Mammoth 2021-2022 snow mandate thread.

[Long duc dong]

Nice shots at always ESS!

I'm glad you are healing up.

In times like these Dave's should be skied strategically. It's great when you can find the zone which is good. A good ribbon of snow will often last a while, even if there is not a ton of classic buff. Finding the zones of good snow will keep you satiated.

I do hope this pattern ends soon.

My last full season in Tahoe, I was there the next winter but got hurt early, December was awesome. Then there was very little snow in January. We figured things would turn around in February, they often did after a dry January. No such luck. We might have gotten a bit of snow, but no string of storms. The pack was starting to get very thin for February. We figured things would change in March. They didn't. There might have been a period between the end of December and the end of March with no snow for 50 days, although I'm not really sure. But there were at most a couple of medium sized storms during that period.

By the end of March the pack was really pretty thin. We were resigned to the fact that the season might not make the end of April. In fact, it looked like maybe a mid-April close. At a certain point you stop complaining and make the best of it. Or, you keep complaining, whichever you prefer.

Things changed in April. From the beginning of April until around May 10 They got around 150 inches. It was great too, it seemed like you would get 2-3 storm days, then things would clear and the top would pop. Then a few days skiing the cutup stuff, which was great. Then another storm would fill-in. It was the best 40 days of my skiing life.

When I think back, I wouldn't say that there was no snow during that three month period, but I would guess there was around 80 inches total, which is pretty bad. I would like to actually check the snowfall tracker if I can find it.

This has to end eventually. I do hope we see some regression back to the line. Late December was an outlier. Let's hope the rest of the season is an outlier in the good way. I think a typical season at Mammoth is around 350 inches. There are 202 right now. I hope it at least gets to average.

[45hill]

I will stop starting the Mammoth thread since it's been two years in a row of one week, one storm, winters. Although the pond hockey season has been the best in ten years.

[liv2ski]

It will snow, just not until the end of the month. Look at the snow fall history at Mammothmountain.com. There have been some really low snow years before and likely will be again. Thank dog the grooming crew is so damn good.

[Blaster]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkkMdupv9i/

[liv2ski]

Wow...not on my best day evar, but I didn't start skiing until I was 45, so I don't expect much.

[Eastern Sierra Skier]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkkMdupv9i/

That was sick bro! Keep your edits coming.

[Ninjax]

Mammoth quiver question:

While we are all patiently waiting for snow, I wanted to ask those who have been skiing mammoth for years for advice regarding what you feel are ideal skis or quiver of skis for mammoth. I do not have nearly the amount of experience that most of you have at Mammoth. I also do not get a chance to demo very much as I am usually trying to maximize the limited number of days I get on the hill.

I realize that a lot of picking skis comes down to personal preference, but these are the things that I have noticed, at least for myself, after skiing Mammoth the last several years:

Low tide: doesn't really matter, pick whatever ski floats your boat in these conditions, race skis that rail, park skis that jib, etc...

Some new snow: also think this is largely dependent on personal taste but historically I have tended towards skis with metal with preference towards stability

Lots of new snow: after many days of waiting in line for the gondola or 23 to pop, then skiing one or two untracked lines, then skiing often HEAVY chop for the remainder of the day, I have learned that the "powder" ski has to be one that has the weight, shape and stiffness to ski chop very well and ski powder just reasonably well (I ski a Wrenegade 108, which does very well for this).

Am I way off base with the above? I am asking because I recently skied some Elan Ripsticks BEs that I thought were incredibly good, and this made me rethink whether I actually need metal in my everyday ski. Which made me think...there are times where I feel like I would like to dial it down on the Wrens, e.g. chutes off chair 22/hemlocks, but they don't really like that and am tempted to try a ski perhaps a little more accommodating, maybe an MFree 108 or the like. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

[TurxSki]

Are they red?

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using TGR Forums mobile app

[Long duc dong]

Mammoth quiver question:

While we are all patiently waiting for snow, I wanted to ask those who have been skiing mammoth for years for advice regarding what you feel are ideal skis or quiver of skis for mammoth. I do not have nearly the amount of experience that most of you have at Mammoth. I also do not get a chance to demo very much as I am usually trying to maximize the limited number of days I get on the hill.

