Intermittently spliced in are quotes from my travel log of my trip.
Introduction to the Snow
When I heard that my family was planning a snowboarding trip, I would be lying if I said I was thrilled on any level. As much as I love snow, I’m not one for appreciating athletics. Exercising is important, of course. But sports? Not my forte. My family has had an Ikon Pass for some time now and due to my busy schedule (and lack of interest in participating), I did not have one. This led to my dad having to buy day tickets based on how I enjoyed a day snowboarding in Big Bear. I haphazardly figured out the mechanics and decided I would get a pass for three days, half the time of the trip. That was when I got to thinking… “Three days snowboarding… three days of freetime.” It dawned on me to scour Google Maps to find cool places to visit and explore. And find these places, I did.
Mammoth, CA
About 271 miles north of where we live lies a forest town nudged between the mountains. It was approximately a five hour drive and rain hit the windows as I looked out. I wrote in my travel journal, “There was mist between the mountains”, while watching the clouds float through the range.
Our cabin in Mammoth is family owned on my dad’s side so we get to use it every once in a while. It has a two story, cozy, wood cottage-esc feel. My bedroom is downstairs, I get the room to myself. There used to be a DVD television in this room and I could feel my heart crack when I came to see it not there.
The schedule of our coming days was unclear so I just went with the flow. I had brought a few books and movies with me and read many days and nights. The first two days we were snowed in and I had to make peace with the impending solitude. Being alone is not an easy task for me, I love being around people and being closed off in my room is foreign.
One morning, “I snuck around the house early in the morning and made myself a cup of coffee”. There were no coffee filters to be found so I fashioned one out of two paper towels. Being resourceful is always extremely rewarding. Another day I convinced my family to go to a small business bakery called “East Side Bake Shop.” I was specifically interested in getting a slice of pie, an homage to a show I had started watching called Twin Peaks. The pie I ended up getting was mixed berry. Back at the cabin I heated it up and ate it in bed. It was perfectly sweet and the breading was crispy and satisfying.
We had countless meals over the trip, in house, at the slope cafes, but nothing compared to our final dinner at Gojira. We waited for a table for close to half an hour, the wait however was worth every minute. The food was incredible. I ordered a Tiger Roll and it was creamy and spicy. I paired that with a Thai Tea which was refreshing and neutral. The overall atmosphere and sips of miso soup I stole made the experience shiningly memorable.
I have to admit I did enjoy snowboarding a tad bit. I learned to brake and do the “falling leaf” technique. One of the most notable moments was when I went up a lift and came off to find the wind to be almost debilitating. The visibility, awful. As a newcomer this intimidated me and I instinctively started to panic. I went straight down to a gondola station and just rode down.
The next day, the wind had been unchanged. We went back up lifts and eventually went back to the same one from the previous day. This time I took a deep breath and absolutely shredded the slope. Not just once… twice. That made me, a non-athletic creative gal, very proud.
My Day in Solitude
The day of departure, my dad threw me his keys and let me free to go out at my own leisure. I left at about 8:30am and headed towards my first stop, “The Mammoth Coffee Roasting Co.“ “I stepped out of the car and the sound of church bells rang through the solemn acoustics of the street.” I ordered a lavender latte and a breakfast sandwich and “sat there for an hour relishing my alone time by journaling.” I watched the time closely and as it inched towards ten I gathered my belongings and walked towards two shops that opened soon. “Since the time was at the hour, the church bells rang once more.” A perfect soundtrack for my walk along the snowy roads.
I arrived just as “Booky Joint” opened, a small, rustic new/used book store right across the street from the cafe. I walked up and down the isles and contemplated making a purchase. “Sylvia Plath: The Collected Poems” tempted me heavily as she is my favorite author, but I decided not to give in today.
For my final adventure I made my way over to, “Second Chance Thrift Shop.” There was a section with books, furniture, movies, vinyls, clothes, basically everything you would want to find in a thrift store. Since I always love buying items I find out of town I decided to purchase, “an adorable black sheer cardigan with sequins and a satin slip skirt embroidered with flowers.”
Home Safe
Originally I thought that this trip wouldn’t be notable. That there was nothing to learn or gather from this experience. In the end, it was exactly contrary to this. I grew more comfortable in my own company and doing hobbies I enjoy in times of loneliness. I also learned that no matter where you go or where you end up, you can always find yourself in places. All you have to do is take a closer look.
For Your Curiosity
East Side Bake Shop
587 Old Mammoth Rd APT 108, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Mammoth Coffee Roasting Co.
436 Old Mammoth Rd #1, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Booky Joint
437 Old Mammoth Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Second Chance Thrift Shop
501 Old Mammoth Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA