SNOW PATROL

SPOT TO SKI: MAMMOTH MT.

Elevation 8,800 to 9,800 feet; yearly snowfall 35-50 feet; average snow depth 10-15 feet; skiers last year 200,000; season Nov. 1 to July 30

Californians who don't mind driving to be sure of their snow pick Mammoth Mt., 40 miles north of Bishop, Calif., for their skiing. Mammoth's modern double chair runs up to the 9,800-foot level and serves the most dependable early season cover in the state. From the top of the chair, ten runs drop down a thousand vertical feet to the base. They include two 1½-mile courses for beginners and two faster, shorter runs for experts only. For variation, Mammoth has four fast, diesel-driven rope tows at various levels. International skiers like Jack Reddish say that the Mammoth slalom and downhill runs compare with tough European courses. At the base of the lift, Area Operator Dave McCoy has built a fine warming lodge and cafeteria (above) with enough sun deck around the sides and on top to take care of several hundred skiers. Tips: The two ways to get to Mammoth are by car and air. It is 310 miles from Los Angeles, 350 from San Francisco. You can charter a plane to Crowley Lake 12 miles away. Singles and doubles along the road to Mammoth Lakes run $6.50-$10.

AS OF FEBRUARY 3

Nothing is as changeable as the weather, so be sure to telephone resorts for latest reports

TD—top slopes, depth in inches; BD—bottom slopes, depth in inches; CR—ski crowd last weekend; SN—inches of snowfall last weekend

•FAR WEST

Mammoth Mt., Calif.: Packed powder over whole mountain. Skiing excellent. TD 84-96, BD 72-84, CR 900, SN 13.

Mt. Baldy, Calif.: Best skiing of the season. Quilted parkas, Ramy-Securus safety toe irons gaining favor with long-thong fraternity. TD 24-36, CR 2,700.

Squaw Valley, Calif.: Flying Saucer and rope tows all operated. Striped bamboo ski poles and Bogner stretch pants popular combination here. TD 96-108, CR 1,000.

Big Bear Lake, Calif.: All areas open, lodging scarce. TD 10-18, BD 6-10, CR 5,400.

Mt. Baker, Wash.: Norway's Jan Thorstensen skied for Washington Athletic Club in PNWSA championships. TD 115, BD 146, CR 3,000, SN 15.

Grouse Mt., B.C.: A foot of loose powder on mountain made for best skiing of the year. Lift will run daily from March 6 to April 28 for spring vacation skiing. TD 110, BD 82, CR 3,000, SN 13.

•WEST

Sun Valley, Idaho: Every area in valley open. Skiing excellent. Latest note in after-skiing are polka parties at Trail Creek cabin. Baldy TD 38, Roundhouse 35, Dollar 27, Valley Floor 19.

Aspen, Colo.: NSA training camp members staying here for Roch Cup Feb. 22-24. Kastinger boots and Fischer skis leading medium-price sellers. TD 82, BD 46, Dipsy Doodle 48-76, CR 600, SN 8.

Big Mt., Mont.: Increased snow pack covered rough spots on Toni Matt. Henke Speedfit boot is most sought-after new item. TD 54.

Arapahoe Basin, Colo.: All trails open except Palivacinni. Lenawee Glades had fine powder skiing. TD 55, BD 43, CR 1,100, SN 5.

Brighton, Utah: Deep powder pack over whole area. Brighton Ski Club being reactivated. TD 78, BD 74, CR 1,200, SN 6.

Alta, Utah: Skiing excellent. TD 75-120, BD 75, CR 700, SN 16.

•MIDWEST

Terry Peak, S. Dak.: Three inches of powder on four-foot base made skiing excellent.

Boyne Mt., Mich.: Hemlock has 20-40 inches artificial snow over natural base. TD 4-10, BD 10-20, CR 750, SN 4.

Rib Mt., Wis.: Birch Run and Joe Duskey best, over-all conditions good. Record-Herald Ski School ended with a tournament for 160 skiers. TD 12, BD 12, CR 2,500, SN 7.

Mt. Telemark, Wis.: Skiing good. Five-piece Alpine band playing for after-ski dances here. TD 4, BD 12, CR 1,600, SN 2.

•EAST

Mad River Glen, Vt.: NYC Ski Council races brought 150 contestants to area. Combined men's winner was Philip Palmedo; Marilyn Hilly was women's champ. TD 13-32, BD 13-25, CR 1,000, SN 7.

Stowe, Vt.: Best skiing on Spruce Peak, with skiing only fair on Mansfield. TD 27, BD 21, CR 2,000, SN 0.

Big Bromley, Vt.: Skiing suffered from bare spots and ice on upper slopes. Peril, Corkscrew and Upper East Meadow closed. TD 1-12, BD 1-10, CR 2,500, SN 5.

Mt. Snow, Vt.: Skiing poor to fair on top, good on bottom slopes. Stretch pants very popular. TD 6-30, BD 10-15, CR 5,000, SN 6.

Dutch Hill, Vt.: Weekend snow smoothed trails, made skiing good. Knickers and hand-knit pattern wool socks worn by style-setting skiers. TD 12-20, BD 7-12, SN 11.

Jiminy Peak, Mass.: Thin cover, but skiing good. On Fridays all women skiers are admitted at $1 off regular rate. TD 8, BD 4, CR 550.

Bousquets, Mass.: Man-made snow on Russell kept this slope excellent while other showed grassy spots. Stretch pants in beige and pale yellow showing up at area. Skiers switching from hickories to Head Master models. TD 10-16, BD 7-12.

Cannon Mt., N.H.: Skiing generally poor, with bare spots on all trails. Middle and upper T bars closed. TD 2-26, BD 1-14, CR 1,000.

Belknap, N.H.: Lack of new snow has confined skiing to sides of trail. Family groups wearing matched hand-knit sweaters. TD 4-10, BD 2-6.

Mt. Tremblant, Que.: Ski conditions generally good with some ice. Most ski instructors using Stroh or Haderer boots. TD 8-33, BD 4-23, CR 1,000.

Lac Beauport, Que.: Good powder skiing on whole mountain. TD 32, BD 28, CR 2,000.

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