DAY 1 - Around 4am, we're packed and ready to go, but Pete and Lori are running late. And, for once, we encounter rain for most of the way up...
...but we still make good time to Mammoth. We request an early check-in when we arrive at the Holiday Inn, unload the Pilot, and then head to our room to change into our snowboarding gear
We drive over to Wave Rave so Pete and Lori can rent gear (Pete borrows my old snowboard). As we wait, an inch of snow gathers on the roof of the Pilot. Mammoth has received more than two feet since Valentine's Day!
Since this is only Pete and Lori's second snowboarding trip ever, they get beginner lift tickets...so we'll be sticking close to Eagle Express today
Valerie waits for all of us to strap in
It's snowing hard now...
...but at least Pete looks like he's having fun
In the afternoon, visibility improves and it stops snowing. 6" fell today...and the fresh snow feels great!
Val is happy that the winds are calm
Pete is just happy to back (first time since March, 2002)!
DAY 2 - We take the gondola to Canyon Lodge
Pete buys a full-mountain lift ticket, but Lori decides to stay at the hotel. Note that he is borrowing my old snowboard...it still works!
We didn't realize President's Day weekend is Mammoth's busiest...
...but Pete, Val, and I don't care
Trees are covered with freshly fallen snow
Clouds cover neighboring peaks
Lines at Canyon Lodge drive me up the mountain
Despite my better judgment, I ride the gondola to the top
Hoping for a brief break in the clouds, I head to the Cornice
Looking down into the bowl, I see nothing but white
Hiking back up doesn't seem appealing either, so I brave the conditions and slowly ride an edge down...I'll never make THIS mistake again!
Pete bravely tackles higher and harder runs...
...and spends more time on his buns
Still, he's making great progress...and has no problem linking turns on green and blue runs
