Mono Lake is one of the Eastern Sierra's most spectacular, (and perhaps most bizarre) of California's natural wonders. It's surrounded by the grand beauty of the rugged, granite-peaked Sierra Nevada Mountains, but it's not the spectacular beauty that makes Mono Lake unique (though the scenery is certainly reason enough to visit.)

California's Dead Sea

Mono Lake is one of the oldest lakes in North America and has been dubbed "California's Dead Sea" because it's 2 and 1/2 times as salty as the ocean. It's lack of outlet contributes to Mono Lake's saltiness as well as its extreme alkalinity. Freshwater streams that feed Mono Lake have washed salts and minerals into the lake for years and years. As fresh water naturally evaporates into the atmosphere, the minerals are left behind, becoming increasingly concentrated over time.

Are we on the Moon?

One of the most unique features of Mono Lake is it's tufa towers. The towers are spire of porous "rock" that looks like moon rock. They are formed when natural fresh water springs interact with the highly alkaline lake water, and give Mono Lake it's unique "landscape" (or lake-scape, if you will.)

Mono Lake Half-day Itinerary

• Stop by the Visitor Center in Lee Vining
• Take the one-mile, self guided nature trail at South Tufa.
  •  Don't forget to bring your camera. Photographers the world over come to Mono Lake to photograph the grandeur of the Sierra juxtaposed against the moon-like features of the tufa towers. The light on Mono Lake can be particularly spectacular at sunset. Famed 20th century photographer Ansel Adams dubbed the Eastern Sierra for good reason!
• Take a quick swim. Because of Mono Lake's saltiness, the water is denser than regular water, which means you can float without treading water! Don't stay in too long though. Prolonged exposure to the akalinity in Mono Lake can be unhealthy. Keep your swim to under 20 minutes. 
• Enjoy a gourmet dinner at Mobil Mart on Tioga Pass...yes, the gas station. Trust us, this is a must do!

Additional Resources:

• Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25164
• South Tufa Trail Map: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25345
• Mono Lake Committee: http://www.monolake.org/ (Book a guided bird watching trip or an interpretive canoe trips)
• Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua: http://www.birdchautauqua.org/

Add Comment

It's April, and at Mammoth Mountain, spring skiing is in full swing. The days are longer and warmer, and it's finally the time of year that you can ski powder, corn, groomers and work on your tan at the same time. Mammoth Lakes stays true to California's reputation for ample sunny skies. However, it can also dump plenty of snow following a warm, 60 degree day. The past two weeks Mammoth Lakes has been lucky enough to enjoy the best of both worlds; snow and sun!

A few weeks ago I asked several locals about their favorite aspects of spring skiing. Answers varied from "access" to "bikinis" to "warm days". However, the term "corn" came up several times and was normally accompanied by a cheshire cat grin. Some of their stories had me wishing it would NOT snow for a bit so we could get some corn skiing done.

If you're wondering what this magical corn snow is, you're probably not alone. I asked Eastern Sierra Avalanhe Center Vice President Nate Greenberg about the formation of corn snow and he directed me to the sfavalanche.org website which gave me the following definition.

"There's dry snow and there's wet snow. Or at least that's how most professionals think about the distinction. Although there's really a continuum between dry and wet snow, it's only natural to draw a hard line between them because they are such different beasts altogether. Wet snow that has gone through repeated melt-freeze cycles is often called Corn Snow. Under Corn Snow or Melt-Freeze conditions, a crust forms on the surface that will support your weight when frozen, but turns to deep slush during the heat of the day."

One of the liveliest characters I spoke with last week is Briant Wells. At the very mention of spring skiing, a smile stretched across his face, and I could see him imagining his favorite days on the snow in the spring. The first answer he gave was "Corn. Smooth, corn snow, period." He agreed to share a bit more on spring skiing if I came back a few nights later:

"A friend and I skied some really good corn once; the East face of Mt. Morrison. I'd compare it to skiing champagne because it's such a special occasion. It's rare, usually in the backcountry and its prime only lasts about an hour," he recalled.

