Mammoth/Jackson Hole - Snowboarding Forum

Mr. Polonia · 10-22-2011, 08:21 AM

Question for the locals:

Im planning a trip to mammoth first week of dec...i was wondering on avg from personal experience, does the mountain usually get covered by then? 100% open? I know its hard to predict weather but at the same time i would like to experience a preseason dump.

As for jackson, i also want to go there but in mid jan. Is this a good time to go? I heard the moutain is pretty rocky so i want to go there when it has decent amount of coverage by then.

Any suggestions/ info greatly appreciated

jdang307 · 10-22-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Polonia

Question for the locals:

Im planning a trip to mammoth first week of dec...i was wondering on avg from personal experience, does the mountain usually get covered by then? 100% open? I know its hard to predict weather but at the same time i would like to experience a preseason dump.

As for jackson, i also want to go there but in mid jan. Is this a good time to go? I heard the moutain is pretty rocky so i want to go there when it has decent amount of coverage by then.

Any suggestions/ info greatly appreciated

I've been checking the mammoth mtn forums, and it's iffy that first week of December from what I gathered.

WasatchMan · 10-22-2011, 04:50 PM

my last two trips to mammoth were in mid january (few years back). both times chair 23 wasn't open and the upper part of the mtn. wasn't even covered (daves run, cornice bowl etc) but we still got dumped on. it was the biggest storm I have ever seen, our toyota tundra was literally buried, then had an epic bluebird at june the next day.

Tarzanman · 10-23-2011, 09:31 AM

Jackson is usually fully open by mid January, barring normal mid-season closings (due to avy danger or whatever).

Jan is also the 2nd best month for snowfall (Jackson, Wyoming - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), so it is your best bet for fresh snow and a fully open mountain.

Mr. Polonia · 10-23-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdang307

I've been checking the mammoth mtn forums, and it's iffy that first week of December from what I gathered.

i remember checking last year around novemberish and saw that whistler and mammoth were top 2 in dumps...they were getting around 4-6" every day

Quote:

Originally Posted by WasatchMan

my last two trips to mammoth were in mid january (few years back). both times chair 23 wasn't open and the upper part of the mtn. wasn't even covered (daves run, cornice bowl etc) but we still got dumped on. it was the biggest storm I have ever seen, our toyota tundra was literally buried, then had an epic bluebird at june the next day.

im so anxious to pull the trigger because i found a cheap flight from nyc for $500, i laready told my professors that i might be out that entire week....its really a tough call to make.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

Jackson is usually fully open by mid January, barring normal mid-season closings (due to avy danger or whatever).

Jan is also the 2nd best month for snowfall (Jackson, Wyoming - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), so it is your best bet for fresh snow and a fully open mountain.

thanks for this Tarzan, ill keep it in mind

caneyhead · 10-23-2011, 11:31 AM

Jackson opened 100% day 1 last year. This year shaping up to be a wet one as well. Never know though.

**killclimbz** · 10-24-2011, 11:04 AM

That is a tough one. The fact is, the earlier in the season you go the less the coverage will be. At all Western ski areas, the snow depth hits it's maximum depth right around May 1st or so. So in January, you're going to have a lot less coverage. Does that mean the riding sucks? Not really. Snowfall is usually heavy that month and powder days are frequent. Some stuff may not have the coverage to avoid core shots and such. So pick your terrain wisely. Then again, the same thing can be said for March and April even with the deeper snowpack. All that means is that stuff that you would normally avoid because it's obvious is now covered by a thin layer of snow and might look enticing. More often than not my worst core shots are acquired in March and April, not January...

10-22-2011, 08:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Polonia Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Brooklyn, Empire State Posts: 1,093	Mammoth/Jackson Hole Question for the locals: Im planning a trip to mammoth first week of dec...i was wondering on avg from personal experience, does the mountain usually get covered by then? 100% open? I know its hard to predict weather but at the same time i would like to experience a preseason dump. As for jackson, i also want to go there but in mid jan. Is this a good time to go? I heard the moutain is pretty rocky so i want to go there when it has decent amount of coverage by then. Any suggestions/ info greatly appreciated __________________ Without me, my board is useless. Without my board, I am useless

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10-22-2011, 04:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
WasatchMan Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 1,023	my last two trips to mammoth were in mid january (few years back). both times chair 23 wasn't open and the upper part of the mtn. wasn't even covered (daves run, cornice bowl etc) but we still got dumped on. it was the biggest storm I have ever seen, our toyota tundra was literally buried, then had an epic bluebird at june the next day.

10-23-2011, 09:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tarzanman Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,394	Jackson is usually fully open by mid January, barring normal mid-season closings (due to avy danger or whatever). Jan is also the 2nd best month for snowfall (Jackson, Wyoming - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), so it is your best bet for fresh snow and a fully open mountain.

10-23-2011, 11:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
caneyhead Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Big Sky MT Posts: 98	Jackson opened 100% day 1 last year. This year shaping up to be a wet one as well. Never know though.

10-24-2011, 11:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,166	That is a tough one. The fact is, the earlier in the season you go the less the coverage will be. At all Western ski areas, the snow depth hits it's maximum depth right around May 1st or so. So in January, you're going to have a lot less coverage. Does that mean the riding sucks? Not really. Snowfall is usually heavy that month and powder days are frequent. Some stuff may not have the coverage to avoid core shots and such. So pick your terrain wisely. Then again, the same thing can be said for March and April even with the deeper snowpack. All that means is that stuff that you would normally avoid because it's obvious is now covered by a thin layer of snow and might look enticing. More often than not my worst core shots are acquired in March and April, not January...