Blue Square Heaven

And we're back!  

Never has there been so much snow on the mountain.  At least for us, never has there been so much snowing while being on the mountain.  Winds whipped up to blizzard-like levels on Saturday, but the powder was plentiful and the runs were amazing.

The full run-down is more like this.  We got up to the Mammoth Thursday night a little tired, but eager to get out to the mountain the next day.  Being closer to Eagle Lodge than any of the other lodges, we started out there the next morning only to find that the runs on that side of the mountain were ungroomed and a bit icy.  We ditched it for the larger Canyon Lodge area and hit the blue runs until the afternoon.  The later half of the day was spent at the Main Lodge trying to carve down the steeper passages and of course taking in the view from the summit.  All 11,000 feet of it.  It makes me a little nervous every time we're up there, but the view is gorgeous.

Saturday was amazing.  Even if the weather didn't cooperate, there was plenty of room to move and plenty of snow.  Eagle Lodge improved so well that we spent the greater part of our day blasting down a few of the more intermediate runs.  Although it was terribly fun, we were pooped out before we hit Canyon again.  Once we got there, we saw that half the chairs were shut down due to the weather.  By then, the day was pretty much over.  Tired, and satisfied, we plopped down into the lodge before making our way over to the Village for some tourist-type walking around.  

If we had it in us, we may have stayed for a half day on what turned out to be a beautiful Sunday morning.  The Saturday storm dumped over 14 inches of fresh powder all over the mountain and the weather was pristine.  Sore, battered, and ready for our own beds (and perhaps some privacy and quiet) we shot out early, stopped by Erick Schat's and Value Sports (where I acquired some new bindings) and headed down that big highway to home.  

Mammoth's always great.  Now, all I need is that snowboard to call my own and this season will be complete.  One more time to the mountain, who's with me?