Update: we had 4-6" of fresh snow on Wednesday!

We have new snow forecasted for Tuesday night and Wednesday! 

Our fingers are crossed for it to be a white Christmas..even though Mammoth has already been as fun as it can be: all the lifts at the Mountain are up and running (Canyon and Eagle Lodge opened last weekend!). The Nordic Ski Center at Tamarack has been running since the opening and locals already got a lot of mileage in..and this is not all!

The good thing about the little snow is that the lakes are all frozen and clean: get ready for the best ice skating and hockey playing you can get! People have been skating on Mamie and Twin Lakes. Where is it that you can skate on the clean ice with stunning views like this!?

We hope to see you out there: it doesn't matter what you'll be doing:  that you're going for a walk, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating...when enjoying the outdoors, wins who has the most fun!

Winter is coming, the winter season at the mountain has started, and everybody is impatiently waiting for the big snow to come! 

But if you own a home in Mammoth you might not be so excited about the approaching winter. There's a lot to think about to get our homes ready for the season, and we always think we might be missing something.

We all should be aware of the classics (that should have been taken care of already!): service the furnace and water heater, change the filters, drain the lawn irrigation system, trim overgrown branches away from the house, clean the gutters, stock up firewood if you use a fireplace or wood stove, etc.

There are a few more things that we can easily do ourselves to stay warmer and shave the bills.

1- Reverse Ceiling Fans

If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan's blades in a clockwise direction after you turn on your heat, and run fans slowly. The fan will produce an updraft and push down into the room heated air from the ceiling (remember, hot air rises).

This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings -- and it might even allow you to turn down your thermostat by a degree or two for greater energy savings.

2- Caulk around windows and doors

If the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply exterior caulk. (Check the joints in window and door frames, too.) Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements.

Add weatherstripping as needed around doors, making sure you cannot see any daylight from inside your home.

3- Install a door sweep 

Use a door sweep to stop drafts from entering your home under an exterior door. A sweep is a flexible piece of rubber or plastic that’s held to the door’s lower edge by a strip of aluminum.

4- Seal attic air leaks

Find and seal gaps that could be allowing as much as 30 percent of your heated or cooled air to leak outdoors. These leaks can add up to heating and cooling costs.

Pull back attic insulation to find and seal cutouts in drywall for electrical fixtures, pipes, fans and outlets. Also check wiring, chimneys, flues, vent stacks and ducts, and seal them on the inside. Use caulk to fill smaller gaps and pressurized expanding foam for bigger openings

5- Use window coverings

It’s surprising how much insulation curtains, drapes and shades can provide.

Draw window coverings at night and when you’re away to conserve heat in the home. During the day, open drapes of south facing windows to get the most out of the warming sun.

If you have single pane windows that are north facing, you can even consider getting a sheet of insulation foam, cut it to fit, and block them out. 

Otherwise, to enjoy the daylight, you can double them with plastic or bubble wrap. You'll be surprised how much this will help insulating your house.

Now that the due diligence is done we can go have fun in the snow knowing that we'll be back to a warm and cozy home!

Even though the last storm has not been what we were hoping for, Mammoth Mountain is still planning on opening this Thursday, November 9th. 

The temperatures on the mountain were cold enough that they have been blowing snow on Broadway, Unbound Main and on Andy's Double Gold. It looks like at least Broadway will be open for sure!

So, are you ready for the upcoming winter? It looks like the time has come to finally do the seasonal "toy's closet" change: put away the mountain bikes and fishing gear, and get skis and winter clothing out and ready.

This is one of the many reasons why we love this place so much: 4 seasons to always keep you busy and to have fun in so many different ways!

We hope to see you on the slopes soon!

Rock Star Real Estate is offering 10 free entries! (Check our Facebook Page HERE and follow the instructions, to be amongst the lucky ones!)

Help us supporting the community and the construction of the Crowley Lake State Park.

This is a community event: even if you aren't a runner, you can walk this beautiful course which meanders along Crowley Lake Marina and has spectacular views all along it. You can choose between a 5k or a 10k course. And for the kids, the 1k fun run is going to be exciting!

There will be post-race snacks and a huge raffle afterward with over 70 valuable prizes to be won.

AWARDS: Overall 5k and 10k men’s and women’s first place finishers. First and second place awards in each age division category for both men and women in the 5k and 10k races. Participation awards in the Kids 1k categories.

Register today, September 25^th, to secure your t-shirt!

Also, for those of you who were interested in volunteering, you will find the link below: 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f094ba9ab2ea4ff2-crowley

We hope to see you there!

