🎿 If I Could Only Ski 3 Weekends This Winter, I'd Pick These

Hey Ski Fam,

I have a problem. Every fall, I look at the calendar and start dreaming about all the ski trips I'm going to take. 😂 Mammoth in November. Big Bear in December. Maybe another Mammoth trip in January. And of course, a few powder days if the snow gods decide to be kind.

In my head, I'm skiing every weekend. Then real life shows up. Work. Kids. Bills. Traffic. And that little thing called a bank account. Suddenly, those 20 ski days I had planned turn into three or four. 😂

But here's something I've learned after years of skiing and coaching. You don't need 20 ski days to have a great winter. You just need a few good ones. And if I could only pick three ski weekends this season, I already know which ones I'd choose.

With Mammoth planning to open November 13 and Big Bear aiming for a weather-dependent start to winter, now is the time to get those dates on the calendar. Here's my plan. 🎿

❄️ 1. November 13–15: The First-Snow Weekend at Mammoth

There's something special about the first ski day of the season. The cold air. The sound of ski boots on the pavement. That first ride up the chairlift when you realize winter is finally back. I don't care how many years you've been skiing. That first run still feels like Christmas morning. 🎄😂

Mammoth has November 13 on its opening calendar, which makes November 13–15 my first pick. But here's the catch. Opening weekend isn't always the best weekend for skiing. Early-season snow can be thin, some lifts may still be closed, and the open runs can get crowded.

That's why I treat opening weekend a little differently. I'm not going to Mammoth expecting endless powder and wide-open slopes. I'm going for the joy of being back on snow, and I'm keeping my plans flexible.

Here's how I'd plan it:

• 🏔️ Check Mammoth's lift and trail report before leaving home.

• 📷 Look at the mountain webcams, not just the snow totals.

• 🏨 Book a room with a fair cancellation policy.

• 🎿 Plan for a few fun runs, not a full day of hard skiing.

• ☕ Leave time for coffee, good food, and a little mountain fun.

And if Mother Nature doesn't play along? I'll move the trip. There's no prize for driving five hours to ski one crowded strip of snow. 😂

My goal: Start the season with a smile, not a sore back and an empty wallet.

🏔️ 2. January 22–24: The Big Bear Weekend I'd Circle

My second pick is a weekend in late January, and this time, I'm staying closer to home. Big Bear is one of the best things about living in Southern California. We can leave the palm trees behind and, when conditions are right, spend the day skiing in the San Bernardino Mountains.

No flight. No airport. No lost luggage. Just a car full of ski gear and someone asking, "Are we there yet?" 😂

So why January 22–24? By late January, we've given winter time to get going. Snowmaking crews have had more chances to work when temperatures allow, and natural storms may have helped build the base. Of course, none of that is guaranteed. I've seen California winters that start strong and others that seem to forget what month it is.

But I like late January because it gives me a chance to plan a local ski trip after the busy holiday stretch. And I especially like that January 22 is a Friday. If I can get away from work, I'd rather ski Friday than fight the Saturday morning rush.

Here's my Big Bear game plan:

• 🚗 Leave early and check road conditions before the drive.

• 🎟️ Compare lift ticket prices before choosing my ski day.

• ❄️ Check how much terrain is open at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.

• 📅 Avoid assuming a nonholiday weekend means empty slopes.

• 🍔 Pack snacks and make time for a good lunch.

One more thing. If I have a choice between a busy Saturday and a quieter weekday with the same snow, I'll take the weekday almost every time. More skiing. Less waiting. Fewer chances to get run over by someone who thinks they're racing for Olympic gold. 🥇😂

My goal: Get a great local ski day without turning it into a huge trip.

☀️ 3. March 12–14: My Mammoth Spring Ski Escape

Now for my favorite kind of ski weekend. March at Mammoth. ❤️ By this point in the season, my ski legs are back, I've remembered how to make a decent turn, and I'm no longer wondering why my boots feel like medieval torture tools.

March can bring some of the most fun skiing of the year. The days are getting longer, the sun sits a little higher, and when the snow is good, Mammoth can be hard to beat. But March can also bring big storms, cold winds, and firm snow. Spring on the calendar doesn't mean spring weather on the mountain.

That's why I'd circle March 12–14 but wait to see what winter brings. I don't feel the same rush as opening weekend. I'm not trying to be first on the mountain. I want to enjoy the whole weekend.

Here's my March plan:

• 🌤️ Check the forecast and wind before heading up.

• 🎿 On warm spring days, watch for firm snow in the morning that softens as the sun warms the slopes.

• 🧊 Watch for firm morning runs and changing snow through the day.

• 🥪 Take a real lunch break instead of eating a crushed granola bar on the lift.

• 📷 Stop and enjoy those Sierra views.

And if a storm rolls through? Even better, if roads and lifts are safe and open. I'll gladly trade a sunny lunch for a good powder day. 😂

My goal: End my three-trip plan with the kind of ski weekend I'll still be talking about in July.

📅 My 3-Weekend Ski Calendar

Here's the plan I'd put on my fridge today.

❄️ November 13–15, 2026 — Mammoth Mountain: The first-snow trip. Go for the fun of opening weekend, but keep plans flexible.

🏔️ January 22–24, 2027 — Big Bear: The local ski escape. Aim for a Friday ski day if possible and let snow conditions guide the choice.

☀️ March 12–14, 2027 — Mammoth Mountain: The late-season getaway. Watch the storms, check the forecast, and enjoy the mountain.

These are my three target weekends, not three trips I'd pay for today. And that's the key. I put the dates on my calendar now. I let the snow decide when I book.

💸 One More Thing: Don't Book All Three Trips Today

I know how tempting it is. You see a good-looking room, picture yourself sitting by the fire after a long ski day, and suddenly your credit card is out. I've been there. 😂

But California snow has a way of making fools out of people who plan too far ahead. So here's my rule. I'll mark the dates now, compare costs, and look for rooms I can cancel. Then I'll keep an eye on the weather, open terrain, and road conditions as each weekend gets close.

If the snow looks good, I'll go. If it doesn't, I'll wait. A ski trip should be something you look forward to, not something you feel forced to take because you already paid for it.

❄️ The Big Lesson

Here's what I want you to remember as we get closer to winter. You don't need to ski every weekend to have an amazing season. You don't need the most expensive hotel, the newest skis, or a dozen days off work. You just need a plan that fits your life.

For me, that's three weekends. One to welcome winter. One close to home. And one to enjoy the season after my ski legs have found their groove. Will all three go as planned? Probably not. This is California skiing we're talking about. Mother Nature likes to keep us humble. 😂

But the best ski memories don't always come from the biggest storms or the longest trips. Sometimes they come from a few good turns, a warm drink with friends, and that feeling you get when you look up at the mountains and realize there's nowhere else you'd rather be.

Plan the trip. Let the snow pick the date. 🎿❄️

Now I want to hear from you. If you could only ski THREE weekends this winter, where would you go? Mammoth? Big Bear? Mountain High? Or somewhere else?

Hit reply and tell me your three picks. I'd love to see where our Ski Fam is heading this winter. And who knows? You might give me an idea for my fourth trip. 😂

– Sasha Everett ⛷️❄️

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