With its breathtaking views of the lights from the mountain, it’s no wonder why Mammoth Mountain is known as the “City of Trees.” At 14.9 million years old, the sequoia trees that surround the city provide a constant green canvas for the snow-covered slopes.
Some people may still not know how high Mammoth Mountain truly is. While the elevation may indicate that the resort is at a high elevation, the trees and lakes that abound in the area give the illusion that it’s actually located at a low elevation.
Here are some fun facts about this wonderful ski resort:
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Fun Facts About Mammoth
- The longest slope at Mammoth is called “Shark’s Tooth” and is 2.5 miles long.
- The ski resort was originally called “Soda Lake” because it’s proximity to Lake Tahoe caused a major soda industry in the region.
- The ski run that bears Steve McQueen’s name is still one of the most popular runs at Mammoth and is regularly voted one of the best ski runs in North America.
- Mammoth Mountain is one of the few remaining true ski resorts that still requires ski passes to enter.
- One of the newest restaurants at Mammoth is named the “Ratty Coctail,” and serves up Scottish comfort food like haggis and neeps. (Yes, that’s haggis and neeps.)
- Mammoth Mountain’s main street, Highway 66, was once the deadliest stretch of road in California. One of the most infamous murders in California history was committed there in 1908.
- In the winter of 1961, a young John Kennedy visited Mammoth Mountain and stayed in one of the resort’s original wooden lodges. Several years later, he made a surprise visit while campaigning for the presidency.
- There are over 100 miles of hiking trails surrounding the city and the mountain, providing endless possibilities for exploring the wilderness.
- The largest body of water at Mammoth Mountain is Lake George. After completing an 18-hole golf course in the 1930s, a dam was built on the lake and the water level was raised. The lake then covered an entire city block and became the largest man-made lake in the state.
- Each year, Mammoth Mountain hosts the largest Halloween festival in the state, which features over 100,000 sqft of exhibits, workshops, and concerts. The festival is called “Mammoth Mountain Mega-Festival” and is one of the most popular attractions in the area. The 2020 edition of the event will be from October 28 to November 3.
- During the winter, tourists can get on a ski bus that departs from the Mammoth Airport, and travels to neighboring ski resorts. The cost is $30 roundtrip per person, and the bus stops at all the major ski resorts, including Mammoth Mountain. (Ski passes may be required.)
- Mammoth Mountain is within driving distance of the biggest metropolis in the area, San Francisco, which is 128 km away. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes to get there, depending on traffic.
How High Is the Elevation At Mammoth Mountain?
First things first: while the elevation may indicate that the resort is at a high elevation, the area is actually located at a low elevation. This is thanks to the presence of freshwater tributaries that flow from nearby Lake Tahoe. These streams create a microclimate that allows the trees to grow and flourish, creating a beautiful rainforest setting around the resort.
Mammoth Mountain lies at an elevation of 2,600 feet above sea level, and its surrounding area is between 2,500 and 6,000 feet above sea level. These numbers may seem fairly consistent, until you consider that the lowest point near the town is 8,500 feet above sea level. This is why you will often see signs at the top of the mountain advertising the “Mammoth Ski Resort Aerial Tram,” which will allow you to access the highest point of the ski resort. (Ticket price is $25 per person, plus applicable fees.)
The closest major airport to Mammoth Mountain is Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which is 115 km away. Directly opposite the airport is the casino hot spot of California, Lake Tahoe, the second-largest freshwater lake in the U.S. (In front of you.)
Why Is Saltwater Fishing Poor At Mammoth?
While freshwater fishing is a great way to explore the outdoors and discover nature, it has its downsides. Chief among them is that it’s sometimes difficult to fish during very specific times of the year. For example, one may have a better chance of catching trout in certain parts of a river, but there may be absolutely no fishing at all within sight, as the water temperatures are a bit too high for the fish to be active. (This is the case with most mountain streams and lakes.)
With this in mind, anglers head for the ocean, which is a stone’s throw away from the resort. While fishing along the California coastline is always scenic, there’s a lot of competition from other anglers and marine life, which can make it tough to catch anything. If you do land a fish, you’ll have to fight other anglers for its weight, as there’s very little in the way of food available. (Trout rarely grow beyond three or four pounds in size, so these are not small fish to begin with!) Unfortunately, illegal fishing is also a problem, as tourists frequently drive trucks and haul boats to the edge of the oceans, where they unload their catches and walk away. This is why you must obey all fishery rules and regulations, and always check with a local environmental protection agency, before discharging any waste water.
What Is The Climate Like At Mammoth Mountain?
A look at the climate at Mammoth Mountain will tell you that it is quite mild and consistent. This is no doubt thanks to the surrounding trees, which provide plenty of shade and reduce wind erosion. (Trees also absorb CO2, which is good for the environment.)
The seasons at Mammoth Mountain vary, so much so that one can have two completely different weather patterns within a day. In the summer, it can be very hot and sunny, with temperatures reaching up to 30 degrees Celsius in the afternoons. At night, it can be very chilling, with temperatures dropping to single digits. In the winter, it can be windy and snowy, with blizzards and whiteouts common. (Again, the trees are to blame for this; they protect the area from the wind and large snowflakes, creating a wonderful sun-reflecting and insulation-maintaining microclimate in the process.)
As for precipitation, you will not find a big discrepancy between what goes in and what comes out. The resort gets around 30 inches of rain per year, most of which comes in the form of snow. A very small percentage of it comes in the form of raindrops. This is good, as it provides a steady supply of fresh water for the area and vegetation, but it also means there is no real dry season. (The lake becomes too full during the rainy season, so it overflows and floods nearby areas. The water then backs up and becomes impassable, so it must be drained somehow.)
Skiing And Surfing Are Available At Mammoth Mountain?
If you are the adventurous type, you can try your hand at both skiing and surfing. The ski runs are primarily located on the south side of the mountain, but the north side is also very scenic, as well as being the location of the popular coffee shop at the top of the mountain. The nearest ski village is called “Dudley,” which is located 17 miles away. (One can drive there in under 30 minutes, depending on traffic.)