Clockwise from top left : backcountry skiing on Mammoth Mountain ; a snowboarder making a big leap ; apres ski drinks with a view of the mountain ; The Village Lodge Mammoth ; making s ’ mores around the fire at The Village at Mammoth complex
MAMMOTH Easily one of the most famed ski / snowboard spots in California , Mammoth is a hop , skip and jump about 350 miles north . Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range , Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is one of the most popular in the west , with an average of more than 300 sunny days and a relatively long ski season . With 175 official trails , 3,500 skiable acres and over 400 inches of snowfall on average , the resort has plenty to offer those venturing to its slopes . And with direct , semi-private charter flights from Burbank on Advanced Air through early April , it ’ s a painless trip from Southern California . The company ’ s bulk flight booklet makes it easy to plan various trips to the mountain , complete with discounts .
Over the summer , Woolly ’ s Tube Park expanded , further solidifying its status as a hub for excitement in both winter and summer . Already , the park has expanded its tubing lanes , added additional snowmaking guns and incorporated an elevated conveyor lift , but further iterations of the multiyear effort will see a larger snow play area , a day lodge , a mountain roller coaster , a summer ropes course and even more parking .
Updated snowmaking equipment was also top priority this past summer , with 26 new guns added in all . Costing over $ 5 million , this state-of-the-art technology helps the resort produce more snow when the weather is cold while also saving on energy . Snow sports rentals by Ski Butlers will also help improve the on-mountain experience , with in-room fittings , delivery and added support .
Brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio of “ Top Chef ” fame are slated to open an Italian restaurant called Vulcania at The Village at Mammoth
complex in January 2023 , serving modern cuisine with an American influence , including dishes such as rigatoni arrabbiata . Elsewhere at the resort , The Mill barbecue restaurant is expanding to include more indoor seating as well as a window for diners to pick up mobile orders . The eatery ’ s outdoor bar is also doubling in size , with new furniture and a sound system for live musical performances .
Several hotels are cropping up around town as well , like Sierra Nevada Resort , which reopened in early November after a renovation that turned it into a luxurious mountain retreat . With 179 rooms — including 20 multiroom villas that are debuting in May and 10 cabins — stylized with a rugged yet modern design , the property includes Bar Sierra , a restaurant serving American cuisine ; a lobby wine bar ; and Outside , a space where food trucks can gather .
Another property in the works is the Limelight Hotel Mammoth & Residences , set to open in 2024 . The inn will have 151 rooms in addition to 15 on-site residences , all embracing the region ’ s beauty in their design . Best of all , guests staying at the Limelight will be within walking distance of the Village Gondola .
Headwear brand melin , which has a shop in neighboring Laguna Beach , was also announced as Mammoth Mountain ’ s partner this season . Staff members will be wearing hats designed by the brand and they will also be for sale at the resort .
Aside from skiing and snowboarding , this central California locale is a prime spot for cross-country skiing , snowshoeing , sledding , ice skating , tubing , snowmobiling and so much more .
COURTESY OF MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN SKI AREA
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