gondola drops off (if you wanted to hit Dave's Run for example) but you could get to the majority of the upper mountain (Cornice, Scotty's) without hiking.
8 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7080 - Karma: 26,674
SharkoYes, take chair 1 to chair 23. That will get you to the highest ridge.
You would have to hike a little to actually get to the highest point where the gondola drops off (if you wanted to hit Dave's Run for example) but you could get to the majority of the upper mountain (Cornice, Scotty's) without hiking.


Cool thanks.
8 years ago
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
SharkoDan, where are you driving from?


Newport Beach. about 6 hours with no traffic. In a typical winter month I spend 24-36 hours driving to and from Mammoth. In May I hit the wall and start surfing on my weekends.
8 years ago
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
CaseyHood is like one giant uniformly steep blue run and all the camps have their 'lane'. It's definitely fun but for non the non park riders in my group I am thinking Mammoth will be better. Plus I've never been there.


Mammoth will be way better. It has great slushy steeps right now. If you haven't been this would be a good time to go.
8 years ago
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NotEnoughSkiing
Posts: 94 - Karma: 467
Registered just to reply to this.

Was there for 2 weekends recently back to back (week before and memorial day weekend). The current hours start at 730AM and close mountain wide at 3. Live in SoCal like the OP and did one weekend by driving starting at 230am and the other going Fri night.

Park is in great shape starting about 845ish as it warms up a bit. Park is very busy.

Everything is hard in the morning which is great for carving up some turns but I saw lot of people not dealing with it well or out of control and not knowing it (about 5 rides down in the sleigh one morning on one of the blues). Ski racers are there all day.

The top steeps (all of them) are great. It's all quite good through mid morning and gets slushy by noon but we skied hard to 130 or 2 each day.

Several little cornices with cracks on them and I know I knocked one down a bit which got exciting.

Skied in just a long sleeve shirt all days with a vest that was too hot for everything except 730-8.
8 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7080 - Karma: 26,674
Any road closures or anything I should know about? Thinking I'm going to be coming down around the 19th or 20th.
8 years ago
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fghtoffyrdmns
Posts: 3003 - Karma: 6,957
OregonDeadAny road closures or anything I should know about? Thinking I'm going to be coming down around the 19th or 20th.


june or july?
8 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7080 - Karma: 26,674
fghtoffyrdmnsjune or july?


June.
8 years ago
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Sharko
Posts: 2274 - Karma: 4,104
OregonDeadanything I should know about?


Yeah, Mammoth Brewing Company has home made tater tots and pork rinds, the Clocktower Cellar bar is in the basement under the Alpenhof Lodge, and The Loco Frijole may have a stupid name but the home cooked Mexican food is killer.
8 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7080 - Karma: 26,674
It's sick. Skied it the past two days. Upper mountain is bomber right now.
8 years ago
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gbola
Posts: 266 - Karma: 737
is it for sure they'll be open in august? heading there early august
8 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7080 - Karma: 26,674
Pretty sure but things are melting out. It's top to bottom now. Even skied to Canyon lodge with just a couple short carries
8 years ago
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All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 12:24PM