Snowman’s Mammoth Mountain Snow Report
12-9-2023 @ Noon – Snow surface conditions on Mammoth Mountain are still a ton of fun on the limited amount of open runs. The base at the Snow Study Site is 11 inches with 18-20 estimated inches of base up top. That’s low tide and the way most lifts and runs remain closed.
Lifts now running are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11 and Gondola 1 and 2. The Mill and the Main Lodge areas are open with full services.
As mentioned above, Canyon Lodge will open next weekend with chairs 8 and 17. Snow has been made on Swell and a path down to 17, but that’s it as of today’s update for snow over on the Canyon side.
The 12 open groomer runs, including Cornice Bowl, continue offering good turns. The machine-groomed snow surface you’re skiing and riding on is a bit firm to start the day and then loosens as the sun rises in the morning. I skied it for 4 hours on Friday and had a total blast.
Snowmaking continues nightly and into the morning hours, with the Snowmaking Team working on Lower Solitude, Roller Coaster, Fascination, Easy Rider, and Swell over the last week.
You must watch for small obstacles, bare spots, and little floaters rocks in a few sections out there. I would avoid Rusty’s runs there where floaters top to bottom in there on Friday.
Up top in the Lower Drop Outs, some nice wind buff is forming. A bunch of people have been lapping this area, packing out the snow, and making for some great turns.
Cornice Bowl has been a fast delight and had a bit of a softer snow surface on Friday from the 3 inches that fell on Thursday night. The groomed section is about half as wide as when there is a good base, so you need to watch yourself mid-day.
On the Face of 3, the base is really low tide; you can see the rocks on the skier’s left as you ride the lift. You can still get some good turns on Center Bowl as the day warms up; take it slow in the rocky and slick upper 50 yards of the run.
West Bowl has some big bumps with flatter wind-buff sides to ski. It’s best to enter from Saddle Bowl as the top is still too low tide to be worth it. I got a deep core shot in there this week, so be careful, especially in the upper sections.
Broadway: Of all the runs open, Broadway still has some of the best snow on the hill. Do beware of the bare spot on the skier’s left just as the run drops into the final Main Lodge section.
Andy’s Double Gold: The snow surface in here was nice, with the best snow on the skiers, right, just watch yourself as there is a race fence line set up on this side. Taking Silver Tip to Andy’s was worthy of several laps.
Gremlins Gulch: Low Tide Adventure Skiing on wind-buff snow with softer snow on top. It’s always fun to ski Gremlins, and it’s really interesting when the snowpack is this low. Fun stuff, just watch for rock.
Saddle Bowl: Groomed flat and perfect with no icy spots, just firm, fast fun down the Saddle. Try linking it nonstop with Mambo all the way down to the bottom of 2.
More Mammoth Mountain Snow Report Information
Base Elevation 7,953 ft
Summit Elevation 11,053 ft
Vertical Rise 3,100 ft
Skiable Acres 3,500+
Number of Named Trails 150
Number of Lifts 25 (includes 9 express quads, 2 express six-packs, 2 gondolas)
Snowmaking over 50 trails
Parks 8 parks with 100+ jibs and 50+ jumps; 3 halfpipes
The average Snowfall per Year is 400 inches
Average Season Length Nov into June
Terrain
15% expert
20% advanced
40% intermediate
25% beginner
Check out the full overview write-up on the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area at this link.
Live Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Webcams and Still Captures: If you’re looking for current conditions via a webcam view here is the link to take it all in without having to mess with the live webcam control page. I stop by this page at this 2-3 times a day when I need a Mammoth Mountain fix.
Winter Season Operations & Hours: Lifts run from early November until at least Memorial Day each season. This is one of the longest and most consistent seasonal operations in the country. Lifts run from 8:30 AM until 4 PM wind and weather permitting.
Base Lodges: You will find three Base Lodges and 2 Outpost locations at Mammoth Mountain. The Main Lodge is 8900 feet, Canyon Lodge is 8300 Feet, and Little Eagle Lodge at 7900 feet.
Outposts: The Mill is located at the base of Chairs 2 and 10 and the Outpost is located out at the base of chairs 13 and 14. Both offer up food, beverages, water, and restrooms.
Snowmaking: Mammoth’s snowmaking system runs from Main Lodge to the top of the Mountain and over to both Canyon and Eagle Lodge. The system works best when supplemented with some natural snow.
Massive upgrades are taking place with the snowmaking system for the 2022/2023 season. Here is the link to learn more about the snowmaking system at Mammoth Mountain.
Mammoth Mountain Snowfall History: Looking for past snowfall trends and when to plan the best time to come up? Take a look at our snowfall history data page. You will find month-to-month snowfall from 1969 on. Here is the link to access the page.
Parking & Shuttles Service: There is some bogus info on the internet about parking and such at the hill. The bottom line is there is tons of parking if you show up early. Remember you don’t have to access Mammoth Mountain from a lodge you can walk in from several spots on the roads to chairs 4, 20, 21, 10, and of course Chair 2 which has its own parking lot.
