Spring Conditions Report for the Week of April 28th
Snow Conditions: Today, expect a mix of dust on the crust and machine-groomed snow, with firmer overall conditions. Note: The NE flow will not help convert the snow to spring conditions today. By Tuesday into Thursday, the flow turns to the SW, and temperatures will be in the upper 40s to lower 50s. That will cause the snow to return to spring corn again, at least on the groomer runs. Next weekend looks to be a repeat of last weekend, so expect firm conditions with limited lifts open. If the low coming through drops some decent amounts of snow, there could be some good conditions. If you’re looking for spring corn, next weekend won’t be the time to be here! For those who have never been to Mammoth for spring skiing and riding, it’s different from what you’re used to in the winter. Lift hours are reduced, and the snow quality starts firm each day. Then, as the day warms up, the snow loosens into a nice soft silver-lined corn snow surface for a few hours. On warmer days, the snow on the lower groomers will turn to mashed potatoes by noon, so at that point, you won’t be on chairs 3 and 23 to avoid the thick slush. Beware at 2 PM when heading back to the parking area, as the lower groomers get thick and very slow to ski on. Slow snow is the other issue you will encounter during the spring season. As the snow warms up and turns to mashed potatoes, the amount of water in the snow slows your gear down. Sometimes, it’s so bad you get leg burn, as your skis will hardly move at all. To fix that problem, you need to consider cleaning and hot waxing your bases each night. This will reduce the spring drag from the wet snow. If you cannot perform this service on your own, Fast SKi Sports offers a Free Hot Wax Service, and they can teach you how to wax your bases at home each night. Just ask for Matt. Last but not least, as May progresses, the lift hours will eventually be reduced to 12:30 PM. If you plan a spring ski trip, you must know the weather forecast for your scheduled visit. Any cold weather will result in very firm conditions off the top all during lift hours.