💦 FROM SKIS TO SPRINGS

⚡ SHIFT YOUR MINDSET:

Sometimes, recovery looks like a swimsuit, not a squat.

We skiers love the burn—boot bang, mogul legs, slushy late-season laps. But what if the real secret to staying slope-ready isn’t another core session... but 105°F water in the middle of nowhere?

🏔️ MY STORY: Hot Springs & Cold Feet

Last weekend, after a killer two days skiing the spring slop at Mammoth (you know the kind—T-shirt temps and snow like mashed potatoes), I was toast. Quinn still had energy to spare, but I? I needed a soak.

So we loaded up the car, peanut butter sandwiches and all, and bounced down Highway 395 until I spotted that quirky little green church. That’s the turn. If you know, you know.

After 1.5 miles of dirt road that made my suspension cry uncle, we parked. From there? A short walk on a boardwalk through open sagebrush, steam on the horizon. There it was: Wild Willy’s.

We found the big pool first—deep, clear, and perfectly warm. Quinn giggled and launched herself in like it was summer break. I slid into that water and just... stopped. You know that feeling when your muscles finally let go? That was it. Magic.

I watched the snowy ridge of Mammoth off in the distance and thought, “Yeah... this is skiing too.”

🌋 A HOT TUB BORN FROM A SUPERVOLCANO

This spot? It’s not just cozy—it’s ancient.

• Over 700,000 years ago, the Long Valley Caldera erupted. Boom.

• What it left behind? One of the wildest natural spas you’ll ever dip into.

• Wild Willy’s Hot Springs is one of several in the area, but it’s got the best views.

And it’s not just for Instagram. Indigenous communities were soaking here long before any of us came along—drawn to its healing heat and mineral magic. Later, settlers caught on too.

Today? It’s a gift from the earth to your quads.

🚗 HOW TO GET THERE

Here’s how to find it:

• Drive about 20 minutes east of Mammoth Lakes on Highway 395

• Turn on Benton Crossing Road (yep, the one with the green church)

• Go 3 miles, then hang a right onto a dirt road

• Drive another 1.5 miles—careful, it’s bumpy!

• Park. Walk the short ¼-mile boardwalk. Soak. Smile. Repeat.

Pro tip: early morning or just before sunset is prime time. That golden Sierra light hits different when your toes are toasty.

💧 WHAT TO EXPECT:

• 2-3 pools, temps around 95–105°F

• Big pool fits about 20–30 people

• Clear water, slight sulfur smell, maybe a few friendly nudists

• Surrounded by sage, silence, and snow-capped glory

Bring:

• A towel

• Flip-flops or water shoes

• Water (hydration counts here too!)

• Respect: leave no trace, keep it quiet, and pack it all out

🎿 MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN UPDATE: STILL FIRING!

The lifts are STILL spinning at Mammoth, and it’s pure spring skiing heaven.

Here’s the scoop:

• Tons of snow still up high

• Slush laps by mid-morning

• 🎉 Closing planned for Memorial Day Weekend

This is the time for sunglasses, no poles, and your best tank top turns. Don’t pack up those skis just yet, friends.

🧘‍♀️ LESSON OF THE WEEK

You don’t have to be climbing peaks to be making progress.

Recovery is part of the game. Soaking, breathing, being still—that’s how you stay in it for the long run. Whether you’re chasing powder or peace, trust your body when it asks for a reset.

🗣️ PROVERB OF THE WEEK

💬 “After the thrill, find the chill.”

📬 COMING UP NEXT WEEK:

☀️ Ski Legs to Summer Quads

• My favorite SoCal trails to switch your skis for trail runners

• How to keep your legs strong all summer long

• A simple strength circuit that’ll light your glutes on fire (in a good way)

🤙 WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Been to Wild Willy’s? Still chasing corn snow at Mammoth?
Or maybe you’ve got your own secret post-ski soak spot?

👀 Drop me a DM, reply to this email, or tag me on Instagram @SkiSoCalInsider.
Let’s keep the stoke (and the soak) going.

🧡 Save this newsletter
🧡 Share it with your ski buddy
🧡 Or slap it on your fridge next to that Mammoth trail map

Stay warm, stay wild,
Sasha & the Ski SoCal Insiders

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