For those who are late birds plan on parking down the hill and riding up from one of the MANY shuttle pick-up spots that are well-marked along the road and down in town. During big weekends, holidays and bluebird powder days expect to wait as the crowds will be out. Here is the link to learn more about the shuttle service from town and the parking shuttles.
Lodging Options: We have a few private lodging rentals listed here on the website. Here is the link to access that information.
Get Lift Tickets: The best deal is to get an Ikon Season Pass, 7 days or less and the pass pays for itself. Enjoy the freedom of having a season pass. Just pull up boot up and go, no lines or sell-out days. If you’re looking for a deal on daily lift tickets I would bookmark the lift ticket page at the Ski Area website. There are often non-holiday deals posted.
Black Tie Ski & Snowboard Rentals is offering Mammoth Snowman Website Visitors a 20% off discount. They will deliver gear right to your door or you can walk in for service. Here is the link to set up your reservation and get your Mammoth Snowman discount.
Got Ski Boot Pain? When the Snowman was a young buck in 81 he was ready to quit skiing from foot pain. Then he was fitted with Super Feet Orthotics and got the needed ski boot work down at Footloose Sports. The results were no real foot pain for 4 decades! Learn more about their ski boot fitting service here or call them at 760-934-2400 today.
Need a Ski Tune-Up Matt over at Fast Ski Sports will be in and out of the shop again in Mid October. Give him a call to inquire when you can drop your gear off. Snowman usually drops his gear off in later October so it’s in the early season lineup before any early dumpers hit the hill. Here is the link to see the current tune-up prices.
Other things to do in Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra: If members of your family are not into skiing and snowboarding there is a ton to do in the wintertime. Here is the link to learn more.
Summer Upgrade Photos
Mountain Summer and Fall Upgrades
The New Chair 16: Replacement of Canyon Express (Chair 16), an existing high-speed detachable quad chairlift with a new state-of-the-art Doppelmayr D-Line Series 6-Pack detachable high-speed chairlift.
The new chairlift will provide up to 25% more uphill capacity, helping to reduce lift line waits at Canyon Lodge. It will also feature enclosed top and bottom terminals, allowing carriers to be parked out of the weather during storm cycles and help ensure on-time openings on bluebird powder days.
The new chairlift will feature 90-degree loading on an automated loading conveyor, providing a more precisely timed and safe loading at each chair lift. Finally, the new chairlift will be slightly realigned to the north of the existing alignment to reduce snow slide impacts from the adjacent Avalanche Chutes on Lincoln Mtn.
Below are some current photos from crews putting on the new cable on Canyon Express. Keith Kreischer sent in these photos to us.
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Snowmaking System: Ongoing improvements to Mammoth’s extensive snowmaking system include a $5.5 million investment to expand, automate, and maximize efficiency.
This includes the purchase of 22 new SMI Super Puma fan guns and 15 HKD Klik snowmaking guns, replacing thousands of feet of snowmaking air and water pipe, and installing a new control system.
Woolly’s Tube Park: Embarking on Phase 2 of the master-planned build-out of the Woolly’s Adventure Summit, improvements will include beginning a two-year construction cycle of a new full-service Day Lodge, along with a new Wiegand Alpine Coaster and the addition of summer tubing lanes for Summer 2024.
The new Wiegand Alpine Coaster will provide a thrilling ride through the forest down through exciting curves, spiral twists, and roller jumps through the woods as they descend 3,550 ft of downhill track back down to the Woolly’s Day Lodge.
In addition, synthetic summer tubing lanes will be installed to provide a year-round tubing experience for guests to enjoy in conjunction with the alpine coaster and other improvements slated in the coming years. When complete (expected Summer 2024), the new Woolly’s Day Lodge will feature 6,000 sq. ft. of guest-serving facilities.
Snowman 🙂
October 3rd, 2023 @ 10 AM – The first accumulating snows of the new snow season hit Mammoth Mountain this weekend. In all, there were 3 waves of snowfall, the first 2 were meager dustings but the Sunday afternoon and evening snowfall produced a good 2-4 inches.
The skiers right of Cornice Bowl was groomed last week, (no idea why?) and made for a great surface for a couple of boarders to get some turns in on Monday morning. See the photo below to view those tracks. Expect the snow to melt and be absorbed into the ground quickly today Tuesday.
If you have never been out on Mammoth Mountain in the early Fall now is a great time to get out for a Hike or go for Mountain Bike Ride. Do note there are some closures.
The mountain has mountain bike trails out of Canyon Lodge and around Chair 16 and the snowmaking project are closed right now. You can still hike and ride out of the Main Lodge area and also out in the East Bowl. Ride up Juniper and loop Paper Route over to Manzanita and back.
September, 28th, 2023 @ 8 AM – The Mammoth Mountain Ski Area has an official opening day set for Friday, November 10th, 2023.
Veterans Day weekend has been the official start date for winter operations for over 25 years. Only once has there not been enough snow to make that opening date, and the crews only missed it by two days.
For opening day, at the minimum, you can expect the Mountain to have Chair 1 and the Lower Gondola open. Run-wise, there will be at least Broadway and a small section of the Unbound. About 1/3 third of the openers will have top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding.
