Date: 01/05/97
Days: 1
Resort: Mammoth Mtn.
Hours: Day
Equipment: Alpine
Rating: 9
Primary-Surface: Packed powder
Secondary-Surfaces: Crusty, Icy, Hardpack, Powder
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Ability: Expert
Loved: The light and dry new snow, no wind, no crowds
Hated: having to leave at noon (lightweight skiing family members)
Closed: Chair 23 opened 11:30AM; G2, 9 & 14 might have opened later
Liftline-Waits: 5 min max (chair 5)
Moguls: Few, and they were hardpacked

No wind, off and on snow flurries, and thick fog from mid-mountain up at opening. The fog layer rose through the morning, finally clearing at 11:30. There was about 3 inches light new powder over the variable surface of 1/4. Only occasionally would I hit the hardpack base any more on the groomed runs. If the ungroomed base was icy or crusty, I would go right through to it as the new snow was so light. However, the top runs with the powder over windpack were awesome.