JTSECK

AS for mammoth, everything is not too spread out and they have decent bus service and transportation. If you are looking for a good place to stay, I would say try most anything because it is really an easy town to get around.
The village has a gondola service to Canyon lodge and is very easily accessed also, but the village is going through major changes along with the whole mountain. Many stores within the village are closing due to high costs, poor development and lack of parking. That is another problem, there is absolutely no parking at the village and it is very easy to get in car accidents because of the many bad drivers that the town is notorious for. So you might want to look into using the local transportation.
I go to mammoth quite frequently in the winter months and have some knowledgeable insight as to the mountain and its surroundings so feel free to contact me via personal message. And if I don't have an answer then I know where to get an answer because I am also a regular on the mammoth mountain forum. I advise you to go there and check it out and post the same stuff because many residents can help you out and there is a housing section.
New for the 2008-2009 season is air service from LAX which will be a good way to get there. This is the first time they are having commercial service since the '90's. They are also changing the mammoth logo so say goodbye to the Wooly.
But as for your stay, there are many homeowners that rent out their condominiums for fairly decent prices and just about anywhere in mammoth will be sufficient for your stay. Honestly anywhere would really work.

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