Tag Archives: Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Hospital Encouraging Social Distance After First Coronavirus Case

Mammoth Hospital received confirmation today of the first case of COVID-19 in our community.  For anyone who is wanting to know who that person is and “did I come in contact with him/her?” the answer is that nearly everyone has a high likelihood of having been exposed in some way to someone with COVID-19.  This is only the first confirmed test in Mammoth Lakes, and not the first case.  And there is a BIG difference.  Everyone in the community must assume that the virus has spread worldwide at this point: in Mammoth, Bishop, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, the West Coast, the East Coast, the United States, North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia. EVERYWHERE. And with that assumption, everyone must act accordingly.  It does not matter if the person was a local, a tourist, or what nationality he/she was.  We have to act as if everyone may have it.

The physicians, nurses, and administrators serving on the Hospital Incident Management Team reviewed new projections today showing the growth rate of spread under different conditions. The single most impactful condition is the degree to which the community engages in Social Distancing.

Consider what we know about COVID-19, and how it spreads.  Our current best guess is that if we do nothing to change our behavior, the number people infected will double every 4 days.  That means today with one patient.  In four days, there will be 2 patients.  And what follows is this:

Today on 3/21/2020 1 patient
3/25/2020 2 new patients
3/29/2020 4  new patients
4/2/2020 8 new patients
4/6/2020 16 new patients
4/10/2020 32 new patients
4/14/2020 64 new patients
4/18/2020 132 new patients
4/22/2020 264 new patients
4/26/2020 512 new patients

 

So assuming no one dies, in just one month, we will have over 1,000 patients with COVID-19. The challenge is we do not know precisely how many of these patients will actually be sick, how many will need to be hospitalized, how many will need to be in the intensive care unit on a ventilator.  That said, our projection at this point is that 5% of infected patients will need to be hospitalized, which means of those 1,000 people, 50 will need to be admitted to the hospital in the next month, and that is when we start with JUST ONE patient! The reality is that we likely have many more people in Mono County who are already infected. So, the numbers are almost certainly much higher than the above example.  It is of critical importance to note that Mammoth Hospital is a small hospital with only 17 beds!

So what can you do to prevent this from becoming a situation we cannot possibly handle?

SOCIAL DISTANCE!

The point of Social Distancing is to keep the illness from spreading so quickly that the need for healthcare resources exceeds capacity. Right now, if we put an estimate on how well we are doing our part to Socially Distance, let’s assume our success rate is 25%, meaning on average we have all cut our social interactions by 25%. If we maintain that rate, and look at a population of 25,000 people (Mono County, Inyo County, and visitors) we will have our absolutely worst day in about two months, which means on that day alone, we will have 23 patients requiring life support (ventilator) in the intensive care unit, and 111 patients needing inpatient hospitalization. These projections far exceed the Hospital’s 17 bed capacity and our ability to care for no more than 4 people on life support at one time.

Now imagine if our success rate for Social Distancing is improved to 60%.  So we stay at home, make our own coffee, go for walks by ourselves, and stop going to parties with our friends – a tall order for all of us without question.  Now our absolutely worst day is just over three months out.  On that day, we have nine people in the hospital, and two people on life support in the intensive care unit.  Because of what we all do to Social Distance, our 17-bed hospital now has a much better chance to take care of everyone!

We know this new normal may not be a fun practice or one that is convenient.  It’s not your usual routine, and during times of stress we like to be close to our friends and our family members.  Do not revert to your regular routines.  It is so important to stay the course!

Here are some things you can do to cope.  Stay connected to your friends and family through the use of video conferencing.  Check in on loved ones who just need a call.  Have a Google hangout or FaceTime chat.  Exercise indoors or outdoors while maintaining a safe distance from others. Get outside for a walk and refresh yourself with the cool air. We are lucky to have some of the best views in the world just out our front doors.

If you are a “list person” here are our suggested Do’s and strongly advised Don’ts of Social Distancing:

DO:

  1. Work out on your own.
  2. When you need to go out, do what you need to take care of, and get home.  Be efficient!
  3. Call people to talk.
  4. Get out and walk, either with your dogs or on your own.
  5. Arrange an appointment with Behavioral Health if you need help with coping or anxiety.
  6. Get outside. We could all use some Vitamin D!
  7. Email or use social media to connect with friends and family to let them know how you are and find out how they are.

Don’t:

  1. Go out to get coffee, and then stop and socialize.
  2. Have dinner or parties with friends.
  3. Socialize at the grocery store.
  4. Hug or shake hands when you see a friend.
  5. Linger after getting take-out food.
  6. Socialize on Lake Mary Road, the gorge, or in the backcountry.
  7. Have play dates for your kids.
  8. Loiter at the post office.
  9. Work out in groups.

As always, we are here to help. If you need someone to talk to, call our Behavioral Health team at (760) 924-4333 and we will schedule one of our providers to talk with you via video chat.

