The mountain range itself is made up of a chain of volcanic craters that rise to heights of over 11,000 feet in elevation. Although people originally traveled to the area for the
gold, Mammoth Mountain is now a world-renowned destination popular for great fishing and hunting, hiking, skiing and
now cycling.
While George Dodd can be credited for the area’s early
origins, Mammoth’s modern transformation was brought
about by a single man, Dave McCoy, who saw in the scenic environs a treasure of recreational use. The town of
Mammoth is now about 7000 permanent residents, but
swells up to a, well, mammoth 35,000 on some weekends.
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME
My first experience at Mammoth Mountain occurred in the
winter of ’ 78 when some friends took me there for a skiing
trip. That first trip I spent a lot of time either on my backside
or sliding down the mountain face first. Nonetheless, it was
still an adventure not easily forgotten.
The next few winter seasons I honed my skills as a skier,
so return trips back to Mammoth were a lot more enjoyable
with less time spent being horizontal. After a few years away
from the Sierra hamlet, my next trip back was in the summer
of ’ 88 to attend a mountain bike race. Mammoth seemed to
be exploding in popularity with the off-road bicycles, and the
“As with any bike trip outside your regular area, it’s a good idea to visit local bike shops to get the latest scoop on popular nearby trails.”
The friendly crew from Wave Rave bike/snowboard shop
offers bike rentals and showed us some really fun rides.
Retro styling meets today’s
bike technology.
A fleet of e-bikes await customers that
want to experience the hills with ease.
