Conditions Report
Report from June 5, 2025
As my 3:15 a.m. alarm broke the silence and stillness of the night, part of me questioned my own sanity.
But after that split-second thought passed, I jumped right out of bed, beyond eager to get this day started and go skiing.
In the past couple of weeks, Mammoth Mountain, California, announced not one, but TWO extensions to its “second season”.
I knew we had to take advantage of the opportunity and get down there for some lift-accessed June turns.
June marks 32 consecutive months of skiing and snowboarding for me and my partner; a journey that unknowingly began in November 2022, and officially started at Mammoth in August of 2023.
We got on the road right before 4 a.m. with a two-and-a-half-hour drive ahead of us, and a quick pit stop planned for a pre-ski soak in the hot springs on the way.
As always, the drive south on dark and desolate Highway 395 was quick and easy that early in the morning.
Around 5:40, we arrived at the hot springs and soaked in solidarity for 20-30 minutes while the pink, morning alpenglow illuminated the Eastern Sierra Nevada in the distance.
With just about an hour left of the drive, our excitement was through the roof.
We would be skiing at Mammoth in no time.
Upon our arrival, we geared up, picked up our lift tickets, and did our best to contain our overwhelming enthusiasm.
Broadway Express (Chair 1), the new 6-pack at the base of the mountain, swiftly carried us up to mid-mountain, where our ski day began.
We decided to get a couple of hot laps down Broadway, assuming the lower mountain would have softer snow conditions at 8 a.m., and to get our legs warmed up.
Fresh and fast corduroy that was just on the brink of softening to a perfect corn-like consistency had us flying down the mountain, hooting and hollering as we zoomed back to Chair 3 to do it again.
Now that our legs were feeling good, we went up Chair 23 to check out the conditions in Cornice Bowl.
Surprisingly, the upper mountain had already seen much more sun and softened beautifully, making for some perfect spring snow.
I decided to check out Dropout Chutes next.
Despite the entrance being peppered with rocks poking out of the melting snowpack, once I got through that small top section, it was time to let ‘em rip.
This was the place to be on the mountain, at least for me.
We traversed lookers’ right on what was left of Skyline over to Wipeout Chutes for some more steep, soft moguls.
The snow was still holding up quite nicely after a handful of laps as it approached 10:30.
Although it was hard to leave Chair 23, we wanted some fast groomers on Face Lift Express (Chair 3) in West Bowl.
After a few laps down West Bowl, making big turns and blasting down the wide-open slope, we took a quick car break for a recharge and refuel.
It was only 11 a.m., and we had already had ourselves quite a day, with at least two more hours of snow still to come.
Once we finished our snacks, we wandered back over to Chair 1 and then up 23, with our sights set on the wiggle directly underneath the lift.
The six-to-eight-foot banked walls stretched for at least a dozen turns, making for a classic, and one of my personal favorite spring skiing experiences.
Additionally, there was a gorgeous, natural pond skim just skiers’Â left of the base at Chair 23 that skiers and snowboarders were taking full advantage of.
At this point, I had to give it a go.
Because I’ve never actually attempted a pond skim, I was both nervous and excited, but confident I could do it.
I straight-lined from the top of the World Cup, tucking about halfway before I reached the flat run-out and in-run to the pond.
Unfortunately, the slow, sticky slush grabbed my skis, and I barely managed to even reach the water.
Oh well, more speed and maybe a little earlier in the day next time!
As the clock neared 12:30 p.m., with just an hour left on the mountain, I wanted to check out the park set-up off Broadway.
Even though I’m very much a beginner in the terrain park, there were a handful of tubes and rails for me to practice on, and even a large jump people were still throwing down on.
Mammoth Mountain’s second season is the place to be.
Whether it’s early morning ripping fresh corduroy, slushy steeps off of Chair 23, wiggling and slashing snake runs, or sending it in the terrain park, there is truly something for everyone.
Not to mention, it’s the perfect time of the year for dual-sport days; skiing in the morning, and hitting the bike park or golf course in the afternoon.
Unfortunately, we had to drive back home to Lake Tahoe, but thankfully, we still have another week until June 15 to return once more.
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