Mammoth Mountain Snowman Report
12-11-24 @ 6 AM – Good morning. As of this post, there are high clouds over Mammoth Mountain. Up Top, the temperature is 25 degrees with an S wind at 35MPH, gusting to 26 MPH.
The temperature at the Main Lodge is 35 degrees, and the wind is W at 3 MPH, gusting to 15 MPH. The base around the hill is an observed 12-50-inches.
Snow conditions remain fun, with the groomers ruling the game right now. At the first bell, the groomed surface starts with a nice soft to crunchy corduroy surface. By 10 AM, the corduroy gets skied out into a nice, soft, surface-packed powder. On Thursday, expect a significant change with a fresh, refreshing snowfall expected. Whooo Hoooo
Travelers should be prepared for winter driving conditions this Thursday. Snow may fall past Tom’s Place and down the Sherwin grade a bit.
Mammoth Weather Forecast for Your Adventure
12-10-24 @ 4 PM – Snow Advisory for Late Wednesday into Thursday evening, Winter Storm Watch for Saturday until 6 AM Sunday.
Snow Levels late Wednesday night will be around 5000 feet and then 5700 feet on Thursday. That is about 1/3 of the way down the Sherwin Grade. On Saturday, the Snow levels will be around 7000-7500 feet and then down to 6500-7000 feet on Sunday.
Short-Term Forecast: On Wednesday, there will be mostly sunny skies, with early morning lows in the mid-20s at first chair. Midday temperatures will be in the upper 30s to lower 40s.
The wind for Wednesday is expected out of the southwest at 5-15 MPH below the 9500-foot level. From MC Coy Station to the top, expect winds of 15-25 MPH with gusts of 30-35+ MPH…… Snowman
Powder Snowfall Forecast from Mammoth WeatherGuy for the Sesame snow course (Main Lodge) for the prior 24 hours, as reported in the 6-7 AM morning snow report.
**Snowfall forecast confidence ranges from very low (1) to very high (5)
Wed 12/11 = 0”
Thu 12/12 = 0 – 1”
Fri 12/13 = 3 – 5” (H20 = 0.35” – 0.50”)**3
Sat 12/14 = 1 – 3”
Sun 12/15 = 15 – 20” (H20 = 1.50” – 2.00”)**2
Mon 12/16 = 0”
Tue 12/17 = 2 – 5”
Wed – Fri 12/18 – 12/20 = 0”
>>>Use the link to access our Mammoth Mountain Weather Page.
Locals Snow Report – Snow Season 24-2025
12-10-2024 @ 6 PM – Today, once again, the skiing and riding were terrific, with nobody around and lots of corduroy groomers out of the gate. Once that cord is skied off, it becomes an excellent soft-packed powder, and on days when there are some mid-day surface winds, it turns into fine powdered sugar snow.
The base underneath the softer surface snow has firmed up, so ensure you have a good edge. If you’re skiing up top or anywhere off the groomed, note that it’s still low tide on the mountain. There are many great lines but beware of the obstacles that are still out.
For those planning on being out on the hill on Wednesday, the mid and upper mountain will have SW wind gusts 25-35+ MPH, and that should get the snow moving around for a fun ride in the wind buff.
Moving Forward… A nice little refresher system is coming in on Thursday, with 3-5 inches of fresh snow expected during the mountain lift operations. By Friday, that system will be gone, and if the snow stops before all the runs get groomed out, there will be a mix of freshies with some nice soft-packed powder turns.
If the second system comes through, as shown in our weather section above, some fine powder will happen later on Saturday and Sunday. Note that it’s still low tide with the 12-50-inch base, so beware when exploring powder off-trail.
Snowmaking Update: The snowmaking guns were refired Monday into Tuesday morning, and operations were run on World Cup, ADG, Fascination, Forest Trail, Main Park, South Park, and Broadway.
The Night of Lights is set for this Saturday evening. If you have never seen this show, it’s so worth it to come up and check it out. I have been 15 or more myself, and it’s always a ton of fun. There will be snowfall this year, so take your goggles with you so the snowflakes don’t get in your eyes.
Here is my report from Saturday.
Up Top, I took a lap on Daves; coverage was excellent. The terrain was a mix of flat and chunky, with a few small bumps. The snow surface was a mix of packed powder and wind buff.
I did not ski Climax, but I heard it was good. The morning sun was softening the snow in the Side Line, and it’s good stuff; watch for rocks, as they are lurking.
Here are a couple of photos of the Top of the World Runs; you can see that more snow is needed here.
Cornice is all groomed out and sitting in the shade this time of year. The snow surface is fast and firm, skiing like a fund wind buff surface. Make sure you have a good edge in here.
The Drops Outs still have some good snow. However, there are many bumps here due to the high skier traffic since it last snowed. The area could use some buffing SW winds to smooth everything out.
Scotties over to the Noids is still a bit low tide. I have seen some people skiing there, but I would avoid that area until there is more base out on the hill.
The Main Lodge Groomers are in great shape. Miles of endless corduroy each morning turn into some very nice, firmer-packed powder an hour or so after opening.