So please, keep in mind that what you do (or don’t do) makes an enormous difference in how we are going to get through this!  We are all in this together, literally!

Wash. Cover. DISTANCE

Mono County Seek to Mitigate Wildlife Deaths With Grant Money

The Mono County Board of Supervisors expressed support in their letter to Caltrans District 9, and encourage the transportation organization to apply for funding which would help mitigate wildlife deaths from vehicles.

Proposition 68 is an ordinance that provides organizations with funding to help reduce the amount vehicle collisions with animals across the state.

Currently, Caltrans District 9 is requesting $2,000,000 from the state to complete the environmental planning report. In total, the cost of completing the entire project is estimated to cost between $50,000,000-$70,000,000.

Most of the funding would go toward the seven mile stretch from Crowley Lake and the Mammoth Lakes turnoff. “The seven mile stretch of US Highway 395 from Crowley Lake Dr. to the Junction with state route 203 accounts for more than double the number of deceased deer removed by Caltrans Maintenance forces compared to any other seven mile stretch of US 395 within District 9. The letter from the supervisors went on to say “This [area] accounts for 43% of reported collisions for this area of US 395, the stretch of highway also contains the largest hotspot of deer collisions within the district.”

Not only did the supervisors express concern for deer crossing the corridor, they also noted the presence of other species including the Bi-State sage grouse. The letter says, “The areas along these roadways host significant wildlife habitat, supporting populations of resident and migratory species, including the Bi-State sage grouse which is proposed to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and play a critical role for migrating mule deer in the spring and fall.”

In order to obtain the rest of the necessary funding, Mono County will seek money from other state and federal agencies. “If awarded, funding will also allow Caltrans District 9 and their partners to seek additional state and Federal Funding to support the completion of subsequent project development phases.”

Customer Water Leaks Identified by MCWD’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure

During the summer of 2014, the Mammoth Community Water District (District) upgraded to new meters that wirelessly transmit data using remote collectors. This advanced technology allows the District to see hourly usage of all water meters on the distribution system. Utilizing software developed by WaterSmart, a data analytics company, the District is able to run a report that details leaks and alert customers accordingly.

“We are thrilled to have the ability to help our customers protect their property and save an exorbitant amount of water,” said Irene Yamashita, Principal Analyst. “It has been a learning experience to determine what size leaks should be flagged, what patterns are associated with various sources of leaks and how to best introduce the information to the customers.”

Typically, the District calls two to five customers or property managers a day with leaks ranging from 15 to 1,500 gallons per hour. “About 80 percent of leaks we call on are caused by toilets. Customers are usually surprised to learn that leaking toilets can waste 600+ gallons per hour (over 14,000 gallons per day), ” described Betty Hylton, Administrative Analyst. “In winter, we find a number of leaks caused by shedding snow that turns on or breaks hose bibs and frozen pipes that break. Despite the cause of the leak, customers are generally very grateful that we have this capability and take the time to notify them.”

The District recommends that customers (or property managers) look and listen for the leak first. If unable to identify where the water is leaking, then call a plumber. The District has offered two Leak Detection courses for plumbers and property managers to learn the most efficient process for leak detection and maintains a supply of coloring dye tabs to check for toilet leaks.

The Mammoth Lakes community is limited to local surface and groundwater resources in our basin. The leak detection program conserves water that would otherwise be wasted and develops positive relationships with our customers. The District is proud to have this advanced capability, however customers remain responsible for identifying water leaks at their property. An online customer portal is available to provide customers the ability to look at their hourly water use from their computer, and receive high usage alerts by signing up for WaterSmart here: https://mcwd.watersmart.com/index.php/welcome

MAMMOTH SOLD

Mammoth Resorts to be acquired by affiliates of Aspen Skiing Company and KSL Capital Partners

Posted by Seth Conners

According to a press release from Lauren Burke in Mammoth, Mammoth Resorts, the owner of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Snow Summit, Bear Mountain and June Mountain, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a newly formed entity controlled by affiliates of the Aspen Skiing Company, L.L.C. (“Aspen”) and KSL Capital Partners, LLC (“KSL”).  A Starwood Capital Group controlled affiliate owns a majority interest in Mammoth Resorts.  The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2017, and is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.  Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  KSL and Aspen previously announced plans to acquire Intrawest Resorts Holdings, Inc. through this new entity.

 

“Mammoth has been Southern California’s mountain home since 1948,” said Rusty Gregory, Chairman and CEO of Mammoth Resorts. “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. 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.” 