I just had to know what is the special element that makes such a rare and delectable treat happen. "The snow decomposing over a few days and nights allows it to obtain its granular consistency," he explained. "Depending on the temperature you only have a certain amount of time during the day to ski it."

I asked what an average or intermediate skier would think of corn. "They'll love it!!" He chuckled some more and continued "It's so easy to ski!"

Briant was working, and I could tell other patrons were needing him too, but I had to squeeze in one last question:

If you're searching for corn snow on Mammoth Mountain, where is your best bet to find it? "The best place for corn snow for your average or intermediate/advanced skier is the south side of Lincoln, and 'Haven't the Foggiest'." He walked away grinning, serving cheer to the patrons of one of the best bars in town.

I've lived in a few ski towns and have never heard so many people go on and on about corn snow until I moved to Mammoth Lakes. I asked another local ski enthusiast, Brett Lotz what makes Mammoth so great for corn? "The fact that Mammoth's temperatures fluctuate from hot to cold from day to night is the needed process to create excellent corn skiing. A consolidated snow pack that is supportable, will gradually soften as the sun and temperatures rise. There is always the perfect time to ski the best corn, but that time comes and goes. Patience can be very helpful, but there is always a bit of luck involved in finding the perfect corn. And that's what makes it so special!"

Last week skiing at Mammoth Mountain, I found everywhere. It was fast, smooth, easy to set an edge, and best of all, I was skiing in a hoodie. It doesn't get much better than that!

Add Comment

 


This time of year, most ski towns shed their snow, workers, and livelihood.  Well, if you were lucky enough to be on Mammoth Mountain this past Sunday, or pretty much any spring day in Mammoth, you would know there's way more shredding than shedding.  

I have to mention this last Sunday because, to me, it was a perfect spring day in the mountains. It was a classic Blue Bird Powder Day, with warm, sunny weather, and amazing freshies. I was out of bed at 8:00 and on 4th gondola, headed to the top of the mountain, in no time.  

There's so much excitement and anticipation when you get to the top of the mountain on a powder day.   You want to be first.  You can't wait to feel smooth turns under your feet.  You can't wait to have the snow flying in your face.  And most of all, even before you start, you can't wait to do it again.  There are few feelings that beat standing on a mountain top with blue skies above, the sun warming your face, and a long stretch of fresh pow below your feet.  I smile and dive in; fast at first because it feels so good, then slower when I realize that it'll be over too soon.  My turns are effortless and must feel close to what the birds flying high above us feel when they bank their huge turns in the sky.  We are but mortals, but powder can surely make us feel like the gods.  

I do have to say, it only got better from there, but for the sake of brevity, I'll leave out the details of the rest of the day. I did talk to a few friends about their favorite aspects of spring skiing.  

Nate Greenberg is one of those guys that I tease my boyfriend of having a "man crush" on. He's a bad-ass skier and truly on top of his game. He's co-authored [a few books about skiing the Eastern Sierra Backcountry]. He wears a smile most of the time and that smile is best seen with snow plastered to his face. When I asked him about his favorite part of spring skiing he said, "I'm in it all. The best part about spring skiing on the Eastside has to be the access.  There are very few places in the West that have that quality of spring snow, up high. That and being able to finish your day, put on flip flops and shorts and sit on your tailgate with friends and relive it all. "  

Another friend, Tara has lived here for years, is a great skier, and outdoor enthusiast. ( Also, she and her husband and little boy might be the most beautiful family in town. I haven't met everybody, but I'm just sayin'!)  When I asked her about her favorite part of spring skiing, without hesitation she replied, "bikinis".  That's right: Hot chicks, that can ski better than you, in bikinis, on the mountain, in the snow.  We do live in California after all.  

