ML | January 2007 57

life | weekend

Day 1: SaturdayBefore heading out for your first day on the slopes, be sure to dress for the weather; in Mammoth, where the mornings are chilly, the afternoons are toasty and the wind is almost always gusting, that means layers and lots ofsunscreen. Energize with a breakfast at Restaurant LuLu, sister to the famed San Francisco eatery. Here, youroptions range from freshly made granola drizzled with lavender honey to a baked egg sandwich filled with fontinacheese, scallions, house-made sausage and romesco sauce. But today, order the ricotta pancakes topped withcandied pecans, mascarpone butter, sliced pears and warm pear syrup. Regulars say they’ll change your life; at thevery least, they’ll get your busy weekend off to a perfect start.

There’s no better place to work off breakfast than on the mountain. But first, set up camp at the Broadway Lofts.Located in the newly renovated Main Lodge, this private cabana-inspired space is your home for the day, >>

Eleven-thousand-foot Mammoth Mountain’s3,500 acres of skiable terrain are blessed withthe perfect combination of 400-plus inches ofsnow and 300 days of sunshine each year.

Mammoth,California

STORY BY CHRISTINE DEORIO

Once a winter weekend ritual for Californians in search of adventure,Mammoth has become a world-renowned four-season destination

PH

OTO

CO

UR

TES

Y T

HE

MA

MM

OTH

MO

UN

TAIN

SK

I AR

EA

weekend

life | weekend

complete with wait service, great views, and plenty of room to stretchout. Next, head to the Mountain Center next to the Village Gondolastation to gear up. For access to a wide variety of runs, take the VillageGondola to Canyon Lodge, then hop on the high-speed quad CanyonExpress. Free-riding skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels willwant to check out the Unbound Terrain Parks’ three pipes (Olympicathletes love to train on the Super Duper Pipe’s 18-foot walls) andmore than 50 jumps and 40 jibs. Don’t miss the Boneyard Bonanza inMain Park—built from recycled chairlifts and equipment—and the“Once Upon a Time” junk-turned-jibs in South Park. Before headingback down the mountain for lunch, ride the Panorama Gondola up toPanorama Lookout. At 11,053 feet, it offers spectacular views of thejagged Sierra Madres.

If your idea of the perfect afternoon is four more hours on the slopes,head back to the Main Lodge’s food-court-style Broadway Marketplace,where you’ll find plenty of quick bites to enjoy back at your loft.

If you’re ready for new adventures, however, head to the Village fora panini at the Side Door. After lunch, take the short ride on the OrangeLine bus from the Village to the Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center,located in the nearby Mammoth Lakes Basin. Gear up and head outonto 18 miles of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails thatwind past seven high Sierra lakes. After skiing, walk over to the historicTamarack Lodge and warm up near the fire with a hot buttered rum or“hot apple pie” (spiked cider with whipped cream).

You can stay at the lodge and enjoy California-French cuisine—andviews of Twin Lakes—at the intimate Lakefront Restaurant. But ifyou’re still feeling adventurous, make reservations for a ParallaxSnowcat Dinner. A state-of-the-art, 12-passenger snowcat will whiskyou up the mountain to Parallax, Mammoth’s highest fine-diningrestaurant, where you’ll feast on five courses of high-country cuisine—and a panoramic view of the Minarets.

TAMARACK LODGE &RESORT Secluded cab-ins—each with a fireplaceand porch—and lodgerooms hug the shores ofTwin Lakes. The 10-tableLakefront Restaurantoffers a romantic settingand California-French cui-sine. (800) MAMMOTH,tamaracklodge.com

JUNIPER SPRINGSRESORT Located atEagle Lodge and EagleExpress chairlift, theseslopeside, family-friendlystudio to three-bedroomcondos and townhomesare quiet and private, yet close to town. (800)MAMMOTH, mammothmountain.com