Snowmaking crews start laying down snow every chance they get from Late October onward to have several runs open coming opening day.
Significant upgrades have been made to the Snowmaking System recently so they can take better advantage of the waves of cold air that come later in October and throughout the latter half of Fall.
If you’re new to Mammoth, you can also expect an October opener now and then. Two years ago, the hill opened with top-to-bottom skiing on October 30th.
In 1994, the lifts started spinning on October 8th and continued until August 16th the following Summer.
Over the years, I have seen the hill open early due to early-season snowfall. All it takes is 2-3 feet of heavy, wet base snow, and boom, they can run a bunch of lifts and open a bunch of runs. We can go from dirt to top-to-bottom skiing overnight.
Here to a great upcoming season; I hope you enjoy the pre-season photos, updates, and weather chats while we wait for the lifts to run again.
More Chair 16 Upgrade Photos
Bottom Station Construction @ the new Canyon Express Lift – Chair 16
9-24-23 – Top Station Construction @ the new Canyon Express Lift – Chair 16
9-24-23 – Canyon Express Top new and old unloading areas.
9-24-23 – Standing at the top of the old Chair 16 unloading area. I am looking down at the New Top Station for the 6 Pack Canyon Express being built this Summer & Fall.
Snowmaking System: Ongoing improvements to Mammoth’s extensive snowmaking system include a $5.5 million investment to expand, automate, and maximize efficiency.
This includes the purchase of 22 new SMI Super Puma fan guns and 15 HKD Klik snowmaking guns, replacing thousands of feet of snowmaking air and water pipe, and installing a new control system.
9-24-23 – New Snowmaking Lines at the Base of Canyon Lodge
9-24-23 – New Snowmaking Lines at the Base of Canyon Lodge
Woolly’s Tube Park: Embarking on Phase 2 of the master-planned build-out of the Woolly’s Adventure Summit, improvements will include beginning a two-year construction cycle of a new full-service Day Lodge, along with a new Wiegand Alpine Coaster and the addition of summer tubing lanes for Summer 2024.
The new Wiegand Alpine Coaster will provide a thrilling ride through the forest down through exciting curves, spiral twists, and roller jumps through the forest as they descend 3,550 ft of downhill track back down to the Woolly’s Day Lodge.
In addition, synthetic summer tubing lanes will be installed to provide a year-round tubing experience for guests to enjoy in conjunction with the alpine coaster and other improvements slated in the coming years. When complete (expected Summer 2024), the new Woolly’s Day Lodge will feature 6,000 sq. ft. of guest-serving facilities.
Snowman 🙂
Photos of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
Live MC Coy Station Webcam Feed
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Trail Map
Opening Day Video Snow Report from 10-29-21 in 4k
Where is Mammoth Mountain & Mammoth Lakes, California?
Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol Snowfall Data from 2021-22
Past Mammoth Mountain Snow Report Posts
Mammoth Mountain Resort Snow Conditions:
The Mammoth Snowman and Crew bring you the snow conditions at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, from a local’s point of view. Log on daily to get our fresh morning updates on the current snow conditions. We let you know if the snow is packed powder, powder, firm, or soft. There are on-hill reports from the Top, the Groomers, the East Bowl, Lincoln Mountain, and the Paranoids.
You will also find the current snow depths at the Main Lodge, The Summit at 11,053 feet, Canyon Lodge, and the Little Eagle lodge area. Last but not least you will find what lifts are scheduled to run and what lifts could be on Weather Hold and what the hours of operations our.
Make sure to read our on-mountain trip reports that get posted a couple of days a week with current on-mountain photos and our own Mammoth Snowman Video Snow Report from the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. When you read our content is the real deal from real people that have been on the hill that day.
Disclaimer on Snow Conditions and our Snow Reports
This is a simple disclaimer to keep us legal. First, this website is run by Mammoth Locals, we are not employees of Mammoth Mountain, but yes they do support our efforts.
Second, Snow Conditions change by the hour, so when you read our posts please consider when the post or report was made.
Check the date on the report before you email us! Nothing worse than some crybaby complaining that our conditions are not right. Yep, I get emails like that, again read the date, and don’t be a jerk.
Please Remember that the longer time has passed, the more the conditions have changed.
Third, what Snowman or any other member of the www.mammothsnowman.com community posts is purely based on how that person views snow conditions.
Everyone looks at things in their own view, so one person’s epic might not be your epic day. For example, I love spring corn snow but many people hate it.
Fourth you can die skiing or snowboarding, if you’re not skilled don’t take the runs Snowman or somebody else in the community might suggest.
Many of our videos contain extreme footage by professional athletes that ski and ride full time. We do not endorse these activities and encourage you not to try the tricks and extreme moves the professionals make in our videos and or images.
If you do, you do so of your own accord and risk and you further understand you risk almost certain death at times!
And last but not least thanks to the State of California you must be 18 or older to use this website.
If you’re not 18 log off now or we will have to call your parents to shut you down. 
Snowman