I realize that a lot of picking skis comes down to personal preference, but these are the things that I have noticed, at least for myself, after skiing Mammoth the last several years:

Low tide: doesn't really matter, pick whatever ski floats your boat in these conditions, race skis that rail, park skis that jib, etc...

Some new snow: also think this is largely dependent on personal taste but historically I have tended towards skis with metal with preference towards stability

Lots of new snow: after many days of waiting in line for the gondola or 23 to pop, then skiing one or two untracked lines, then skiing often HEAVY chop for the remainder of the day, I have learned that the "powder" ski has to be one that has the weight, shape and stiffness to ski chop very well and ski powder just reasonably well (I ski a Wrenegade 108, which does very well for this).

Am I way off base with the above? I am asking because I recently skied some Elan Ripsticks BEs that I thought were incredibly good, and this made me rethink whether I actually need metal in my everyday ski. Which made me think...there are times where I feel like I would like to dial it down on the Wrens, e.g. chutes off chair 22/hemlocks, but they don't really like that and am tempted to try a ski perhaps a little more accommodating, maybe an MFree 108 or the like. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

I'll break down what I tend to ski. I will include skis I use down south at Mt. Baldy.

To be clear, I'm not a Mammoth local, I'm a weekender. I typically make about 8-10 weekend trips, about half 2 days and half 3 days, and a week long trip. This year I have been up there less than usual. Because I'm there sporadically I don't have the same feel as someone who is there every day.

Over the last few years I have essentially skied two skis at Mammoth: A skinny PM gear bromodel in a 179, which is 99 underfoot with very little sidecut, and a 4frnt EHP in a 186, which is 116 underfoot with very little sidecut.

I would say that I ski the 186 EHP about 80-90% of the time. I got my first pair of EHPs in January of 2008, and I thought they would only be for powder, or a few days after the storm. I discovered that I really liked them in slush and windbuff too, and over the years I have gradually adjusted to simply skiing them almost every day. If there is any doubt about which ski to take out I take the EHPs. Mammoth gets lots of buff in the winter, and I absolutely love them in those conditions. Despite their width they do set a good edge, they have some rocker in the tip and tail but they don't have crazy rocker. I've gotten to where on standard winter day at Mammoth they are simply what I use.

To use my skinny skis it really has to be VERY firm these days. I'm just used to something wider.

I can count only a handful of times in the last 14 years that I have been on the EHPs and would have preferred something sknnier.

This has evolved over a number of years. It took me some time to get used to the wider feel.

The EHPs have very litttle sidecut, 129-116-123, so when you want to turn them on a groomer it does take a bit of effort, but I'm used to that by now. When I lived in Tahoe I skied a Volkl Explosiv in a 190 almost every day, so I am used to skis without much sidecut. You can slash and slarve a bit with them too in soft snow or windbuff.

Having said all of that, things have now changed......

I have always thought that possibly the ideal ski for me for day to day at Mammoth might be something around 108 underfoot. I'm so used to a wider ski now that I put off doing it, but for days when it has not snowed in a week and there is not slush 116 underfoot is pretty much overkill.

I just recently got a pair of Praxis MVPs in a 183, and I love them for day to day at Mammoth. They have a bit of sidecut, I was overturning them on the first, day, but they don't lock you into a turn, a feeling I don't like. I don't mind sidecut if it helps you initiate a turn, but I don't like being locked into a certain turn shape. I don't like skis with a tail that is wide compared to the waist, if that makes sense.

The MVPs absolutely rock in typical Mammoth conditions, i.e. some edgable buff, but not all time buff. They are great on those typical days where you are doing Climax/Hangers/Noids laps and it is edgable and fun, but it has not snowed in a bit and the wind machine is not really doing its thing. These are now going to be my everyday Mammoth skis. If it has snowed recently I will take out the bigger skis. If it is classic Mammoth buff I will take out the bigger skis and if it is slushy I will go bigger. But I think the MVPs will now take over for about half the days I used to ski on the EHPs.

Obviously I tend to like wide skis, and everyone is different. I don't ski a whole lot of slush at Mammoth in the winter because of the way the mountain faces, so it is mostly edgable winter conditions. This is just the way I have evolved to ski the mountain over the last roughly 15 years.