 

 

“We have taken great pride in our ownership of Mammoth over the last 12 years.  We invested in the mountains, our people, and planning for the long term future.  Together with Mammoth’s talented management team, we successfully navigated a very tumultuous period. We implemented state-of-the-art marketing programs, installed modern RFID technology to improve traffic flow, and we added significant new lift capacity.  By also acquiring and integrating Bear Mountain and Snow Summit into Mammoth we cemented Mammoth Resorts’ position as the leading provider of ski and summer mountain experiences for all of Southern California,” said Barry Sternlicht, Chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group. “We had greater plans for Mammoth but the Great Recession and then some less favorable weather, interfered with our strategic aspirations in a finite life investment vehicle.  We know Aspen and KSL have the experience, commitment, and balance sheet to help make our vision a reality.”

 

“If you live in Southern California and want to ski, Mammoth, June, Bear and Snow Summit universally come to mind first,” said Eric Resnick, CEO of KSL.  “This transaction will allow the combined company to better serve Mammoth’s loyal customers while at the same time exposing these world-class resorts to a broader audience.  Mammoth Resorts does so many things well.  We are excited to learn from their talented team.”

 

“Mammoth is a special place.  The landscape is spectacular, the mountain is phenomenal and the place is in constant motion.  Whether it’s the vibrant park and pipe scene, the high quality alpine racing programs, or excellent mountain biking, Mammoth has it all,” said Mike Kaplan, CEO of Aspen.  “At the same time, Bear and Snow Summit serve local skiers perhaps better than anyone in the industry with high quality skiing and riding right on the doorstep of Southern California.  We couldn’t be more pleased to work with these extraordinary properties.”

 

Season Passes

 

For the full 2017-18 winter season, Mammoth will continue to honor the resort’s existing pass products that are currently on sale, including the Mountain Collective.

 

Advisors

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Mammoth Resorts.  Goldman, Sachs & Co. is serving as financial advisor to the new entity formed by Aspen and KSL.

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal advisor to Mammoth. Hogan Lovells US LLP, Latham and Watkins LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP are serving as legal advisors to Aspen and KSL. 

 

About Mammoth

 

Mammoth Resorts is the leading four-season mountain resort operator in California. The company owns and operates a variety of recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage and retail enterprises.  This includes Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Snow Summit, Bear Mountain and June Mountain, which collectively host over two million annual skier/snowboarder visits.  Mammoth Resorts is also the owner-operator of Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Mountain Inn, Juniper Springs Resort, the Village Lodge, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park, Snow Summit Bike Park, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Sierra Star Golf Course, and Bear Mountain Golf Course. For more information visit www.mammothresorts.com.

 

About Aspen Skiing Company

 

Aspen Skiing Company owns and operates the four mountains of Aspen Snowmass Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk as well hospitality properties The Little Nell, Residences at The Little Nell, Limelight Aspen and Limelight Ketchum in Ketchum, Idaho, In addition, Aspen Skiing Company owns and operates numerous retail and rental locations through the resort and the Roaring Fork Valley.  For more information, visit www.aspensnowmass.com.

 

About KSL Capital Partners

 

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; and London. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $7.5 billion in equity capital commitments. KSL’s current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure.  For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

 

About Starwood Capital Group

 

Starwood Capital Group is a private alternative investment firm with a core focus on global real estate, energy infrastructure and oil & gas.  The Firm and its affiliates maintain nine offices in three countries around the world, and currently have more than 2,000 employees. Starwood Capital Group has raised over $37 billion of equity capital since its inception in 1991, and currently manages approximately $52 billion in assets.  The Firm has invested in virtually every category of real estate on a global basis, opportunistically shifting asset classes, geographies and positions in the capital stack as it perceives risk/reward dynamics to be evolving.  Over the past 25 years, Starwood Capital Group and its affiliates have successfully executed an investment strategy that involves building enterprises in both the private and public markets.  Additional information can be found at www.starwoodcapital.com.

Pile Burning Today

Forest Services Burning Piles Today in Reds Meadow Valley

Fire crews plan to burn approximately 15 acres of piles in the Reds Meadow Valley Today, Wednesday, December 9th.  The burn is taking place today in advance of the pending storm.  Officials indicated that smoke may be visible from Minaret Vista and Mammoth Mountain.

inyo forest 2

photos courtesy of the US Forest Service, Inyo National Forest.

inyo national forest, reds meadow valley, mammoth mountain, minarat vista

Pile Burning in Reds Meadow Valley

Forest Service Burning Piles in Reds Meadow Valley

Crews continue to clear trees that blew down in the historic wind event of 2011.

Submitted by Deb Schweizer, Public Affairs Officer, Inyo National Forest

Fire crews plan to burn piles in the Reds Meadow Valley this week (December 1st- December 4th) to continue fuel reduction efforts in the valley. It’s worth noting that the wind event that led to the tree blow down in the valley was four years ago this week. Crews continue to whittle away at the incredible amount of downed fuels caused by that wind event — there has been considerable progress made on that front as well.

Crews hope to complete 54 acres this week and smoke may be visible from Mammoth Mountain and Minaret Vista. 

