10:25 AM – 8-1-2020 Good morning everyone and thanks for stopping by MammothSnowman.com.
It’s a clear blue beautiful day here at the Main Lodge at Mammoth Mountain with clear skies all over Inyo and Mono Counties. It was an amazing drive up from Bishop just now, no clouds or smoke just deep blue skies.
Currently checking conditions across the area up at the top of Mammoth Mountain at 11,053 feet it’s 63 with winds out of the WSW at 9 MPH with gusts to 17 MPH. Down at Main Lodge, it’s 66 with west winds gusting to 16 MPH. In town at Footloose Sports right when you come into town it’s 77 degrees with an 86 in Bishop.
Temperatures are going to be hot from Bishop to Mammoth Lakes today. At the 7900 foot level in Mammoth, the forecast is for 87 today, down in Bishop the forecast is for 106.
For my complete Weather update on Mammoth and Bishop‘s current conditions and the weather forecast use this link.
Road Conditions: Roads are all open with restrictions down into Reds Meadow. There is no bus service this year, so they are allowing you to drive in as long as there is parking left down in the canyon. I saw a video of cars parked for a mile and a half waiting to get in last weekend. Not worth the wait as it can take several hours.
If you’re traveling thru the Owens Valley be prepared for the heat. It got to 107 in Bishop on Friday so beware, have your car tuned and ready for extreme heat and carry extra food and lots of water. Remember just 5 mins north of Independence is The Fort, they have gas, water, food, and supplies. They also have some shade so you can cool off from the summer heat. Â
Please note California still has suggested you not travel far from home, regardless there is a BIG crowd up here with all the camping spots sold out at this time. Short Term Lodging is open and many of the local restaurants have outdoor seating and take outgoing.
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Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Report: The bike park trails are in great but with very dry and dusty conditions at this time. Have a good dusk mash ready to pull up when you get stuck in the dust or for your ride up the Gondola or chair 11. An air compressor is your best friend after a ride right now.
Not a ton of people out in the bike park, it’s the least crowded place to be in the main resort areas of Mammoth right now. Once you away from Main Lodge, Mc Coy Station, or the Sign Up Top you will not encounter many people.
All the Expert Downhill trails are open, I have not personally been down any of them myself, but everyone I have talked to said they are in great shape.Â
If you like riding Cross Country try linking Paper Route, Big Ring and Beach Cruiser will get you in some decent miles with some fun terrain and a good climb.
Family Downhill Beginner Action: Start the kids off on Discovery Chair and then take the Downtown trial to the Village Bike Park Shuttle.
The Bike Park is open daily through September 7th from 10 AM to 4 PM with access via the Park Shuttle at the Village, Gondola 1 and 2, and Chair 11. Chair 2 is running Friday – Sunday’s.
 At this time just about the entire park is open with 100% of the trails having being maintained and tuned up.
If you’re in need of Biking Gear and or a Bike Tune the Footloose Bike Shop is Open. They also have Bike Rentals and their Discount Tuesday Deal is also going now. Call them at 760-934-2400 for the details.
Snowman Out…
Scroll Down the Page the Updated Recreation Report
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7-26-2020 – Mammoth Lakes & Bishop California Recreation News
Scenic Gondola Rides are open for the Summer, take a ride to the top of Mammoth Mountain and check out the view from 11,053 feet.
Hiking Trails its mid-summer and every trail is open from Bishop Creek Canyon to June Lake at this time. If you need backpacking or hiking gear check out Mammoth Mountaineering and Supply Company in Mammoth Lakes. They have everything from hiking boots to tents and everything in between for a day hike or multi-day trip. You can reach them at  (760) 934-4191.
Fishing has been good this Summer, been reading lots of reports of big hookups down on Crowley Lake. If you have never fished that body of water it’s a must-do with a guide that can take you fly fishing. Do an internet search for local guides, there’s a bunch of them up here from Bishop to Mammoth.
Inyo National Forest Bike Trails are all open and in great at this time, yes it’s a bit dusty right now, but still a ton of fun out there. Try out the Knolls Trail for an early morning ride, the views from this ride are amazing. The Mountain View Trail is also a blast with insane views of the high country.
Disk Golf is up and running here in Mammoth Lakes. The course is built out at the Shady Rest Park in the area across the street from the playground. The course is well laid out and it has a full 18 holes that will take you a good couple hours to complete if you’re in a group of 4.Â
If you need gear for around for disk golf, Footloose has created a whole new disk golf section. Here is the link to see the course and location map.Â
The State of the Inyo
Mono Lake Ranger District:
Roads open: Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4), Sonora Pass (Hwy108), Bodie Rd. (Hwy 270), Lundy Lake Rd. Hwy 120 E (Benton), Hwy 158., Saddlebag Rd. Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 W) at Yosemite National Park Boundary is open to vehicular traffic w/ day use reservation or proof of overnight accommodation in the park required.
Campgrounds open:Â Lundy Canyon (county), Tioga Lake, Junction, Saddlebag Lake, Sawmill Walk-in, Ellery Lake, Big Bend, Aspen, Moraine, Lower Lee Vining, Hartley, Glass Creek, Big Springs, Upper Deadman, Lower Deadman, Aerie Crag, Silver Lake, Reversed Creek, Gull Lake, June Lake, Oh Ridge.