I have also never been all that big of a quiver guy, I tend to stick to certain skis and not vary what I take out all that much.

When I'm down at Baldy, which requires skis that you don't mind hitting rocks with, I ski either an Armada JJ in a 185 or a Seth Vicious in a 179.

It would be interesting to do a writeup of the comparison between the EHP and the JJ, realizing that the EHP is a ski that is no longer available. When I get on the JJ it takes me a run or two to adjust and not overturn them due to the sidecut difference. It is nice being on a ski where just a subtle adjustment will turn them, as opposed to the EHP which takes a ton of work.

Hope this helps, obviously everyone is different. I really should reiterate that it took a long time for me to really start skiing the EHP every day. It is an adjustment skiing a waist that wide in typical, non-powder conditions.

[Ninjax]

Again, incredibly helpful info and very much appreciated. I haven't been to Baldy in years but will probably do a day soon based on your fine reporting.

Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk

[Fofo]

My comments, and my disclaimer is that I'm also not a local, I'm not the best skier on the mountain as others in this forum, and I don't have a large quiver. I have my powder skis, K2 Mindbender 108, my everyday skis, Nordica Enforcers 94, and rock skis (my old everyday skis, K2 Pinnacle 105s).

The Mindbender 108s are good for powder (I don't get into super deep stashes) and I can still use them later in the day when things get chopped up and tracked out. The Enforcers are just fun, they can go everywhere, and I don't have to think about them.

[supermodel159]

O please baby Jeebuz, Mammoth has never had much more than a 50 day dry cycle so hoping for the dumpage by months end.

Not looking too good at the moment.

[Eastern Sierra Skier]

Not looking too good at the moment.

Saw this in Bend today.

[Long duc dong]

Saw this in Bend today.

Classic!

[Boomer28]

Not looking too good at the moment.

looks like end of month is best shot but that is still pretty far out...fuck this sucks ass

[thefrush]

Groomers are still skiing super well across all aspects. Eagle side groomers had some fast slush yesterday around 1. Everything north facing and sheltered still skiing wintery with no slick spots. Grooming crew is absolutely crushing it and keeping the mountain super enjoyable through this dry spell.

[Long duc dong]

Groomers are still skiing super well across all aspects. Eagle side groomers had some fast slush yesterday around 1. Everything north facing and sheltered still skiing wintery with no slick spots. Grooming crew is absolutely crushing it and keeping the mountain super enjoyable through this dry spell.

Good to hear.

We haven't been in a couple of weeks, been skiing Baldy. I'm about to get a bit less busy and I was going to go up Thursday morning of Pres. weekend for a 5-day trip. I figure once I commit to that it will probably snow after, so then when I go up the first weekend in March things will be back in the swing.

[liv2ski]

Groomers are still skiing super well across all aspects. Eagle side groomers had some fast slush yesterday around 1. Everything north facing and sheltered still skiing wintery with no slick spots. Grooming crew is absolutely crushing it and keeping the mountain super enjoyable through this dry spell.

Yup, had a great 4 days here, back home tomorrow morning. The grooming crew is doing such a great job with what they have to work with.

[MTT]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkkMdupv9i/

I enjoyed that

[KillerMonkey]

Mammoth quiver question:

While we are all patiently waiting for snow, I wanted to ask those who have been skiing mammoth for years for advice regarding what you feel are ideal skis or quiver of skis for mammoth. I do not have nearly the amount of experience that most of you have at Mammoth. I also do not get a chance to demo very much as I am usually trying to maximize the limited number of days I get on the hill.

I realize that a lot of picking skis comes down to personal preference, but these are the things that I have noticed, at least for myself, after skiing Mammoth the last several years:

Low tide: doesn't really matter, pick whatever ski floats your boat in these conditions, race skis that rail, park skis that jib, etc...

Some new snow: also think this is largely dependent on personal taste but historically I have tended towards skis with metal with preference towards stability

Lots of new snow: after many days of waiting in line for the gondola or 23 to pop, then skiing one or two untracked lines, then skiing often HEAVY chop for the remainder of the day, I have learned that the "powder" ski has to be one that has the weight, shape and stiffness to ski chop very well and ski powder just reasonably well (I ski a Wrenegade 108, which does very well for this).

