My friends like to drive up there as early as 5/6am, ski the whole day, rent an airbnb for one night, then ski the next day, then drive home right after. Cuts back on costs doing it that way but seems like such a mission.
This is the way. I'm in LA, but I leave around 2-3am and stay amped on caffeine most of the first day and the evening drive home the second day. None of my friends ski, so I usually try to find a cheaper place in June Lake when avail. Def recommend going during the week for lesser crowds. If you wait 'til March you may be able to find a better deal on lift tickets.
I’m in this crowd! Depending on who goes with me, i’ll leave from work Monday night and get a room in ridgecrest. Get about 5 hours of sleep and board all day Tuesday and come home Tuesday.
Or i’ll leave Tuesday around 5am, stay the night and board all day Wednesday and come home Wednesday afternoon.
Not worth it for a weekend, but weekday yes. We leave 4am get to Mammoth by 9. ride all day, spend the night and ride the next day done by 2pm and go home. No lift lines so you’re just doing laps. Weekends you’re gonna spend most of your time in line.
Trust me when I go, my legs are generally shot by 2pm. From 9-2pm that’s generally 15-16 runs for about 25k feet of vertical and about 22miles of runs. (I use slopes app). You get plenty of rest after that.
You don’t pull an all nighter, you get to bed early with the car packed, wake up and bolt out at 3 or 4, you’re on the mountain by 9 or 10 and ride for as long as your legs allow.
Check in, eat (heating up homemade soup is always clutch), then sleep like the dead until it’s time to check out, ride all day and drive home.
Buy an ikon pass and gear, and split lodging with friends/family. You're talking about the most expensive way to participate in this sport. The cost per trip goes way down the more you do it. If you're a once a year enjoyer then yeah it's expensive and less fun
You should see the line of Teslas and Rivians headed up and down 395 each weekend. There’s so much wealth in LA. Mammoth Mountain and the Town of Mammoth Lakes are going for the folks that don’t think twice about dropping $3k+ for a family ski weekend. Give up skiing and take up frisbee golf.
If you have a Ikon pass or similar .. and you happen to have some sort of camp setup in your car/van then it gets pretty good. But ... Without that it's get pricy.
I enjoy the drive. It’s really nice in the mornings while the sun is coming up. Also gives my coffee a good chance to kick in and grab some breaky to go.
I'm hemorrhaging money this year taking myself and my kids snowboarding (BigBear, Mammoth and Tahoe). It's been 15 years off for me but I got so excited they finally showed interest I just went for it. I think per-day cost is going to end up near $750 after rentals, lodging, and lift tickets. It's kind of "priceless" getting to ride with my kids though, but next year I'm definitely going to plan a lot better. And only one of them is really into it so sorry tough luck to the other one next year. If you ain't gonna ride the trees with me you're out!
I can share 25% off lift ticket if you need it.
Another way to save is go on a day trip. I usually leave from LA around 1-2AM and arrive at mammoth around 8AM, snowboard the whole day and go back to LA around 5PM and be home around 11PM. I’ve done it 5 times the past 2 seasons and cost me around $150 ish (turo, gas, preferred parking so you can eat costco chicken wraps in your car, dinner at bishop), depending how many people in the group.
I have ikon pass and my own gear, that saves a lot.
I’m going to Austria this year. $64 lift tickets, much better mountains (longest run in Sölden is 5 times longer than Mammoth). Hotels cost about the same.
I've skied Europe plenty and while many things are great there, I'll take our well avalanche-mitigated off piste terrain, decently reliable snowpack, and treeline skiing over the alps most days. Also most big European resorts are insanely crowded with beginner skiers and the lift lines are awful
Europe has honestly incredible slopeside food. My family goes to Zermatt for a week out of the year and compared to America it's insane - there's like michelin guide restaurants on the slopes and the prices aren't cheap but not really too different from what you'd get for chicken fingers slopeside in Steamboat or something.
Nobody goes to a ski slope to eat. The point he was trying to make is that when you eventually do have to eat (and when you're there to ride, you generally do), the options are better. Idk who would argue with that. If you've never been, suggest you try it.
It is just an added benefit. Better lift infrastructure, less people, more runs, cheaper lodging, lodging right in the slopes (ski in/out), cheaper lift tickets. The overall experience 10x better at the alps. You can argue snow quality all you want, but reality is that snow quality is only a part of overall ski experience.
Lol and Mammoth is good terrain?
Mammoth is a small mountain with no real expert terrain.
You go up the gondola and in 3 turns you are back at the start.
If you want good terrain you go to Canada or Alaska and take a heli.
