Mammoth Mountain season to start early thanks to snowfall

Mammoth Mountain, in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, is located along the giant Long Valley Caldera where recurring earthquake events, continued dome-shaped uplifting of the central section of the caldera, and changes in thermal springs and gas emissions keeps scientists on the alert for signs of the disastrous explosive volcanic event that many believe is inevitable.

Lauren Burke, a public relations official with Mammoth Mountain, told us about the early start and the outlook for the season ahead.

Mammoth Mountain has received enough snowfall to start its season early. How early? This Thursday.

12-30" of fresh snow today and in true Mammoth fashion, we're opening in 2 days.

- Thurs 11/5.

— MammothMountain (@MammothMountain)

12-30" of fresh snow today and in true Mammoth fashion, we're opening in 2 days. #MammothsOpen - Thurs 11/5. pic.twitter.com/4A4OxNYcKl
— MammothMountain (@MammothMountain) November 3, 2015

Lauren Burke with Mammoth Mountain joined the show to tell more about the early start, and the outlook for the season ahead.

"Yesterday after snow came through, we got together and we realized that we had the snow [and] the snow-making guns turned on around the clock in order to add to the base," said Burke. "And we all kind of gave it a 'Hoorah, let's do this!'"

Many people on social media already have been proclaiming their plans to head up the mountain, but Burke said that guests can still show up Thursday morning for their $50 lift tickets.

Although forecasters have said that Southern California may get a warm and rainy winter, Burke said that resorts at Mammoth's higher elevation typically don't get warm storms.

"We're really hopeful that El Niño is going to give us snow throughout the season, and we'll take whatever Mother Nature can give us," she said.