Am I way off base with the above? I am asking because I recently skied some Elan Ripsticks BEs that I thought were incredibly good, and this made me rethink whether I actually need metal in my everyday ski. Which made me think...there are times where I feel like I would like to dial it down on the Wrens, e.g. chutes off chair 22/hemlocks, but they don't really like that and am tempted to try a ski perhaps a little more accommodating, maybe an MFree 108 or the like. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

Who doesn't love a little spouting off about their quiver. Another weekender here so most of the days I see are not mid week storms nor fresh snow, especially this year.

Ive got a pair On3p Magnus's for park skis which I end up skiing more often than not. Most of the time, the people I am with are slower than me so it's good to have a slow ski that is fun for noodling around. Also spending more time in the park trying to level up my skiing. The main downside is the park detune has me floating around more than I would like.

For when I have the right proper crew and we are ripping across the mountain, I bring out the pro-riders. Sharp, heavy, and full of metal, these are what I use for race carves down cornice. Cold dead hands, will keep these forever.

If I do get lucky and find a few inches of fresh snow, I have pair of Rossi Sickles I like to bring out to bash around on. Great for picking up 2nd or 3rd tracks after the freshies get wiped out. Also my travel skis. Nothing more versatile than full rocker in my opinion.

Finally when we get those multiple feet storms, I have pescados that are perfect. No better pow ski out there for me. Also will keep these forever.

[comish]

I'm somewhere between a weekend warrior and full timer as my kids are on the Ski Team. Lived there full time last year and got 85ish days, Most years it's around 40 to 50.

-2013 Stockli Stormrider 95's: Before they softened the tips. I have used these a lot the last 2 years. Basically anyday 3+ish days after a storm. Groomers, wind buff on top etc. they are great.
-Legend Pro 105's or QLab's: Something 105mmish underfoot w/ metal and some tip rocker, but a chargy type ski. I use this 1 to 3 days after a storm, wind buff, etc. or when I don't know what I'm gonna find. Can rip the top, pow, groomers etc.
-115mm underfoot +/- w/ a LOT of tip rocker: Atomic Atlas is still my favorite pow ski. I'm a drive the tips style skier. I find I'm quite happy on this ski all day when it's snowing or the day after a storm. Have tried many pow skis and nothing has unseated this one for me yet. When it snows again looking forward to trying Prior Overlords. Come on Ullr!

I do have old race skis for the super rare day when its really firm or they let the parents race the kids.

Grooming team has killed it. The groomers have been skiing soo well considering the lack of snow. The top got kinda wind f'ked from the wrong direction unfortunately so off-piste wasn't as good as it can be. Need a SW wind for buff.

[enlosandes]

I'm a 50 something overweight 36 year ski bum and use 188 Blizzard Rustler 10 (104 underfoot) unless its powder. In that case, I bump it up to 188 Blizzard Rustler 11 (114 underfoot). Hope that helps.

[TahoeJ]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkkMdupv9i/

Is that you? Damn dude... talk about getting after it.

[Ottime]

Not a local, but I'm coming to ski during President's week M-F.

Bringing 189 Wren 98, 190 Wildcat 108 and likely my older version of 191 Wren (111 underfoot). Seeing it is not going to snow ever again, I'm leaving the 196 Bodacious at home. Which would be a good ski for dealing with heavy chop after the powder is tracked.

I've been lucky enough to only ski one powder day at Mammoth in April when it was not too crowded. I've have a number of 1-4" days on top of mixed snow, but those seem different than dealing with a dump and crowds.

I've also enjoyed old fully cambered Mantras at Mammoth when it is firm. And a pair of 180 Rossi downhill skis (those are fast).

Excited to get out and glad to hear the up mountain chalk is holding up. We are always stoked and groomer cruising at Mammoth can be fun. Just hoping you all end up with 6" on Tuesday to give a solid resurfacing to mid mountain terrain. I've yet to get out there when Lincoln was skiing well, but have gotten the face of 5 and spots off 3 in real good shape. Top has always been fun. Never failed to find mid winter goodness somewhere off G2/23 as late as mid April.

And, um yeah, that straight-line down Climax was pretty insane.

[thefrush]

^^ Would love to ski with ya dude!