I asked my friend Craig the same question. "The soft snow and everyone's smiling", he says, smiling – pretty much everything Craig says, he says with a smile. I've never seen him in a bad mood, ever. "It's a really great thing.  There's soft snow, you can get the fat skis out and really lay down some turns.  The sun and the really long days is the reason why I like spring skiing."  Really, who wouldn't be smiling?

Just last night, my boyfriend, Brett Lotz, a well-respected local skier introduced me to local ski legend Briant Wells.  He's in his mid-50's, looks like he's in his mid-30's, and skies like he's in his mid-20's.  That's what a lifetime of doing exactly what you love will get you: All the benefits. Brett told me that Briant was dropping cliffs on 205s that most people wouldn't imagine possible, Briant was The Man in Mammoth for over 20 years. He hucked ("hucking" = jumping, flying through the air, dropping big cliffs, etc )"the big s@#%" before anybody was hucking.

When I asked Briant about his favorite part of spring skiing, an uninhibited grin stretched across his face and, I swear I saw stars twinkle in his eyes. He turned his head, still smiling, looked back at me and said "corn".  "Is that it?", I asked.  He said, "Yes, smooth corn snow, period".  

He went on to tell me a few more of his favorite things, but he's a story on his own.  He's bartending Wednesday night, and you better bet I'm going to be there to hear what his favorite things are.  You'll hear all about them next week.

Add Comment  1 Comment

As it happened, my friends from Atlanta and I decided to stop at The Mill for a break. They chose to ski Mammoth Mountain for the first time, and were not disappointed. There was plenty of snow and plenty of mountain to ski. It's true that "no other mountain lives up to it's name."

We settled down by the outdoor fire pit, a round of hot chocolate in-hand and went on to watch, chagrined, as a group of young boys snuffed out the fire with giant snow balls, hurling one after another onto the flames until they were gone. (Parents, please don't let your kids do this!)

But, as it so miraculously happened, Chris Emde, The Mill Manager, came out wielding a small propane torch, and, in a matter of moments, had the fire fully lit. I recognized Chris from when I taught ski school and he was worked at The McCoy Station (formally mid-Chalet). We said our hellos, and I introduced him to my Southern friends.

Southern Pride (Smoker, that is)

"You're from the South, huh? We do BBQ here."
Chris swung his arm up and pointed his thumb over his shoulder to the big steel box with a chimney jutting out. It was situated close to The Mill in an open-walled out building. "We have a $40 thousand-dollar, professional smoker. "Southern Pride," he added with a grin.

My friends and Chris went on to exchange their individual thoughts on the preparation of and philosophy toward BBQ.

The Skinny on BBQ: It's No Joke!

You see, in the South, BBQ is like a religion and a team sport all wrapped up into one. Regional differences help to forge deep loyalties for preparation and taste. The Carolinas prefer pulled pork. In the mountains, pulled pork is smothered in a tomato-based BBQ sauce. In South Carolina, they favor a mustard-based sauce, while the Coast drenches their BBQ in a vinegar-based condiment. Texas is considered the beef brisket capitol.

And the fervor by which one region judges another for their tastes often takes one a religious tone. In the Smoky Mountians , they don't have much call for BBQ beef. A grad-school professor of mine, responding to a student who off-handedly mentioned that she liked beef brisket, declared "It is written in the Bible. (Leviticus, I believe.) That thou shalt not BBQ beef; it is an abomination before the Lord."

Suffice to say, when you're talking BBQ to a Southerner, you're not simply exchanging pleasantries.

After a few minutes of comparing notes, they shook hands and Chris went, presumably, back to work.

The Best Beef Brisket (Tri-tip) EVER!

A few moments later, Chris comes sauntering out with a big plate of BBQ and an even bigger smile of his face. Puffed up with pride, he offered it to my Southern friends. I have had the pulled-pork tacos at Taco Tuesdays and knew it was good, but it was the tri-tip that got my friend raving. Bite after bite, my friend would taste, savor, and exclaim, "that is the best beef brisket I've ever tasted," "that is the best beef brisket I've ever tasted--all the way to the very last bite.

