You can’t go wrong when skiing at a place like Mammoth Mountain thanks to all of the fantastic terrain and snow here.
However, all that terrain means you have a ton of choices for where to take your next run. We want everyone who skis at Mammoth to love it just as much as we do, so we’ve put together a short guide to the best chair at Mammoth Mountain here! Read all about it, then visit the ASO Mammoth shop for the best ski and snowboard rentals in Mammoth Lakes!
Chair 22
What makes a chair or run the best on a mountain can be different for everyone. For this guide, we will be focusing on the most technical and challenging terrain on the mountain.
That’s why we’re starting at Chair 22.
If you like steep and technical terrain that mixes in cliffs and trees, then Chair 22 is the place for you. Grizzly, Shaft, Viva, and Avalanche Chutes are all accessible from Chair 22 which means you have plenty of options for expert terrain that will push your skills. You’ll find steep trees if you go to the left of the lift and down Grizzly or Shaft as well as rocky chutes and cliffs if you ride to the right of the lift.
What makes Chair 22 especially unique is the fact that it’s located relatively low on the mountain where there are mostly green and blue runs. That means you get access to expert terrain that most of the people around it are not skiing on.
Chair 23
Although Chair 23 may seem like it’s only slightly different than Chair 22 due to the name, it accesses a completely different type of terrain.
Chair 23 drops skiers off on Mammoth Mountain’s summit ridge where they can ride fast and steep groomed runs or push their skill in narrow chutes. As a result, it’s one of the most popular chairs on the entire mountain for expert skiers and snowboarders.
One of the most popular areas off Chair 23 is Paranoid Flats and Phillipe’s, both of which are double black diamonds that require a ton of skill to be skied safely. Phillipe’s is an especially narrow chute that could require skiers to hit a cliff before exiting it depending on snow conditions, so enter it with caution.
Accessing most of the chutes skier’s left of chair 23 requires you to traverse across the ridge, which may be difficult if the snow is thin or icy.
Always take your time finding the right entrance to the more technical terrain on Chair 23. You should also stop before dropping to look for thin snow or obstructions like rocks. It can be very difficult to stop and start once you’re actually on a very challenging run, so scope out your line beforehand.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask about conditions and lines in expert areas. Local skiers and snowboarders are happy to share their experience to help make yours better and safer!