Trip Leaders: Brice Crossley and Jeannie Kilpatrick-Staubus

Despite early concerns of what the Mammoth Mountain resort would be like with the ongoing California drought, our club had a perfect week of skiing the first week in March.  With a foot of snow falling the week before our arrival and another foot falling on our first day of skiing, the slopes were in perfect condition for skiing and boarding with temperatures just cold enough to keep the snow soft without freezing up like you typically find on spring ski trips.  After the first couple of snowy days, we enjoyed a week of California sunshine with bluebird skies and patio lunch dining at different locations around the mountain.  As Mammoth Mountain is primarily a weekend destination for Californians, after Sunday our group had the slopes mostly to ourselves with no lift lines!  With the Eagle high speed 6 lift right next to our lodge and overnight ski storage at the lift, everything made for an awesome ski week!

Some of the highlights during the week started early with our layover in Denver.  While waiting in the taxi way for a gate to open, we saw our connection departure time come and go.  But a good thing about traveling with a large group, United decided to hold the connecting flight to make sure all the group AND our luggage made the flight.  All 32 of us attended the welcome reception at the Juniper Springs Resort which had a great spread of food, beverages and many door prizes.  Our first group dinner was at Nevados, a highly rated locals’ favorite.  With delicious food and friendly service, it was easy to see why Nevados was so popular.  Our second group dinner was a beer tasting at the Mammoth Brewery with food provided by the Eatery.  Again a favorite of locals with great friendly service and tasty food and beer, the Brewery did not disappoint.  And for the non-beer drinkers, they also brew their own root beer which most commented was the best they have ever tasted.

After our last apres ski social, still finding new runs on our last day of skiing, and a full moon snowshoe adventure, many said we need to make Mammoth Mountain a more regular destination for the club.

Brice Crossley and Jeannie Kilpatrick-Staubus, Trip Leaders