Full Event Flyer HERE

1. Our Fall Color Season GOES ON and on and on

Thanks to the Eastern Sierra’s varied elevations—from approximately 5,000 to 10,000 feet (1,512 to 3,048 m) — the trees peak in color at different times. Bishop, Inyo County and southern Mono County usually turn color first, with Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Bridgeport and northern Mono County peaking by mid-October.

2. Which kind of trees will change color

Trees that change color in the Eastern Sierra include aspen, cottonwood and willow.

3. Good Timing

What makes the leaves know where to change colors is  the change in air temperature and decreased daylight.

4. Chlorophyll vs. other pigments

The reason we see fall colors is part of an annual cycle that begins in spring and summer: green chlorophyll pigments are active in cells and mask yellow, orange and red pigments of the leaves. The occurrence of fall colors is actually the disappearance of green chlorophyll!

5. Color intensity

Intensity of leaf color is determined by the air’s temperature and moisture. Warm, dry days and cool nights (under 45°F or 7°C) mean brilliant colors; rainy days and warm nights result in less intense coloration.

6. Color Parade

Different leaves have different predominant pigments called xanthophylls (yellows), carotenoids (yellows, oranges and reds), and anthocyanin (red). Anthocyanin is the result of trapped plant sugar, produced by the leaf when days are sunny and nights are cold. That's why some leaves turn deep crimson red, while others become so gold they seem to be lit from within like a lamp.

Excerpted from California's Eastern Fall Color Guide and Map.

We honor the many acts of bravery on September 11, 2001, all who were lost that day and in the years that followed, and those who continue to fight 9/11-related illnesses. No act of terror will ever change who we are. Join us in never forgetting.

Rescue groups in California and throughout the country are mobilizing to help pets displaced by Hurricane Harvey and subsequent flooding in Texas and Louisiana.

The devastation Hurricane Harvey slowly is leaving behind includes at least 63 people dead and up to 40,000 homes destroyed. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott suggested the cost of recovery could be as much as $180 billion. What we don’t yet know is the toll it has left on pets caught up in the flood or left behind by their owners, fleeing to save their lives.

In Houston alone, a city of 2.3 million, there likely are thousands upon thousands of pets in need.

Who’s looking out for them? Fortunately, help has come from a multitude of organizations, large and small, from all over the United States, and pet lovers everywhere who are chipping in with money, pet food, blankets, leashes and the promise of a safe haven until Texas is back on its feet.

A perfect example is PetSmart Charities who is reaching out to help pets and pet parents in need. The organization has earmarked at least $1 million in emergency relief funding to help animal welfare agencies who are working on the front lines to rescue, relocate, feed and care for pets that have been left homeless due to the floods. Animal welfare organizations working to save the lives of pets in these areas are can visit www.petsmartcharities.org/pro to apply for an emergency relief grant. 

“Our thoughts are with all of the people and pets who have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey,” said Dr. David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., President of PetSmart Charities. “We’re committed to supporting everyone we can who has been impacted by this disaster, including pets and pet parents staying in evacuation centers and shelters in Houston and Dallas who may not have access to the pet food and essentials they need.”

The best way to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey is through monetary donations. Your generous contributions make it possible for PetSmart Charities® to provide emergency relief support.

Click here to donate, or here to find more relief charities to donate too!

Thank you!

What’s your favorite outdoor activity to practice on your free time??

I must say, for us, it’s hard to pick one: there are so many wonderful choices!

Do you like to hike? Run? Climb? Fishing? Golf? Road bike? MTB? Ski? Yoga? Swim? Skateboarding? Photography or nature painting? ...We can keep going! The Eastern Sierra has them all!

So, today I want to talk about road biking. The famous Mammoth Fall Century & Gran Fondo is coming up, and we know a lot of people that are going to do it!

Road biking around here is pretty awesome! First of all, Mammoth as lots of paved bike paths thoughout town, bike trails etc. There might not be too many dedicated bike paths outside of the town's Bike Paths, but certainly the roads around here offer some spectacular riding!

The shoulders are usually pretty wide, and as soon as you get out of the HWY395, you have lots of low traffic, gorgeous views, usually good pavement roads, for miles and miles to pedal! As many as your legs can handle!

The Mammoth Fall Century, which this year is going to be on September 9^th, is a top-level cycling event in an amazing landscape! It offers three different options as far as lengths: the “Piccolo”, 42 miles; the “Medio”, 70 miles; and the “Gran Fondo”, 102 miles.

The courses start and end at the Village, so riders beware, you are going to have to ride back up to HWY 203 from HWY 395: a hill almost 4 miles long to conclude your effort. But the rewards are going to be worth it!  The roads, the views, the vibes, the refueling at the 6 aid stations along the course (for the Gran Fondo distance), the food and the party afterward will make all your efforts to pay off!  

