DAY 1 - Peter rides with us to Mammoth Mountain so we can snap more photos of us taking photos of one another. Pete's pictures from this trip can also be found on SmugMug

Seriously, we do this everywhere

Valerie distributes the energy bars before we walk to the slopes

We arrive at Little Eagle Lodge and are thrilled to see snow surrounding the path

Snow coverage around Eagle Express was pathetic for much of last season

Pete straps in for the first time this season

Peter and Valerie look like they are already having fun

We quickly skate through the line for Eagle Express...it is NOT crowded today

Somehow I end up on my own chair...I guess Pete wants to get a shot of me riding the lift solo

Crowds are Friday-light

Unlike last season, snow now fills the valley and tops distant peaks

This house was for sale last season...I wonder if anyone bought it (and for how much)

This house finally looks finished

Last season, the hill between Christmas Tree and Watertank completely devoid of snow

If it were not for last weekend's storm (5-8 feet of snow), coverage might have looked similar to last season

Unfortunately, we missed riding in untracked powder by two days

We reach the top of Eagle Express

Let's get this snowboarding season started!

Our first stop is Mammoth's newest chairlift...a high-speed six-pack which replaces the hideously slow Chair 9

Cloud Nine Express appears to occupy the space of the former double chairlift...making runs on this side of the mountain much more accessible

The lift stops shortly after we sit down

If we are stuck here much longer, Pete and I will just keep taking pictures of one another