Mammoth Mountain Snowman Report
January 24th, 2025, at 6:15 AM: Good morning, and thanks for stopping by MammothSnowman.com. There is a Wind Buff Alert for the mid and upper mountain later this morning into the afternoon.
Currently, out on Mammoth Mountain, you will find clear skies. Up Top (11,053 feet), the temperature is 25 degrees with an SSW wind at 23 gusting to 27 MPH. At the Main Lodge (8,900 feet), the temperature is 35 degrees with a WSW wind at 4 MPH, gusting to 12 MPH.
Snow Conditions: The groomers are the place to be. The corduroy is firm and carvable to start the morning with a softer packed powder-like surface by mid-morning. You can get a lot of laps in, as crowds are light up in Mammoth right now.
Up Top, the Cornice is groomed flat and fast right now. The snow surface over the rest of the Top has firmed into a mix of hard wind buff and some areas of funky snow sculptures from the strong NE winds that came through the last few weeks. Todays as the SW winds pick up there should be some decent wind buff spots awaiting you.
Travelers: I’m posting a “Travel Alert” for the Owens Valley later Saturday into Sunday night. The way this system is setting up, there could be 3-5+ inches of snowfall from Lone Pine to Bishop during the Alert Time frame. On Saturday morning, there will be a full update on what to expect if you’re planning on traveling this weekend.
Mammoth Weather Forecast for Your Adventure
1-24-25 – “Winter Storm Watch for the Owens Valley Saturday PM into Sunday PM.”
WX Summary: One last day of clear blue skies before the weather significantly changes tonight into early Monday as a new low-pressure system affects the area with winter weather..
The forecasted snowfall amounts on the weekend on the ECMWF and the NBM are in the 5-10 inch range above the 9000-foot level. Snow levels will be very low, with snow possible down to Coso Junction.
Snowfall along 395 is forecasted to be 2-5 inches from Lone Pine to Bishop. I would avoid 395 on Sunday, or you’ll be looking at a very long drive south.
If you’re out on the hill today, expect clear skies to start the day, increasing winds this morning, and increasing clouds during the afternoon.
Temperatures at the first chair will be in the lower 30s, and midday temperatures will be in the lower to mid-40s from Main Lodge down to Canyon Lodge. Over the Mid and Upper Mountain, midday temperatures will be in the mid-30s.
Winds at the 9000-foot level will be out of the Southwest around 10 mph, with gusts to 20-25+ mph. Up top winds are expected Southwest 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30-40 mph.
Expect cloudy skies with an 80% chance of light to moderate snowfall on Saturday. Accumulations appear in the 1-3 inch range during the day, with 3-5 inches possible Saturday night. Snow ratios will be high as this is a cold system.
To get my complete Recreational Mammoth Weather Forecast, use this link.
Here is the link to Ted’s Powder Forecast
Steve Taylor – The Mammoth Snowman
Locals Snow Report – Snow Season 24-2025
1-24-2025 – It’s nice to see some snow in the short-term forecast again. Let’s hope and pray the forecast keeps getting wetter, as we are seeing on this morning’s model runs.
At this time (Friday AM), the snow is Fast and Firm off the groomers, with some sections of nice wind buff when the wind blows out of the SW. With the SW wind picking up today, there should be some nice wind buffing again off of Daves, Upper Dry Creek, and most of the runs off of chair 23.
The base has firmed up on the groomers, with the grooming crew doing a great job of keeping the snow surface fun to ski and ride on. I have heard from several people on vacation the last couple of weeks, and they have all been happy with endless groomer laps.
The Base at the Snow Study Site (9000 Feet) is 43 inches, with an estimated 48 inches at Mc Coy Station (9800 Feet) and an estimated 48-60 inches up Top (11,053 Feet).
The base around the Canyon Lodge area is 2-3 feet, and at Little Eagle Lodge, it is 1-2 feet. The Total Seasonal Snowfall at the Snow Study Site is 110.5 inches. Monthly Totals are 3.5 inches in October, 62 inches in November, 37 inches in December, and 5 inches in January.
The DWP reports that Mammoth Pass has 55% of the average snowpack for this date or 29% of the average recorded each April 1st.
The groomers are where it’s at today, with a primarily hard, fast corduroy surface to start the morning. You will want a good edge so you can carve deep in the set-up sections of the corduroy. The snow will be the softest on runs that get groomed near the opening bell.
As skiers and riders turn the snow up, the surface quickly becomes soft and skiable with a firmer base underneath. On days when the NE winds are not blowing, and temperatures get into the low 40s, the groomers loosen up to perfection between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
If the few inches of snow forecasted for this weekend arrive, the snow surface will be a bit softer on the groomers.
The Unbound Parks are built up, with the exception of the Main Park Half Pipe and the large Slope-Style course that gets built to the side of Broadway.
Up Top, the Cornince is groomed to a flat and fast surface. The rest of the runs are what I call adventure skiing and riding, as you need to search out the good, chalky, softer wind buff lines. Those good locations vary by the day and the direction the wind is blowing.
Snowmaking: A lot of snowmaking is taking place in the Unbound Main area so that the Unbound Crew can build the Halfpipe and the Slope-Style course.
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Get 20% OFF at Black Tie Ski Rentals. They offer a delivery service or can rent from their shop on Old Mammoth Road. To get the 20% Mammoth Snowman Discount, you must set up your rental 48 hours ahead of time. Here is the link to the discount.
Get a Free Hot Wax at Fast Ski Sports. Bring your gear in and tell them that the Mammoth Snowman sent you in for a Free Hot Wax. Fast Ski Sports is in the upper parking lot of the Vons Mall. Matt also does a great job if you need any ski repairs.
Got Ski Boot Pain? I used to deal with foot pain so bad that I was ready to quit skiing for good. That’s when I met the Boot Fitter’s at Footloose Sports. I have now had over 3000 days of skiing without foot pain. Here is the link to set up an appointment with them and learn more.
E-Newsleter Updates: I got a tech to fix my email server on Monday, so if you’re wondering what happened to the Newsletter, it will be coming out again each week. If you want to be on my private email list, here is the link to sign up.
Other Things to Do During Winter 2025
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: Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern High Sierra offer incredible Cross-Country skiing options. However, the best cross-country skiing will always be in the Mammoth Lakes Basin at 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 of hours of Sledding with the Family on the hills around your yard, the town, or the Eastern Sierra. Grab the kids, 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.
During drier winters, many open bodies of water are also skateable in the backcountry and at lower locations in the Eastern Sierra.
To learn where you can Ice Skate today, check in with Footloose Sports; they have the beta on where to go and ice skates and gear for rent.
Hiking / Walking: Depending on the snow levels, winter offers fun hiking/walking options. During the drier snow seasons, the lower sections of the Mammoth Lakes Town Loop are an excellent walking option.
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 colder biking, there are a ton of trails to ride during the winter months, depending on the snow line’s elevation. Most of us will head down to Bishop or, if it’s snow-free, Rock Creek Canyon Trail.
Check out my new Eastern Sierra Mountain Bike website, which has more information on where to ride; here is the link.
