This just in from Mammoth:

Mammoth Mountain To Open Friday, October 16, 2009 with

Free Skiing and Snowboarding (FRIDAY ONLY)

• Mammoth will open for skiing and snowboarding on Friday, October 16, 2009.
• This marks the second earliest opening in resort history (earliest was 10/8/94).
• All guests will receive free skiing on opening day (10/16/09 only).
• Mammoth has received two feet of snow at Main Lodge (8,900ft) and four to six feet of snow at the summit (11,053ft)

Mammoth Mountain, CA –A powerful storm recently hit the Eastern Sierra dropping at least two feet of snow on Mammoth Mountain and as much as six feet of snow at higher elevations. This massive October storm has prompted resort officials to open Mammoth for skiing and snowboarding on Friday, October 16, 2009.

Adding to the excitement of the second earliest opening day ever for Mammoth Mountain, skiers and snowboarders will be able to ride for free on Friday, October 16, 2009. Broadway Express will open at 8:30 a.m. servicing a base of 16-24 inches of machine groomed natural snow.

“We are so excited to start the season nearly four weeks ahead of schedule and to be able to reward our guests with a free day on the slopes,” said Howard Pickett, Chief Marketing Officer of Mammoth Mountain. “Mammoth’s high elevation will pay off for skiers and snowboarders who have been anxiously awaiting the coming winter.”

Broadway Express will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily providing access to Broadway, Forest Trail, Mambo, St. Moritz, and Main Park with assorted rails and jibs. With the large snowpack at higher elevations on Mammoth Mountain, more chairlifts and terrain will be added as soon as possible. Other services available at Main Lodge include Broadway Marketplace, Tusks Bar, Rental and Retail.

Take advantage of Mammoth’s free ticket this Friday, or if you can’t make it, contact us to get your group’s trip set up for what promises to be our best winter in 7 years.

“What makes June Mountain such a great, when I’ve never heard of it?” you ask.  EXACTLY. I don’t like giving away secrets to the best secret ski and snowboard resorts in the Western United States, without a small disclaimer…if everyone reading this article and another 2,000 guests descended on June Mountain during Christmas Break, on a perfect “blue bird knee deep powder day” June might experience a 10 minute lift line.

June Mountain boasts the same Sierra snow as Mammoth Mountain, a short 20 minute drive from June, and in fact is owned by the same company that owns Mammoth.  But what’s even more amazing than the snow is the days and days of fresh tracks after it snows. Mammoth, which dwarfs June’s acreage, will get skied out within an hour of the lifts opening on a powder day. I’ve spent days skiing a week and even two after a snowstorm hit June Mountain and always been able to find fresh tracks through the trees and on the borders of runs.

It’s a fun mountain for everyone. June Mountain is one of the most hospitable and friendly mountain crews we’ve worked with.  They will welcome you when you arrive.

June’s 7 lifts offer a variety of terrain from Beginner Greens to Expert Black Diamonds. Beginners will find a great ski school, and some very gentle green slopes to head down to the main lodge, never being too far from a warming hot chocolate, or another run back up to the top of Chair 2 to get another run in.  June Mountain and Ernie’s Rental Shop in June Lake offer beginner rental packages through demo ski and board packages.

Experienced snowboarders and skiers will want to spend most of their time on Chair 4 or 7 hitting much of the tree and intermediate terrain offered there. June Mountain’s park has been rated top 10 parks in the nation, and offers a full competition length half pipe, jibs, ramps, jumps, and some interesting additions last year of propane tanks and wrecking balls to bounce off in your leisurely fire down the hill.  But don’t forget The Face!

The Face is as steep and challenging as June Mountain gets, and ironically it’s at the bottom of the hill. June Mountain Lodge sits 1000 feet above the parking lot, so it’s only lift accessible.  From the top of Chair 1 right at Main Lodge you can hurl yourself off some steep challenging chutes, carve open powder faces, or pick your challenging tree run lines.  With the Face being the steepest (and in my mind the most fun), I’ve often errored on the side of taking a last face run down to the bus rather than opting for the more gradual cat run down.

It’s close. By bus or car June Mountain is 7 hours from San Diego and 6 hours from Orange County and Los Angeles.  By ski standards, for a great ski mountain that’s close.  It’s an easy Friday night shot out to get two full days of skiing in, before heading back to work or school.  In comparison to a Brian Head, UT on a short weekend it’s a win!

Did I mention no lift lines? (Even on holidays, lift lines are minimal if existent).

Best Value this side of Colorado. June’s 2 day teen lift ticket @ $77 or Adult 2 day @ $102 is simply unbeatable.

Your pick of lodging. Of the lodging properties in June Lake, we have budget motel units,  rustic cabins, very nice owner updated condos, and lake front cabin properties to choose from.  Whether you’re looking for a gathering place for the family, a condo to accommodate 10, or a motel with meeting space on site we have a wide variety of choices.

Meal options: while June Lake is a sleepy little town, Higher Ground Adventures has developed a network of meal providers and options. You can either fix your own meals, or we can have them catered and delivered to your lodging or meeting space.  Grab a continental “grab and go” breakfast along with Pizza to keep the meals simple.  Or if your tastes are a little more glamorous we’ll deliver a hot breakfast, then for dinner a 3 course taco bar, or better yet drop you at the top of Chair 1 for a private banquet complete with a full menu selection and a view of the town lights and lake.

Size of group. June Mountain is perfect for groups of small 10 person trips, to 150 people with lodging and meeting space to accommodate your entire group.

Bottom line. While June Mountain will never compete with the Whistlers of the world for what they have to offer they don’t have to.  Great value, no lift lines and close to Southern California. It’s easy for us to see why it’s hard to pry group leaders away from June Mountain once they’ve seen what it has to offer.

Contact us to reserve your June Mountain Trip today.

You spoke we listened, “more information, pictures, regular updates, Twitter feed, contact information, resources, online forms, and details”. (For those die-hard Higher Ground fans who love a phone call and value our top-notch customer service: don’t worry we still list our phone number, answer it, and love talking to you).

What’s new:

• Specific information on our most frequented destinations and services
• Features” section on the home page: for quick links to specials and offerings
• We’re now on Twitter! Follow us at http://Twitter.com/HigherGroundAdv
• Resources page: for some added bells and whistles like Fundraising, Online Registration, and Coming Soon: Trip Insurance
• Blog section, where you’ll find weekly articles and updates to keep you informed on the latest at Higher Ground Adventures.

I want to personally think all of you, our valued customers who have been our biggest advertisers, and the reason why we thrive. Please keep sharing your experiences with your friends and colleagues. Referrals from friends are the most trusted endorsement known to man!

Lastly, a special thank you to my wife, Charity, for a great graphic presentation on the site, and Jason Loftis http://jloft.com, who made the site come to life. You both worked hard to get the site up and running, and give us a tool we can use everyday. Thank you!

So here’s to no more static pages and the New and Improved Higher Ground Adventures.

Big Adventures,

Matt

June Mountain Stay and Ski: $25/night and $77 teen two day lift or $102 Adult 2 day lift.

Big Bear Resorts Ski Bus: set your group up with an FUN, easy, quick, one day ski day- $75/person includes bus and lift ticket.

Visit our winter destinations page or  drop us a line on the dates, numbers, destination, and we’ll get your planning for winter done now! Click here to begin the easy process.