So, hey, are you into road biking? Local or not, give it a try! If you have not been training Summer long like a pro, you can still dust your bike off, ride for the next month and give the "Piccolo" a chance!

Watch the video:

The new colossus on the ski industry is therefore now shaped by 12 four-season mountain resorts: Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, June Mountain, Bear Mountain, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Snow Summit in California; Steamboat Ski & Resort and Winter Park Resort in Colorado; Blue Mountain Ski Resort in Ontario; Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec; Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont; and Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia.

Its revenue is given by approximately six million skier visits, 20,000 skiable acres and significant land available for real estate development. The deal also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the world’s leading heli-ski operator.

So, what does this mean for the town of Mammoth, its residents and its skiers?

As far as the skiers go, besides expecting improvements in lifts, services and lodges in the next few years, the biggest, expected change will be the giant-all-comprehensive-pass. That will be a serious mega-pass! Who is not looking forward to it!?

As far as the town and its residents goes, well, a few changes are to be expected. As read on "The Sheet":

“Mammoth has been Southern California’s mountain home since 1948,” said Rusty Gregory, chairman and CEO of Mammoth Resorts in a press release. “After doubling down on our offerings to Southern California with the purchase of Snow Summit and Bear Mountain in 2014, joining this new venture led by Aspen and KSL is the next logical chapter in the story of Mammoth Resorts."

Gregory maintained that Mammoth would continue to stay on track with priorities including the development of Eagle Lodge and the improvement of existing facilities/ buildings. As for what the ownership change means for employees, Gregory said, “We know we are dealing with careers, lives and communities … and we will be proceeding very thoughtfully.” 

"This new platform, built around a collective passion for the mountains and our commitment to the people who visit, work and live there, is exactly what the ski resort business needs. I am excited about the future prospects for Mammoth Resorts, our people and this new enterprise.”

At any rate, we can expect an increase in the tourism from out-of-state, due to the marketing strategies of Aspen and KSL. It is not news that Mammoth is still considered a “regional resort”, with more dominant ski-states like Utah and Colorado.: besides the fact that it is on the top ten most popular resorts in the nation when ranked by skier visits, it is not a top-of-mind destination resort for skiers not living on the West Coast. Well, that’s bound to change!

This is certainly going to affect Mammoth’s Real Estates market. With more buyers looking to buy and invest into the real estate market in town, the market is expected to become more and more competitive in the months to come.

Properties with ski in-out access are going to be even more enticing!

Just an example of desirable Mammoth Lakes ski in/out properties is this amazing one-of-a-kind residence at the Eagle Lodge ski lift, right on the slope side. 

Green living can save anyone money, but for seniors facing retirement, going green can be especially economical. Choosing an eco-friendly lifestyle can save literally hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year through simple steps that won’t crimp your style but definitely improve your life. And all that green living will help leave a healthier legacy for future generations, too. As Diane MacEachern explains, there’s many ways that seniors (and everybody else too) can save money.

1) Energy – Insulate attics and crawl spaces; weather-strip windows and doors; install curtains or blinds over windows on the north (cold) side of the house, and awnings and shades on the south (hot) side. Also, use a programmable thermostat to make it easy to automatically reduce energy consumption when you’re not home.

2) Water – Bottled water, ounce for ounce can cost 10,000 times more than tap water. Instead, invest in a one-time purchase of a water filter and fill your own reusable bottles and pitchers with filtered tap water.

3) Food – Did you know that most consumers throw away at least 30% of the food they buy because they forget about it and it spoils, or it passes its expiration date (U.S. Department of Agriculture data). So, keep track of what’s in your fridge and pantry; find yummy ways to enjoy leftovers; and shop from grocery lists so you don’t buy too much in the first place.

4) Cars, Car/Van Pooling, and Car Sharing – After retirement often people realize that they don’t need their own car as much as they did before. If your household has two cars, it would be more economical to maintain and fuel only one, and to take advantage of the car pools and share, or of public transportation.

5) Bicycling – In retirement, seniors find they have more time and interest in bicycling for recreation or to get chores done. It’s a great oil-free, pollution-free way to get around town without having to spend money on gasoline, and of course, it will keep you in shape.

6) Mass Transit – Here in Mammoth Lakes the town shuttle system is free for all, so why not take advantage of it!? Here all the info about it.

7) Downsize – Downsizing to a smaller home or apartment probably saves the most money on heating, cooling, and maintenance, above all in a mountain town where winters can be particularly cold. The environmental benefits can’t be beat either, since a smaller dwelling has a smaller carbon footprint, and will use less water (fewer bathrooms? less lawn to water?) and require less “stuff” in terms of furnishings, paint, cleaning products and more.

