It’s certainly hard to leave when this is the view greeting you as you drive down the mountain.

 What started off as a promising winter for waves with a few back-to-back swells has turned into another flop for San Diego, as we are all well aware of the fact that it has been rainy, flat, or both for the past several weeks. This precipitation, as I mentioned in my last post, can be a bit of a downer, but luckily, all of these crazy storms have also been passing through the mountains. According to Mammoth Mountain’s Snowfall History, at 207 inches, this was their snowiest February ever, with the third-most snowfall of any month recorded. I’d gotten a taste of this epic winter with a trip to Tahoe earlier this season and a quick run to Big Bear a few weeks ago, but this week, I got to see Mammoth in all its glory. On Tuesday, my mom and I loaded up the car with skis, snacks, and Ruby (the dog) and made the six hour trek to the Sierras.

 I was super excited to see the record amount of snow, but honestly, was just as thrilled to introduce Ruby to the frozen version of her favorite way to play. She’s a beach girl through and through, but with the mountains so close by, we figured it was time for her to broaden her doggy horizons. Her reaction to the snow was spectacular. At first, she wasn’t quite sure what to do, but once we gave her some freedom to play, she pretty much lost her mind. She’s an energetic, occasionally clumsy Golden Retriever, and in the snow, her spastic movements were amplified. Bringing her along was no problem at all. It was so easy to just toss her stuff in with ours, and many of the hotels in Mammoth Lakes are pup-friendly, so we had no problem finding a conveniently located room at a very reasonable price. Next time you’re planning a trip to the snow, definitely consider bringing your dog!

 “How come you guys waited so long to show me this cold white stuff? Its awesome!”

 I got new skis at the beginning of the season, and had yet to test them out in powdery conditions, so I was frothing to get some fresh tracks on Wednesday. It wasn’t a true powder day, but it was snowing, and the wind kept grooming the conditions, so every run was soft and smooth. Overnight, a decent amount of snow accumulated, and with the precipitation continuing, it was a perfect ski day for those willing to brave the elements. Before heading back home, I managed to squeeze in nearly 20 runs without taking a break, many of which were in waist deep powder. Needless to say, I was struggling to lift my arms to the steering wheel on the drive home.

 Over the last ten years or so, there have only been a few good-to-epic seasons at Mammoth, so a lot of Californians (myself including) had all but written off the resort, choosing to head further north, or to other states for a snow sports fix. However, with this season heading in the “open until July 4th” direction, there is plenty of time to rekindle the Mammoth flame. We are so lucky to be able to access world-class skiing and snowboarding so close to our coastal homes!