Ski Weekend at Mammoth Mountain, CA-- the good stuff!
We made it back from Mammoth yesterday-- a day late after our flight Sunday evening was canceled due to wind, which we learned happens pretty frequently. We made the most of being stranded but are happy to be home!
The weekend was tons of fun and exhausting! The weather was the ultimate "Spring Skiing" weather-- sunny, blue skies, warm-- our kind of conditions. Mammoth is an exceptional mountain as when it gets lots of snow which it has this year, it will stay open for skiing til July! Granted only a few lifts and the snow is probably not top quality, but still....
This visit we stayed with a group of friends at the Tamarack Lodge, a 5 minute drive from the Village. It was ideal as everyone had their own incredibly quaint little cabin, but we were all close together and met up in the Lodge for meals and drinks. Tamarack is the sort of place you picture when you think charming, ski lodge in the West-- set in a beautiful valley with stunning views, the main lodge area and dining room are very much log cabin-esque and cozy.
The Lakefront Restaurant at the lodge is outstanding with Chef Fred from France turning out delectable dishes-- he is particularly known for his fish dishes and we can say they were delicious. As were the scallops to start, and the blueberry tart and chocolate mousse for dessert. The wine list is also extensive and interesting with something for every taste and budget.
Our two complaints with Tamarack were the service at the front desk was pretty lousy-- we got the feeling that some of the gentlemen working the desk were ready for the season to be over and were generally pissed they hadn't gotten the jobs working the chairlifts outside. The other drawback is that the "paths" to the cabins are certifiably treacherous. You must ascend an ice/snow slope at a steep grade and then trudge through pretty deep snow (all on the "path" mind you) to get to the cabins. Not ok. Surprised actually that nobody has broken a bone slipping and falling... It does make you appreciate your cozy cabin all the more after braving the elements to get to it!
Other highlights of the trip were the Westin restaurant and the breakfast spot we visited yesterday morning while still marooned in town. The Westin is definitely the swankiest spot to stay in Mammoth-- where we'd like to stay next time! Obviously. And their restaurant, Whitebark, has the most delicious sushi and Happy Hour snacks-- we loved all of the sashimi and rolls we ordered and the sliders and the duck on pretzel rolls were perfect to compliment our Apres Ski drinks (half off during Happy Hour!).
One good thing about being stuck in Mammoth for another day was breakfast at The Old New York Deli & Bagel Company. Their breakfast burritos and bagels and lox made the morning!
It was a great weekend of snow, sun and fun despite travel snafus... which we're getting awfully good at fielding-- this being the third canceled flight in 5 months! Enjoy the journey, right?