8) Travel – Green living seniors in the U.S. who have a sense of adventure can enjoy many opportunities to volunteer with the National Park Service or the National Wildlife Refuge System. In some parks, you can camp at low or no cost in exchange for volunteer services. If you put in 250 hours over the course of a year, you’ll earn a free annual pass to national parks and other wilderness and wildlife destinations. At the age of 62, for just $10, you can buy a lifetime pass that will gain you free entry to the nation’s national parks, wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management public lands.

9) Library – The Mammoth Lakes Library is one of 7 branches of the Mono County Library System, and it rocks! If you don’t have a computer, use one at the library. Rather than buy a book, borrow it. The same goes for movies and music. Plus, use the library to read your favorite magazines and newspapers.  You’ll save money on the buying side, and do your part to cut back on the amount of paper that needs to be printed, since you’ll be sharing all these materials rather than owning them outright. If you have an e-reader, you can probably download a lot of what you want from the library’s website so you don’t have to make the visit there if you don’t want to. Also, did you know that here in Mammoth you can go to the library also to use a sewing machine? We love it!

10) Extra Care Communities – Although we do not have any here in Mammoth Lakes, some seniors might opt to move into retirement communities which are already designed to save energy and other resources, and make it easy to bicycle or take van pools rather than drive. Of course, if you love our mountains as much as we do and you are not planning on moving, this might not be the right solution for you.

Crunchy raw kale, tangerines or clementines, jalapeño and goat cheese make a vibrant superfood meal! 

This time of the year I often crave for something earthy but refreshing, and the mix of kale and tangerines makes it happen!

I found this recipe on "The pioneer woman cooks DINNERTIME", by Ree Drummond, and I think it's just perfect! Super easy and fast to prepare, you are guaranteed to impress your guests!

SALAD:                                              CREAMY CITRUS DRESSING:

1 bunch kale                                      1/4 cup orange juice                                    pinch of kosher salt

1                                           1 garlic clove                                              pinch of black pepper

3 tangerines or clementines               1 teaspoon sugar                                       1 heaping tablespoon sour cream or Greek yogurt

4 oz goat cheese                                2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil  

1- Start by prepping the kale. Rinse it well and dry it, then discard the stalks.

2- Working in bunches, roll up the leaves into a tight roll and use a sharp knife to slice it very thin.

3- Next, cut the ends of the jalapeño and use a sharp knife to cut really thin slices. Use a spoon to clear as many seeds out of the centers as you can, so that you mostly just have green circles.

4- Peel the tangerines or clementines, then slice them and cut them into chunks.

5- Add the chunks of tangerines or clementines, along with the jalapeño and the chunks of goat cheese to the salad.

6- For the dressing: pour the orange juice into a small jar. Grate or press in the garlic, add the olive oil, sugar , salt and pepper. Put the lid on the jar and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.

7- Finally, add the sour cream or the Greek yogurt and shake again.

8- Dress and toss the salad, and you are ready to serve it!

As always happens: we wait for Summer to come for what it seems so long... then, we don't have time to realize that indeed Summer has started, and we find the calendar to be in mid-July! Already!

This feeling is usually worst the more we are running around juggling between work and all the fun projects and goals we picked for the season! So....what's better than some yoga to rest the soul and the mind? 

As found on one of our favorites in town, Mountain Sol Yoga:

SUMMER TIME IN THE SIERRA

SUMMER HAS, FINALLY, COME TO OUR MOUNTAIN HOME. AS THE SNOW MELTS AND THE WOODS COME ALIVE A FLURRY OF ENERGY OVERTAKES OUR COMMUNITY. EVERYONE IS IN MOTION FROM THE BLACK BEARS TO THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL HIKERS. THE WARM SUN AND LONG DAYLIGHT HOURS PROVIDE PLENTY OF ENERGY FOR GROWTH OF THE MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL SEEDS WE PLANT.  

PLANTING ANY GARDEN IS A THOUGHTFUL EXERCISE. IF WE PLANT TOO MUCH OR TOO MANY DIFFERENT SEEDS, WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO TEND AND NOURISH THEM ALL. OR, IF AMONG ALL THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT A SNEAKING SENSE OF REMORSE CREEPS IN LIKE WEEDS, IT CAN SMOTHER OUR JOY WITH LONGINGS FOR ALL THE THINGS WE CAN’T DO OR ACCOMPLISH IN THE LIMITED TIME WE HAVE. THE RESULT IS THE SAME: A PLOT THAT IS TEEMING WITH LIFE, BUT THAT DOES NOT BEAR A GREAT HARVEST.  

