Mammoth
Mammoth Mountain is a fantastic choice for families and advanced skiers alike. The Mammoth Airport does have some local flights from LAX and perhaps San Francisco but does close fairly regularly due to weather. The 6-hour drive from Los Angeles is the more common approach.
Mammoth and June Mountain sit on the border of Yosemite in the Eastern Sierra and have stunningly good terrain. June Mountain is a classic example of "don't judge a book by it's cover" - a tiny family ski hill with a town that caters more to local fisherman than skiers. However, a one ride lift pass at June Mountain gets you into the "June Backcountry" - to say that this terrain will leave a smirk on your face all day is an understatement - it's off the charts good. Just make sure you ski down through the woods to the Double Eagle Restaurant, sit in front of the beer and grab an IPA to celebrate a good day of skiing.
Dan Mingori and Nate Greenberg's book Backcountry Skiing California's Eastern Sierra is an incredible reference point for just how vast this whole area is and the jaw dropping terrain in June is only a small fraction of what you can experience here. Highly recommend. And by the way - Powder Magazine thinks June is a total gem too.
Guiding Operator: Mark Shelp ("The King of June") | Hotel: Alpenhof Lodge | Restaurant (Upstairs!): Petra's Bistro
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