On Wednesday, Broadway was split in half, with one side for Racers and one side for the public. The race runs need more snow to set up gates and have snowmaking equipment on them, so they are closed right now.
The hot tip right now is taking laps on the new chair 1 to chair 23 and back to 1. Flying through snow on Cornice Bowl into World Cup and then down St Anton is just a blast. It puts a big smile on my face and everyone I’m skiing with.
By the way, the New Broadway Express has been running so smoothly that it has been dialed in now. I’m starting to really like this lift and its smooth Cadillac ride-up.
Checking out the mid-mountain runs, the face of five has some nice packed-out wind buff-style snow with lots of bumps all around. I got a photo from the lift but decided no bump skiing for me.
Solitude is skiing and riding nice, and so far, I have not seen the little floaters rocks near the Top you usually see early in the season.
Center Bowl off of Chair 3 was worthy of several laps. The snow was groomed perfectly, and you could carve some nice turns with snow spraying up behind you.
Over at Canyon Lodge, I was surprised at how well the snow is holding up with the warmer days in the mid-40s. I did a couple of warm-up laps on Downhill to start the day, and the groomed snow was perfect. Below is a photo of the deserted Swell run off of chair 8.
The East Bowl Area – For now, chair 9 remains closed. However, you can still ski and ride over here. Gold Hill and Back for More are all groomed and skiing like it’s early spring. That means the snow is hard early and softens after 10 AM during these warm days.
You should keep in mind that it’s low tide out on the hill. Off the groomed runs, you will encounter rocks, stumps, branches… etc.
Snowmaking: The system has been off as the cold air has left the area. It appears that by later in the weekend, some cold air will return, allowing more snowmaking action.
Base: Main Lodge Area 12-48 inches, Up Top 40-50 inches, Canyon & Eagle Lodges 12-30 inches
Lifts Expected: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, and G1 / G2.
The Lodges Open are Main Lodge, The Mill, Canyon Lodge and Eagle Lodge
Snowman
Other Things to Do in Winter
While most of you will be coming up to spend all your free daylight hours on Mammoth Mountain, there are plenty of other things to do in the area during the snowy months. I know many people who want to come up but are not interested in skiing and snowboarding. Here are a few ideas of what else there is to do.
Scenic Gondola Rides: Riding to the top of Mammoth Mountain is a fantastic experience. The views are breathtaking as you ride up. There is an interpretative center at the Top Station with more information about the Eastern Sierra, Mammoth Mountain, and the mountain peaks you can see from the 11,000-foot level. Click here to learn more and view a video preview of the ride up to the top of Mammoth Moutain.
Cross-Country Skiing: There are some incredible Cross-Country skiing options in Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern High Sierra.The best cross-country skiing will always be in the Mammoth Lakes Basin at the Tamarack Cross-Country Ski Center. Click here to learn more and view a video preview of the Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center.
Sledding: The Snowman and his Family have always loved Sledding and snow play in Mammoth Lakes. On storm days when the hill is mainly shut down, Sledding can keep you and your kids occupied for hours.
Almost nothing beats a couple hours of Sledding with the Family on the hills around your yard, the town, or the Eastern Sierra. Grab the kids, and the Helmets, and a variety of sleds, and get ready for some major fun. Click here to learn more.
Ice Skating: There are several options for ice skating in the Eastern Sierra. The Town of Mammoth Lakes has a new Ice Rink at the end of the Old Mammoth Road commercial section at Mammoth Creek Park. The ice rink is a multi-use facility, so it offers activities year-round for families or individuals.
During drier winters, many open bodies of water are also skateable in the backcountry and at lower locations in the Eastern Sierra. A Google search will help you discover some hidden gems you can skate.
Hiking / Walking: Depending on the snow levels, you will find fun hiking/walking options during winter. First, during the drier snow seasons, the Mammoth Lakes town trail system is an excellent option for a walk. The paved trails that start by the Blue Park off of Old Mammoth Road are the best places to venture as they’re the most likely paths to be free of snow and ice.
The second option is the Lower Rock Creek Trail, about 10 miles south of Mammoth Lakes, just past Toms places if you’re heading south of 395. This trail holds ice and snow, so be prepared even if the terrain is snow-free.
Winter Mountain Biking: For the hearty soul who knows how to layer up for cold biking, there are a ton of trails to ride during the winter months, depending on what elevation the snow line is at.
Near Mammoth, when the snow line is above 7500 feet, you can ride many forest service roads. Off these service roads, you will find many unmapped single-track trails to explore.
Rock Creek Canyon is amazing for downhill action. You can shuttle back up from the bottom using two cars. During the winter, you can ride back up the trail or use the road if you’re not able to shuttle. Watch for ice on the road, as it’s in the shade most of the winter months.
The Bishop area also has many trails you can ride during winter, and the temperatures are more favorable than in the high country. Check out my new Mountain Bike website, which has more information on where to ride; here is the link.
Events
The Night of Lights at Canyon Lodge
DEC 14 / 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Bucket List Event
https://www.mammothmountain.com/things-to-do/events/night-of-lights
June Mountain Opening Day
DEC 21 / 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
https://www.mammothmountain.com/things-to-do/events/june-mountain-opening-day
