🎿 Ready, Set, Ski: 50 Days ‘Til Mammoth Drops the Ropes!

👋 Hey ski fam,

It’s Sasha — and if you’re like me, you’ve still got beach towels in the back of your car and no clue where your ski socks are. But don’t let the sunshine fool you…

The mountains are waking up. ❄️
Mammoth just announced its opening date — Friday, November 14, 2025 — and that means we are officially 50 days out.

Whether you're planning your first family trip or you're a seasoned SoCal weekend warrior, now's the time to tune up, lock in, and get ahead of the chaos.

❄️ Why we’re watching this winter extra close

The NOAA just raised the odds of a La Niña winter forming in the Pacific.
La Niña = cooler-than-average waters along the equator, shifting global weather patterns.

🌦️ For us in SoCal, that usually means:

• Drier, warmer conditions in lower-elevation ranges (like Big Bear, Mountain High)

• Unpredictable snow in early season

• Increased potential for March storms in the Sierra, especially around Mammoth

In past La Niña years (like 2016–17), Mammoth still pulled off solid snowfall totals — but the start of the season came later, and the biggest dumps landed in February and March.

So we’re playing the long game — and prepping smart now.

✅ Your Pre-Season Ski Checklist (Family Edition)

This is the same list I use for my own family — especially now that kid boots somehow shrink every year 😅

🛏️ 1. Book lodging early — with flexible cancellation

Family-friendly units (with kitchens, ski lockers, walk-to-lift perks) book fast.
Look for:

• Deals on weekday stays

• Free-kid lift ticket offers (e.g. Ikon’s kids-ski-free with adult pass)

🎿 2. Get your gear sorted now

• Pull out last season’s stuff and do a “fit check” (yes, try on the boots)

• Book your rentals now if needed — especially for junior sizes, which get picked over fast

• Schedule a tune-up if your skis still have last spring’s gummy edges

🧊 3. Watch the weather — but don’t bet everything on it

• Bookmark NOAA’s Mammoth forecast page

• Follow Mammoth’s official snow report

• Set Google Alerts for “Mammoth snowfall” or “La Niña ski California”

🧒 4. Check ski school & childcare offerings

Spots fill fast, especially on holiday weekends.
If you’re planning to drop your groms off for ski school (or sneak in a solo chairlift lap), book early.

Check out:

• Mammoth Ski School Info

• Local resorts like Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Mountain High also offer beginner and family packages

🚗 5. Plan your drive days with wisdom

Holiday weekends = traffic armageddon on the 15 and 395.
If you can swing a Friday AM or Monday PM drive, do it.

Also:

• Keep chains or snow-rated tires handy (required on Sierra roads during storms)

• Download Caltrans QuickMap for real-time road conditions

🧭 Big Lesson

Smart planning now means:

• Less scrambling in November

• More family fun in the snow

• And no sad kid tears when the only rental boots left are size “clown shoe”

🥶 Proverb of the Week:

🗣️ Got a favorite gear check tip or early-season ritual?
Hit reply or leave a comment — I’d love to feature it in next week’s post.

📌 Save this article to your ski trip folder.
⭐ Star it so you can find it later.
📤 Share it with a friend who still thinks Mammoth opens in December.

—Sasha “Counting The Days” Everett

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