Blow down 2011
Photo Provided by the Inyo National Forest. 2011 blow down event.
inyo national forest, reds meadow valley wind event, deb schweizer spokesperson, mammoth mountain, minaret vista

Mammoth Mtn Owner Buys Bear Mountain and Snow Summit

Mammoth Resorts to Acquire Bear Mountain and Snow Summit Ski Resorts in Southern California

Launching new joint pass product, Cali4nia Pass to offer unrestricted access to all four California mountains —
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Bear Mountain, June Mountain and Snow Summit Mountain Resort.

MAMMOTH LAKES, CA September 24, 2014 —

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, owner of Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Big Bear Mountain Resorts in Big Bear Lake, California.

Big Bear Mountain Resorts includes both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, the largest and most popular of southern California’s ski and snowboard resorts that host nearly 800,000 winter visits annually.

The combination of these four iconic California mountain resorts creates diverse and unique offerings of both summer and winter experiences for day trips, weekend getaways and extended vacations. Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, located a short drive from everywhere in southern California, with their full complement of outdoor activities from action sports to first-time family experiences, provide an excellent fit with the world class, big-mountain destination experience offered at Mammoth.

“We couldn’t be more excited to enter into this agreement with Big Bear Mountain Resorts. These two uniquely southern California resorts have been providing great skiing, riding and biking experiences to
visitors from California and beyond. Millions have enjoyed their first mountain resort experience on the slopes of Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, and we look forward to expanding upon the legacy that
Dick Kun and his people have created over the past six decades,” said Rusty Gregory, Chairman and CEO of Mammoth Mountain.

“This acquisition represents the beginning of a renaissance for both
Mammoth and Big Bear and is the first step in the next era of skiing and riding in California. In the coming months we will be announcing exciting new development and expansion plans for each of our four resorts designed to attract visitors from down the street, across the country, and around the world,” added Gregory.

To celebrate the occasion, Mammoth has announced a new season pass that includes unrestricted access to all four mountains at the discounted rate of $689 for adults. The new Cali4nia Pass will go on
sale at the Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails event at Bear Mountain this Saturday, September 27 and will then be available online for a limited time only at www.snowsummit.com or www.Cali4niaPass.com.

“The Cali4nia Pass will cut through the clutter in the market by providing the most diverse set of resort options available in California by allowing you to ski where you want, when you want and as often as you want,” said Gregory.

This transaction will create one of the nation’s largest ski companies with over 2 million visitors per year. Dick Kun, the driving force behind skiing and riding in the Big Bear region and long-time CEO of Big Bear Mountain Resorts commented, “Mammoth has always been the natural long-term fit for the Big Bear
family and we are thrilled to enter this agreement. I am deeply grateful to the employees, shareholders, and the Big Bear community for their work and support during the 63 years of our operations. Mammoth’s experience and leadership will ensure that southern Californians will continue to enjoy recreating in the local mountains and will undoubtedly bring in a new era of experiences and opportunities for all of our constituents,” continued Kun.

Houlihan Lokey served as exclusive financial advisor to Big Bear Mountain Resorts and assisted in initiating, structuring and negotiating the transaction on its behalf.

Closing is subject to certain conditions, including Big Bear Mountain Resort shareholder approval and transfer of the U.S. Forest Service Permit that permits operations on nearly 1,500 acres of the San
Bernardino National Forest.

# # #

About Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. With 1.3-1.5 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is the third most frequented ski resort in the United States. With longstanding commitment to athletic excellence and innovative alpine, freestyle and nordic terrain, Mammoth is proud to be an official USSA training facility. The company owns and operates a variety of resort businesses including recreation,
hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage and retail. Specific businesses owned and operated by Mammoth Mountain include Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, June Mountain, Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Mammoth Mountain also operates Juniper Springs Resort, the Village Lodge and Sierra Star Golf Course in Mammoth Lakes, California. For
more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit MammothMountain.com or call 800.MAMMOTH.

About BBMR – Real Snow. Real Close. Real Deal.

Big Bear Mountain Resorts (BBMR) includes Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, plus Bear Mountain Golf Course and Snow Summit Summer. Together, BBMR has the region’s most progressive terrain parks, most dependable snow conditions, the largest full-service learning programs and a multitude of premier services – just a tank of gas away round-trip from most areas in Southern California. For more information, please visit www.bigbearmountainresorts.com. BBMR is an equal opportunity service provider operating under a San Bernardino National Forest special use permit.

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Mammoth Resorts to Acquire Bear Mountain and Snow Summit Ski Resorts in Southern California

https://www.kibskbov.com/mammothbuysbigbear/

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area / Ski / Snowboard / Resorts / Snow / Mammoth Mountain / June Mountain / Big Bear Lake / Mammoth Lakes / California Mountains / Bear Mountain / Snow Summit