Date: 01/31/98
Days: 2
Resort: Mammoth Mtn.
Hours: Day
Equipment: Alpine
Rating: 8
Primary-Surface: Packed powder
Secondary-Surfaces: Crusty, Powder
Gender: Male
Age: 45
Ability: Expert
Loved: Nice weather Saturday
Hated: Lift closures Sunday just when the powder was getting good
Closed: None Sat.; top, 9,12,14,22 Sunday with 5 closing at 2PM
Liftline-Waits: 5-10 max Sat. on 2&3, <5 min otherwise
Moguls: Not a lot except face of 3

1/31 (Sat.) was the first full operation day I've seen with the new lifts. I feared density would be excessive on 3, but it was OK. The moguls develop much faster though. Ch. 2 attracts a bigger crowd than the old 2 and 18 combined, but the high speed ride is a blessing when it's windy. Gondola lines were surprisingly short on Sat. even with NO WIND ON TOP much of the day. Steep and skier-packed areas on top were good (Dave's had the most forgiving snow), but the new snow from Wed. & Thurs. was chunky and cement like on the lower half of the Chair 23 runs. The storm that began Sunday was much drier snow, and there was already some decent powder by lunchtime Sunday. It has dumped another 3 feet since we left, so whatever day the storm ends (Thursday maybe?) should be awesome. Unfortunately, on Sunday Ch. 22 was never open, and Ch. 5 closed at 2 PM just as the powder was building up.