Safety is Number One at Mammoth Mountain

This week (Jan. 21-25) Mammoth Mountain is recognizing National Safety Awareness Week with activities such as avalanche rescue demos and the opportunity to spend a day cruising around with Ski Patrol.

Last week Gregg Schmidt, Mammoth Safety Manager, shared a very important “Safety Tip of the Week” with a description of the difference between Closed and Boundary signs.
Closed Areas
You should never enter a closed area. You will lose your pass/ticket and face arrest and citation, not to mention serious danger.
Boundary Areas
Mammoth Mountain has an open boundary policy. We do not deny backcountry access, however, skiers and snowboarders venturing beyond our boundaries should have backcountry skills and be prepared to encounter uncontrolled avalanches, cliffs and other obstacles. People who are rescued are held financially responsible for personnel and equipment used in their rescue. A wrong turn can get you into a life-threatening postition and cost thousands.

Welcome to 2008 in Mammoth. Here’s Some Snow…

According to the National Weather Service’s Special Weather Statement, and I quote: “A series of storms to push into the Sierra beginning Thursday and continuing through Sunday with the strongest storm Friday and Friday night…totals above 7,000 feet along the Sierra Crest could be above 5 feet with as much as 8 feet of snow possible.”

If you are planning to travel at the end of the week, particularly Friday, be sure to read weather warnings carefully. Please stay tuned to the National Weather Service and MammothWeather.com.

When You Must Turn Headlights On (and more winter driving tips)

The next winter storm is expected to hit Mammoth in the middle of next week. If you’re heading here for the holidays (and if you’re anything like me, who didn’t know what the defroster was when I moved to Mammoth from L.A.) bring these tips for winter driving along with you:

Simple checklist:

• Snowtires/ chains
• M&S tire tread at least 6/10ths of an inch
• Wiper blades
• Snow scraper/ shovel/gloves in car
• Warm up/ defrost
• Seatbelt
• Turn headlights on
• Park in first gear
• Plenty of time to get wherever you’re going

Perform a safety check of your vehicle checking snowtires, chains and wiper blades. Plan your morning for weather, parking and traffic. There is no passing allowed on Minaret Road from the Village to the Main Lodge. Warm up your vehicle, turn on your defrost and scrape all windows, inside and out before driving. California law requires you to wear your seatbelt.

California law requires you to turn on headlights:

• When weather conditions require you to use windshield wipers
• On frosty mornings when other drivers’ windows may be icy or fogged
• Any time you have trouble seeing other cars, other drivers will have trouble seeing you, too.

Take curves at slow speed and avoid sharp turning. Braking as you turn on ice may cause you to skid straight ahead. Braking too hard may result in brakes locking up (unless you have ABS brakes). Make a test stop when safe to do so to get an idea of how far it takes to stop. Brakes can become wet in rainy and snowy conditions. Light, steady pressure on the pedal will warm and dry brake pads. When roads get icy your tires’ ability to stick to the road can be reduced to 5%. Going slow is very important. Leave plenty of space behind the car ahead of you. The empty space between your vehicle and the one in front of you should take you 2 to 4 seconds to travel. For ice and snow, three or four times as much space is needed. Keep a high visual horizon; watch the foreground of the vehicle in front of you or several hundred yards ahead if the road is clear. In whiteouts, look for snow stakes to find your way. Slushy days and freezing nights make for frozen brake cables so avoid using your hand or parking brake in winter conditions. Use first gear when parking a manual transmission vehicle. A good defensive driver drives to avoid accidents according to conditions. Always be ready to surrender the right-of-way, slow down, or change direction according to what the conditions dictate.

BIG NEWS: 2 Feet of New Snow

The snow is so fun! There are two feet of fresh snow on Mammoth Mountain and in some spots the wind has piled it up to even more. On Saturday the Upper Gondola opened to skiers and snowboarders around 11:30am, and much fun was paid off to those who waited it out. By Sunday the Unbound had used this new snow to build some jumps on Forest Trail and soon they’ll begin building the Super Pipe.

Skiing and snowboarding within the trees and off groomed areas is still not advised this time of year. Many natural obstacles such as rocks and tree stumps are thinly covered by a soft layer of snow that is not hardpacked and easily scraped off. Please use caution. Pay attention, be smart and be safe.

“It’s always nicer to lose plastic than skin.”

