Mammoth Mountain, California will have its first day of the season on November 15, 2024, and riders will have five fresh inches of snowfall to celebrate in.
The Lower Panorama Gondola, Face Lift Express and Unbound Express are all expected to open. The Upper Panorama Gondola will open for scenic rides Friday November 15 through Sunday November 17. Trails that will be ready to ride opening day include Broadway, Saddle Bowl, Silver Tip, and Rusty’s.
Then a day later, the team plans to spin the Discovery Express, and open up Sesame Street.
Photo: Cody Matheson, Mammoth Mountain
Snow showers are in the forecast for Friday, and they’re projected to keep up steadily until Sunday morning. It could get as cold as 9 degrees over the weekend though, so layer up if you’re headed there for opening day.
There’s a base depth of 10 to 12 inches as of 2 p.m. on November 13, and it is still November, so obstacles exist out there. Maybe wait a little while to break that new board out of the plastic. Rock boards are key this time of year. Snowguns are firing on eight trails.
Complimentary coffee and hot cocoa will be served at 7:30 a.m., before the lifts spin. The first 100 people in the chairlift line will get a free Mammoth beanie. Then those who stop early for lunch will get the chance to toast to the season at the Tusks sundeck. One beer or sparkling cider will be complimentary.
Photo: Cody Matheson, Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth boasts 24 lifts and 178 trails. There are 10 terrain parks and two halfpipes. Its halfpipes have been home to some of the best riders in the world, most notably, Olympian Chloe Kim. Maddie Mastro, Judd Henkes, and Bea Kim have all trained there as well.
So far, Mt. Rose is the only ski area open in the Sierra. The Tahoe-area mountain welcomed riders and skiers on November 8, two weeks earlier than last season’s start. The other ski areas nearby have held steady to their late-November dates. Palisades Tahoe still has a targeted opening day of November 27. Northstar is projecting a November 22 opening day, as is Heavenly and Sugar Bowl.
Related: Opening Day Lifts and Trails Revealed for Colorado's Largest Ski Resort