Mammoth trip Advice

[pokits]

Got a trip planned for the first weekend of Feb up to mammoth.. never been so I'm looking for any type of advice from you guys who have experienced this journey. Not much regarding Advice for the actual drive up there here on the forums, just a bunch of posts proclaiming the fun they had lol.

Not too sure how the weather will be by the end of the month, but I'm looking at a 5-6hr drive from where I stay. That's if it's a straight shot, w/o any crazy weather conditions. I AM hoping there is a ton of snow though lol. I plan to pick up snow chains, just to pass CHP. But as far as anything else, no idea, I have never been to Mammoth. I have a 2015 TE on stock size KO2s, with icon stage 1s.

my buddy says I'll be fine in 4HI if & when I hit some snow. Any other opinions?

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

You'll be just fine I've been there 100 times driving from Long Beach to go boarding and your completely fine Driving up there in your rig no matter the conditions the only issue I could think of would be if hit a snow storm and it becomes a whiteout to where you can't see the road itself and there are no street lights that whole drive it's darker than dark and white snow your visibility becomes a big issue, it's happened to me only a few times doing that trek just take it easy and light it up, if you have led pods, light bar, etc.

Mammoth is epic...she's a big b***h. It's still absolutely amazing to me everytime I go, makes me feel like a kid in a toy store all cracked out from your adrenaline rushing. You will have a blast brotha, hopefully not afraid of heights as the chair lifts and Gondolas are f ing high there, oh and the top of the mountain at 11k vertical ft. 30-50 mile hour wind gusts causing below freezing temps as you step outside of your gondola and look down at about a thousand feet vert as you first drop in and with one wrong foul up you'll be tumbling down ...but no need to worry you'll have a blast as long as you really know how to board, not just wanting to roll up there in your rig with some boards on top and throwing on the newest gear and board looking the part posted up at the resort bar

 

[Keemonrunnin]

Just take it easy if there is snow on the ground at that time. Even if there isn't any still take it easy. The melting snow(if any) will turn into ice/black ice.

I hit a patch of black ice one year up there and slid across the road. I ended up hitting a suburban and a walking pedestrian(broken wrist,2 broken ribs). This all happened in my 2wd 3rd gen(Didn't need chains no snow on the ground). The melting snow that was there created the black ice.

 

[Keemonrunnin]

@KVA goes up there a lot during the winter seasons. His son is on a ski team.

 

[Piggy14]

I was in Truckee over Thanksgiving when they received about a foot of snow. I have stock tires and 4H + Mud/Sand worked great. Conditions were pretty cold so I stayed with this setup for the remaining 5 days I was there.

Usually at least once every winter I drive past the Mammoth area on the 395. As was mentioned black ice and white out conditions are big concerns, I've dealt with both. In fact, the only time I've slid off the road because of ice, was right at the Mammoth turnoff. Pay attention to the weather before hand and where the snow level is. If the Owens Valley gets snow, you may be in for a long drive. If the snow level is near Crowley Lake or higher, then you shouldn't have too much trouble. The road is relatively flat, and it's a 4 lane divided highway at that point.

Although I've only been once, Mammoth Mtn is awesome.

 

[BradBrad619]

I just spent a few days up there for Christmas. Brought chains, Didnt have to use them or air down. We got 1-2ft of snow one of the days, the white out conditions are no joke! Stayed in 4hi most of the time. I did get a little loose around a turn once, totally my fault though as my right foot has a mind of its own haha

 

[theknack]

First off, Enjoy! I'm jealous as i won't be making it to mammoth this year, however i've done the drive a number of times. The drive up is straightforward, just watch for whiteouts as mentioned and also wind. I used to have a snowboard rack that held the boards like 30 degrees from vertical and they tend to act as a sail. My experiences were on dry roads and even then i could feel my car (gmc envoy at the time) getting pushed around like i was driving a winnebago. When you get there hopefully it will be cold, however, as mentioned, that means ice, especially if its warm enough during the day to melt the snow. If thats the case just leave it in 4hi and take it cautious until you get a feel for it, and remember, 4wd helps at green lights but does very little at red lights! (my first time in mammoth i thought i was a bamf cause i had a 4wd with AT's and i slid through the first intersection i came to)

 

[pokits]

Appreciate the words gents. I will most definitely heed. Lol made my wife read your reply [MENTION=117408]Oneluv13T4R[/MENTION] and asked "are there bunny slopes?" smh. Anyhow, really looking forward to this trip! Gives me a reason to buy some lights ))

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

Appreciate the words gents. I will most definitely heed. Lol made my wife read your reply [MENTION=117408]Oneluv13T4R[/MENTION] and asked "are there bunny slopes?" smh. Anyhow, really looking forward to this trip! Gives me a reason to buy some lights ))

Actually there is and some really kick ass ones and they're super long beginner friendly and when your going down them it seems much quieter and secluded you will enjoy them for sure.

 

[pokits]

[MENTION=117408]Oneluv13T4R[/MENTION] good to hear! i'm looking into purchasing some cheap-o lights off amazon... any recommendations? i'm torn between a 20" bar or 3 LED lamps behind the grill. I did just place an order with Slee Offroad for the aftermarket light switch. So no turning back now lol.

<br><br>
eyeing this due to the brackets... seems to me it'll install easier.

Robot Check

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

3rd option

[MENTION=117408]Oneluv13T4R[/MENTION] good to hear! i'm looking into purchasing some cheap-o lights off amazon... any recommendations? i'm torn between a 20" bar or 3 LED lamps behind the grill. I did just place an order with Slee Offroad for the aftermarket light switch. So no turning back now lol.

<br><br>
eyeing this due to the brackets... seems to me it'll install easier.

Out of the three choices I would go that route as well its ready to rock n roll, mount it run a ground from the light to the frame or neg batt term. Run your pos. To the switch then switch to the batt. With in-line fuse close to batt. And then switch to a ground as well.

 

[pokits]

wait, what was my 3rd choice? lol and damn you make it sound super easy to wire, but that ish is like hebrew to me!

 

[deekoi]

Don't know if you have a heavy foot but don't, especially if you are in the cities. Follow the signs, speed traps all over.

Have fun! you're gonna have a blast!