So there you have it, from a real authentic Southerner, as in from the South. The Mill has the best Beef Brisket (tri-tip.) Not the best in the West, or the best in California, but the Best EVER!

Have You Tried BBQ at The Mill?

Have you had BBQ at the Mill yet? If not, make it your first stop on your next visit to Mammoth Lakes. Then drop me a note (comment, Facebook, Twitter) and let me know if you think it's the best BBQ "brisket" (tri-tip) you've ever tried!

Add Comment  1 Comment

We have a winner for the 2012 Jiffy Lube "Win A Trip To Mammoth Lakes" giveaway.

Dave flew into Mammoth and spent a few days playing, relaxing and learning to ski.Here's what Dave had to say about his trip:

We're home from our trip and I just wanna thank you SO much for all the help you gave me in setting this whole thing up. We had such a fantastic time! We learned to ski, we rode up the mountain on the Gondola, had lunch up at Lakeside Restaurant at Tamarack, rode the gondola to Canyon Lodge, and we ate and drank EVERYWHERE and played and had a total ball! It was really a fabulous trip. The bus system is amazing... we rode it about a hundred times. The condo at Snowcreek was really nice. And it was so cool to just have everything be ready for us and totally covered. They even had us set up for a late check out and a taxi guy showed up for us on Monday right on time and they knew who we were at Mammoth Mountain... etc, etc. Like being a celebrity!  

Glad you had a great time Dave! See you next time!

Add Comment

Pinterest is as addicting as they say it is, and we're as additcted as anyone. We're happy to announce that you can now find us on Pinterest pinning all of the amazing images of Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra we find online. With so much amazing scenery and so many talented visitors, we pinnind a whopping 50 pins on our first day.

If you would like us to add an image to our pinboard, give us a shoutout on twitter @visitmammoth with a link to your image and we'll pin (or repin) it.

And don't forget to follow us and we'll be sure to folow you back!

Add Comment

 Bikinis Aren't Just for Beaches

I've noticed that the commercials on TV are starting to change. Folks are gearing up for fishing season, and starting to think about the home and garden repairs that warmer spring weather makes easier. Soon we'll be seeing comercials for "bikini season" and getting bikini ready. You'll see pictures of svelt women and men walking along sandy beaches. 

But I'm here to tell a different story.

Mammoth Mountain boasts some of the very best spring Skiing in North Amercia

Our season is long. Ski season in Mammoth Lakes typically lasting into May, and sometimes even into July.

Our weather is pretty much perfect. Mammoth is blessed with plenty of that California sunshine. We boast over 300 days of sunshine on a typical year, and with and more than 400" of snowfall on average each year. This means the stroms that come through are big and followed by lots of bright sunshiny days.

We have a fantastic grooming  team. One of my favorite parts of spring skiing is getting on the hill early for some fresh corduroy runs. My second favorite thing is the forgiving nature of the terrain parks in the spring. Corn snow is easy to land on!

We Californians  bring that beachy vibe to the mounatins.  We know how to have fun, and lots of it. Tee shirts and bikinis are common on the Hill as the weather warms up. Throw in an end-of-season pondskim, a Peanut Butter and Rail Jam Championship, and a rocking concert at Hyde Lounge with Neon Indian, and you're in for a good time.

We Want to Bring You and a Guest To Mammoth Lakes for FREE

Shred Mammoth Mountain's legendary spring parks and soak up the California sunshine. Add in Mammoth's legendary Spring Fest Pond Skim and rocking nightlife and you're in for an incredible weekend - all for free.

Prize Includes:

- 3 Nights of lodging for 2 people the Woodlands Condominiums
- 2 Days of lift tickets for 2 people at Mammoth Mountain
- 2 Round trip Alaska airline vouchers for travel from the these destinations

To Enter: Hop on over to out Facebook Page, and fill out our entry form. 

*Restrictions: Must be 18 or older to enter. Contest ends at 11:59PM on March 19th.