IF WE REALLY SEEK TO GROW AND INVEST IN OURSELVES, WE MUST TEND OUR GARDENS. IN OUR HOME WE HAVE A WOODCUT ON THE WALL OF A BLACKBIRD BUILDING A NEST THAT BEARS THE SIMPLE INSCRIPTION -- INVEST. IT SERVES AS A GENTLE REMINDER THAT REAL AND MEANINGFUL CHANGE COMES SLOWLY AND WITH GREAT PATIENCE, AND THAT WE MUST ‘BUILD OUR NEST’ TO RECEIVE IT.  

INVESTING THE TIME TO PLANT THE RIGHT THOUGHTS AND WEED OUT THE UNNECESSARY ONES IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE REAL AND MEANINGFUL PRACTICE OF YOGA. EXPENDING ENERGY THROUGH POSES FEELS GREAT, BUT THE REAL HARVEST COMES THROUGH THOUGHTFUL APPLICATION OF OUR DISCIPLINE.  

AND SO WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THE STUDIO AND ON THE MAT.

AT MOUNTAIN SOL WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF NEW LIFE AND NEW GROWTH TO SHARE THIS SEASON. FROM A NEWBORN BABY TO A HOST OF NEW TEACHERS THERE IS A LOT TO CELEBRATE. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR OUR SUMMERTIME SPECIALS!

We love it! Check it out here:

http://www.mountainsolyoga.com/

Summer is here! We are going to find the way to squeeze in some fun time in our ever-busy work schedule! Summer calls us to enjoy the outdoors: with sports, playing or just hanging out with family and friends around a fire or for some BBQ! And hopefully, a little bit of travel relaxation too.

All this fun comes with a price too. Heat, sunburns, bugs bites, poison ivy…

I love essential oils and I have a few staples I cannot do without, above all for the summer!

Let’s start from the sun.

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!!! Did I mention it enough times? Sunscreen! Above all up here, at high altitudes.

But, if despite your attention on protecting your skin with a good full spectrum sunscreen, clothes and a hat, you got sunburned…well, Aloe Vera does the trick. I like to mix a few drops of essential oil in cool, refrigerated aloe vera gel. Apply the gel to the sunburned area several times per day. The oils that work best for soothing, pain relief, reduce swelling and prevent scarring are: lavender, calendula, roman chamomile and helichrysum.

Bugs

Bug bites and summer are a preventable combination. While most bites are an itchy nuisance, some like bee or wasp stings are painful. And if you add rare but potential issues like West Nile Virus from mosquito bites or Lyme Disease from ticks, the first line of action against bug bites is to avoid them altogether by using a good bug repellent.

Many essential oils also act as natural insect repellents. These oils include Citronella, Catnip, Lavender, Thyme and Clove, Lemongrass and Eucalyptus. I like to carry a small glass pray bottle, fill it with a carrier oil like olive oil and add a few drops of one or more of the mentioned essential oils.

For bug bites including bee and wasp stings, apply your choice of these oils diluted in a carrier oil to soothe itching, reduce pain and swelling and speed up the healing process: lavender, frankincense, tea tree, calendula, roman chamomile.

Poison Ivy, oak or sumac.

Lavender, tea tree and roman chamomile are good to soothe the hot and itchy rash that comes from contact with poison ivy, oak or sumac. I like to dip a small washcloth in water with a few drops of essential oil, then put it in the refrigerator to cool. Apply to interested area for instant relief!

Traveling on airplanes or overcrowded public spaces.

I love to travel. I love the feeling of excitement every time I am boarding a plane or taking off for a long road trip! Unfortunately, sometimes the trip is not as comfortable and exciting as I wished…you know, those times that the guy sitting near you can’t stop coughing or sneezing…Such a bad way to begin a vacation! One blend of germ-fighting essential oils I really like to have with me when traveling, or during the flu season, is Thieves by Young Living. It has wonderful antibacterial properties.

Beware, certain essential oils require caution on summer day. Citrus-based essential oils absorb higher amounts of the sun’s energy, creating sun sensitivities. Avoid applying these oils when planning to spend time outside.

All being said...enjoy the Summer!!!

We are so proud of our little town! The Mammoth Lakes Foundation just awarded eleven scholarships to Cerro Coso Community College to deserving High School graduates. 

As we congratulate the class of 2017, we also would like to thank the Mammoth Lakes Foundation and its donors, for making the scholarships possible! 

For more photos, reach the Mammoth Lakes Foundation's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mammothlakesfoundation/