A historic amount of snowfall has brought the curtain down on the second-longest ski season in the history of Mammoth Mountain, a popular California resort. The resort’s ski lifts have been operating since early November, a month longer than usual, and remained open until 5 August, a testament to the exceptional winter weather. As one would expect, it’s not uncommon for people to hit the slopes on the Fourth of July at Mammoth Mountain, but the record-breaking snowfall this season made it a truly unique experience.
“This is a completely unique circumstance,” said Tim LeRoy, a spokesperson for Mammoth Mountain. “It’s a record by virtue of the fact that it’s the most snow we’ve gotten.” The end of the 2022/2023 season marks the final chapter in an unusually wet and cold winter and early spring for the state of California. Mammoth Mountain received an unprecedented 700 inches of snow over the past nine months, with the summit receiving an astonishing 900 inches.
The resort’s extended season came amidst a brutal summer for the US West. Much of the southwest endured a heat dome that brought weeks of extreme heat, including record highs in Phoenix. While the record-breaking snowfall made for a memorable experience for skiers and snowboarders, it also meant early mornings of hard labor for Mammoth Mountain’s staff. Workers had to dig parking lots and ski lift infrastructure from beneath hard ice and thick blankets of snow, shuttle drivers had to navigate the terrain, and other staff worked to mitigate avalanches and ensure the routes people took down the mountain were safe and clearly marked.
Record Snowfall Ends California Resort’s Second-Longest Ski Season Ever“That amount of snow – what’s required to keep a town running and how difficult simple tasks can be – is not to be underestimated,” LeRoy added. “From a community perspective, it’s a lot.” California’s exceptionally snowy winter hit mountain communities across the Sierra hard, burying towns in snow and collapsing roofs from Mammoth to Lake Tahoe.
In late February, Highway 395, the road that leads people into Mammoth Mountain, was hit hard by a series of avalanches and was closed by the California highway patrol. It was reopened days later, LeRoy said. The end of the ski season marks a welcome relief for the hardworking staff at Mammoth Mountain, who can now take a well-deserved break after an unprecedented winter.