Day 2: SundayThere are plenty of places to grab a quick morning bite in Mammoth. Pickup a real boiled bagel and coffee at the Old New York Deli & Bagel Co.,some home-baked goodies at the Breakfast Club, or a crepe at the SideDoor. If you’re in the mood for a more leisurely brunch, try the charmingAlpenrose Sierra Grill. >>

58 ML | January 2007

whereto stay

GRAND SIERRA LODGELocated in the Village, juststeps from the gondola,these cozy condos offergorgeous décor, kitchens,fireplaces and balconies.Outdoor hot tubs and firepits are the perfect placesto unwind. (800) MAM-MOTH, mammothmountain.com

ABOVE: The Village is Mammoth’s central huband the place to find luxe accommodations, finedining, boutique shopping, art galleries, pubs andbrew houses, free entertainment and events.

PH

OTO

CO

UR

TES

Y T

HE

MA

MM

OTH

MO

UN

TAIN

SK

I AR

EA

GRAND SIERRA LODGE

SIDE DOOR CAFÉ

THE VILLAGE

weekend

life | weekend

60 ML | January 2007

Next, if you have young ski pros in tow,treat them to a morning at the Canyon Fam-ily Fun Zone. Here, little ones can try out themini halfpipe, low-to-the-snow rails andsmall-size jumps. If this is a kid-free trip, nowis a great time to hit the slopes again. But ifyour legs are in need of a rest, dog sleddingjust might fit the bill. Mammoth Dog Teamsgives you a rare chance to explore the back-country with a team of locally trained Mala-mutes and Siberian and Alaskan Huskies asyour guides. For $95 per person, the one-hourMinaret Vista Lookout Ride offers beautifulviews and a great education on the innerworkings of the team.

All that mushing can work up a powerfulappetite. A great place to fill up on healthyfare is the Village’s popular Pita Pit, wheregiant pitas are filled with fresh vegetables andgrilled-to-order meats. While you’re in the Vil-lage, take some time to explore the shopsthat line the streets. Visit the MammothGallery, where you’ll find works by localartists, and Sierra and wildlife photographyby locals including Warren Magill, Vern Cle-venger and Jim Stimson, as well as a widerange of historic ski prints. Treat the kids to atrip to Munchkins, a childrens’ boutique filledwith kids’ fashions, puzzles, games and toys,then end your shopping trip with a stop inMcCoy Sports; with a wide selection of out-

ML | January 2007 61

door gear, it’s the best place to get outfittedfor your next adventure.

By now, you’ve explored Mammoth byfoot, ski, snowshoe and dogsled, but there’sno better way to cover lots of ground fast thanby snowmobile. Head to Mammoth Snow-mobile Adventures and take a 1.5- or 3-hourself-guided ride through Mammoth’s leg-endary backcountry and the Inyo NationalForest, or let a guide come along for the rideto show you the best places to cruise.

As the shadows grow longer and you growweary, head to Petra’s Wine Bar, a favorite ofwine aficionados, and warm up with a glass ofSyrah by the fire. Now that you’re feelingrelaxed, it’s time to think about food, andabout returning to Restaurant LuLu. Startwith a few small plates—you may need twoorders to get your fill of the fritto misto of arti-chokes, fennel and lemon with aioli andparmesan—then think seriously about therotisserie special: tonight it’s certified Angusprime rib with a potato-onion gratin and porci-ni butter. If there’s a full moon, be sure to skipdessert, as you’ll be ending the day with a FullMoon Tour, a naturalist-guided snowshoe orcross-country ski tour through the moonlitbackcountry, followed by a fireside dessert atthe historic Tamarack Lodge; it’s the perfectway to conclude this busy weekend of adven-ture and indulgence, Mammoth-style.

BELOW: Surrounded by California’s EasternSierra mountains, the historic TamarackLodge and Resort has been welcoming vis-itors to the shores of Twin Lakes since 1924.

PH

OTO

CO

UR

TES

Y T

AM

AR

AC

K L

OD

GE

& R

ESO

RT