Add Comment

Happy Valentines Day! I have a special treat for you: Today's post is a lineup of the most delicious signature desserts from some of the BEST restaraunts in Mammoth Lakes. Feel free to try them all; you can always skii those calories off the next day ;-)

Lakefront Restaurant
Grand Marnier Sabayon en Glace. This very soft, gelato-like Italian dessert is made with egg yolks, sugar and sweet wine that is whipped and very delicate. 
Chef: Frederic Pierrel 

Nevados
Chocolate Tirimasu. This is slightly different take on your typical Tirimisu. The crisp lady fingers are covered in a rich espresso mascarpone and served in a chocolate cup. It's both beautiful and delicious.
Chef: Steve Mejia

Restaurant Skadi
A Tasting of Chocolate. A trio of chocolates include surprising flavor combinations like white chocolate and Chai pot au creme; a sweet twist on classic French-inspired indulgences such as terrine of three chocolates; and a bittesweet chocolate sorbet.
Chef: Ian Algeroen

The Rafters
Petit Chocolate Cake served with Berry Coulis. This is no ordinary chocolate cake. Starting with the finest quality chocolates, Chef Dympna adds touches of Kaluha and espresso to intensify the already rich chocolate flavors.
Pastry Chef:  Dympna Roman 

The Restaraunt at Convict Lake (Five miles outside of Mammoth Lakes)
Tableside Bananas Foster Flambé. This indulgent dessert starts with bananas carmelized in brown sugar and topped with 151 proof brandy. A touch of cinnamon is added "for sparkle," and it's brought right to your table and lit up. It's quite a spectacular experience! 
Chef: Darren Harding

OK, I have six signature desserts. I HAD to include the Whitebark Restaraunt's amazing chocolate chip cookies.

The Whitebark at the Westin-Monache
Fresh Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies. There's sometihing so comforting about freshly-baked, soft and gooey chocolate chip cookies. The chefs at the Whitebark back each small batch to order ensuring the freashest cookie experience. I personally love them with icecream!
Chef: Brandon Brocia

Do you have any favorite desserts in Mammoth Lakes? Share them with us!

Add Comment

A few years back, Mammoth Mountain Ski area promoted a campaign that announced: "Mammoth Mountain, No Other Mountain Lives Up to It's Name." That campaign really struck me. When I first moved here, it took me nearly a season to explore all of the runs on Mammoth Mountain--and I was a ski instructor, I skied every day!

Now I'm not saying it took me that long to find all the the knooks, crannies and secret powder pockets here. I'm talking about the main runs. I'm talking about the ones on the trail map; the ones serviced by 25 chair lifts on the massive 3500 acres of skiable terrain.

Mammoth Mountain is HUGE!  And it's true, no other mountain DOES live up to it's name. Not like Mammoth does. 

So I wanted to put a little bug in your ear. Mammoth Mountain is 100% open. See that skier up there? He's sking off the top. That's Climax. And that photo was taken after the most recent strom, which dumped more than four feet of snow on the mountain.

And I wanted to put another bug in your ear. Lodging for President's Day is filling up fast. So check out our Lodging options and Special Offers to book today.

Want more images? View the full bluebird gallery.

Add Comment

Like most people who spend time here, the team at Mammoth Lakes Tourism is passionate about Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding. Let's face it, few places in the world offer so many recreational opportunities and abundant scenic beauty. After all, there's a reason we're flanked by three National Parks (Yosemite, Death Valley, and Kings Canyon) and National Monument (Devils Postpile.)

From world Class skiing, to year round mountain biking and rock climbing to legendary hiking and fishing, the gorgeous mountains and expansive high desert landscapes that surround the area offers something for everyone. And since we work for Mammoth Lakes Tourism, we're also passionate about sharing all of the insider tips, tricks, nooks, and crannies that make Mammoth Lakes an amazing place to live and visit.

We'll explore the best hikes, the secret fishing holes, the best way to play, the loveliest ways to relax, and what to do in Mammoth Lakes!

Add Comment  1 Comment