Campgrounds closed:Â Saddlebag Lake Group. Obsidian Flat Group.
The Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone calls daily, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-647-3040Â or 760- 647-3044.
Mammoth Ranger District
Roads open:
Reds Meadow Rd. (no shuttle this year—access limited to available parking, highly recommend horse trailers no more than 25’ in length), Lake Basin Rd., Mammoth Scenic Loop.
Campgrounds open Brown’s Owens River (private). Mammoth Mtn. RV Park, Old Shady Rest, New Shady Rest, Pine Glen Family, Sherwin Creek, Crowley (BLM, no water), Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake George, Pine City, Coldwater.
Campgrounds opening July 10:Â Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadows Family, Agnew Meadows Horse, Pumice Flat.
Campground estimated to opening July 13:Â Minaret Falls.
Campgrounds closed: Upper Soda Springs, Pumice Flat Group, Agnew Meadows Group.
The Mammoth Welcome Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-924-5500.
The Devils Postpile Ranger Station will not open this summer. There will be a public contact station outside the Ranger Station.
White Mountain Ranger District
Roads Open: McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Road, Buttermilk Rd., Hwy 168, North Lake Rd., South Lake Rd. (construction underway, M – F, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, expect up to 30 minute delays, parking restrictions), White Mountain Rd. Silver Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance expect winter damage), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance), Big Pine Canyon.
Campgrounds Open: Horton (BLM), Goodale (BLM).Convict Lake, McGee Creek, Tuff, Rock Creek, Iris Meadow, Big Meadow, Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, East Fork, French Camp, Pleasant Valley (County), North Lake, Bitterbrush, Big Trees, Four Jeffrey, Sabrina, Baker Creek (County), Sage Flat, Upper Sage Flat, Big Pine Creek, Taboose Creek (County), Tinnemaha Creek (County).
Campgrounds closed: Holiday (summer closure), Aspen Group, Palisade Group, Rock Creek Group, Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM), Forks, Intake 2, Bishop Park, Table Mountain Group, Willow, Mountain Glen, Bishop Park Group, Grandview, Cedar Flat Group, Clyde Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group.
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed.
The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone calls daily, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, the last call at 4:45 pm, 760-873-2500, 760-873-2501. 760-873-2503.
Mt Whitney Ranger District
Roads open: Onion Valley, Whitney Portal Rd., Foothill Road, Division Creek, Horseshoe Meadow.
Campgrounds open: Upper and Lower Grays Meadow, Onion Valley, Independence Creek (county), Whitney Portal, Whitney Portal Trailhead Campground (partially open), Tuttle Creek (BLM), Lone Pine, Boulder Creek RV Resort (private), Portuguese Joe (county), Diaz Lake (County), Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian.
Campgrounds closed:Â Whitney Portal Group, Whitney Portal Trailhead Campground (partial closure due to rockfall), Kennedy Meadows.
The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone calls daily, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm the last call at 4:45 pm, 760-876-6200. 760-876-6222.
Virtual wilderness permits are being issued at all visitor centers and through the Wilderness Permit Office, daily from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-873-2483. Call volume has been significant, so if you have a permit later in the year, we advise waiting to call until your reservation gets closer.
Permits for day and overnight summits of Mt. Whitney will continue to be canceled until further notice (rockfall/evacuation).
 The Inyo National Forest and Bishop BLM Field Office are in Fire Restrictions.
Deb Schweizer Public Affairs Specialist Forest Service Inyo National Forest
Who Are We?
Steve Taylor – The Mammoth Snowman – Over the last 30+ years, Snowman has spent countless hours studying and learning about Mammoth Mountain Weather and Snow Conditions first hand. He has been skiing around the hill with marked ski poles since March of 1991 so he can measure the fresh snowfall amounts out on the hill.Â
Snowman started blogging this information back in 1990 on the old Mammoth BBS system, then the RSN Forums and then on to MammothSnowman.com in 2004 with Video & Photo Blog report. (No YouTube back then). Facebook got added to the fold back in 2008 and then the Facebook Group in 2016.Â
Reports, videos, and photos from the website have been featured on both local TV Stations here in Mammoth, along with AP, Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC News.
Ted Schlaepfer – The Mammoth WeatherGuy – Powder Forecast (November to May) – These forecasts are now responsible for many people getting multiple powder days on Mammoth Mountain over the years. People email us saying they plan their days off around The Mammoth WeatherGuy Powder Forecasts.
Ted’s Bio: Ted has been a full-time Meteorologist (CCM) for the past 25+ years. He has always been fascinated with the weather,” skiing was just a natural extension of my love for snow and rain. I started skiing at age 5, first discovered Mammoth in 1979 as a youth, and have been a regular visitor since the late ’80s.”.
Here is the link to The WeatherGuy Page with all his great insights on the weather, updates happen every Tuesday and Friday by 5 PM during the ski season.Â
Click Here to Learn More About the People Who Make MammothSnowman.com a Reality
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