The Mammoth Minute

At Black Tie Skis of Mammoth, we believe epic ski vacations start with fresh tracks, first chairs, and hoots and hollers on the slopes – not in a long ski rental line. Kick off your ski vacation the right way with the most convenient way to rent skis and snowboards in Mammoth.

Planning a trip to Mammoth?
Check out current deals, lodging packages, and seasonal offers available around town.

👉 Get outdoors and explore your own backyard!
Choose Outbound Mammoth and receive 10% off just for being a CA or NV resident. Guests must show CA or NV state ID upon check-in.

👉 Bar Sierra: Mammoth’s unbeatable Happy Hour spot!
Everyday from 4pm to 5:30pm. Enjoy discounted well drinks, wine, beer and special happy hour bites! Come in at for late Night Happy Hour starts at 9pm with drink specials until 10:30!

👉 Thinking about summer?
Sign up for TrekSierra’s Backpacking & Llama Adventures newsletter for pre-season discounts up to 25% off adventures!
→ Trails Tails & Llamas Newsletter (TrekSierra)
→ treksierra.com

For those looking to experience the Sierra beyond the lifts, TrekSierra offers fully supported backcountry journeys designed with comfort, intention, and refinement.

Their signature llama-supported treks provides an optional, unique way to explore the wilderness. Sure-footed llamas carry most of the group’s gear, allowing for:

Each itinerary is custom crafted and led by expert guides focused on safety, seamless logistics, and a personalized pace. It’s an immersive way to reconnect — with the landscape, your group, and yourself — without compromising comfort.

👉 Sign up for TrekSierra’s Backpacking & Llama Adventures newsletter for pre-season discounts up to 25% off! →
→ Trails Tails & Llamas Newsletter (TrekSierra)
→ treksierra.com

Chase Leary, 34, a third-generation Mammoth local, has spent the last decade on Ski Patrol at Mammoth Mountain, where he now serves as a training coordinator. Each winter, he responds to 100–300 medical incidents—work that is equal parts technical skill, instinct, and composure under pressure. Patrol, he says, is demanding and often unforgiving—but defined by trust, shared risk, and an unwavering responsibility to the people around you.

Safety on the mountain is constantly evolving. Recent additions—expanded helicopter access and landing zones—have significantly improved emergency response times, while new Remote Avalanche Control (RAC) towers signal a shift toward more proactive avalanche mitigation.

Leary’s path to patrol wasn’t linear. He began his career in welding before trading the shop for the mountain in 2016. Climbing, however, has always been his foundation. Introduced by his father, he now spends his summers establishing some of the most challenging routes across the Eastern Sierra with his partner Andy Puhvel, from the granite faces of the Hulk to the high alpine terrain of the Mt. Whitney zone. 

His grandfather, Robert Stanford, arrived in Mammoth in 1959 with a vision that would help shape the region’s future. By 1960, he had done what others thought impossible—opening Tamarack Lodge for winter operations. He later co-founded Mammoth Aviation, bringing early air ambulance services to the Eastern Sierra, and, alongside his wife Joann, operated several of the area’s lodges. A longtime civic leader and Mono County Supervisor from 1978 to 1989, Stanford’s influence extended well beyond business, helping guide Mammoth through decades of growth while preserving its sense of community.

Together, their stories—one rooted in the mountain’s early days, the other unfolding on its slopes today—reflect a shared legacy of stewardship, grit, and a deep commitment to life in Mammoth.