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On Mammoth's Future
Mammoth is a place dear to my heart. I basically learned to ski there, and I think I know every chute, every nook and crevasse of that mountain. I know the best place to sneak away for a smoke, the best place to break out a flask, and the best way down to make a heart-slamming top to bottom run. While most people go to the top to find the best skiing, I think the finest run on the hill is down the face of Lincoln Mountain, especially when there is fresh snow filling the chutes there and making turns feel like you are cutting S-turns on clouds in heaven.
And so hearing about a controlling interest in Mammoth being bought by the Connecticut-based behemoth Starwood Capital
Group (Connecticut?!), to hear that the legendary Dave McCoy sold off his stake…well, that was like having a stake
driven into my heart. What would they do to my mountain?
The jury is still out on exactly how total corporate control of Mammoth will change this wonderful place,
but the LA Times has a piece in its outdoor section that speculates on where things might go. He doesn't seem to
worried. Yet they are talking about building an airport to bring in the hordes. And more exclusive restaurants and
hotels, and well, turning the place into another Aspen. Now, I don't dislike Aspen, but Mammoth has always charmed with
its laid backedness, and I do fear that will be gone. Are my fears warranted? I guess only time will tell.
