Date: 01/02/98
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: Friday's powder
Hated: Sunday's wind / lift closures
Closed: Top, 9 and 14 closed all 3 days
Liftline-Waits: Occasional 5-10 minutes on 2 & 16, almost none elsewhere
Moguls: Good, with fresh snow on top

Arrived New Year's Day to sleet in town, but there were 6-8 inches new on the mountain by Friday morning. We spent half the day on Ch. 22: excellent powder in the trees. It snowed most of the day with no visibility above timberline. There was minimal wind until about 1:30. Then it went crazy and closed lifts as low as 4,10 and 16 by 3PM.

Saturday had no new snow, better visibility (except for the top, still closed) and the usual gusty winds in exposed areas. Friday's powder became more cement-like. Chair 5 had wind-slab and breakable crust, fun only for snowboards and fat skis (I wouldn't have been there without my Chubbs).

There are a few rocks showing in wind-exposed areas, but not enough to close any runs that I saw. Conditions are among the best in the West, even before Sunday's dump. Excellent packed powder on all groomed runs.

Sunday's storm started about 7AM and was very light & dry. We did not ski Sunday after hearing that chairs 3, 5 and 22 were closed for wind. I'm sure Monday was an awesome powder day with 2 feet new.