Mammoth Mountain, enjoying its heaviest snowfall in a decade, will extend its ski and snowboard season through July.
Although resort officials haven’t set a specific end date for the season, they did confirm in an email that the mountain will maintain ski operations until “AT LEAST July” (their capital letters).
Mammoth Mountain spokeswoman Lauren Burke said the resort has frequently stayed open into the summer during years of heavy snowfall. However, she has “never announced an extension of this time period, this early in the season.”
“In short, this is probably the best spring skiing and riding experience the Eastern Sierra has ever seen,” Burke said.
As of Tuesday morning, with 14 to 20 inches of snow expected the next day, Mammoth had already reached 634 inches of snow for the season at the main lodge, with an accumulation of 305 inches at the top of the mountain. , 11,053 feet above sea level. Eighteen of the complex’s 25 elevators and 137 of its 175 queues were open.
Snow chains or tires were required for drivers between Highway 395 and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. All drivers are urged to check road conditions at the Caltrans website before entering the area.
The snowiest winter on record at the resort (668.5 inches) was in 2010-11. If weather forecasts hold true, Mammoth officials said, that record is likely to fall next week.
Meanwhile, in Big Bear, similar season extension plans are underway.
Officials at Big Big Bear Mountain ResortHalf buried under the heaviest snowfall in more than 20 years, he said he would extend his season by at least three weeks. Until April 30.
The resort, which includes the Bear Mountain and Snow Summit ski and boarding areas, has 75 to 100 inches of snow on the ground as of Monday morning, having logged 210 inches so far this season.
Big Bear’s 58 trails were open at noon Tuesday, as were 13 of its 18 lifts. Snowfall was expected on Monday. Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except those with four-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and four-wheel snow tires.
Mammoth and Big Bear are owned by the Denver-based Alterra Mountain Co., which also this year acquired Snow Valley near Big Bear.