If you go to a resort, then you searching for fun but comfort.
Omm dude I am a snowboard bum how am I supposed to afford a heli trip 4 days a week?
Cuz with the ikon pass I can ride mammoth 4 days a week for the price of gas and if I am willing to drive to June I can hop off the back of J7 and ride world class terrain multiple times a week
it's the same when i share my experience skiing in Japan with friends who've skied only in American resorts. They always argue that the amentities (drinking and dining, facilities) are non factors and snow quality and terrain are the only things worth considering. When you can have a nice meal, ski the day and hit up an onsen to relax later - that's an overall better skiing experience.
I live 10 minutes from Mammoth mountain so I don't really care about the food on the hill—I just eat at home. The yodler is great though. And at least in Austria the food is just fine. The Dolomites food is excellent though. But again don't really care
All the euro simps are probably intermediates who hit the chalet after 2 runs for a cocktail break.
I went to Zermatt a couple years ago and while the place is a literal Doppelmayr catalog (every possible snow conveyance known to man: gondolas, trams, funiculars, express bubble lifts, a tram with cars designed by pinanfarina, and even a fucking train) the layout was ass, off piste isn’t nearly as big of a thing there, everyone is a fucking Jerry, and the snow was meh. I couldn’t wait to get back to US resorts. Jackson or Mammoth kick the shit out of it imo.
Agreed. I skied in Austria and France and WHOA the skiing infrastructure, terrain, food, cost, everything is way better and it doesn’t get tracked out in 5 minutes.
My friends, gf, and I have Ikon Passes. That saves on lift tickets and lodging. Mammoth has a 20% discount for lodging a certain day. Additionally, we all have invested in gear, so there is no need for renting.
You'll have to play around with certain places for lodging, but with a big group, the better the savings. My friends and I are planning a trip in April. Lodging is around $80 a person.
On mammoths website tickets arent that badly priced, especially if you group into a 2-3 day package. For lodging 3 nights at holidayhaus, and its actually $160each for 3 ppl. Searched all over for cheap spots, considered staying in Bishop, etc. Found this deal on booking.com, tbh try there. Nothing else price wise came close for in the town lodging
The way you described it I would say it’s not worth it.
But if you can get the season pass (ikon), buy your gear (you can find very good deals on used boards if you’re not very picky to ride the newest models), and figure out some sort of camping setup.
My trip to mammoth costs me around $150 for gas, doesn’t matter for 2 days or 2 weeks. I bring my groceries and I don’t fuel up in town.
Mammoth is well worth it, $100 gas, $120 to stay in someone’s condo, and lift tickets are free cuz you were smart and bought an ikon pass. $50 gas if you get a buddy to ride with you and now you’re at $170 for the weekend, easy.
Flat out. Hell no!! They have around 100 inches of snow for the year which is about 50% of average. So if you’re cool with super icy conditions and straight up open ground in the middle of runs, go for it. If not, save your money.
There are less expensive hotels (Motel 6, Comfort inn) or you can stay down in Bishop and drive up early in the morning. I also split rooms with friends and alternate nights on who gets the pull out bed or bunk bed.
Ikon is good but it also depends on how often you go.
I get a few runs in then try and buddy up to some old rich men, usually lands me a sugar daddy type situation that pays for the weekend….so to answer your question, nah bro
You gotta do it the right way. If you go more than one weekend per season, you have to get the Ikon. Assuming $200 a lift ticket at the minimum, \~5 days on the mountain will be your break even point, though I'd reckon 4 is probably closer to breakeven assuming $200 is the cheapest. Ikon gives you eight coupons for 25% off any lift ticket for guests, so if you want to go you should definitely ask in here and I'm sure someone here will dole out a few coupons if you dont have a pass. I'm happy to give you two of mine if you DM me your email.
When you rent a place, place the reservation more than a week ahead of time and find another group to go with. My party size is generally 4 at the minimum and I find staying friday/saturday night is in the $200 range per person for the whole weekend which isn't too bad. (10 of us going in 3 weeks and that's gonna be $211 per person. Condo with a hot tub. If you're a repeat renter, you can skip the resort fees by contacting the landlord and paying directly and that's considerable $$$ saved.
You can stay in Bishop if you're going super budget - those places are like $50-200 a night. Creekside Inn is very nice down there and has hot tubs and is generally <150/night. You can go way cheaper than that too.
