Skiers and snowboarders make holiday memories in Mammoth

MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif.-Mammoth Mountain is celebrating the holidays and a recent storm that brought plenty of snow.

From the green runs to the black diamonds visitors of all abilities had plenty of runs and terrain parks to choose from.

At the top of the gondola many people took selfies and photos in front of a new 11,053 feet elevation sign.

The old sign can be spotted from the chair near Eagle Lodge.

As weekend and holidays visitors arrived on Friday, Christy and Eddie Baeza of Santa Barbara enjoyed the final day of their midweek ski-cation.

"We are trying to avoid the crowds, so we came on Monday and we are leaving today," said Eddie Baeza.

Christy Baeza described the week as "epic."

Ironically that is name of another pass.

Mammoth is on the Ikon pass that offers savings plus access to Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Big Bear Mountain Resort and more.

Midweek skiers also save and can print their passes at kiosks.

There are plenty of reminders of the mountain's Woolly Mammoth namesake.

There is a replica Woolly inside McCoy Station that is named after the ski area's founder Dave McCoy.

There is also a statue of Woolly, that often gets buried in snow, by the Main Lodge parking lot.

The statue caught Ernie Romo's eye.

"I am out here enjoying Mammoth and my passion plein air, getting some oil paint, enjoying the incredible perspective out here at the lodge," said Romo.

The artist from Orange County painted the view out the window that included Woolly and the Mammoth Mountain Inn while others watched while dining nearby.

Skiers also saw the mascot greeting people as they arrived.

Mammoth has decked the lodges and chairlifts with decorations.

There is a menorah made of Head skis by the Main Lodge entrance and wreaths on every chair lift.

For more information visit http://mammothmountain.com