Mammoth

We're normally Tahoe skiers - Heavenly to Northstar and all in between; but, we wanted to try Mammoth out this year. We went down 395 fr/ Reno area - no problem road, great scenery, but bet it can be treacherous in weather.
We stayed in a great little condo, but that's another story.
The skiing went from one extreme to the other, in 1 day! First day - huge wind, wet snow & fog, actually closed most of the lifts that noon due to gusts to 60MPH.
Very next day, blue skies, pleasantly cold w/ new 10 - 15" layer - woohoo! The mtn. offers free tours w/ Hosts - our guy, named Craig, a skier, was just great! History lesson/where to find the pow/steeps/you name it - we skied til 3PM w/ him!
Since the first day we couldn't even see where we were skiing, this day turned out to be a huge eye-opener - this place is just plain vaaassst. We got the whole picture while skiing w/ the host, who was very well versed w/ all terrain and how to get there.. just wow...
Second day - different host, different tour, same great great snow - went to the top to access some of the steep stuff and had as blast in the pow.
Terrain is all over the place - there is someting for anyone who skis. The glades are great, bowls wide open and beautiful, cruddy stuff to play in, wish I was still there!!
Crowds were minimal - no complaints there at all - nice village area where all the glitzy folks stay and party - real village offers everything you need - a bit on the expensive side in some cases, but be careful and go there w/ what you need, you'll be fine. Several NICE base lodges w/ pretty nice amenities, lots of lockers, clean..
I'd chuck the East and get there yesterday if I could convince my other to come w/ me. My new favorite 

 The mountain is great, my main concern with mammoth is how much it feels like a highway interchange. One of the only resorts that has as many lift poles as trees, you can literally ski "the poles" in deep powder instead of the trees...it took away from the solitude that is so special when skiing. This being said, the mountain is raw, if you can go on a powder day mid-week its gonna be absolutely stellar.

Unreal to be skiing on really good snow at the end of may!   What a blast - no crowds and everything!

Mammoth.

The choice of terrain is hard to surpass.  Perfectly groomed chord, steeps, narrow chutes, Mammoth has them all.  3,000 foot vertical.  3500 acres.  Over 30' of snow a year.  Early opens - before Thanksgiving, late closes - it's nice to ski on my birthday every year (May 1) and beyond - July 4 isn't out of the question.

 

Nightlife is the weakness.  There's a few places, but nothing to get excited about.  But that just lets you get to bed early to get back on the hill to rip more turns.  Good food on and off the mountain.

 

The parks (they have a bunch) are the best in the world.   Multiple pipes.   Huge hits.  Just insane.

 

Prices are creeping up there, but still not Vail prices.

 

The drive is the killer.   Over 5 hours from L.A.... 6 1/2 from San Diego.   Almost not worth it from S.F.