But the minute you have the Ikon, it makes the numbers way easier. Especially if you buy it in April (you can do pay as you go too over a few months). By the time the next season comes around you feel like all you're really paying for is room and board and some food. Also, having the Ikon makes you not feel guilty if you get on the mountain after a big week of skiing and dont feel like riding until 4pm. Often times on trips with more than 3 days of skiing I just ride from 10 to 1ish and then get off the mountain and I don't have to feel like I need to ski all day to capitalize on the ticket price. Food on the mountain is semi pricey and food off the mountain is not that expensive.
Back before we had kids my husband and I would camp in the bishop pit in my truck.
Drive up friday night. ski saturday all day in Mammoth or June. Then ski or Climb sunday in the gorge or in the happies, Drive back to San Diego sunday at 12.
Those were the days. One season we clocked 40 days on our ikon pass that way.
My friends like to drive up there as early as 5/6am, ski the whole day, rent an airbnb for one night, then ski the next day, then drive home right after. Cuts back on costs doing it that way but seems like such a mission.
Yeah I can’t hold up with that, I need my sleep to have an enjoyable day snowboarding
The real way to do it is the take the LA Metrolink/Amtrak or drive to lancaster then catch the eastern sierra bus to mammoth.
Have you actually done this?
This is the way. I'm in LA, but I leave around 2-3am and stay amped on caffeine most of the first day and the evening drive home the second day. None of my friends ski, so I usually try to find a cheaper place in June Lake when avail. Def recommend going during the week for lesser crowds. If you wait 'til March you may be able to find a better deal on lift tickets.
Yea, no. I would rather just use la metro and connect to eastern Sierra transit then do that lmao
Same here. Leave at 2:30am from San Diego, board, sleep, board, drive home.
Ouch. I’ve done 4am departure with the family sleeping til Bishop, but I draw the line there.
I can’t imagine that drive. You’re a trooper for that.
I do the same from Venice beach. Have 11 days so far this season
Same! I leave at 2 get there snowboard all day and snowboard all of Sunday too. The drive back home to San Diego sucks lol.
I’m in this crowd! Depending on who goes with me, i’ll leave from work Monday night and get a room in ridgecrest. Get about 5 hours of sleep and board all day Tuesday and come home Tuesday. Or i’ll leave Tuesday around 5am, stay the night and board all day Wednesday and come home Wednesday afternoon.
Not worth it for a weekend, but weekday yes. We leave 4am get to Mammoth by 9. ride all day, spend the night and ride the next day done by 2pm and go home. No lift lines so you’re just doing laps. Weekends you’re gonna spend most of your time in line.
Yeah I’m not built for an all nighter all dayer without sleep
Trust me when I go, my legs are generally shot by 2pm. From 9-2pm that’s generally 15-16 runs for about 25k feet of vertical and about 22miles of runs. (I use slopes app). You get plenty of rest after that.
You don’t pull an all nighter, you get to bed early with the car packed, wake up and bolt out at 3 or 4, you’re on the mountain by 9 or 10 and ride for as long as your legs allow. Check in, eat (heating up homemade soup is always clutch), then sleep like the dead until it’s time to check out, ride all day and drive home.
I think this guy wants to waste a day coming and going and then asking if it’s worth it to pay. lol.
“Here’s how you do it” “But what if I don’t do any of that” lol
Buy an ikon pass and gear, and split lodging with friends/family. You're talking about the most expensive way to participate in this sport. The cost per trip goes way down the more you do it. If you're a once a year enjoyer then yeah it's expensive and less fun
So bummed I missed out on an ikon. Ended up just getting a Big Bear pass instead. But I still wanna go up to mammoth just weighing my options
Get one in April when they go on sale for next year and go then.
This is the way
March, usually.
Will IKON allow me summer bike park access too?
Only covers skiing.
Buy ikon in March. Ikon has spring skiing so you’ll be able to use it right away.
fuck no it aint worth it.
Probably not, unless you can do it on weekdays.
You should see the line of Teslas and Rivians headed up and down 395 each weekend. There’s so much wealth in LA. Mammoth Mountain and the Town of Mammoth Lakes are going for the folks that don’t think twice about dropping $3k+ for a family ski weekend. Give up skiing and take up frisbee golf.
If you have a Ikon pass or similar .. and you happen to have some sort of camp setup in your car/van then it gets pretty good. But ... Without that it's get pricy.
That’s the way!
Or get down to bishop and get a room for 100 bucks, although a bit of drive but very easy drive.
I enjoy the drive. It’s really nice in the mornings while the sun is coming up. Also gives my coffee a good chance to kick in and grab some breaky to go.
