Friday, April 26th, 2024, @ 7 AM – Good morning, cooler conditions with cloudy skies and snow showers are in the high country this morning, with a few raindrops in the lower elevations down to Bishop. Checking in on snowfall amounts on Mammoth Mountain, there is 1-2 inches of new snow from the 9000-foot level up to the top.
The snow line in the area is now up to the 7800 – 8000-foot level. Ski and Ride early and then pick another activity for the afternoon hours. There is some good mountain biking and hiking now opening up for those who are into duel sports days.
Travel & Road Forecast: Winter Roads are open and clear. Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass, and the Mammoth Lakes Basin are closed for the Winter Season. For current webcam road conditions on 395 and 203, visit our road conditions page at this link.
Mammoth Mountain Weather Forecast
Today, there is a 60% chance of rain and snow showers in the high country, with the snow level around 8,000 feet. Accumulations over the high country could be in the 1-3 inch range, which would be on top of the inch that was received last night. There will also be some scattered rain showers down to Toms Place and Bishop today.
Up on the hill, mid-day temperatures will be in the mid-30s, with mid-40s in Mammoth Lakes, mid-50s at Toms Place, and mid-60s for Bishop. Today, winds around the Main Lodge will be SW at 15-30 MPH, with gusts to 45 over the mid and upper mountain. Lower elevations will see winds out of the S to SW at 5-15 MPH at times.
The weekend outlook for Mammoth Mountain and the Eastern Sierra calls for sunny skies with about average temperatures and overnight lows into the upper 20s to lower 30s.
For Snowman’s full Recreational Weather Forecast & Outlook, click here.
Mammoth Mountain Snow Report from the Snowman
Up on Mammoth Mountain, Spring Operations are now in effect, with the Snow Surface fully into the freeze-thaw cycle. The Spring Snow Base at the Snow Study Site (9000 Feet) is 72 inches, with 41.38 inches of seasonal precipitation and 350 inches of snow this season. Up Top, the base is around 120 inches, with 100 inches at MC Coy.
Here is what’s running this weekend, Lifts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 16, 17, 23, and Gondolas 1 and 2. The Canyon Lodge parking area along with chair 17 will run again this weekend and then that will be it for this season.
Lift Hours through Sunday are from 8:30 AM to 4 PM, I would expect the mountain to start to adjust operating hours as soon as next Monday. Chair 1 is Now Closed for the season as they are replacing this lift with a new 6-pack chair lift. Crews need to start construction now so the new lift will be ready to run by mid-December.
Snow Conditions: Much cooler weather is in the area at this time and the snowpack is frozen solid with 1 inch of new snow on top. That will result in dust on crust conditions for this morning with possible low end powder conditions by the afternoon.
Spring conditions will start to return to the Mountain by mid day Saturday. By Sunday into Monday as mid day temperatures come way up expect a corn festival of fun out on the hill as the freeze thaw cycle gets under way again.
If you’re not used to spring skiing and riding the snow starts to get soft down on Stump Alley first and then as the sun does its magic the other lower runs get soft and then the mid-mountain with the top the last to soften up.
The ski area also spreads a snow freeze product on the runs to help keep the snow from getting too soft and sticky. During the warmer days moving forward, you will see the cat crew spreading that mix out like fertilizer on the slopes.
Next week as the freeze and thaw cycle underway again, my advice is to wax up nightly with a clear universal wax. Having some texture added to your base for a small charge at Fast Ski Sports can also help channel the water and snow from creating that sticky feeling underfoot on warm days.
The other option is the Free Hot Wax Coupon you can use at Fast Ski Sports in the Vons Mall. Just take your gear and tell them the Mammoth Snowman sent you in for a Free Hot Wax.
What’s up off the Mountain?
The current snow line in the Eastern Sierra is up to about 7800 – 8000 feet. Below that elevation, all forest roads and trails are now melted out and ready for hiking, mountain biking, and 4 x 4 adventures. Lower Rock Creek Canyon Trail is perfect for those looking for a hike or mountain bike ride during these early spring days.
If you want to get into the full Spring zone, there is a lot to do in the Bishop area. The Disk Golf Course at Mill Pond and the Bishop Golf Course are open. Mountain Biking is also a blast right now, with all the trails and OHV areas in great shape from recent rains.
Fishing season opens county-wide on Saturday, April 27th, 2024. Crowley is over the top full, so beware, shore camping and fishing are out in some areas once again this spring.
Click here for a complete list of activities you can do in the area other than skiing and snowboarding on Mammoth Mountain.
Have a great day, Snowman Out…
Mammoth Mountain Photo Snow Stoke
Website Author – Steve Taylor – Mammoth Snowman – Over the last 35+ years, Snowman has spent countless hours studying and learning about Mammoth Mountain Weather and Snow Conditions firsthand. He has been skiing around the hill with marked ski poles since March of 1991 so he can measure the fresh snowfall amounts out on the hill.
Snowman started blogging this information back in 1990 on the old Mammoth BBS system, then the RSN Forums, and then on to MammothSnowman.com in 2004 with the Video & Photo Blog report. (No YouTube back then). Facebook was added to the fold back in 2008 and then the Facebook Group in 2016.
Reports, videos, and photos from the website have been featured on both local TV Stations here in Mammoth, along with AP, Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC News. You can learn more about the MammothSnowman.com team here.
>>>>If you find our content of value and enjoy my website’s daily updates, the information provided, the social posts, social FAQs, photos, and videos, please consider becoming a monthly or annual supporter today. Here is the link to learn more.