Mountain Bike season is over at Mammoth Mountain but an Oct. 1 article in the Los Angeles Times Health section provides a look back on the season. Interviews from Mammoth’s Mark Hendrickson and Joani Lynch include this bit of advice: “I always tell people to put as much plastic on you feel comfortable with,” says Hendrickson. “It’s always nicer to lose plastic than skin.” Well said. Read the full article: Extreme Mountain Biking Spreads to Ski Areas.

What To Do When You See a Bear in Mammoth

Probability That You’ll See a Bear in Mammoth: Very Likely
You could see him getting some sun on the golf course. He might be dumpster diving. Or he could be hanging around the lake where you fish, expecting you to leave behind a trout dinner, already caught and cleaned and seasoned with garlic. Black Bear encounters are a part of life in the Eastern Sierra. There are a dozen bears within Mammoth town limits and two dozen in the immediate wilderness area.

I am not a bear expert but I have shared a condo parking lot with them long enough to know that you should stay calm, and just stay out of their way. Most bears will avoid confrontation, but they don’t have manners. They can get aggressive if they’re threatened or pushed.

Think about how good burgers smell on the grill. Multiply by 100. Not only are bears good at smelling, they’re strong swimmers, sprinters (up to 40mph), climbers, very intelligent, weigh 200 to 500 pounds, and they’re hungry. They eat meat, vegetation, insects and fish. They love human garbage, but it’s harmful to their health. As winter approaches, they spend 20 hours a day looking for food.

A good way to learn about bear behavior is at the Black Bear Walk & Talk led by Valentine Reserve Education Coordinator Leslie Dawson on Wednesday, August 1. While walking through Black Bear forest habitat you’ll see bear-scratched trees, a bear den and, occasionally, bear tracks. Learn how bears survive in the forest, as well as how Mammoth Lakes is managing their bear population. Meet at the Valentine Reserve entrance gate at 9:30. $15 per person donation. Call 760.935.4356 or visit the Valentine Reserve web page for more information.

Fire Restrictions from the Forest Service:

As of June 29, 2007, and until further notice the following restrictions are in effect by Special Order: NO CAMPFIRES or briquette barbeques allowed outside of developed recreation sites and specifically posted campsites or areas, and resorts, pack stations, recreation residences and other sites operated under special use permit with the Forest Service or BLM. Portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are exempt from this restriction (with valid campfire permit.)

NO SMOKING except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

NO WELDING, or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit.

NO USE OF EXPLOSIVES, except by permit.

These restrictions suspend open campfires except in designated campgrounds and some developed recreation sites throughout the Inyo National Forest and BLM lands. A list of designated campgrounds and developed recreation sites is available at ranger stations and visitor centers.

Any previous reference to areas above 9000 feet being exempted from these fire restrictions is now superceded by this new fire restriction, and there is no elevational exemption.

Can I Bring my Dog to Mammoth Mountain?

The summer policy allows guests to have leashed dogs on sundecks, hiking trails, the Scenic Gondola, the Bike Park Shuttle and the Reds Meadow Shuttle. Dogs are welcome in summer months at Tamarack Lodge & Resort on the beautiful shores of Twin Lakes. Dog lovers, read more about Mammoth from a dog’s perspective.

As always, the Health Department does not allow dogs in restaurants or kitchens. We do not allow dogs inside our buildings. Do not bring your dog to the Mammoth Motocross. During the ski season dogs are not permitted at Mammoth Mountain.

King Earns his Puppy Chow

Just wanted to drop a line letting you know that King and I are now a validated Avalanche Rescue Dog team. We just got back from Squaw Valley, where we were tested by the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association and the Placer County Search and Rescue. We scored a 9.5 out of 10. Take care, Sean

Sean Macedonio of Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol oversees the growing avalanche dog program at Mammoth Mountain. King is a 2-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever. For more information about Mammoth’s Avalanche Dog program contact Eastside K-9: P.O. Box 8043 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546.

Beacon Basin Training Park

In the interest of the safety of skiers and snowboarders no matter where they’re riding, Mammoth Ski Patrol has set up an avalanche training park for practicing backcountry rescue skills.

Located on an out-of-the-way trail called Gus’ Pasture (skiers’ right of Thunderbound Express and Main Lodge), Beacon Basin is open for anyone who has an avalanche transciever and doesn’t want to wait until the real deal to see how it works.

Come up and use it anytime between 8:30 and 4. Look for the orange roped-off area and a covered box that includes instructions. If you want some assistance, call Ski Patrol at 760.934.2571 ext. 3276.

Thanks, Ski Patrol!