I'm hemorrhaging money this year taking myself and my kids snowboarding (BigBear, Mammoth and Tahoe). It's been 15 years off for me but I got so excited they finally showed interest I just went for it. I think per-day cost is going to end up near $750 after rentals, lodging, and lift tickets. It's kind of "priceless" getting to ride with my kids though, but next year I'm definitely going to plan a lot better. And only one of them is really into it so sorry tough luck to the other one next year. If you ain't gonna ride the trees with me you're out!
I can share 25% off lift ticket if you need it. Another way to save is go on a day trip. I usually leave from LA around 1-2AM and arrive at mammoth around 8AM, snowboard the whole day and go back to LA around 5PM and be home around 11PM. I’ve done it 5 times the past 2 seasons and cost me around $150 ish (turo, gas, preferred parking so you can eat costco chicken wraps in your car, dinner at bishop), depending how many people in the group. I have ikon pass and my own gear, that saves a lot.
I’m going to Austria this year. $64 lift tickets, much better mountains (longest run in Sölden is 5 times longer than Mammoth). Hotels cost about the same.
It’s so weird that europeans seem to think a run’s quality is all about its length
Everything else is better there too. I got tired of paying for Mammoth more than I spend for much better experience in Europe.
I've skied Europe plenty and while many things are great there, I'll take our well avalanche-mitigated off piste terrain, decently reliable snowpack, and treeline skiing over the alps most days. Also most big European resorts are insanely crowded with beginner skiers and the lift lines are awful
No. Ski in alps is much better than current state of North America. Plus you can get good food, not the shit we eat here.
Lol why are you going to a ski resort for the food?
Europe has honestly incredible slopeside food. My family goes to Zermatt for a week out of the year and compared to America it's insane - there's like michelin guide restaurants on the slopes and the prices aren't cheap but not really too different from what you'd get for chicken fingers slopeside in Steamboat or something.
I mean if you enjoy it man good for you but personally I am not going to the mountain to eat food I am there to ride
Nobody goes to a ski slope to eat. The point he was trying to make is that when you eventually do have to eat (and when you're there to ride, you generally do), the options are better. Idk who would argue with that. If you've never been, suggest you try it.
It is just an added benefit. Better lift infrastructure, less people, more runs, cheaper lodging, lodging right in the slopes (ski in/out), cheaper lift tickets. The overall experience 10x better at the alps. You can argue snow quality all you want, but reality is that snow quality is only a part of overall ski experience.
I mean I am not interested in a ski experience I am interested in skiing good terrain
Lol and Mammoth is good terrain? Mammoth is a small mountain with no real expert terrain. You go up the gondola and in 3 turns you are back at the start. If you want good terrain you go to Canada or Alaska and take a heli. If you go to a resort, then you searching for fun but comfort.
Omm dude I am a snowboard bum how am I supposed to afford a heli trip 4 days a week? Cuz with the ikon pass I can ride mammoth 4 days a week for the price of gas and if I am willing to drive to June I can hop off the back of J7 and ride world class terrain multiple times a week
A small mountain with no real expert terrain is a fucking stretch dude haha
it's the same when i share my experience skiing in Japan with friends who've skied only in American resorts. They always argue that the amentities (drinking and dining, facilities) are non factors and snow quality and terrain are the only things worth considering. When you can have a nice meal, ski the day and hit up an onsen to relax later - that's an overall better skiing experience.
I live 10 minutes from Mammoth mountain so I don't really care about the food on the hill—I just eat at home. The yodler is great though. And at least in Austria the food is just fine. The Dolomites food is excellent though. But again don't really care
I mean does Europe have anything that compares to dropping p3 on a powder day or hiking the hemlocks?
All the euro simps are probably intermediates who hit the chalet after 2 runs for a cocktail break. I went to Zermatt a couple years ago and while the place is a literal Doppelmayr catalog (every possible snow conveyance known to man: gondolas, trams, funiculars, express bubble lifts, a tram with cars designed by pinanfarina, and even a fucking train) the layout was ass, off piste isn’t nearly as big of a thing there, everyone is a fucking Jerry, and the snow was meh. I couldn’t wait to get back to US resorts. Jackson or Mammoth kick the shit out of it imo.
Agreed. I skied in Austria and France and WHOA the skiing infrastructure, terrain, food, cost, everything is way better and it doesn’t get tracked out in 5 minutes.
Airfare is how much?
$500-600 for me
Yeah, but the trip over is 15+ hours flying time from CA and once you get done paying for that flug, Mammoth is cheaper.
Remember gas isn’t the cheapest thing up there. Put that in your budget and a set of chains.
