June 1/2/11

A quick drive down the highway from Mammoth lies June Mountain.  Nestled back in the trees with views of peaks and the lakes, June is the sister mountain that’s quietly overlooked.  June opened in mid-December but I hadn’t gotten the chance to ride there until yesterday when timing worked out with friends to head over and get in some laps.  Despite a late start of 10am at the mountain, we arrived to front row parking and tons of powder to be enjoyed.

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While Mammoth has the huge terrain, June has the quiet slow lifts but no lines and some amazing tree riding.  It felt like being put back in Alpental with pillow drops instead of cliffs, no resort feeling of any kind, tree turns galore from mellow to steep and local’s have the say.

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My Capita BSOD took quite a beating from early season but Adam patched it up for me and it was good to go for some awesome powder riding.  I need to update the review with how its handled this year especially in the deep powder its been in.  Feels so good to have it back under my feet especially when it includes making fresh turns.

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Since it was my first day, we headed all the way to the top.  Chairlift after Chairlift.  I can tell you that you want to ride with people you like at June cause you’ll be sitting on the chairlift with them a lot.  At the upper mountain we hit up J7 for the first turns of the day, dropping into the tree runs off the double black diamonds and then enjoying the mellow blue tree runs below them.

Sarah getting in some freshies off of Powder Chute

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The mellow tree runs below

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The day was powder turns after powder turns after powder turns.  I started to remember that I was wearing a facemask when I kept getting face shots over and over.  The snow was awesome, reminded me of the light Colorado snow but without hitting bottom underneath.  It was definitely the best treat of the week.

Dan getting in deep

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After taking a break inside the chalet, we headed back out to lap J1 chairlift.  This is the super slow 2-seater that gets you up to the more mellow terrain and offers up the black to double black diamonds and some awesome drops, pillows and powder!

Myself at June with the BSOD…devouring experts area

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Emmie getting in some deep snow on the IQ run

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Dan wanted to do a pillow drop so I tried to capture the picture but from too far away it didn’t come out.  Stoked he tried it though!

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For my last run I wanted to do a drop, I had done some easier 2-5 foot drops throughout the day but wanted something bigger.  Dan told me to go for it, right above the old chairlift next to J1 and I did it.  Last run of the day, got some air and landed in powder.  We’ll see if it ended up on video from Dan’s helmet cam but definitely stoked to end the day on a high note.

It was such a good day, the powder turns and the trees.  The riding was so good and I didn’t want it to end.  Definitely a place I’ll be riding a lot this winter when there’s new snow and friends to shred with.