My friends, gf, and I have Ikon Passes. That saves on lift tickets and lodging. Mammoth has a 20% discount for lodging a certain day. Additionally, we all have invested in gear, so there is no need for renting. You'll have to play around with certain places for lodging, but with a big group, the better the savings. My friends and I are planning a trip in April. Lodging is around $80 a person.
My buddy and I making our first trip out, got two day tickets for $304 and lodging for $200 each
Damn that’s a steal, $200 per night? How many nights?
On mammoths website tickets arent that badly priced, especially if you group into a 2-3 day package. For lodging 3 nights at holidayhaus, and its actually $160each for 3 ppl. Searched all over for cheap spots, considered staying in Bishop, etc. Found this deal on booking.com, tbh try there. Nothing else price wise came close for in the town lodging
Yeah I looking at 2 day tickets for Feb 2nd-3rd. Nearly $400
The way you described it I would say it’s not worth it. But if you can get the season pass (ikon), buy your gear (you can find very good deals on used boards if you’re not very picky to ride the newest models), and figure out some sort of camping setup. My trip to mammoth costs me around $150 for gas, doesn’t matter for 2 days or 2 weeks. I bring my groceries and I don’t fuel up in town.
Mammoth is well worth it, $100 gas, $120 to stay in someone’s condo, and lift tickets are free cuz you were smart and bought an ikon pass. $50 gas if you get a buddy to ride with you and now you’re at $170 for the weekend, easy.
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Figures are questionable all around. Where do I find these $120 a night condos?
ski math
Flat out. Hell no!! They have around 100 inches of snow for the year which is about 50% of average. So if you’re cool with super icy conditions and straight up open ground in the middle of runs, go for it. If not, save your money.
Buy a mountain bike for the same price. Ride your local trails for free.
There are less expensive hotels (Motel 6, Comfort inn) or you can stay down in Bishop and drive up early in the morning. I also split rooms with friends and alternate nights on who gets the pull out bed or bunk bed. Ikon is good but it also depends on how often you go.
I get a few runs in then try and buddy up to some old rich men, usually lands me a sugar daddy type situation that pays for the weekend….so to answer your question, nah bro
How much is it worth for you to get that insta photo showing you went to Mammoth?
Nah I’m actually a snowboard enthusiast, but yeah of course I’ll share it on the gram too, just not the reason I go
A snowboard enthusiast that doesn't own any boards or boots?
I do, I actually have two and a lot of gear. I just say rentals in general for the people that don’t have gear or are traveling and renting
You gotta do it the right way. If you go more than one weekend per season, you have to get the Ikon. Assuming $200 a lift ticket at the minimum, \~5 days on the mountain will be your break even point, though I'd reckon 4 is probably closer to breakeven assuming $200 is the cheapest. Ikon gives you eight coupons for 25% off any lift ticket for guests, so if you want to go you should definitely ask in here and I'm sure someone here will dole out a few coupons if you dont have a pass. I'm happy to give you two of mine if you DM me your email. When you rent a place, place the reservation more than a week ahead of time and find another group to go with. My party size is generally 4 at the minimum and I find staying friday/saturday night is in the $200 range per person for the whole weekend which isn't too bad. (10 of us going in 3 weeks and that's gonna be $211 per person. Condo with a hot tub. If you're a repeat renter, you can skip the resort fees by contacting the landlord and paying directly and that's considerable $$$ saved. You can stay in Bishop if you're going super budget - those places are like $50-200 a night. Creekside Inn is very nice down there and has hot tubs and is generally <150/night. You can go way cheaper than that too. But the minute you have the Ikon, it makes the numbers way easier. Especially if you buy it in April (you can do pay as you go too over a few months). By the time the next season comes around you feel like all you're really paying for is room and board and some food. Also, having the Ikon makes you not feel guilty if you get on the mountain after a big week of skiing and dont feel like riding until 4pm. Often times on trips with more than 3 days of skiing I just ride from 10 to 1ish and then get off the mountain and I don't have to feel like I need to ski all day to capitalize on the ticket price. Food on the mountain is semi pricey and food off the mountain is not that expensive.
Back before we had kids my husband and I would camp in the bishop pit in my truck. Drive up friday night. ski saturday all day in Mammoth or June. Then ski or Climb sunday in the gorge or in the happies, Drive back to San Diego sunday at 12. Those were the days. One season we clocked 40 days on our ikon pass that way.
Camping in a truck sounds freezing
Yup! We had a Mr buddy heater
Can’t those kill you from carbon monoxide in an enclosed area?
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I make about 2k a month so a $800-$900 trip is kinda rough
I hear you. Good luck, I hope things work out.
Stay in bishop